Grand Theft Auto is one of gaming’s biggest franchises, but its release order, spin-offs and different “universes” confuse a lot of new fans. This guide explains every major GTA game in plain language: when it came out, where it is set, who you play and what it is best known for.
Every Main GTA Game at a Glance
| Game | Year | Setting | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto | 1997 | Liberty City, San Francisco, Vice City | Top-down chaos and the series’ first police chases |
| Grand Theft Auto 2 | 1999 | A near-future “Anywhere City” | Rival gangs that react to how you treat them |
| Grand Theft Auto III | 2001 | Liberty City | The jump to a full 3D open world |
| Vice City | 2002 | Vice City, 1986 | 1980s style, voiced hero, huge soundtrack |
| San Andreas | 2004 | A state with three cities, 1992 | Massive map and character customization |
| Grand Theft Auto IV | 2008 | Liberty City | A serious story and heavy, physical driving |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 2013 | Los Santos and Blaine County | Three playable leads, heists and GTA Online |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 2026 (scheduled November 19) | Leonida, with Vice City | Two leads, Lucia and Jason |
The Top-Down Era (1997 to 1999)
The original Grand Theft Auto was made by DMA Design, the Scottish studio that later became Rockstar North. It used an overhead camera and let you roam three cities, taking criminal jobs or just causing trouble. Two add-on packs set in London followed in 1999. Grand Theft Auto 2 arrived the same year with a gang reputation system, where helping one gang could turn another against you.
The 3D Era: III, Vice City and San Andreas (2001 to 2004)
Fans often call this group the “3D universe”. Grand Theft Auto III (2001) moved the camera behind the player and made Liberty City a fully walkable 3D world. Its silent hero, Claude, let the city be the star.
Vice City (2002) added a talking protagonist, Tommy Vercetti, and a neon 1980s setting. San Andreas (2004) followed Carl “CJ” Johnson across an entire state, with three cities, countryside and a system for building up skills and changing your look. For many players, it is still the series’ high point for variety.
The HD Era: IV and V (2008 to 2013)
Fans call the next group the “HD universe”. Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) follows Niko Bellic, an immigrant trying to escape his past in a grittier Liberty City. Vehicles and characters had real weight, which made the game feel more serious than its predecessors. Two story expansions, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, were released in 2009 as Episodes from Liberty City.
Grand Theft Auto V (2013) lets you switch between three leads, Michael, Franklin and Trevor, and built its missions around heists. Its online mode, GTA Online, launched a few weeks later and has been updated ever since. The game has been re-released for newer consoles and PC, which is why it has stayed popular for so long.
Want to see how one vehicle changed across these games? Read our Bobcat evolution breakdown.
Handheld Games and Spin-Offs
- Grand Theft Auto Advance (2004): a top-down game for the Game Boy Advance.
- Liberty City Stories (2005) and Vice City Stories (2006): PSP prequels that were later ported to PlayStation 2.
- Chinatown Wars (2009): a top-down game first released on Nintendo DS, with a strong reputation among fans.
Remasters and GTA Online
In November 2021, Rockstar released Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, a remaster bundle of III, Vice City and San Andreas. It launched with widely reported technical problems that the studio patched afterward. GTA Online remains a separate, always-updated multiplayer world tied to GTA V.
GTA VI: What Comes Next
Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for November 19, 2026 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. It returns to Vice City in the state of Leonida and has two playable leads, Lucia and Jason. See everything Rockstar revealed in the extended look, and our GTA evolution timeline for how the series got here.
Bottom Line
Each GTA game tells its own story, so you do not need to play them in order. The easiest way in is GTA V for a modern experience, or Vice City and San Andreas if you want the classics that shaped the series.
FAQ
In what order should I play the GTA games?
Any order works, because each main game has a standalone story. Release order is the best way to see how the series evolved, while starting with GTA V is the easiest way to play on current hardware.
What is the difference between the 3D and HD universes?
These are fan labels. The 3D universe covers GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas and their stories, while the HD universe starts with GTA IV and includes GTA V. Each has its own versions of cities and characters.
Is GTA Online part of GTA V?
Yes. GTA Online launched in 2013, shortly after GTA V, and runs as its own multiplayer mode with its own updates. You can play it without finishing the single-player story.
Dates and details come from official Rockstar and Take-Two announcements and are updated as new information is released.