GTA Games in Order: Release Dates and Where to Start
Every mainline Grand Theft Auto game before GTA VI arrives on November 19
- By Pratik Pol
- November 6, 2026
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Grand Theft Auto VI is almost here, and many players want to know what came before it. The
good news is that you do not have to play in order, because each main game tells its own story.
The Mainline Games in Release Order
- Grand Theft Auto (1997): The original, played from a top-down view.
- Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999): The same top-down style in a futuristic city.
- Grand Theft Auto III (2001): The first fully 3D game, set in Liberty City.
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002): A 1980s story in the neon city of Vice City, with
Tommy Vercetti. - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004): CJ’s story across three cities in the state of San
Andreas. - Grand Theft Auto IV (2008): A more serious tone, with Niko Bellic in Liberty City.
- Grand Theft Auto V (2013): Three playable characters in Los Santos, Michael De Santa, Franklin Clinton, Trevor Philips. Plus GTA Online.
- Grand Theft Auto VI (November 19, 2026): Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos in Vice City
and the state of Leonida
Spin-Offs Worth Knowing
Liberty City Stories (2005), Vice City Stories (2006) and Chinatown Wars (2009) were made for
handheld consoles. Two story expansions for GTA IV, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of
Gay Tony, followed in 2009 and 2010. A remastered collection of III, Vice City and San Andreas
also came out in 2021.
Where Should You Start?
For a modern game with the most to do: start with GTA V.
- For a classic with a lot of personality: Pick Vice City or San Andreas.
- For a story-heavy game: Choose GTA IV.
A good detail for fans: GTA VI returns to Vice City, the city from the 2002 game, which makesVice City a fun warm-up before launch.
Ready for launch day? Our GTA 6 Hub has the release date, price, editions and pre-load details.
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