16 GTA Games in Order: Complete Series Guide (2026)
GTA games in order tell the story of how this series grew from a scrappy top-down crime game into one of the biggest franchises in gaming history. If you want to follow the GTA series in order, this guide traces that progression across every era. I’ve played them all – some way too much – and each one has its own vibe: chaotic, colorful, dark, or just pure sandbox mayhem.
It all started in 1997 with the original Grand Theft Auto. Then GTA III went 3D, Vice City brought the ’80s excess, San Andreas delivered the crime epic, and GTA IV through GTA VI pushed the series into blockbuster territory. How many GTA games are there? The series currently covers 16 titles in this guide. Let’s break down all GTA games in order to see how the franchise evolved.
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Our Top Picks for Grand Theft Auto Games
When it comes to GTA games in order, picking the best title is a rather difficult task. After all, every single one of these titles was revolutionary in its own way, which makes up for a lot of things to consider. However, based on their impact, gameplay, feeling, and sheer fun factor, I’d say that GTA games in order of quality goes something like this:
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Buy nowGrand Theft Auto V 2013Become a part of a huge modern-day world and an insane crime story told through its three protagonists – Michael, Franklin, and Trevor.
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Buy nowGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas 2004Take on the role of one of the most iconic gaming characters, CJ, and embark on an epic crime odyssey across San Andreas.
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Buy nowGrand Theft Auto: Vice City 2002Put on the shoes of yet another unforgettable protagonist, Tommy Vercetti, and dive into a Scarface-style, 80s Miami vibe story.
Of course, any ranking of GTA games in order could go in many different directions. These games are just that good, and our full GTA games ranked retrospective shows just how difficult it is to put the series in a definitive order. Thus, let’s not linger, because soon we’ll explore all of them.
Below you’ll find GTA games in order by release date, as well as another list based on which year they take place in their universe if you want to play chronologically. That gives you two ways to follow the GTA series in order, depending on how you want to play.
But first, how many GTA games are there? This guide counts 16 titles across the series. Shall we begin?
Can’t Wait for GTA 6? Start With the Trilogy
If you’ve never played a GTA game before, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition is the perfect entry point if you want to play GTA games in order of accessibility for new players. It bundles three classics – GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas – in one package, covering the three biggest 3D-era games in one shot. Each game builds on the last, so you get a natural progression through the era that defined the franchise.
The remastered visuals and modernized controls make it a lot more accessible than the originals, so you’re not fighting clunky mechanics from the early 2000s. We put it through its paces in our full GTA: The Trilogy review if you want the full breakdown before buying. It’s the smartest way to jump into the list of GTA games in order without hunting down three separate titles.
GAMES LIKE GRAND THEFT AUTO
16 GTA Games in Order of Release Date
How many GTA games are there? The Grand Theft Auto series, which first blessed our computer screens in 1997, consists of sixteen titles, including eleven full releases, four expansions, and one dedicated multiplayer game.
Here’s the full list of all GTA games in order, lined up according to their release date:
All of these games are officially divided into three different eras and exist in their own shared separate universes: 2D Universe, 3D Universe, and HD Universe. However, if you want to play the GTA games in chronological order, the earlier released games might not come first.
If that’s what you’re after, below you’ll find three lists organizing all GTA games in order across the different universes and their respective timelines. Together, they make the GTA series much easier to follow. Enjoy!
GTA Games in Order: The 2D Universe Timeline
The 2D era is where all GTA games in order begin – and it's the wildest timeline of the GTA timeline. How many GTA games are there in the 2D era? There are four, spanning from 1961 to 1999; there's no deep lore, no iconic characters, and no overarching plot.
Just faceless criminals doing dirty work across Liberty City, Vice City, San Andreas, and the futuristic Anywhere City. While they are set in specific years, there’s no right or wrong on how you play these GTA games in order because each game resets the world entirely. It feels lawless, arcadey, and a little rough around the edges – but that's exactly what makes it legendary.
1. Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 [A Free Add-On to London’s Underworld]
- Platforms
- PC
- Release Date
- June 1, 1999
- Genre
- Action-adventure
- Best For
- Completionists curious about the series' tiniest retro curio
- Mode
- Single-player multiplayer
- Length
- ~2 Hours (Main Story) / ~3 Hours (100% Completion)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, BBFC 18
- Developer
- Rockstar Canada
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games
- Language
- EN
- Features
- Free downloadable add-on, 1961 London setting, top-down view, multiplayer deathmatch
- Microtransactions
- NO
Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 is a weird little gem. It’s actually an expansion for GTA: London 1969, but way smaller. It came out in 1999, only on PC, and you needed both the first GTA game and its first expansion, London 1969, to even play it.
It’s set in – you guessed it – London, but this time, it's 8 years earlier. You play as a nameless rising gangster, doing dirty jobs for the underworld.
GTA: London 1961 is one of the most obscure releases in the series, showing how early Rockstar Games was already experimenting with expansions, historical settings, and multiplayer before GTA became a global phenomenon. It’s also an interesting early stop when looking at every GTA game in order.
The city feels a bit different, with fewer cars and more old-school vibes. The missions are pretty much classic GTA: drive here, shoot this guy, run from the cops.
The game is super short. You can finish the missions in two hours if you’re quick. But wanna know one really cool thing about it? Multiplayer. Yeah, it had a deathmatch mode, which was wild for the time.
My Verdict: GTA: London 1961 is really just a fun little add-on rather than a full game among the entries in this list of GTA games in order. If you love classic GTA and its London 1969 expansion, this game is worth checking out just for the retro London feel.
2. Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 [Classic GTA in Swinging London]
- Platforms
- PC, PS1
- Release Date
- April 1999
- Genre
- Action-adventure
- Best For
- Retro fans who want top-down mayhem in swinging '60s London
- Mode
- Single-player multiplayer
- Length
- ~5 Hours (Main Story)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, BBFC 18
- Developer
- Rockstar Canada, Runecraft (PlayStation)
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT
- Features
- Top-down 1960s London, cockney slang dialogue, classic British cars, gang jobs
- Microtransactions
- NO
Grand Theft Auto: London 1969, the first expansion of the original GTA, is pure chaos in a retro British wrapper. You’re still looking at that top-down mayhem, but now? You’re a nameless criminal, tearing through 1960s London like a proper old-time gangster, fighting against various crime syndicates and building your legend.
It came out in 1999, and honestly, it’s got some charm if you’re playing all GTA games in order. While the gameplay isn't any different, the world is, when compared to the American cities in GTA 1. You’ve got red phone booths, classic British cars like the Jaguar E-Type, and characters throwing out the most ridiculous cockney slang you’ve ever heard.
GTA: London 1969 gave the series its first setting outside the United States, showing early on that Rockstar Games could transplant GTA’s criminal sandbox into a completely different place and era without losing its identity. It’s worth checking out when playing GTA games in order, particularly if you want to experience every GTA game in order of release.
The controls are still clunky, and it’s definitely aged, but anyone playing GTA games in order will find plenty of old-school charm here. It’s about 5 hours long, which is quite decent for a DLC, and it really is a pretty wild ride.
My Verdict: GTA: London 1969 is rough around the edges today, but its distinct British setting gives classic GTA a personality all its own.
3. Grand Theft Auto [The Original Open-World Crime Classic]
- Platforms
- MS-DOS, Windows, PS1, Game Boy Color
- Release Date
- November 28, 1997 on PC
- Genre
- Action-adventure
- Best For
- History buffs wanting to see where the whole series began
- Mode
- Single-player multiplayer
- Length
- ~13 Hours (Main Story) / ~17 Hours (100% Completion)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, PEGI 16
- Developer
- Rockstar North (then DMA Design)
- Publisher
- BMG Interactive
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT
- Features
- Top-down view, three cities, payphone mission jobs, points-based progression
- Microtransactions
- NO
Ahh, Grand Theft Auto 1 – the game that started it all. Released in 1997, the same year that the game takes place, it was rough, chaotic, and absolutely groundbreaking for its time. That is exactly why everyone loved it.
Starting off as a nameless protagonist, you go on a grand criminal underworld adventure through Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas. Your goal is to climb the criminal ladder by any means necessary, whether completing bank heists, assassinations, getaways, building a reputation with various gangs, or anything else.
Grand Theft Auto 1 laid the foundation for the entire GTA formula, introducing open-city crime, vehicle theft, police chases, and mission-based progression years before the series moved into 3D. It’s the key starting point for understanding the GTA series in order.
Unlike with later entries in this list of all GTA games in order, the story is pretty straightforward. You get a job, complete it, and move on to the next one. But honestly, it's very easy to spend much more time just messing around. Focusing on the main missions, the game takes around 13 hours to beat, yet the potential playtime is limitless.
My Verdict: There aren't many things about Grand Theft Auto 1 that would be impressive by today's standards. But for 1997, it was insane, and it's worth a shot just to have a taste of the history of these GTA games in order.
4. Grand Theft Auto 2 [Gang Warfare Gets an Upgrade]
- Platforms
- PC, PS1, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color
- Release Date
- October 22, 1999
- Genre
- Action-adventure
- Best For
- Old-school fans who like picking sides in a futuristic gang war
- Mode
- Single-player multiplayer
- Length
- ~12 Hours (Main Story) / ~27 Hours (100% Completion)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, BBFC 18
- Developer
- DMA Design
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT, ES
- Features
- Gang respect system, three-district Anywhere City, church save points, army wanted levels
- Microtransactions
- NO
Grand Theft Auto 2, which blessed our PCs and gaming systems in 1999, is arguably the most unique game in the whole series. It took the foundation laid by the first game and made some serious improvements.
The game takes us to the mysterious, cyberpunk-type futuristic Anywhere City, which itself is split into three districts. To this day, it's not completely clear whether the game takes place in 1999 or 2013.
The player takes on the role of Claude Speed – a small-time thug trying to make it big. The city is controlled by gangs. Yakuza, Russian Mafia, crazy scientists – you can work for whoever you want. Helping one earns their favor but makes the others hate you.
Grand Theft Auto 2 made gangs a much bigger part of GTA by introducing a reputation system that changed how rival factions treated you, making it an important step in the evolution of the GTA series in order.
It’s all about picking sides, earning respect, and not getting obliterated by the cops (or the SWAT, FBI, and military if you push far enough). It’s around 12 hours long, but due to its arcady nature, you can spend a whole lot more just blowing stuff up for fun. It's absolutely an icon, so if you can get your hands on it, I highly recommend it.
"And remember... Respect is everything."
My Verdict: Grand Theft Auto 2 is a noticeable step up from the original thanks to its gang reputation system, more aggressive law enforcement, and strange retrofuturistic setting. The top-down gameplay has aged, but fans interested in the series' evolution should give Anywhere City a visit when they’re playing all GTA games in order.
GTA Games in Order: The 3D Universe Timeline
The 3D era is the beating heart of the GTA timeline. How many GTA games are there in the 3D Universe? There are six spanning from 1984 to 2001 across GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, Liberty City Stories, Vice City Stories, and Advance.
Playing these GTA games in order is a good starting point. Each has its own identity: rainy, crime-ridden Liberty City; neon-soaked Vice City; the sprawling chaos of San Andreas. The characters are iconic, the stories are personal, and this chapter of GTA games in order remains something truly special.
5. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories [Build a Criminal Empire in Vice City]
- Platforms
- PSP, PS2, PS3
- Release Date
- October 31, 2006
- Genre
- Action-adventure, open-world
- Best For
- Vice City lovers keen to see the city's rougher 1984 roots
- Mode
- Single-player multiplayer (PSP only)
- Length
- ~16 Hours (Main Story) / ~40 Hours (100% Completion)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, PEGI 18+, BBFC 18
- Developer
- Rockstar Leeds, Rockstar North
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT, ES, JA
- Features
- Criminal empire building, 1984 Vice City, swimming, PSP ad hoc multiplayer
- Microtransactions
- NO
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is a true hidden gem of the series. It’s a prequel to the legendary GTA: Vice City, set in 1984. The world’s familiar, but it’s rougher, less polished – it's the same old city before it became the neon crime capital we know.
You play as Victor "Vic" Vance, a soldier trying to stay out of trouble. Spoiler: He fails miserably. After getting screwed over by his corrupt commander, he's forced into the underworld, which eventually leads to him building his very own drug empire.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories expanded on Vice City with a full empire-building system, letting you seize rival businesses and turn them into criminal operations. Its 1984 setting also gives it an early place in the GTA series in order of story chronology.
There are gang wars, drug deals, betrayals, and plenty of ‘80s madness. Oh, and Lance Vance, his chaotic brother, whom you may know from the other Vice City game, is here too.
The gameplay essentially blends San Andreas with Vice City, bringing the best of both worlds. The story takes about 16 hours, and it's endlessly fun the whole way through. Sounds fun? That's because it is. If you can get your hands on it when you’re playing all GTA games in order, it's definitely worth a shot.
My Verdict: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is far more ambitious than its PSP origins might suggest, with empire management adding another layer to the familiar open-world chaos. Vice City fans who are playing all GTA games in order will appreciate this prequel.
6. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City [Rule the Neon Streets of the ‘80s]
- Platforms
- PlayStation 2, PC, Xbox, macOS, iOS, Android, PlayStation 4, Kindle Fire
- Release Date
- October 27, 2002
- Genre
- Action-adventure, open-world
- Best For
- Anyone craving neon-soaked '80s crime and mob-movie swagger
- Mode
- Single-player
- Length
- ~17 Hours (Main Story) / ~38 Hours (100% Completion)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, PEGI 18+, BBFC 18
- Developer
- Rockstar North
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT, ES
- Features
- Buyable property businesses, licensed '80s radio, motorbikes and helicopters
- Microtransactions
- NO
My personal all-time favorite title in the series is, without a doubt, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Released in 2002, it’s a crime-filled, neon-soaked love letter to Miami and mob movies, and it could hardly feel any cooler playing it.
Set in 1986, the game gives you a city that is simply alive – beaches, nightclubs, and an absolutely killer ‘80s soundtrack make just driving around feel iconic.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City gave GTA its first fully voiced protagonist and let Rockstar North push the series toward more cinematic characters, a stronger sense of place, and a bigger criminal fantasy.
The story follows Tommy Vercetti, a tough guy fresh out of prison, sent to Vice City to oversee the expansion of his boss' drug operations. Like with most titles in this list of the GTA series in order, things go horribly wrong, and Tommy is forced to use every means necessary to redeem himself. But, of course, nothing is ever as straightforward in the criminal world, is it?
At around 17 hours, the campaign is packed with some sweet action and a killer story with some of the best voice acting in the series, including Ray Liotta as Tommy Vercetti. Explore, cause mayhem, and fly helicopters into the sunset. It’s GTA with style, attitude, and a whole lot of Scarface energy.
My Verdict: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City remains one of GTA’s most memorable trips into organized crime, thanks to its incredible 1980s atmosphere and a city packed with personality.
GAMES LIKE GRAND THEFT AUTO
7. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas [The ‘90s Crime Epic]
- Platforms
- PS 2/3/4/5, PC, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, macOS, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Fire OS
- Release Date
- October 26, 2004
- Genre
- Action-adventure, open-world
- Best For
- Players who want a sprawling '90s crime epic across a whole state
- Mode
- Single-player local multiplayer (select console versions)
- Length
- ~30 Hours (Main Story) / ~69 Hours (100% Completion)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, PEGI 18+, BBFC 18
- Developer
- Rockstar North
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT, ES
- Features
- Three cities and countryside, RPG-style stats and fitness, gang turf wars, jetpack
- Microtransactions
- NO
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the fifth mainline game in the series, was simply massive. The story took us to the 1992 San Andreas state with three cities, a giant countryside, deserts, mountains, and a world that felt alive.
You play as Carl "CJ" Johnson, a guy who returns home to Los Santos after his mom is murdered. The city’s a mess – gang wars, crooked cops, and old friends who don’t trust you. What starts as a simple mission to rebuild your crew turns into something way bigger.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas pushed the series to a completely different scale, giving players three major cities. When playing the GTA series in order of release, it represents one of the biggest expansions of the classic formula and one of the clearest milestones across every GTA game in order.
On your way to becoming the kingpin of San Andreas, you'll go on a massive crime odyssey. Face action, betrayal, and some of the greatest characters in gaming history, like Officer Tenpenny, voiced by Samuel L. Jackson himself. The campaign itself is around 30 hours, but there is so much more to do. Add the chaos of GTA cheat codes, and it becomes an even bigger playground.
My Verdict: San Andreas is widely accepted to be the greatest GTA game ever made, and while I might love Vice City's feeling a bit more, this title absolutely deserves the top spot on that list. It isn’t just a game – it’s a whole world waiting to be conquered.
GAMES LIKE GRAND THEFT AUTO
8. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories [A Mobster’s Rise in Liberty City]
- Platforms
- PSP, PS2, PS3, iOS, Android, Fire OS
- Release Date
- October 25, 2005
- Genre
- Action-adventure, open-world
- Best For
- Mob-movie fans hungry for more of GTA III's rainy Liberty City
- Mode
- Single-player multiplayer (PSP only)
- Length
- ~14 Hours (Main Story) / ~39 Hours (100% Completion)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, PEGI 18+
- Developer
- Rockstar Leeds, Rockstar North
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT, ES
- Features
- 1998 Liberty City, Toni Cipriani's Mafia story, motorcycles, PSP ad hoc multiplayer
- Microtransactions
- NO
A prequel to GTA III, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories is like stepping into a mobster movie, with the beginning straight-up reminiscing of classics like Goodfellas and The Sopranos. It takes us back to 1998 in the same dark, rainy Liberty City, but with new characters, new stories, and just as much chaos.
The protagonists in this list of GTA games in order are far from saints, Toni Cipriani is arguably the most evil person you get to play in the series. As a loyal hitman forced into hiding after killing a made man, you return to Liberty City, only to find it a mess.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories brought the 3D-era GTA formula to a handheld for the first time, proving that a full open-world Liberty City could work on the PSP. It also fills an important gap in the GTA series in order before GTA III.
From there, you start climbing your way to the top of the city's crime world, dealing with corrupt politicians, gang wars, and backstabbing bosses along the way.
My Verdict: Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories might not be the strongest entry in the series, but if you’re playing all GTA games in order, it’s still 14 hours of good old GTA chaos. If you feel like you haven't had enough of Liberty City vibes, this is a perfect way to get your fill.
9. Grand Theft Auto Advance [Top-Down Crime in Liberty City]
- Platforms
- Game Boy Advance
- Release Date
- October 26, 2004
- Genre
- Action-adventure, open-world
- Best For
- Handheld collectors wanting a story-driven top-down prequel
- Mode
- Single-player
- Length
- ~7 Hours (Main Story) / ~16.5 Hours (100% Completion)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, PEGI 16+
- Developer
- Digital Eclipse
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT, ES
- Features
- Top-down Liberty City, three unlockable islands, vigilante and paramedic jobs, rampages
- Microtransactions
- NO
Grand Theft Auto Advance is a pretty unusual entry in the series. Released in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance, it ditches the usual 3D world, going back to its top-down, old-school looks but keeping the Liberty City’s gritty vibe.
The game, which among GTA games in order of the story is another prequel to GTA III, places you in the year 2000. You play as Mike, a guy trying to escape the criminal life with his partner, Vinnie. But just when they’re about to leave, boom – Vinnie’s car explodes. Now Mike’s stuck in the city, running jobs for gangsters, crooked cops, and some seriously shady people, all while chasing the truth.
Across the GTA games in order, Grand Theft Auto Advance brought the series back to its top-down roots while keeping ideas introduced during the series’ 3D era. That unusual mix gives it a distinct place among every GTA game in order.
Despite its looks, the game was actually a lot more interesting than it appears. It's a lot closer to its roots, true, but the game is way less arcadey and is a lot more story-driven than the first GTA titles. It’s about 7 hours long, and while it's definitely not perfect, I think it's great fun and deserves more love than it gets among fans who played all entries in this list of GTA games in order.
My Verdict: Grand Theft Auto Advance is an interesting bridge between old-school and 3D-era GTA, squeezing Liberty City crime into a surprisingly capable handheld package. It lacks the personality of the console entries around it, but series fans should find plenty of historical curiosity here.
10. Grand Theft Auto III [The First GTA Game in 3D]
- Platforms
- PlayStation 2/3/4, PC, Xbox, macOS, iOS, Android, Fire OS
- Release Date
- October 22, 2001
- Genre
- Action-adventure, open-world
- Best For
- Players who want to see the open-world 3D revolution first-hand
- Mode
- Single-player
- Length
- ~14 Hours (Main Story) / ~36 Hours (100% Completion)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, PEGI 18+, BBFC 18
- Developer
- DMA Design
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT, ES
- Features
- First fully 3D Liberty City, three unlockable islands, talk radio, vigilante side jobs
- Microtransactions
- NO
Grand Theft Auto III was the first title in the series that really made me feel like I was inside a crime movie. Released in 2001 and set in the same year, the game finally went 3D and threw us straight into Liberty City – a dark, rainy, and dangerous place where everyone had an angle.
As Claude, a silent outlaw betrayed and left for dead by his girlfriend, Catalina, you embark on an epic, crime-filled journey of revenge. This means working your way from the bottom up – doing jobs for the Mafia, Yakuza, and all kinds of lunatics.
Grand Theft Auto III transformed the series by taking its criminal sandbox into a fully 3D open world. It established the third-person exploration, driving, combat, radio stations, and mission structure that would shape GTA and influence open-world games for decades.
Despite the game being old, the city still feels real. It's like it has a pulse. Just stealing a car and listening to Chatterbox FM is as fun as it was back in the day. I spent around 14 hours on the game's story and then some just messing around.
My Verdict: Grand Theft Auto III’s aiming is clunky, there’s no in-game map, and overall, the game does feel a bit dated, but the experience is still excellent. If you plan to play all GTA games in order, it's absolutely worth checking out.
GAMES LIKE GRAND THEFT AUTO
GTA Games in Order: The HD Universe Timeline
The HD era is where the GTA games in order get cinematic. How many GTA games are there in the HD universe? There are six titles, including expansions. Kicking off with GTA IV in 2008 and running through GTA V in 2013, this chapter trades arcade chaos for grounded, flawed characters – Niko Bellic chasing ghosts, Michael, Franklin, and Trevor imploding in slow motion.
Liberty City and Los Santos feel more alive than ever. It's the most mature stretch when playing GTA games in order, and it's still growing.
11. Grand Theft Auto IV [The Darkest Take on Liberty City]
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Release Date
- April 29, 2008
- Genre
- Action-adventure, open-world
- Best For
- Fans of grounded, gritty crime drama and weighty physics
- Mode
- Single-player multiplayer
- Length
- ~27 Hours (Main Story) / ~72 Hours (100% Completion)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, PEGI 18+
- Developer
- Rockstar North
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT, ES, RU, JA
- Features
- Euphoria physics, phone-based friendships, cover-based shooting, story choices
- Microtransactions
- NO
Starting off the HD universe, Grand Theft Auto IV brought a huge change to the franchise. It not only looked different, it felt like that. It was darker and more grounded. It wasn’t just about crime anymore – it was about the American Dream falling apart.
Taking place in 2008, the same year the game was released, Liberty City had never looked more real, from its towering skyline to the trash in the streets. You play as Niko Bellic, an Eastern European immigrant from Serbia who arrives looking to build a new life, only to quickly end up chasing the haunting shadows of his old life.
Grand Theft Auto IV marked a major tonal and technical shift if you’re looking at GTA games in order, with Rockstar North building a denser, more grounded Liberty City around Niko Bellic’s pursuit of the American Dream. It also opens the HD era of the GTA series in order.
The story takes 27+ hours, and the choices you make actually matter. Combat feels weighty, driving is very realistic, and the physics are just pure fun. With no jetpacks or tanks, and with much more grounded characters and story, the game is a little less chaotic than the previous titles. But I think that this might be exactly what makes it one of the best GTA games ever.
My Verdict: Grand Theft Auto IV remains one of the series’ strongest stories, with its darker tone and weightier gameplay that make it a standout for players who want to play GTA games in order, but want to see it at its most grounded.
GAMES LIKE GRAND THEFT AUTO
12. Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned [Biker Warfare in Liberty City]
- Platforms
- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Release Date
- February 17, 2009
- Genre
- Action-adventure, open-world
- Best For
- Biker-drama fans who want Sons of Anarchy-style outlaw chaos
- Mode
- Single-player multiplayer
- Length
- ~6 Hours (Main Story) / ~17 Hours (100% Completion)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, PEGI 18+, BBFC 18
- Developer
- Rockstar North
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT, ES
- Features
- Formation riding, upgradable gang backup, biker gang wars, new shotguns and bikes
- Microtransactions
- NO
The first GTA IV expansion, Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned, which takes place around the same time as the main game in 2008, gave us yet another awesomely unique perspective on the game. It ditches Niko’s immigrant story for something louder, meaner, and a whole lot messier – the world of biker gangs.
You play as Johnny Klebitz, the VP of The Lost MC, who’s been keeping things running while his reckless boss, Billy Grey, was in rehab. With Billy back, the gang begins a downward spiral into war with rivals, stupid decisions, and betrayals waiting to happen. You, as Johnny, get stuck choosing between loyalty and survival.
Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned tells a substantial new GTA story inside an existing open world. Its intersecting storyline also gave players a new perspective on events from GTA IV if they’re playing GTA games in order of release.
The story runs about 6 hours, and riding in formation with your crew feels incredible. Combat is brutal, with shotguns that hit like a truck. Despite taking place in the same game, it's really like no other GTA title.
My Verdict: Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned is pure outlaw chaos, and I loved every second. If you’re playing GTA games in order, it’s definitely worth checking it out, especially if you want to feel like you're in one of the Sons of Anarchy episodes.
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13. Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony [Nightlife and Mayhem]
- Platforms
- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Release Date
- October 29, 2009
- Genre
- Action-adventure, open-world
- Best For
- Thrill-seekers after flashy nightlife and over-the-top action
- Mode
- Single-player multiplayer
- Length
- ~8 Hours (Main Story) / ~23.5 Hours (100% Completion)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, PEGI 18+
- Developer
- Rockstar North
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT, ES
- Features
- Parachute jumps, nightclub management jobs, sticky bombs, APC and Buzzard
- Microtransactions
- NO
If The Lost and Damned were gritty and grim, GTA IV’s second expansion, Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony, flips things over completely. Taking place in 2008, it gives us some fast, flashy, and over-the-top action through a peek at Liberty City's nightlife, where money talks and explosions are just another night out.
You take on the role of Luis Lopez, the right-hand man of nightclub mogul Tony Prince, aka Gay Tony. Of course, this life doesn't come cheap. Tony’s in deep – debts, shady deals, and dangerous people knocking at his door – and it’s up to Luis to keep things from falling apart. That means working for mobsters, arms dealers, and complete lunatics, all while keeping the party going.
Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony brought spectacle and excess back to Liberty City, adding parachuting, explosive new weapons, extravagant vehicles, nightclub management, and some of the wildest missions of the GTA IV era.
It’s around 8 hours long, and it's all packed with insane fun. Skydiving, tank battles, blowing up helicopters with a golden Uzi – this game doesn’t hold back.
My Verdict: Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony’s story may not be as polished as GTA IV or The Lost and Damned, but if you want some good old GTA chaos, this is it!
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14. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars [GTA Returns to Its Top-Down Roots]
- Platforms
- Nintendo DS, PSP, iOS, Android, Kindle Fire
- Release Date
- March 17, 2009
- Genre
- Action-adventure, open-world
- Best For
- Handheld players wanting a compact, polished top-down revenge story
- Mode
- Single-player multiplayer
- Length
- ~9 Hours (Main Story) / ~27 Hours (100% Completion)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, PEGI 18+
- Developer
- Rockstar Leeds, Rockstar North
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT, ES
- Features
- Cel-shaded top-down style, drug-dealing trade, touch-screen minigames, Liberty City
- Microtransactions
- NO
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is like a little GTA fever dream. However, that absolutely doesn't mean that it's bad. Taking place in 2009, it gives us a completely different side of Liberty City – the Chinatown district, where everything is more colorful but just as chaotic and gritty.
You play as Huang Lee, the spoiled son of a murdered Triad boss. He comes to Liberty City expecting to take his rightful place in the underworld. Instead? He gets robbed, shot, and left for dead. Now, he’s out for revenge, navigating a world of gang wars, betrayal, and dirty money.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars brought GTA back to an overhead perspective and packed it with clever handheld-specific ideas and surprisingly deep systems.
What’s wild about this game is the top-down view and how it feels like a throwback to older GTA games but with much more polish. The story’s solid and about 9 hours long, and it's packed with a whole bunch of cool minigames.
My Verdict: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars may not be quite as impressive as the mainline titles in the series when playing GTA games in order, but if you’re looking for a compact, crazy GTA experience with a fresh feel, this is it.
15. Grand Theft Auto Online [Build Your Criminal Empire Online]
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Release Date
- October 1, 2013
- Genre
- Action-adventure, open-world
- Best For
- Crews who want an endless crime sandbox to grind with friends
- Mode
- Online multiplayer
- Length
- N/A (No main story campaign) / ~49–996 Hours (Single player)
- Offline Play
- No
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, PEGI 18+
- Developer
- Rockstar North
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT, ES, JA, KO, PL, PT-BR, RU, ZH-CN, ZH-TW
- Features
- Multiplayer heists, ownable businesses, Diamond Casino, custom races and jobs
- Microtransactions
- YES
Grand Theft Auto Online, which came out a couple of weeks after GTA V, is like stepping into the ultimate crime sandbox – here, you can do anything, including some top racing game action.
However, when it comes to the timeline, things are a little complicated, as the game started out shortly before the GTA V storyline (2013) but has since shifted to a period way past it.
Grand Theft Auto Online turned Rockstar North’s open world into a long-running multiplayer platform that has kept Los Santos active for more than a decade.
You start off as a nobody, fresh off a plane in Los Santos, trying to make a name for yourself. At first, it's just small jobs, such as stealing cars and running errands, but soon, you're robbing banks, running businesses, and living like a king. Unlike most entries in this list of GTA games in order, this title has no main story, but the world keeps expanding with new heists, missions, and insane updates.
My Verdict: Grand Theft Auto Online might be running for ten-plus years, but there's always something to keep coming back to. Whether you’re in it for the crime, the chaos, or just the cars, GTA Online never really ends, and the potential fun you can have there is damn near unlimited.
GAMES LIKE GRAND THEFT AUTO
16. Grand Theft Auto V [The Biggest Los Santos Crime Saga]
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3/4/5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Release Date
- September 17, 2013
- Genre
- Action-adventure, open-world
- Best For
- Anyone wanting the series' biggest heists and three-way story
- Mode
- Single-player online multiplayer
- Length
- ~32 Hours (Main Story) / ~89 Hours (100% Completion)
- Offline Play
- Yes
- Age Rating
- ESRB M, PEGI 18+
- Developer
- Rockstar North
- Publisher
- Rockstar Games
- Language
- EN, FR, DE, IT, ES, JA, KO, PL, PT-BR, RU, ZH-CN, ZH-TW
- Features
- Three switchable protagonists, planned heists, Los Santos and Blaine County, stock market
- Microtransactions
- YES
Grand Theft Auto V, the biggest and longest-running title so far in this list of GTA games in order, tells a crazy, twisting story about a group of criminals who should probably never have met. Michael, Franklin, and Trevor – three totally different guys, stuck in a cycle of bad decisions, big scores, and explosive consequences.
Michael is a washed-up bank robber, living in fake luxury while his family falls apart. Franklin is a young hustler, trying to escape the streets but always getting pulled back in. And last but definitely not least, Trevor – a complete lunatic, running his own drug empire and living for chaos. When their lives collide, we get one of the best gaming tales of the past decade.
Grand Theft Auto V pushed Rockstar North’s open-world formula to a new scale with three playable protagonists and an ambitious heist-focused campaign.
The game’s story lasts around 32 hours, during which you get to enjoy some of the best and most creative missions in the series. The heists feel massive, with choices that change how things play out. The characters, the action, and the tension are all unforgettable. Simply put, if you never played it, you're missing out big time. And with the game having appeared in promotions over the years, it’s also worth knowing how to get GTA V free when legitimate opportunities come around.
My Verdict: Grand Theft Auto V remains one of the most complete GTA packages among the entries in this list of GTA games in order. It pairs a huge open world with memorable protagonists, elaborate heists, and an enormous amount of optional content.
GAMES LIKE GRAND THEFT AUTO
My Overall Verdict on the Best GTA Games
How many GTA games are there? With 16 titles to play, choosing the best can be tricky, but the five games on this list represent very different points in the evolution of the franchise that become more evident when playing GTA games in order:
- For the best modern GTA experience → Grand Theft Auto V. Its three-protagonist story, massive Los Santos map, and memorable heists make it the easiest recommendation in this list of GTA games in order.
- For the ultimate open-world crime adventure → Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. CJ’s journey across three cities, the huge map, and the sheer amount of freedom still make it one of the most ambitious entries in the franchise.
- For atmosphere and style → Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The neon-soaked setting, ‘80s soundtrack, and Tommy Vercetti’s rise through the criminal underworld give it an identity that no other GTA game quite matches.
- For the strongest grounded story → Grand Theft Auto IV. Niko Bellic’s story is darker and more personal than most of the series, while Liberty City remains one of Rockstar’s most convincing open worlds.
- For an underrated classic → Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories. Victor Vance’s story adds another side to Vice City, combining the atmosphere of the original with mechanics inspired by San Andreas and a surprisingly strong campaign.
Together, these five show just how much variety you get when playing GTA games in order. Despite how many GTA games you can play, you can’t go wrong with the colorful excess of Vice City, the huge scope of San Andreas, the grounded storytelling of GTA IV, and the modern sandbox of GTA V. After all, you don’t have to play every GTA game in order to be a fan.
What’s Next for Grand Theft Auto? GTA VI is on the Horizon
- Platforms
- PS5, Xbox Series X/S
- Release Date
- November 19, 2026
- Genre
- Action-adventure
- Best For
- Fans counting down to Lucia and Jason's modern-day Vice City
- Length
- TBD
- Developer
- Rockstar North
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GTA VI is the most anticipated game in the series – and after two delays, it's finally confirmed for November 19, 2026. How many GTA games are there once GTA VI joins the lineup? Based on the 16 titles covered above, GTA VI will bring the total to 17. What we know about GTA VI so far is that Rockstar Games is taking us back to a modern-day Vice City, set within the fictional state of Leonida, with a map reportedly twice the size of Los Santos from GTA V.
The story follows Lucia and Jason, a dual-protagonist duo at the center of a high-stakes crime narrative – with Lucia marking the first playable female protagonist in the series. A new iteration of GTA Online is also expected at launch, guaranteed to keep the chaos going for years to come. While waiting for GTA VI to release, you can start looking at the expected GTA VI system requirements to see whether your setup can run it smoothly.
GAMES LIKE GRAND THEFT AUTO
FAQs
To play GTA games in order based on the story, follow its three separate universes: The 2D Universe runs from 1961 to 1999 (GTA 1, GTA 2, London expansions), the 3D Universe spans 1984 to 2001 (Vice City Stories through GTA III), and the HD Universe starts in 2008 and covers GTA IV, GTA V, and the upcoming GTA VI. Every GTA game in order is worth looking into for avid fans.
There are 16 GTA games in total: 11 mainline titles, 4 expansions, and 1 dedicated multiplayer game (GTA Online). The latest entry among GTA games in order, Grand Theft Auto VI, is set to release in November 2026.
If you're new to the series, the best GTA games in order to start are GTA V → GTA San Andreas → GTA IV → GTA Vice City, then work your way back through the older titles. This gives you the best gameplay experience before diving into the more dated mechanics of the earlier games if you really want to play every GTA game in order.
GTA V is the best GTA game to play first for most players; it has the most polished gameplay, the biggest world, and it's widely available. If you want to go in chronological story order, start with GTA: London 1961, and if you want release order, start with GTA 1 (1997).
The GTA games on PSP are GTA: Liberty City Stories (2005), GTA: Vice City Stories (2006), and GTA: Chinatown Wars (2009). All three are set in the same universes as their console counterparts and are full standalone experiences.
The latest released GTA game is Grand Theft Auto V (2013), with GTA Online continuing to receive updates. Fans following every GTA game in order are just waiting for Grand Theft Auto VI, the next entry in the series, set to release in 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
The first Grand Theft Auto game was released in 1997 for PC and PS1. It was a top-down open-world crime game developed by DMA Design (now Rockstar North) and was the first title to check out if you’re playing all the entries in the list of GTA games in order by release date.
