"Grand Theft Auto: Complete Series Play Order Revealed"

It's impossible to discuss modern video games without acknowledging the monumental impact of the Grand Theft Auto series. From its controversial beginnings on the PlayStation 1 to becoming a cultural phenomenon, the franchise has evolved significantly, with Grand Theft Auto 5 securing its place as the third best-selling game of all time.

Rockstar's journey to creating this iconic crime saga spanned over two decades, crafting expansive and immersive open worlds that keep players engaged long after their initial release. With sixteen Grand Theft Auto titles released since the series kicked off in 1997, newcomers might be curious about where to begin their criminal adventures. To help you navigate this rich universe, we've compiled a list of every GTA game in chronological order, guiding you through the crime-laden timeline. However, fans will have to wait until 2026 for the much-anticipated GTA 6.

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How to Play in Chronological Order
The 2D Timeline
The 3D Timeline
The HD Timeline
GTA Release Dates

There are a total of 16 games in the Grand Theft Auto series – eleven on home consoles, one on PC, and four on handheld devices. The next installment, GTA 6, is scheduled for release in 2026.

Before diving into the list, it's important to understand the series' continuity. As confirmed by Rockstar in 2011, the GTA series is divided into three distinct timelines: the 2D timeline, the 3D timeline, and the HD timeline. While events in these timelines may share similarities or even be identical, Rockstar does not consider them all canon to one another. We will therefore categorize the games according to their respective universes.

Which GTA Game Should You Play First?

If you're eager to dive into the Grand Theft Auto series before GTA 6 hits the shelves, starting with the latest entry, GTA 5, is highly recommended. This masterpiece is not only a standout in its own right but also widely accessible across various platforms. Plus, you can enjoy the expansive multiplayer experience offered by GTA Online.

Grand Theft Auto V

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The Grand Theft Auto 2D Timeline

Below, we’ll list the Grand Theft Auto games from the 2D universe. These summaries include mild spoilers regarding characters, settings, and story elements.

1. Grand Theft Auto: London 1961

As the second expansion for the original Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 stands out as one of the only two GTA releases not available on PlayStation, catering exclusively to PC players.

This mission pack serves as a prequel to Grand Theft Auto: London 1969, where you follow an unnamed criminal climbing the ranks within London's crime families, taking on jobs for a mobster named Harold Cartwright.

2. Grand Theft Auto: London 1969

The first expansion for the original Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto: London 1969, marked the franchise's initial foray into London.

You play as an unnamed British criminal navigating the city's underworld, battling various crime syndicates while building a legendary reputation. This includes alliances with Harold Cartwright's gang, introduced in the 1961 prequel, and confrontations with the sinister Crisp Twins.

3. Grand Theft Auto

The inaugural entry in the mainline series, Grand Theft Auto introduces a nameless protagonist carving out a criminal legacy across three iconic locations: Liberty City, San Andreas, and Vice City.

Set in 1997, the game sees the protagonist engaging in bank heists, assassinations, and getaways, collaborating with various nefarious gangs and meeting key figures like Robert Seragliano, El Burro, and Uncle Fu.

4. Grand Theft Auto 2

The second mainline installment, Grand Theft Auto 2, diverges significantly from its predecessor by introducing a futuristic setting known as Anywhere City, a locale unlike any other in the series.

You take on the role of Claude Speed, navigating the criminal underworld and working with different crime syndicates to earn money and respect. The game's timeline is ambiguous, with references pointing to both 1999 and 2013, but it marks the end of the 2D timeline.

The Grand Theft Auto 3D Timeline

Below, we’ll list the Grand Theft Auto games from the 3D universe. These summaries include mild spoilers regarding characters, settings, and story elements.

1. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

A prequel to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is set in 1984 and follows Victor Vance, a U.S. military soldier dishonorably discharged after being framed by his sergeant.

With no job prospects, Vic turns to Vice City's criminal underworld, eventually becoming the head of a crime family with help from his brother, Lance. Their adventures disrupt the city's criminal hierarchy, introducing many characters from the subsequent Vice City game, culminating in a narrative that dovetails into the start of Vice City.

2. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

The fourth mainline entry, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, is set in 1986, two years after Vice City Stories. It follows Tommy Vercetti, a notorious gangster from Liberty City, sent to Vice City to expand his boss's drug trade after his release from prison.

When a drug deal goes awry, Tommy loses both the drugs and the money, prompting a quest to restore his reputation. He allies with Lance Vance to navigate Vice City's underworld, eventually building a criminal empire that attracts the attention of his former employers.

3. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

The fifth mainline installment, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, tells the story of Carl 'CJ' Johnson and the Grove Street Families.

Set in 1992, CJ returns to Los Santos after his mother's murder in a drive-by shooting aimed at his brother. Reuniting with his crew, CJ dives back into the criminal underworld, seeking revenge and attempting to restore the Grove Street Families' reputation. Along the way, he uncovers a web of betrayal and corruption, pursued by a crooked cop named Officer Tenpenny.

4. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

Set in 1998, Liberty City Stories acts as a prequel to Grand Theft Auto 3, following Toni Cipriani, a gangster working for Salvatore Leone.

Returning from Italy after fleeing an assassination, Toni resumes his criminal activities in Liberty City, rising through the ranks of Sal's gang. He navigates the city's political landscape, murders rival crime lords, and helps the Leone family gain significant influence, setting the stage for the events of Grand Theft Auto 3.

5. Grand Theft Auto Advance

Set in 2000, Grand Theft Auto Advance is a prequel to Grand Theft Auto 3, released on the Gameboy Advance. It follows Mike, a criminal seeking revenge for his partner Vinnie's death.

Mike and Vinnie planned to leave Liberty City for new opportunities, but Vinnie's murder by a car bomb derails their plans. Driven by vengeance, Mike collaborates with characters from Grand Theft Auto 3, including 8-Ball and Asuka Kasen, to uncover and punish Vinnie's killers.

6. Grand Theft Auto 3

The final entry in the 3D timeline and the first game of the 3D era, Grand Theft Auto 3 is set in 2001 and follows Claude, a bank robber betrayed and left for dead by his girlfriend, Catalina, during a heist.

After surviving and escaping custody, Claude becomes entrenched in Liberty City's criminal scene, working with various syndicates and rising to infamy. His ultimate goal becomes revenge against Catalina, leading to a climactic confrontation.

The Grand Theft Auto HD Timeline

Below, we’ll list the Grand Theft Auto games from the HD universe. These summaries include mild spoilers regarding characters, settings, and story elements.

1. Grand Theft Auto 4

The first game in the HD era, Grand Theft Auto 4 is set in 2008 and follows Niko Bellic, an Eastern European ex-soldier arriving in Liberty City to reunite with his cousin, Roman Bellic.

Niko discovers that Roman's tales of prosperity were fabrications; he's actually struggling, living in a run-down apartment and managing a failing business. Niko quickly gets involved in criminal activities to pay off Roman's debts, forming alliances and enemies within Liberty City's crime families. His deeper motive is to hunt down a former comrade who betrayed him during their military service.

2. Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and The Damned

Set concurrently with Grand Theft Auto 4, The Lost and the Damned follows Johnny Klebitz, Vice President of the motorcycle gang, The Lost MC.

Fresh out of rehab, Johnny must navigate the gang's dynamics when its President, Billy Grey, returns and reignites a feud with their rivals, The Angels of Death. As Billy's decisions lead the gang into peril, Johnny faces a critical decision about his loyalty.

3. Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony

Also set during the events of Grand Theft Auto 4, The Ballad of Gay Tony follows Luis Lopez, a bodyguard trying to save his boss, Tony Prince, a prominent but struggling nightclub owner in Liberty City.

Tony's financial troubles and debts to the Ancelotti crime family place him in danger. Luis works to clear Tony's debts and assist his criminal contacts, culminating in a high-stakes plan to acquire and sell smuggled diamonds, which spirals into a frantic chase to secure their safety.

4. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Set in 2009, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars follows Huang Lee, the son of a murdered Triad leader, tasked with delivering an ancient sword to his uncle in Liberty City.

Upon arrival, Huang is ambushed, the sword stolen, and left for dead. Surviving the attack, he teams up with various gangs and the FIB to retrieve the sword and uncover a potential betrayal within the Triads.

5. Grand Theft Auto Online

Though its exact timeline placement is fluid, Grand Theft Auto Online begins shortly before Grand Theft Auto 5 and extends far beyond the main campaign's events.

You create a criminal character in Los Santos, engaging in heists, property acquisition, and faction building. The narrative has evolved over a decade, with recent updates involving Franklin from GTA 5 in new business ventures.

6. Grand Theft Auto 5

Set in 2013, Grand Theft Auto 5 follows three protagonists: Franklin, Michael, and Trevor. Michael, presumed dead after a bank heist in North Yankton, relocates to Los Santos under witness protection.

His retirement is disrupted when he befriends Franklin, a young criminal, and they rob a jewelry store. This act catches the attention of Trevor, Michael's old partner, who arrives in Los Santos to join them in more heists. Tensions rise as Trevor uncovers the truth about Michael's betrayal, threatening the group's cohesion.

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 City (2002)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)
Grand Theft Auto Advance (2004)
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006)
Grand Theft Auto 4 (2008)
Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and The Damned (2009)
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (2009)
Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony (2009)
Grand Theft Auto 5 (2013)
Grand Theft Auto Online (2013)
Grand Theft Auto 6 (2026)
When Are We Getting GTA 6?

A subsequent trailer, dubbed the "biggest video launch of all time" by Rockstar, showcased a blend of cinematic scenes and gameplay. We've analyzed this trailer in depth, covering every significant character and the implications for future game graphics. This could be one of the most significant game releases yet, and fans are eagerly anticipating its arrival.