After being delayed for the second time, Grand Theft Auto VI is now slated for release on November 19th, 2026. Though a third delay is widely speculated due to controversies plaguing the company, most notably the recent firings of over 30 employees, the extra time allows players to experience previous iterations of the iconic series.
Even if you've never played a single Grand Theft Auto game, you've almost certainly heard about it, either in the news, during one of the numerous earnings calls hosted by Take-Two Interactive, or from countless content creators online. If you're new to the series and are looking to play through previous iterations before Grand Theft Auto VI hits store shelves next year, you may be surprised to learn that there is a chronological order to the series.
Playing them in order of events versus order of release will make the experience more enriching.
Full List of GTA Games in Chronological Order
| Game | Release Date | Setting |
|---|---|---|
 Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 / 1961 |
April 29, 1999 | Set in 1961-1969 |
 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories |
October 31, 2006 | Set in 1984 |
 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City |
October 29, 2002 | Set in 1986 |
 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas |
October 26, 2004 | Set in 1992 |
 Grand Theft Auto 1 |
November 28, 1997 | Set in 1997 |
 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories |
October 24, 2005 | Set in 1998 |
 Grand Theft Auto 2 |
October 22, 1999 | Set in 1999 |
 Grand Theft Auto Advance |
October 26, 2004 | Set in 2000 |
 Grand Theft Auto III |
October 22, 2001 | Set in 2001 |
 Grand Theft Auto IV |
April 29, 2008 | Set in 2008 |
 Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned |
February 17, 2009 | Set in 2008 |
 Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony |
October 29, 2009 | Set in 2008 |
 Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars |
March 17, 2009 | Set in 2009 |
 Grand Theft Auto V |
September 17, 2013 | Set in 2013 (Prologue in 2004) |
 GTA Online |
October 1, 2013 | Set in 2013-Present |
 GTA 6 (Grand Theft Auto VI) |
November 19, 2026 | Set in 2026 |
Multiple Universes
Grand Theft Auto has been a series seeped in controversy ever since its initial release on PC and original PlayStation hardware in 1997. Since its conception, the series has evolved over the years, going from a 2D top-down video game to the astronomical success known as Grand Theft Auto V, one of the best-selling video games of all time.
With each release, Rockstar Games has meticulously crafted story-driven narratives for players to enjoy. Each title can be enjoyed individually, though it's important to note that the developers sought for each game to contribute towards a much larger story told through different perspectives. As of this writing, the company has created three different universes for the Grand Theft Auto series, one for each generation of hardware.
The first titles released on the original PlayStation and Windows made up what's known as the 2D universe, while those that launched on the sixth generation formed the well-known 3D universe. Grand Theft Auto IV, V, and VI all combine the HD universe.
Though you can pick up any game in the series and enjoy a captivating individual story, each universe has a unique overarching narrative interwoven between all titles released during that generation of gaming consoles. If you're looking to get the most out of your playthrough of the Grand Theft Auto series, it's highly recommended that you play them in the following order.
NOTE: This breakdown below only contains titles in the 3D and HD universes! Any iterations in the top-down perspective or exclusively on handheld devices are not included.
The 3D Universe
1. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (1984)
Vice City Stories was released on the PlayStation Portable in 2006 before being ported to the PlayStation 2 the following year. As the last entry in the series on the sixth generation of consoles, it's also a precursor to the rest of the 3D universe.
The story takes place in 1984, two years before the exploits of Tommy Vercetti. If you've played the original Vice City first, you'll see a lot of familiar faces return to flesh out their respective story arcs. Victor Vance, the game's protagonist, comes to Vice City and enlists in the army to help pay his sick brother's medical bills. After being dishonorably discharged, he finds himself resorting to a life of crime and building a criminal empire from the ground up to support his family.
Vic will work alongside numerous degenerates while traversing the criminal underworld, including a few characters that make a valiant return from the title released in 2002. As you play through the story, you'll see that many of Vic's actions directly affect Tommy Vercetti's tale. A couple of these instances include Vic's involvement in Ricardo Diaz becoming the drug kingpin he's known for, and a brief glimpse at why the deal is ambushed at the beginning of Vice City.
2. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (1986)
Released in 2002, GTA Vice City tells the tale of Tommy Vercetti, a member of the Forelli crime family. He is sent to the fictional version of Miami, Florida, to oversee a drug deal for his boss, Sonny Forelli. The game is the perfect companion piece to its prequel, which was released in 2006. The opening sequence shows Vic Vance, who meets his grim fate when the deal is ambushed.
Tommy Vercetti is unleashed in 1986 Vice City to track down those responsible for ambushing the deal. Many events from Vice City Stories have a direct effect on those that transpire here. Ricardo Diaz, now the largest drug kingpin in town, has his story arc completed when it's revealed that he's responsible for crashing the party during the opening sequence. This is where Vic Vance is shot and killed, as well, giving Lance a reason to want Diaz killed.
Other events in the game give insight into what's to come. Kent Paul, a local music producer, becomes the manager of the band Love Fist during the story. Avery Carrington makes his first appearance in the series, and it's revealed that he was Donald Love's mentor. If you've played Grand Theft Auto III, you'll know that Donald Love is the mayor of Liberty City. The player is introduced to Phil Cassidy, who appeared first in GTA III. The reason for losing his arm is explained in this game.
3. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (1992)
Carl Johnson returns to Los Santos in 1992, having spent five years in Liberty City. He moves back home after his mother is murdered in a drive-by. As the last game in the original trilogy on the PlayStation 2, GTA San Andreas is set a few years before the events of GTA III. Kent Paul is now a music producer and manager of the Love Fist band, and Ken Rosenberg has been disbarred for his drug addiction. The game also does a good job of alluding to the events that transpire in GTA III, including the exploration of how Salvatore and Maria meet.
Catalina, the central antagonist in GTA III, makes an appearance as one of Carl's love interests in the game. She leaves for Liberty City with Claude, who becomes the protagonist of the mentioned title. This sets the stage for the events that transpire during the final act of the 3D universe.
4. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (1998)
Liberty City, 1998. Toni Cipriani, a member of the Leone crime family, has returned after five years in hiding for killing a made man. Working alongside his boss, Salvatore Leone, the events in this game bridge the gap between San Andreas and GTA III.
Before he became a high-ranking official in the mafia, GTA Liberty City Stories explores how Toni came to be a made man.
5. Grand Theft Auto III (2001)
While it is the first fully fledged 3D Grand Theft Auto title, GTA III is chronologically the last in the 3D universe. Set in the year 2001, the game marks an end for major and minor characters. Salvatore meets his grim fate, leaving the Leone mafia family in shambles, and Claude seeks his revenge on Catalina after she leaves him for dead.
The HD Universe
1. Grand Theft Auto IV & Episodes of Liberty City (2008)
Grand Theft Auto IV ushered in a new era for the series, introducing the HD universe. Instead of exploring eras of the past, the game was set in modern-day Liberty City. Taking place in 2008, Niko Bellic moves to the city in pursuit of the American Dream, only to find that it doesn't exist.
After being forced out of Broker, he moves to Bohan with his cousin, where he meets Packie McReary. Packie is an Irishman who leads the charge in robbing the Bank of Algonquin.
The episodic content, released in 2009, explores the story of Johnny Kibbutz and Luis Lopez, whose stories intersect with Niko Bellic's through a cursed business deal involving a bag of diamonds.
During the ending credits of The Ballad of Gay Tony, Packie McReary can be seen boarding a plane departing Liberty City, setting up events that occur in GTA V.
2. Grand Theft Auto V (2013)
Released in 2013, Grand Theft Auto V takes place in the modern-day state of San Andreas, surrounding three playable protagonists. Franklin, Michael, and Trevor have all made appearances in the massive success that is Grand Theft Auto Online.
Five years after the events of GTA IV, Packie McReary has moved to the state of San Andreas. He becomes available to hire for heists after a random event, and will mention the bank robbery he conducted in the predecessor.
Johnny Kibbutz, protagonist of The Lost and Damned, makes a brief return, alongside his girlfriend Ashley and two loyal associates, Terry and Clay. Johnny and Ashley have fallen on hard times, having become meth addicts. After a brief altercation, Trevor kills Johnny, bringing an abrupt end to his story arc. Terry and Clay are also killed after being chased down during the same mission.
3. Grand Theft Auto VI (2026)
According to leaked Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay footage, the upcoming title is set in the same universe as the fourth and fifth mainline installments. The clip is only a few seconds long, but it features a conversation between two characters beside a swimming pool, one of whom refers to Jay Norris. If you'll recall, Jay Norris is the founder of Lifeinvader, who died at the hands of Michael after a phone bomb detonated near his head. An unidentifiable character mentions the aforementioned character and his death, linking the timeline of the upcoming title to its predecessor. Will the story include any other references to GTA V? We'll find out when the highly anticipated game hits store shelves on November 19th, 2026!
What do you think? Will characters from the latest adventure return in Vice City? Let us know in the comments section below!