It’s onerous to discuss fashionable 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 the third best-selling recreation of all time.
Nevertheless, 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 twenty years, creating hyper-immersive open worlds that gamers probe for years after their launch. With over sixteen Grand Theft Auto video games dropping since the franchise started in 1997, new gamers are most likely questioning the place to begin. That will help you get caught in, we’ve listed each GTA recreation in chronological order so you possibly can plot the finest route by the timeline of this crime-riddled world. You’ll have to wait unil 2025 for GTA 6, although.
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The Grand Theft Auto Games in Order
There are a complete of 16 video games in the Grand Theft Auto collection – eleven on residence consoles, one on PC and 4 on handheld gadgets. We additionally already know that GTA 6 shall be popping out in 2025.
Earlier than we dive into the listing, it’s first price noting an essential element about the general 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 is likely to be related and even an identical, Rockstar doesn’t think about all of them canon to one another. As such, we’ll separate the video games into their respective universes.
Which GTA Recreation Ought to You Play First?
In case you’re wanting to get into the Grand Theft Auto video games earlier than GTA 6 arrives, you’ll doubtless need to begin with the newest in the collection: GTA 5. You may actually return to earlier video games, however GTA 5 is a masterpiece in it is personal proper and is playable just about in every single place. You too can benefit from GTA On-line for multiplayer.
Grand Theft Auto V
The place Is GTA 6 on the Grand Theft Auto Timeline?
With the latest reveal trailer confirming that GTA 6 shall be happening in what seems to be a modern-day Vice Metropolis, it looks as if there will not be soar in time both ahead or backward. References to TikTok and fashionable automobiles just about confirms this, however we do not have extra info than that but.
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 recreation, together with characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Grand Theft Auto: London 1961
The second growth launched for the authentic Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 is one among 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 felony rising by the ranks of the London crime households by finishing jobs for a mobster referred to as Harold Cartwright.
2. Grand Theft Auto: London 1969
The primary growth for the authentic Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 marked the collection’ first go to to London.
The story follows a anonymous British felony who fights towards numerous crime syndicates whereas constructing their legend on the metropolis’s streets. These embrace 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 often known as the Crisp Twins.
3. Grand Theft Auto
The primary entry in the mainline collection, Grand Theft Auto follows the adventures of a anonymous protagonist as they make their mark on the felony underworlds of three areas: Liberty Metropolis, San Andreas and Vice Metropolis.
Set in 1997, the felony’s adventures see them full financial institution heists, assassinations and getaways, constructing their fame whereas aiding numerous sinister gangs. Alongside the approach, they meet a number of high-ranking criminals, together with Robert Seragliano, El Burro and Uncle Fu.
4. Grand Theft Auto 2
The second mainline entry in the collection, Grand Theft Auto 2 is arguably the greatest departure for the collection to date. Shifting away from the setting of the first GTA, it takes gamers to a nigh-on futuristic metropolis often known as Anyplace Metropolis, which bears no placing resemblance to another location in the collection.
The journey follows a felony named Claude Pace, who works with numerous crime syndicates round Anyplace Metropolis to make cash and earn respect. The sport’s place on the timeline is difficult, primarily as in-game references allude to it happening in each 1999 and 2013. Regardless, it’s the last recreation in 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 recreation, together with characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Grand Theft Auto: Vice Metropolis Tales
A prequel to Grand Theft Auto: Vice Metropolis, 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, shortly turning into the head of against the law household with the assist 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 approach. By the time the recreation wraps up, Vic’s story catches up with the starting of Vice Metropolis.
2. Grand Theft Auto: Vice Metropolis
The fourth mainline iteration of the collection, Grand Theft Auto: Vice Metropolis 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 oversee the growth of his boss’ drug commerce after being launched from jail.
Tommy lands in sizzling water after a supposedly easy drug deal goes horribly flawed. Shedding the medicine and cash exchanged in the deal, Tommy is given one final probability 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 felony 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 along with his mates, household and native gang, The Grove Road Households, it doesn’t take lengthy for CJ to get caught again into the felony 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 numerous 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 Metropolis Tales 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 escape the repercussions of assassinating a member of the mafia, Toni will get caught again in working for his former boss.
Alongside the approach, he meets a number of high-level mafia contacts and climbs by the ranks of Sal’s gang, murdering rival crime lords and aiding Leone’s makes an attempt to acquire political sway with the mayor. The story concludes with Salvatore Leone’s household standing as one the strongest crime syndicates in Liberty Metropolis, establishing 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 felony named Mike as he makes an attempt to get revenge for the demise of his companion, Vinnie.
Deciding to depart 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. Nevertheless, the plan falls aside when Vinnie is killed with a automotive bomb, driving Mike to discover 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 in the timeline however the first recreation 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 lifeless by his girlfriend, Catalina, throughout a heist.
Claude survives however is arrested and sentenced to life in jail. Nevertheless, whereas en route to jail, Claude manages to escape after the Columbian Cartel raided his convoy in search of one other prisoner. Fleeing the scene, Claude is quickly inducted into the felony underworld of Liberty Metropolis, working with the mafia, the yakuza and numerous different syndicates.
Though he rises to change into one among the metropolis’s most infamous gangsters, Claude’s aim shortly turns into one among vengeance, as his path finally crosses with Catalina, establishing an inevitable confrontation between the former 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 recreation, together with characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Grand Theft Auto 4
The primary recreation of the HD period, Grand Theft Auto 4 takes place in 2008 and follows an Japanese European ex-soldier named Niko Bellic as he makes his approach to Liberty Metropolis. Coming to America to reunite along with his cousin, Roman Bellic, who has allegedly discovered fortune after transferring to Liberty Metropolis, Niko is shocked to discover Roman is definitely broke, dwelling in a cockroach-infested condominium and operating a failing enterprise.
It doesn’t take lengthy for Niko to discover work and amass money by less-than-legal means, assembly and befriending an arms supplier named Little Jacob and dealing off Roman’s money owed with a Russian mortgage shark named Vlad Glebov. Nevertheless, after discovering that Vlad has been sleeping with Roman’s girlfriend, Niko kills him, sparking a series of occasions which places him and Roman in the sights of the Russian mafia.
To outlive, Niko allies with the crime households of Liberty Metropolis, the place he turns into tangled in their politics and turns into one among the metropolis’s most feared criminals. All the whereas, Niko has an ulterior motive, wanting to monitor down and homicide a former comrade from his days in the army that double-crossed him and his squad.
2. Grand Theft Auto: The Misplaced and The Damned
Set throughout the occasions of Grand Theft Auto 4, The Misplaced and the Damned was GTA 4’s first growth. It follows Johnny Klebitz, the Vice President of a revered bike gang referred to 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 foremost rivals, The Angels of Demise. As soon as reinstated, Billy and Johnny start to conflict after Billy orders The Misplaced to break the truce with the Angels of Demise, beginning a ruthless gang struggle.
As the two gangs battle it out, Billy begins to lead The Misplaced down a self-destructive path, guiding his brothers into more and more harmful conditions. With civil struggle brewing in 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 Homosexual Tony additionally takes place alongside the core Grand Theft Auto marketing campaign. The story follows bodyguard Luis Lopez as he tries to save 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 acquire what they’re owed. Swearing to assist his boss, Luis tries to sq. Tony’s money owed, serving to out his numerous felony acquaintances.
All of it crescendos with a dangerous plan from Tony, who decides to purchase tens of millions of {dollars} price of smuggled diamonds and change them in a deal. Nevertheless, 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, along with his attackers stealing the sword and capturing Huang. Believing him lifeless, they dump his physique, permitting Huang to escape alive. Reuniting along with his uncle, Huang embarks on an journey to monitor down the sword and ship it again to the Triads. Alongside the approach, 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 decide the place precisely it falls on the timeline, Grand Theft Auto On-line 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 recreation’s foremost marketing campaign.
The core story follows a player-created felony that heads to Los Santos to discover fortune, fame and fame, creating factions, shopping for property and participating in felony ventures. The story has developed over the years, with one among the newest updates revisiting the character of Franklin years after the occasions 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 demise throughout a financial institution theft in the small city of North Yankton, Michael Townley enters a witness safety programme, transferring to the sunny metropolis of Los Santos to stay a lifetime of luxurious in an enormous mansion along with his household.
Nevertheless, he’s lured out of retirement when he meets Franklin Clinton, an bold small-time felony despatched to repossess Michael’s son’s automotive. Forming a friendship, Michael begins to mentor Franklin, finally main the pair to rob a jewellery retailer to repay an area crime lord. Nevertheless, the act doesn’t go unnoticed.
On the outskirts of Los Santos, Michael’s former good friend and felony affiliate, Trevor Phillips, watches a clip of the heist on the information. Realizing that his seemingly lifeless companion continues to be alive in Los Santos, Trevor heads to the metropolis, becoming a member of Michael and Franklin to stage numerous elaborate heists. Nevertheless, Trevor’s animosity in direction of Michael’s betrayal begins to drive a wedge between the group, as tensions rise and the fact behind the pair’s previous comes to mild.
Each GTA Recreation in Launch Order
- Grand Theft Auto (1997)
- Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 (1999)
- Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 (1999)
- Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999)
- Grand Theft Auto 3 (2000)
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice Metropolis (2002)
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)
- Grand Theft Auto Advance (2004)
- Grand Theft Auto: Liberty Metropolis Tales (2005)
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice Metropolis Tales (2006)
- Grand Theft Auto 4 (2008)
- Grand Theft Auto: The Misplaced and The Damned (2009)
- Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (2009)
- Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Homosexual Tony (2009)
- Grand Theft Auto 5 (2013)
- Grand Theft Auto On-line (2013)
- Grand Theft Auto 6 (2025)
What’s Subsequent for Grand Theft Auto?
Take-Two Interactive has formally introduced a fall 2025 launch window for GTA 6 and is assured there will not be any delays. Whereas some recreation releases could also be affected by the ongoing SAG-AFTRA voice actors strike, IGN is in a position to affirm that GTA 6 will not be one among them.
In accordance to final 12 months’s reveal trailer, the new Grand Theft Auto recreation shall be set in Vice Metropolis and have two protagonists, although not a lot has been confirmed about the subsequent installment’s gameplay. This can be one among the greatest recreation releases to date, and we’re all hoping it is price the wait.