GTA games in order: Release and story timeline

Since Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to come out later this year, bringing us back to Vice City, we decided to revisit the entire series. We’re playing through the GTA games in the order they were released and how their stories unfold, starting with the very first one from 1997.

Throughout its history, this series has consistently been a groundbreaking force in gaming, fundamentally altering the industry. It was also one of the first to truly capture the public’s imagination, generating widespread media attention – both positive and negative.

Grand Theft Auto has always been a popular and innovative game series, starting with its unique 2.5D style and now pushing the boundaries of graphics. It’s consistently broken sales records, performing better than even other hugely successful games from its creator, Rockstar, like Red Dead Redemption 2.

The Grand Theft Auto timeline is a bit complicated. While the games take place in different time periods, the recent reveal of a character from Vice City in GTA 6 – appearing to be the same age as in their original game – suggests the series might have a non-traditional, interconnected timeline.

But, you can see the GTA timeline for yourself just below!

GTA games in release date order

Grand Theft Auto (1997 | PC, PS1, Game Boy Color)
Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 (1999 | PC, PS1)
Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 (1999 | PC, PS1)
Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999 | PC, PS1, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color)
Grand Theft Auto 3 (2001 | PC, PS2, Xbox, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Fire OS)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002 | PC, PS2, Xbox, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Fire OS)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004 | PC, PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Oculus Quest 2)
Grand Theft Auto Advance (2004 | Game Boy Advance)
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005 | PSP, PS2, PS3 (unavailable), Android, iOS, Fire OS)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006 | PSP, PS2 PS3 (unavailable))
Grand Theft Auto IV (2008 | PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned (2009 | PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (2009 | Nintendo DS, PSP, Android, iOS, Fire OS)
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony (2009 | PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
Grand Theft Auto V (2013 | PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition (2021 | PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch)
Grand Theft Auto VI (2026 | PS5, Xbox Series X/S)

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GTA games in story timeline order

It’s important to know that Rockstar Games treats the 2D, 3D, and HD universes as separate continuities. Because of this, we’ve organized them into three different timelines so you can experience the games in the correct order.

Grand Theft Auto 2D timeline

Below are all the Grand Theft Auto titles in the 2D series that are laid out chronologically.

It’s tricky to get all the details exactly right because games like GTA 2 don’t always have clear timelines, and the first game let you play as different characters. However, here’s a pretty accurate overview of what we know.

Grand Theft Auto: London 1961

The new expansion pack, London 1969, continues the story with the same characters, but is set eight years earlier than the original game, London 1999.

Initially a free add-on for Grand Theft Auto, a special version was released in the UK combining all content from the ‘GTA London’ mission packs onto a single disc. Importantly, this version didn’t need the original Grand Theft Auto game to be played.

Grand Theft Auto: London 1969

The first expansion for Grand Theft Auto transports players to the vibrant, swinging London of 1969, complete with a fittingly groovy soundtrack for a life of crime and adventure.

The game features eight characters you can play, each with a unique, stylized look inspired by iconic British figures and trends – think Michael Caine, the Mod subculture, Sid Vicious, and classic secret agents.

Grand Theft Auto

The game that began it all – Grand Theft Auto was a smash hit and made waves like no other.

The House of Lords actually debated banning the famous work, and this likely just made it even more popular.

In the game Grand Theft Auto, players complete various missions while controlling one of eight different characters. The game is set in three cities – Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas – and takes place in 1997.

Grand Theft Auto 2

The second game in the series stands out from the rest, trading the familiar settings of previous titles for the futuristic cityscape of Anywhere-City.

Instead of playing as a single hero, players become Claude Speed, completing jobs for the various criminal groups that operate in the gritty city of Anywhere-City.

The game’s exact timeline isn’t known, but details within the game hint it takes place sometime between 1999 and 2013.

Grand Theft Auto 3D timeline

As a huge GTA fan, I really think the 3D games were when the series really hit its peak. It totally changed what open-world games could be, and honestly, gaming as a whole! It was a game-changer.

This release had much higher production quality than previous ones, and included well-known actors in compelling stories.

Like with a lot of Grand Theft Auto games, this one definitely wasn’t without its share of drama! Remember the whole ‘Hot Coffee’ thing in San Andreas? Even now, it’s still one of the most talked-about controversies in gaming – it really pushed the boundaries of what you could do in those 2D games and got everyone talking!

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

Before the story of Vice City begins, you play as Victor Vance, a soldier wrongly kicked out of the military. He’s framed by his own sergeant, forcing him to turn to a life of crime.

After joining forces with his brother Lance, Vic quickly becomes the leader of a criminal organization determined to disrupt the existing order and seize control of Vice City.

Throughout the game, you’ll gather a crew of supporting characters and, by the end, discover the story of how they all came together leading up to the events of Vice City.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Released in 2002, Vice City puts you in the shoes of Tommy Vercetti, a charming but dangerous gangster from Liberty City, voiced by the talented Ray Liotta. He’s sent to Vice City to manage his boss’s operations as a reward for his loyalty – a story that shares many similarities with the movie Scarface.

Before the player gets involved, Tommy gets into trouble with his bosses when a drug deal goes wrong, resulting in lost money and merchandise.

Tommy gets a chance to fix things and teams up with Lance Vance to take control of Vice City and get payback. As Tommy’s power and criminal organization grow, his original bosses aren’t happy with his independence.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

San Andreas, one of the most popular video games ever made, is set in a fictional state inspired by California and Nevada during the 1990s. The game incorporates real-world events from that time, like the Rodney King riots and the rivalry between the Bloods and Crips gangs.

San Andreas, starring Carl Johnson (CJ), took the series to a new level with a much larger and more dramatic world. Players could explore a huge map featuring three distinct cities – Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas – along with the expansive countryside connecting them.

When Carl Johnson returns home after his mother’s death, he tries to bring his old gang, the Grove Street Families, back together. However, he soon gets caught up in a much larger conflict involving corrupt police officers, dangerous rival gangs, and shocking betrayals that all threaten to stop him.

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

Liberty City Stories takes place in 1998 and tells the story leading up to the events of Grand Theft Auto 3. The game follows Tony Cipriani, a character who also appears in GTA 3, as he tries to rebuild his life after angering the Mafia. After killing a high-ranking member, he goes back to work for his former boss, Salvatore Leone.

Throughout the game, Cipriani gains power within the Leone Family by eliminating competing gang leaders and assisting Salvatore Leone in improving his relationship with Liberty City’s mayor. The story ends by establishing the groundwork for the events that unfold in Grand Theft Auto 3, featuring Claude.

Grand Theft Auto Advance

Grand Theft Auto Advance serves as a backstory to Grand Theft Auto 3, taking place in the year 2000 in a reimagined Liberty City. The game’s setting and graphics were adjusted to work within the technical constraints of the Game Boy Advance.

Okay, so in GTA Advance, you play as this guy, Mike, who’s a gangster. He and his buddy Vinnie are trying to get out of Liberty City and start fresh, but things go south fast. Vinnie gets blown up by a car bomb, and suddenly I’m on a mission to find whoever did it and get revenge. It’s a pretty intense story, honestly.

Many characters from GTA 3 make an appearance, such as Asuka Lasen, King Courtney and 8-Ball.

Grand Theft Auto 3

Okay, so even though this game was the first 3D Zelda, it’s actually set the latest in the timeline – it all happens in the year 2001, which is pretty cool when you think about it!

In Grand Theft Auto 3, players follow the story of Claude, a character unrelated to the Claude from the previous game. The game begins after Claude is double-crossed and left for dead by his girlfriend, Catalina, during a robbery.

Claude was arrested, but he didn’t stay in jail for long. The Colombian Cartel attacked the prison transport he was in, attempting to rescue a different prisoner, and in the chaos, Claude escaped.

Claude, after getting back on his feet, climbs the ranks of Liberty City’s criminal world, driven by a desire for revenge against an ex-lover.

Grand Theft Auto HD timeline

Following the over-the-top and humorous adventures of the earlier games, Rockstar aimed for a more realistic feel with this installment. They still kept all the enjoyable elements that fans loved, and enhanced it with stunning graphics.

The game still uses the RAGE engine, which originally debuted in the unexpectedly good Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis back in 2006.

The RAGE engine powered games like Max Payne 3, L.A. Noire, and Red Dead Redemption, and it will be significantly enhanced for the next Grand Theft Auto 6.

Grand Theft Auto 4

Grand Theft Auto, released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2008, was a huge step forward from the previous game, San Andreas. It brought a more detailed and realistic version of Liberty City to life.

The game centers around Niko Bellic, a former soldier from Yugoslavia, who comes to America hoping for a better life. He quickly discovers his cousin, Roman, exaggerated how successful he is when he encouraged Niko to come to the country.

Niko quickly finds himself drawn into Liberty City’s criminal underworld, forced to help Roman settle his debts. This leads him into conflict with dangerous people, like Vlad Glebov, who is secretly having an affair with Roman’s girlfriend.

After these events, Niko and his family become the direct targets of the Russian Mafia. To protect them, Niko is forced to work with various dangerous criminals and organizations throughout the city. Meanwhile, painful memories from his past begin to resurface and torment him.

Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned

Set alongside the events of Grand Theft Auto 4, The Lost and Damned puts you in the role of Johnny Klebitz, the second-in-command of The Lost Motorcycle Club. He’s been running things while the club president, Billy Grey, is away getting treatment.

Johnny had led the gang to a peaceful agreement with their enemies, but when Billy got out of prison, he immediately called for a return to violence, starting a brutal gang war.

Billy’s increasingly violent actions create conflict within The Lost MC, making Johnny question his loyalty and whether he should continue to support Billy.

Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony

Released around the same time as Grand Theft Auto IV, The Ballad of Gay Tony puts you in the shoes of Luis Lopez, the bodyguard of flamboyant club owner Tony Price. The game centers on Luis’s efforts to help Tony keep his business running and, more importantly, stay alive.

Tony is a famous name in Liberty City, but his businesses, including his nightclubs, are struggling. He owes a large sum of money to the powerful Ancelotti family, and they’re determined to collect, no matter the cost.

Luis consistently goes above and beyond for his boss, often working long hours and traveling all over the city to solve problems. He also unexpectedly runs into people he knows during these trips.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Even though Chinatown Wars originally came out on older handhelds like the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable in standard definition, it’s still considered a key part of the Grand Theft Auto HD Universe.

The game is set in 2009 and centers around Huang Lee, whose father was a Triad boss who was killed. The story begins with Huang traveling to Liberty City to give a valuable family sword, the Yu Jian, to his uncle, Wu “Kenny” Lee.

The situation quickly becomes dangerous when Huang arrives and is attacked by armed men who kill his bodyguards and leave him for dead. Miraculously surviving, Huang tells his uncle about the ambush, and together they set out to reclaim the sword and ensure Kenny becomes the next leader of the Liberty City Triads.

Grand Theft Auto Online

Grand Theft Auto Online has become a massive and ever-changing world. While the first missions were set before the story of Grand Theft Auto 5, the online game continues long after that story ends.

This online game lets you create a character in Los Santos and build a criminal empire.

Ever since it began, GTA Online has been filled with amazing robberies, adventures, and special events that have created a unique and evolving story all its own.

Characters from Grand Theft Auto V, including Lester and Franklin, make appearances, and Franklin continues to give the player missions even after the main story is finished.

The game is currently still being played, and its story might finish when GTA 6 is released, hopefully in the near future.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the best-selling video games ever, second only to Minecraft. It’s been available on nearly all gaming consoles for the past decade.

Grand Theft Auto V was the first game in the series to let players control multiple characters: Michael Townley, Franklin Clinton, and Trevor Philips. A unique feature of the game is the ability to switch between these characters almost instantly throughout most of the story, though there are a few story sections where this isn’t possible.

In 2004, Michael and Trevor were involved in a botched robbery in Ludendorff, North Yankton, alongside another criminal named Brad Snider, which set the stage for future events.

During a shootout, Brad is killed, and Trevor mistakenly believes Michael has also died, so he runs away. Michael actually survives and enters a witness protection program in Los Santos. However, in 2013, he gets involved in crime again after teaming up with Franklin Clinton.

Following a complicated situation with his wife, a tennis instructor, and a dangerous criminal’s home, Michael asks for help from two old associates. He turns to Lester, a skilled hacker who uses a wheelchair, for digital support and recruits Franklin to rob a jewelry store in order to settle a debt.

When video of the crime is shown on television, Trevor Philips becomes furious after spotting Michael and travels to Los Santos to confront him. This sets off a wild and over-the-top story involving the three main characters and the powerful figures who run San Andreas.

Grand Theft Auto 6

Although the exact plot of GTA 6 is still a mystery, we do know the game will be set in a modern version of Vice City, heavily influenced by Miami.

The game is thought to be a Bonnie and Clyde-like tale with two protagonists, Lucia and Jason.

Look for Grand Theft Auto 6 to come out on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2026, assuming there aren’t any further setbacks.

Authors

Cole LukeFreelance Writer

Cole Luke is a freelance journalist and video creator who works with TopMob Gaming. His work also appears on websites like Digital Foundry, PC Gamer, and Network N.

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2026-04-02 19:45