It’s onerous to speak about trendy video video games with out mentioning the affect of Grand Theft Auto. Rockstar’s iconic crime franchise has grown from a controversial PlayStation 1 basic to a universally recognised cultural behemoth, with its most up-to-date entry, Grand Theft Auto 5, turning into one of many best-selling games of all time.
Nonetheless, the collection didn’t develop right into a landmark success in a single day. Rockstar has been slowly constructing its iconic crime collection for over 20 years, creating hyper-immersive open worlds that gamers probe for years after their launch. With over sixteen Grand Theft Auto video games dropping for the reason that franchise started in 1997, new gamers are in all probability questioning the place to start out.
That will help you get caught in, we’ve listed each GTA sport in chronological order so you’ll be able to plot the very best route by way of the timeline of this crime-riddled world. Till we lastly get our fingers on GTA 6, not less than.
There are a whole of 16 video games within the Grand Theft Auto collection – eleven on residence consoles, one on PC and 4 on handheld units. The subsequent Grand Theft Auto sport, GTA 6, is ready to launch in November 2026.
Earlier than we dive into the listing, it’s first value noting an essential element in regards to the total continuity of Grand Theft Auto. As confirmed by Rockstar again in 2011, the GTA collection is cut up into three distinctive timelines: the 2D timeline, the 3D timeline and the HD timeline. Though occasions in these timelines could be comparable and even similar, Rockstar doesn’t take into account all of them canon to one another. As such, we’ll separate the video games into their respective universes.
In case you’re desirous to get into the Grand Theft Auto video games earlier than GTA 6 arrives, you’ll possible need to begin with the most recent within the collection: GTA 5. You’ll be able to definitely return to earlier video games, however GTA 5 is a masterpiece in it is personal proper and is playable just about in all places. You may also make the most of GTA On-line for multiplayer.
In any other case, we’re fairly near that GTA 6 end line, so if you happen to occur to have a console, I would not maintain out on being part of one of many largest sport launches of all time.
Grand Theft Auto 6
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The Grand Theft Auto 2D Timeline
Under, we’ll listing the Grand Theft Auto video games from the 2D universe. These blurbs include delicate spoilers for every sport, together with characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Grand Theft Auto: London 1961
The second growth launched for the unique Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 is one in every of solely two GTA releases to not hit a PlayStation console, with the DLC solely out there to PC gamers.
The mission pack acts as a prequel to Grand Theft Auto’s first growth, Grand Theft Auto: London 1969. It follows a anonymous legal rising by way of the ranks of the London crime households by finishing jobs for a mobster known as Harold Cartwright.
2. Grand Theft Auto: London 1969
The primary growth for the unique Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 marked the collection’ first go to to London.
The story follows a anonymous British legal who fights in opposition to numerous crime syndicates whereas constructing their legend on town’s streets. These embody Harold Cartwright’s gang, which the participant joins forces with in Grand Theft Auto: London 1961, in addition to a pair of sinister crime lords referred to as the Crisp Twins.
3. Grand Theft Auto
The primary entry within the mainline collection, Grand Theft Auto follows the adventures of a anonymous protagonist as they make their mark on the legal underworlds of three places: Liberty Metropolis, San Andreas and Vice Metropolis.
Set in 1997, the legal’s adventures see them full financial institution heists, assassinations and getaways, constructing their repute whereas aiding numerous sinister gangs. Alongside the best way, they meet a bunch of high-ranking criminals, together with Robert Seragliano, El Burro and Uncle Fu.
4. Grand Theft Auto 2
The second mainline entry within the collection, Grand Theft Auto 2 is arguably the most important departure for the collection so far. Shifting away from the setting of the primary GTA, it takes gamers to a nigh-on futuristic metropolis referred to as Wherever Metropolis, which bears no hanging resemblance to every other location within the collection.
The journey follows a legal named Claude Pace, who works with numerous crime syndicates round Wherever Metropolis to generate income and earn respect. The sport’s place on the timeline is hard, primarily as in-game references allude to it going down in each 1999 and 2013. Regardless, it’s the ultimate sport within the 2D timeline.
The Grand Theft Auto 3D Timeline
Under, we’ll listing the Grand Theft Auto video games from the 3D universe. These blurbs include delicate spoilers for every sport, together with characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Grand Theft Auto: Vice Metropolis Tales
A prequel to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the PSP’s Grand Theft Auto: Vice Metropolis Tales takes place in 1984 and follows US army soldier Victor Vance who, after being framed by his sergeant, is dishonorably discharged.
Recent out of a job, he decides to enter Vice Metropolis’s underworld, rapidly turning into the pinnacle of a criminal offense household with the assistance of his brother, Lance. The pair embark on an journey to disrupt Vice Metropolis’s crime scene, assembly and recruiting quite a lot of Grand Theft Auto: Vice Metropolis’s supporting characters alongside the best way. By the point the sport wraps up, Vic’s story catches up with the start of Vice Metropolis.
2. Grand Theft Auto: Vice Metropolis
The fourth mainline iteration of the collection, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City takes place in 1986; two years after Vice Metropolis Tales. It follows Tommy Verceti, a infamous gangster from Liberty Metropolis who is distributed to Vice Metropolis to supervise the growth of his boss’ drug commerce after being launched from jail.
Tommy lands in scorching water after a supposedly easy drug deal goes horribly flawed. Dropping the medicine and cash exchanged within the deal, Tommy is given one final likelihood to make issues proper.
To redeem himself, he dives into the seedy underbelly of Vice Metropolis, allying with Lance Vance to tackle its numerous crime households and discover the medicine and cash stolen from him. As he turns into an even bigger identify round Vice Metropolis, he slowly creates a rising legal empire, which doesn’t go unnoticed by his former employers.
3. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The fifth mainline iteration of the collection, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas tells the story of Carl ‘CJ’ Johnson and the Grove Road Households.
Set in 1992, San Andreas follows CJ as he returns to Los Santos after his mom is killed in a drive-by meant to assassinate his brother. Reuniting together with his mates, household and native gang, The Grove Road Households, it doesn’t take lengthy for CJ to get caught again into the legal underworld, vowing to get revenge on the gang that murdered his mom.
Whereas CJ makes an attempt to rebuild the Grove Road gang’s former glory, it turns into clear that one thing shady is going on behind the scenes. Pursued by a crooked cop named Officer Tenpenny, CJ offers with betrayal, corrupt regulation enforcement and the varied factions vying for management of Los Santos and the neighboring cities of San Fierro and Las Venturas.
4. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty Metropolis Tales
Set in 1998, Liberty City Stories acts as a prequel to Grand Theft Auto 3 and follows a gangster working for Salvatore Leone named Toni Cipriani. Returning to Liberty Metropolis after fleeing to Italy to flee the repercussions of assassinating a member of the mafia, Toni will get caught again in working for his former boss.
Alongside the best way, he meets a number of high-level mafia contacts and climbs by way of the ranks of Sal’s gang, murdering rival crime lords and aiding Leone’s makes an attempt to realize political sway with the mayor. The story concludes with Salvatore Leone’s household standing as one probably the most highly effective crime syndicates in Liberty Metropolis, organising the occasions of Grand Theft Auto 3.
5. Grand Theft Auto Advance
Going down in 2000, Grand Theft Auto Advance was a Grand Theft Auto 3 prequel launched on the Gameboy Advance. It follows a legal named Mike as he makes an attempt to get revenge for the loss of life of his associate, Vinnie.
Deciding to go away Liberty Metropolis and discover new alternatives elsewhere, the story begins with Mike and Vinnie finishing jobs for the mafia in an try to tie up free ends and fund their escape. Nonetheless, the plan falls aside when Vinnie is killed with a automotive bomb, driving Mike to search out and kill his murderers. In pursuit of vengeance, Mike groups with numerous Grand Theft Auto 3 characters, together with 8-Ball and Asuka Kasen.
6. Grand Theft Auto 3
The ultimate entry within the timeline however the first sport of the 3D period by launch date, Grand Theft Auto 3 takes place in 2001 and follows a brand new Claude, a financial institution robber that’s shot and left for useless by his girlfriend, Catalina, throughout a heist.
Claude survives however is arrested and sentenced to life in jail. Nonetheless, whereas en path to jail, Claude manages to flee after the Columbian Cartel raided his convoy searching for one other prisoner. Fleeing the scene, Claude is quickly inducted into the legal underworld of Liberty Metropolis, working with the mafia, the yakuza and numerous different syndicates.
Though he rises to develop into one of many metropolis’s most infamous gangsters, Claude’s purpose rapidly turns into one in every of vengeance, as his path ultimately crosses with Catalina, organising an inevitable confrontation between the previous couple.
The Grand Theft Auto HD Timeline
Under, we’ll listing the Grand Theft Auto video games from the HD universe. These blurbs include delicate spoilers for every sport, together with characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Grand Theft Auto 4
The primary sport of the HD period, Grand Theft Auto 4 takes place in 2008 and follows an Jap European ex-soldier named Niko Bellic as he makes his approach to Liberty Metropolis. Coming to America to reunite together with his cousin, Roman Bellic, who has allegedly discovered fortune after transferring to Liberty Metropolis, Niko is shocked to search out Roman is definitely broke, residing in a cockroach-infested condominium and working a failing enterprise.
It doesn’t take lengthy for Niko to search out work and amass money by way of less-than-legal means, assembly and befriending an arms seller named Little Jacob and dealing off Roman’s money owed with a Russian mortgage shark named Vlad Glebov. Nonetheless, after discovering that Vlad has been sleeping with Roman’s girlfriend, Niko kills him, sparking a sequence of occasions which places him and Roman within the sights of the Russian mafia.
To outlive, Niko allies with the crime households of Liberty Metropolis, the place he turns into tangled of their politics and turns into one of many metropolis’s most feared criminals. All of the whereas, Niko has an ulterior motive, wanting to trace down and homicide a former comrade from his days within the army that double-crossed him and his squad.
2. Grand Theft Auto: The Misplaced and The Damned
Set in the course of the occasions of Grand Theft Auto 4, The Lost and the Damned was GTA 4’s first growth. It follows Johnny Klebitz, the Vice President of a revered bike gang known as The Misplaced MC.
Launched from a protracted stint in rehab, the story opens with The Misplaced MC’s President, Billy Gray, returning to the gang and reassuming his place as its chief. Throughout his time away, Johnny led The Misplaced MC, forming a truce with the gang’s essential rivals, The Angels of Demise. As soon as reinstated, Billy and Johnny start to conflict after Billy orders The Misplaced to interrupt the truce with the Angels of Demise, beginning a ruthless gang battle.
As the 2 gangs battle it out, Billy begins to steer The Misplaced down a self-destructive path, guiding his brothers into more and more harmful conditions. With civil battle brewing within the group, Johnny is compelled to think about the place his loyalty lies.
3. Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Homosexual Tony
The second of GTA 4’s expansions, The Ballad of Gay Tony additionally takes place alongside the core Grand Theft Auto marketing campaign. The story follows bodyguard Luis Lopez as he tries to avoid wasting the lifetime of his boss and legendary nightclub proprietor, Tony Prince.
Though Tony is a fixture of Liberty Metropolis’s nightlife scene, his companies are failing. To make issues worse, he’s additionally in debt to the Ancelotti crime household, who’re prepared to gather what they’re owed. Swearing to assist his boss, Luis tries to sq. Tony’s money owed, serving to out his numerous legal acquaintances.
All of it crescendos with a dangerous plan from Tony, who decides to accumulate thousands and thousands of {dollars} value of smuggled diamonds and trade them in a deal. Nonetheless, the plan falls aside, main Luis on a wild goose chase round Liberty Metropolis in an try to retrieve the diamonds and maintain Tony’s money owed from catching up with him.
4. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Going down in 2009, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars tells the story of Huang Lee, the son of a murdered Triad chief who’s tasked with flying to Liberty Metropolis to ship an historical sword to his uncle.
After arriving in Liberty Metropolis, Huang is ambushed, together with his attackers stealing the sword and taking pictures Huang. Believing him useless, they dump his physique, permitting Huang to flee alive. Reuniting together with his uncle, Huang embarks on an journey to trace down the sword and ship it again to the Triads. Alongside the best way, he works with numerous gangs and the FIB, studying that the sword’s theft could have been an inside job.
5. Grand Theft Auto On-line
Though it’s troublesome to evaluate the place precisely it falls on the timeline, Grand Theft Auto Online begins shortly earlier than Grand Theft Auto 5 and has, over the course of ten years of updates, shifted to a time period lengthy after the sport’s essential marketing campaign.
The core story follows a player-created legal that heads to Los Santos to search out fortune, repute and fame, creating factions, shopping for property and participating in legal ventures. The story has advanced over time, with one of many newest updates revisiting the character of Franklin years after the events of Grand Theft Auto V, as he duties the participant with serving to him in his enterprise ventures.
6. Grand Theft Auto 5
Set in 2013, Grand Theft Auto 5 follows the story of three criminals: Franklin, Michael and Trevor. After staging his loss of life throughout a financial institution theft within the small city of North Yankton, Michael Townley enters a witness safety programme, transferring to the sunny metropolis of Los Santos to dwell a lifetime of luxurious in a large mansion together with his household.
Nonetheless, he’s lured out of retirement when he meets Franklin Clinton, an bold small-time legal despatched to repossess Michael’s son’s automotive. Forming a friendship, Michael begins to mentor Franklin, ultimately main the pair to rob a jewellery retailer to repay a neighborhood crime lord. Nonetheless, the act doesn’t go unnoticed.
On the outskirts of Los Santos, Michael’s former buddy and legal affiliate, Trevor Phillips, watches a clip of the heist on the information. Realizing that his seemingly useless associate remains to be alive in Los Santos, Trevor heads to town, becoming a member of Michael and Franklin to stage numerous elaborate heists. Nonetheless, Trevor’s animosity in the direction of Michael’s betrayal begins to drive a wedge between the group, as tensions rise and the reality behind the pair’s previous involves mild.
Every little thing We Know About GTA 6
Whereas Take-Two Interactive initially announced a fall 2025 release window, GTA 6 is now slated to be released on November 19, 2026. And Rockstar really appears fairly assured in that date, having opened preorders for the game in late June. These preorders confirmed the existence of separate Standard and Ultimate editions, in addition to the truth that the sport won’t include a physical disc, not less than at launch. Rockstar has additionally confirmed the sport will only be playable on consoles at launch. Nonetheless, it is already develop into one of many best-selling games of the year.