Rockstar Games, a successful gaming company, is known for its popular series, Grand Theft Auto. Originating from Dundee in Scotland, Rockstar Games has achieved unprecedented success. With the upcoming release of GTA 6, it is a perfect opportunity to discuss the entire collection of GTA games, their release dates, and where each game’s narrative fits in the overall timeline.
The series began in 1997 with the original Grand Theft Auto and will make its much-anticipated return in 2025 with GTA 6. Rockstar’s open-world phenomenon is truly one-of-a-kind. The GTA games have made a significant impact on the gaming industry, continuously pushing technological advancements and generating worldwide attention, both positive and negative.
The series initially started in a 2D or 2.5D format but revolutionized the industry with the release of Grand Theft Auto 3 in 2001. This game introduced a new third-person perspective, bringing players closer to the action and marking the start of the 3D timeline for the series.
The introduction of cinematic storytelling and high-quality voice acting in the GTA series has become a trademark since its inception. Rockstar North, originally known as DMA Design, was founded in 2002 and went on to develop Vice City and San Andreas, along with spin-off games for handheld devices such as Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable.
The transition from the 3D timeline to the HD era began in 2008 with the release of Grand Theft Auto 4. We are currently still in the HD era, with the highly successful Grand Theft Auto 5 being released in 2013 and having numerous versions across three console generations. Now, fans are eagerly awaiting the long-anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto 6.
Now that there is a confirmed release window for GTA 6 and the first trailer is available, many people are eager to revisit the previous GTA games. To help with that, we have compiled a list of every Grand Theft Auto game, including their release dates and instructions on how to play them in chronological order across their three timelines.
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The Grand Theft Auto series consists of a total of 16 games. Out of these, eleven games are available on home consoles, one on PC, and four on handheld devices. It is also worth mentioning that GTA 6 is set to be released in 2025.
Before delving into the list, it is important to note that Grand Theft Auto has three distinct timelines: the 2D timeline, the 3D timeline, and the HD timeline. Rockstar confirmed this division in 2011.
Although there may be similarities or even identical events among these timelines, Rockstar does not consider all of them to be part of the same canon. Therefore, we will categorize the games based on their respective universes.
2D Universe GTA Games in Order
- Grand Theft Auto: London 1961
- Grand Theft Auto: London 1969
- Grand Theft Auto
- Grand Theft Auto 2
3D Universe GTA Games in Order
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
- Grand Theft Auto Advance
- Grand Theft Auto III
HD Universe GTA Games in Order
- Grand Theft Auto V Prologue
- Grand Theft Auto IV
- Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned
- Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony
- Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
- Grand Theft Auto Online (before Gunrunning update)
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Grand Theft Auto Online (after Gunrunning update)
The Grand Theft Auto 2D Timeline
Below, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of the Grand Theft Auto games in chronological order within the 2D universe. We will also include brief descriptions of each game, but please be aware that these descriptions may reveal some mild spoilers regarding the game’s characters, settings and key story elements.
1. Grand Theft Auto: London 1961
Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 is the second expansion for the original Grand Theft Auto game. Unlike most GTA releases, this expansion was not available on PlayStation consoles and was only accessible to PC players.
Acting as a prequel to Grand Theft Auto: London 1969, it tells the story of an unnamed criminal who climbs the ladder of London’s crime families by carrying out tasks for a mobster named Harold Cartwright.
2. Grand Theft Auto: London 1969
Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 was the inaugural expansion for the initial Grand Theft Auto game. This expansion introduced the series to the vibrant city of London.
The storyline revolves around an unnamed British criminal who embarks on a journey to fight against different crime syndicates, while simultaneously establishing their reputation in the city’s streets.
These syndicates include the notorious gang led by Harold Cartwright, whom the player aligns with in Grand Theft Auto: London 1961, as well as the menacing duo of crime lords known as the Crisp Twins.
3. Grand Theft Auto
In the popular series of GTA games, the first installment takes players on a thrilling journey through the criminal underworlds of Liberty City, San Andreas, and Vice City.
Released in 1997, players assume the role of an unnamed protagonist who engages in daring bank heists, assassinations, and getaways, all while earning a notorious reputation and assisting various nefarious gangs.
Throughout their adventures, they encounter a range of influential criminals, such as Robert Seragliano, El Burro, and Uncle Fu.
4. Grand Theft Auto 2
Considered the second installment in the popular Grand Theft Auto series, Grand Theft Auto 2 marks a significant shift from its predecessor. Unlike the first GTA game, it transports players to a futuristic metropolis named Anywhere City, which is distinctively different from any other location in the series.
In the world of GTA games, the story revolves around a character named Claude Speed who is involved in criminal activities and collaborates with different crime syndicates in Anywhere City. His main goal is to make money and gain admiration from others.
The game’s placement in the timeline is a bit confusing as there are references suggesting it could take place in both 1999 and 2013. Nevertheless, it is considered the last game in the 2D timeline.
The Grand Theft Auto 3D Timeline
Below, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of the Grand Theft Auto games in chronological order within the 3D universe. We will also include brief descriptions of each game, but please be aware that these descriptions may reveal some mild spoilers regarding the game’s characters, settings and key story elements.
1. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
GTA Games in Order: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is a game that serves as a prequel to the popular Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Set in 1984, the game follows the journey of Victor Vance, a former US military soldier who is unjustly discharged after being framed by his sergeant.
Victor, now unemployed, decides to venture into the criminal underworld of Vice City. With the help of his brother, Lance, Victor rises to become the leader of a crime family. Throughout their journey, they encounter various characters from the original GTA: Vice City game, recruiting them to join their cause.
As the game progresses, Victor’s story eventually catches up with the events that take place at the beginning of Vice City.
2. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is the fourth installment of the popular GTA series. Set in 1986, it is a sequel to Vice City Stories and follows the story of Tommy Verceti, a well-known criminal from Liberty City. After serving time in prison, Tommy is assigned the task of managing his boss’ drug business in Vice City.
Tommy finds himself in a difficult situation when a seemingly straightforward drug transaction turns into a disaster, resulting in the loss of both the drugs and the money involved. However, he is given a final opportunity to rectify the situation.
In order to redeem himself, Tommy immerses himself in the dark and dangerous side of Vice City, joining forces with Lance Vance to confront the different crime organizations and retrieve the stolen drugs and money. As Tommy gains more recognition in Vice City, he gradually establishes a thriving criminal enterprise, attracting the attention of his former bosses.
3. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is the fifth installment in the popular GTA series. This game revolves around the protagonist, Carl ‘CJ’ Johnson, and his experiences with the Grove Street Families.
Taking place in 1992, the story follows CJ as he comes back to Los Santos following the tragic death of his mother in a drive-by shooting intended to kill his brother. Upon reuniting with his friends, family, and gang members from the Grove Street Families, CJ quickly becomes involved in the criminal underworld again. He is determined to seek vengeance against the gang responsible for his mother’s murder.
In his quest to restore the Grove Street gang to its former greatness, CJ discovers that there is something suspicious happening in the background. He finds himself being chased by a corrupt police officer named Officer Tenpenny, while also having to deal with betrayal, dishonest law enforcement, and different groups competing for power over Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas.
4. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Taking place in 1998, Liberty City Stories serves as a prequel to Grand Theft Auto 3 and revolves around the character Toni Cipriani, who works for the notorious gangster Salvatore Leone. After fleeing to Italy to escape the consequences of murdering a mafia member, Toni returns to Liberty City and finds himself reluctantly working for his former boss once again.
Throughout the game, Toni encounters various influential mafia figures and rises through the ranks of Sal’s gang, eliminating rival crime bosses and aiding Leone’s political ambitions with the mayor. The story concludes with the Leone family becoming one of the most dominant crime syndicates in Liberty City, setting the stage for the events that take place in Grand Theft Auto 3.
5. Grand Theft Auto Advance
GTA Games in Order: Grand Theft Auto Advance is a game that takes place in the year 2000 and serves as a prequel to Grand Theft Auto 3. It was released specifically for the Gameboy Advance. The game follows the story of a criminal named Mike, who is seeking revenge for the death of his partner, Vinnie.
Mike decides to leave Liberty City in search of new opportunities and the story starts with him and Vinnie completing tasks for the mafia in order to tie up loose ends and gather funds for their escape. However, their plan takes a tragic turn when Vinnie is killed in a car bomb explosion.
This tragic event pushes Mike to embark on a mission to find and eliminate the individuals responsible for Vinnie’s death. During his quest for vengeance, Mike teams up with various characters from Grand Theft Auto 3, such as 8-Ball and Asuka Kasen.
6. Grand Theft Auto 3
Grand Theft Auto 3 is the first game of the 3D era in terms of release date, although it is actually the final entry in the timeline. The game is set in 2001 and follows the story of a character named Claude, who is a bank robber.
During a heist, Claude’s girlfriend Catalina shoots him and leaves him for dead. Miraculously, Claude survives but is later arrested and sentenced to life in jail. However, while being transported to prison, Claude manages to escape when the Columbian Cartel attacks the convoy in search of another prisoner.
From that point on, Claude becomes involved in the criminal underworld of Liberty City, collaborating with various factions such as the mafia and the yakuza. Despite rising to become one of the city’s most infamous gangsters, Claude’s main objective is seeking revenge on Catalina. Eventually, their paths cross again, leading to an inevitable confrontation between the former couple.
The Grand Theft Auto HD Timeline
Below, we will provide you with a comprehensive list of the Grand Theft Auto games in chronological order within the HD universe. We will also include brief descriptions of each game, but please be aware that these descriptions may reveal some mild spoilers regarding the game’s characters, settings and key story elements.
1. Grand Theft Auto 4
GTA 4, the initial release in the high-definition era of the Grand Theft Auto series, is set in 2008 and revolves around the story of Niko Bellic, a former soldier from Eastern Europe. Niko travels to Liberty City to reunite with his cousin Roman Bellic, who supposedly achieved great success after relocating there.
However, Niko is taken aback to discover that Roman is struggling financially, residing in a dilapidated apartment infested with cockroaches and managing a failing business. Niko quickly finds employment and earns money through illegal activities in the GTA game.
He meets and becomes friends with an arms dealer named Little Jacob and helps pay off Roman’s debts by working for a Russian loan shark named Vlad Glebov. However, when Niko learns that Vlad has been having an affair with Roman’s girlfriend, he decides to take matters into his own hands and kills Vlad.
This action sets off a series of events that puts Niko and Roman in danger as they become targets of the Russian mafia. In order to stay alive, Niko forms alliances with the criminal organizations in Liberty City.
He quickly gets entangled in their power struggles and ends up becoming one of the most notorious criminals in the city. However, behind his criminal activities, Niko has a hidden agenda. He seeks revenge against a former colleague from his military days who betrayed him and his team.
2. Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and The Damned
Taking place in the same timeframe as Grand Theft Auto 4, The Lost and the Damned serves as the initial expansion for GTA 4. This expansion revolves around the character Johnny Klebitz, who holds the position of Vice President in a highly respected motorcycle gang known as The Lost MC.
The story begins with the return of the gang’s President, Billy Grey, after completing a lengthy rehabilitation program. As Billy reassumes his leadership role in The Lost MC, tensions arise between him and Johnny. The conflict escalates when Billy orders the gang to break their truce with their main rivals, The Angels of Death, sparking a brutal gang war.
In the sequence of GTA games, the storyline unfolds with a fierce confrontation between two rival gangs. Billy, taking charge of The Lost, starts leading his brothers towards a destructive course, pushing them into progressively perilous circumstances. As internal conflicts escalate within the group, Johnny is compelled to question his own allegiance and make a crucial decision.
3. Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony
The Ballad of Gay Tony is the second expansion of GTA 4, and it occurs at the same time as the main Grand Theft Auto story. The narrative revolves around Luis Lopez, a bodyguard who embarks on a mission to protect his boss, Tony Prince, a renowned nightclub owner, and save his life.
Tony is a well-known figure in the vibrant nightlife of Liberty City, but unfortunately, his businesses are not doing well. Adding to his troubles, he finds himself in debt to the powerful Ancelotti crime family, who are demanding payment. Determined to assist his boss, Luis takes it upon himself to resolve Tony’s financial obligations by assisting his network of criminal associates.
The story reaches its peak when Tony hatches a daring plan to obtain a substantial amount of smuggled diamonds and trade them in a deal. Unfortunately, the plan goes awry, causing Luis to embark on a frantic search across Liberty City to recover the diamonds and prevent Tony from being overwhelmed by his debts.
4. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Set in 2009, the storyline of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars revolves around Huang Lee, the son of a Triad leader who was murdered. His mission is to travel to Liberty City and deliver an ancient sword to his uncle.
However, upon his arrival, Huang is ambushed and the sword is stolen from him. He is shot but miraculously survives. Believing him to be dead, his attackers dispose of his body, giving Huang the opportunity to escape.
Huang reunites with his uncle and together they set out on a quest to retrieve the stolen sword and return it to the Triads. Throughout his journey, Huang collaborates with different gangs and the FIB, uncovering the possibility that the theft of the sword may have been an inside job.
5. Grand Theft Auto Online
The exact placement of Grand Theft Auto Online in the timeline is challenging to determine. However, it is believed that the events in the game occur shortly before the events of Grand Theft Auto 5.
Over the span of ten years, Grand Theft Auto Online has received numerous updates that have shifted the game’s timeframe to a period well beyond the main campaign of Grand Theft Auto 5.
The primary narrative revolves around a character created by the player who embarks on a journey to Los Santos in search of wealth, recognition, and success. Throughout the game, players can establish factions, acquire properties, and engage in various criminal activities.
The storyline has undergone changes over time, and in one of the recent updates, it revisits the character Franklin several years after the events of Grand Theft Auto V. Franklin seeks the player’s assistance to support him in his entrepreneurial endeavors.
6. Grand Theft Auto 5
Taking place in the year 2013, Grand Theft Auto 5 depicts the narrative of three lawbreakers: Franklin, Michael, and Trevor. Michael Townley, who orchestrates his own demise during a bank heist in the modest town of North Yankton, enters a program that safeguards witnesses.
He relocates to the vibrant metropolis of Los Santos, accompanied by his family, where they indulge in an opulent lifestyle within a massive mansion. In spite of retiring from his criminal activities, Michael is enticed back into the world of crime after encountering Franklin Clinton.
Franklin, a young and ambitious criminal, is assigned to retrieve Michael’s son’s car. As their bond strengthens, Michael takes on the role of a mentor to Franklin. Together, they devise a plan to rob a jewelry store in order to settle a debt with a powerful local crime boss.
Unfortunately, their actions do not escape the attention of others. In the outskirts of Los Santos, Trevor Phillips, who used to be Michael’s friend and criminal partner, comes across a news clip showing a heist. He discovers that Michael, who he thought was dead, is actually alive in Los Santos.
Intrigued, Trevor decides to go to the city and team up with Michael and Franklin to plan and execute several complex heists. However, Trevor’s anger towards Michael for betraying him starts to create conflicts within the group. Tensions escalate and the secrets from their shared history begin to unravel.
I enjoyed reading about the different storylines in the Grand Theft Auto games. It’s interesting to see how each game follows a different set of characters and conflicts within the criminal underworld.
I’m a big fan of the GTA series and I’m excited for the release of GTA 6. It’s interesting to see how the games have evolved from the 2D format to the HD era. Can’t wait to revisit the previous games and
I’m a huge fan of the GTA series and I can’t wait for the release of GTA 6! It’s interesting to see the evolution of the games from the 2D timeline to the HD era. Rockstar Games has definitely made a significant impact on the gaming industry.