To play the GTA games in order of release, start with Grand Theft Auto (1997) and end with Grand Theft Auto V (2013), the last main entry before GTA VI arrives on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. In story order, the 3D-era games run from Vice City Stories (set in 1984) to GTA III (2001), and the HD era runs from GTA IV to GTA V. If you only have time for one before GTA 6, play GTA V.

Below you'll find both orders, how Rockstar's three separate universes work, which games are still sold and the mistakes newcomers make. Release dates and availability were checked against official Rockstar and Steam pages in November 2026.

Official Grand Theft Auto V screenshot from Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto V, first released in 2013, is still the easiest way into the series. Image: Rockstar Games

GTA games in order of release

These are the main games, expansions and handheld entries by original release, with the first platform in brackets:

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  1. Grand Theft Auto (1997, PC)
  2. Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 (1999, expansion), plus the free London 1961 add-on for PC
  3. Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999, PC)
  4. Grand Theft Auto III (2001, PS2)
  5. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002, PS2)
  6. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004, PS2)
  7. Grand Theft Auto Advance (2004, Game Boy Advance)
  8. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005, PSP)
  9. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006, PSP)
  10. Grand Theft Auto IV (2008, PS3 and Xbox 360)
  11. The Lost and Damned (2009, GTA IV episode)
  12. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (2009, Nintendo DS)
  13. The Ballad of Gay Tony (2009, GTA IV episode)
  14. Grand Theft Auto V (2013, PS3 and Xbox 360; later PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S)
  15. Grand Theft Auto VI (November 19, 2026, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S)

GTA story order: the timeline across three universes

GTA doesn't have one single timeline. Rockstar splits the series into three continuities, and characters never cross between them. That's why the Vice City of GTA VI is not the same city Tommy Vercetti ran in 2002's Vice City.

3D universe (chronological)

  1. Vice City Stories (set in 1984)
  2. Vice City (1986)
  3. San Andreas (1992)
  4. Liberty City Stories (1998)
  5. Advance (2000)
  6. GTA III (2001)

HD universe (chronological)

  1. GTA IV, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony (2008, three stories that overlap in Liberty City)
  2. Chinatown Wars (2009)
  3. GTA V (2013) and GTA Online
  4. GTA VI (present day, in the state of Leonida)

The 2D universe covers the first two games and the London expansions. Its story barely connects to anything else, so it's purely optional history.

Official Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – The Definitive Edition screenshot from Rockstar Games
Vice City, set in 1986, is part of The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition alongside GTA III and San Andreas. Image: Rockstar Games

Which GTA game should you play first?

Start with GTA V. Its story stands alone, it plays like a modern game and it's available on every current PlayStation and Xbox plus PC. It's also the closest thing to GTA VI in tone and mechanics.

Want more of the HD era? Play GTA IV next. It's darker and slower, with heavier driving, and the Complete Edition on Steam bundles both episodes.

Curious about the classics? The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition remasters GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas. If you only pick one, San Andreas has the biggest map and the most variety.

Official Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition screenshot from Rockstar Games
Grand Theft Auto IV opened the HD universe in 2008 with Niko Bellic's story in Liberty City. Image: Rockstar Games

How to play the GTA games today

Availability checked in November 2026:

  • GTA V: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One and PC. Steam lists both Grand Theft Auto V Legacy and Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced.
  • GTA IV: Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition on PC, and the Xbox 360 version through Xbox backward compatibility.
  • GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch and PC, and on iOS and Android since December 2023.
  • Handheld entries and the 2D games: mostly tied to their original hardware or older mobile ports. Vice City Stories has never had a modern re-release.

Common mistakes when playing GTA in order

  • Thinking you need every game before GTA 6. You don't. Each main GTA tells a self-contained story with new protagonists.
  • Mixing up the universes. Liberty City and Vice City exist in both the 3D and HD eras, but they are different versions with different histories.
  • Waiting for GTA VI on PC. It launches on consoles only, and Rockstar hasn't dated a PC version. Here's everything we know about GTA 6 on PC.
Official Grand Theft Auto VI screenshot of Vice City from Rockstar Games
GTA VI returns to Vice City, this time in the HD universe and set in the present day. Image: Rockstar Games

GTA games in order: quick FAQ

How many GTA games are there?

GTA VI is the eighth main game after GTA, GTA 2, GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA IV and GTA V. Counting expansions and handheld spin-offs, the series has 16 releases.

Do I need to play GTA V before GTA 6?

No, but it's the best warm-up. If you're ready to jump straight in, check the GTA 6 pre-load times and storage requirement.

What year is GTA 6 set in?

The present day, in Leonida, Rockstar's take on Florida, with Vice City as its biggest city.