GTA in order

Published on 9 May 2025 at 11:33

How to Play the GTA Series in Chronological Order

When it comes to crime-filled sandbox chaos, few franchises have left their mark like Grand Theft Auto. From pixelated carjackings in the '90s to sprawling open-world epics, the GTA series has evolved into a cultural juggernaut. But if you're curious about experiencing the games in chronological timeline order, rather than by release, you’re not alone.

While Rockstar Games never confirmed a strict continuity, most games can be loosely ordered based on in-game references, historical settings, and returning characters. Here's your ultimate guide to playing the GTA series in chronological order—the timeline as it unfolds in-universe.

🕵️ 1. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006)

Year: 1984
Set two years before Vice City, this prequel follows Victor Vance, brother of Lance Vance. It shows Vice City in its neon-lit, early 80s drug-trade glory. A must-play for fans of retro crime drama.

🌴 2. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)

Year: 1986
Tommy Vercetti, a mafia man fresh out of prison, takes over Vice City in this Scarface-inspired saga. Packed with '80s music, pastel suits, and betrayal, it’s one of the most iconic games in the series.

👊 3. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)

Year: 1992
Follow Carl “CJ” Johnson as he returns to Grove Street in Los Santos after his mother’s death. Set during the early '90s gang era, it explores corruption, riots, and West Coast turf wars.

🚗 4. Grand Theft Auto (1997)

Year: 1997 (Estimated)
The original top-down GTA lets you loose in Liberty City, San Andreas, and Vice City. Though basic by modern standards, it sets the foundation for the franchise’s themes of chaos and crime.

🔫 5. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005)

Year: 1998
A prequel to GTA III, this game follows Toni Cipriani’s rise in the Leone crime family. It provides important backstory to characters and gangs in Liberty City.

🏙️ 6. Grand Theft Auto III (2001)

Year: 2001
The first 3D GTA, and a genre-defining classic. Claude, a silent protagonist, seeks revenge after being betrayed during a bank heist. Welcome to gritty, post-90s Liberty City.

📱 7. Grand Theft Auto: Advance (2004)

Year: 2000 (just before GTA III)
A Game Boy Advance title that acts as a prequel to GTA III. You play as Mike, a criminal trying to leave the game—but of course, things go sideways.

🌆 8. Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)

Year: 2008
Set in a reimagined Liberty City, Niko Bellic arrives chasing the American Dream and gets caught in a brutal underworld. A darker, more grounded entry in the series.

💵 9. GTA IV: The Lost and Damned / The Ballad of Gay Tony (2009)

Year: 2008
These two expansions run parallel to GTA IV.

Lost and Damned follows biker Johnny Klebitz.
The Ballad of Gay Tony centers on nightclub manager Luis Lopez.
Together, they form a rich three-part narrative of Liberty City.

🌄 10. Grand Theft Auto V (2013)

Year: 2013
Three protagonists. One sprawling map. Set in Los Santos and Blaine County, this game brings together Michael, Franklin, and Trevor in a series of heists, betrayals, and family drama. Still immensely popular thanks to GTA Online.

💻 BONUS: GTA Online (2013–Present)

Years: 2013 to ~2023
Though released with GTA V, GTA Online has its own evolving timeline, leading up to events that connect with GTA VI. If you're invested in lore, it’s worth following for its narrative breadcrumbs.

🏝️ 11. Grand Theft Auto VI (Upcoming, 2025)

Year: ~2025 (Rumored)
Set in modern-day Vice City with new protagonists (Lucia and Jason), GTA VI is expected to pick up the story in the post-GTA V timeline. Not released yet, but it’s already shaping up to be the next big leap forward.

🎮 Optional: Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999)

Year: Unclear – Often thought to be ~2013 or a “retro-futuristic” setting
Set in a strange version of "Anywhere City" with sci-fi vibes. Since its timeline is ambiguous and self-contained, it’s often treated as non-canon or outside the main continuity.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're in it for the satirical world-building, chaotic freedom, or layered characters, the GTA series continues to raise the bar for open-world storytelling. Playing the games in chronological order offers a unique perspective on how Rockstar’s vision of crime and society has evolved—both in-world and in real life.