Gta Series in Order (2026 Guide)

The GTA series in order of release runs: Grand Theft Auto (1997), GTA London 1969 and London 1961 (1999), GTA 2 (1999), GTA III (2001), Vice City (2002), San Andreas (2004), Liberty City Stories (2005), Vice City Stories (2006), GTA IV (2008) with its two episodes The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony (2009), Chinatown Wars (2009), GTA V and GTA Online (2013), and Grand Theft Auto VI, which Rockstar has dated for 19 November 2026. Play order and story order are not the same thing, though, because the series has quietly rebooted itself twice.

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Grand Theft Auto is not a continuous saga. It is three separate continuities — the 2D universe, the 3D universe and the HD universe — that reuse city names, radio jokes and the occasional character name without sharing a timeline. This guide lays out the GTA series in order three ways: by release, by in-game chronology, and by the order a newcomer should actually play them.

The Grand Theft Auto Games at a Glance

The GTA Series in Order of Release

The 2D Universe (1997–1999)

The original Grand Theft Auto arrived in 1997 as a top-down game split across Liberty City, San Andreas and Vice City, three names the series would reuse for decades. Two expansion packs followed in 1999, GTA London 1969 and the smaller GTA London 1961, both set in a 1960s British capital and both still the only GTA games set outside the United States. GTA 2 closed the era later in 1999 with a near-future city and a gang-reputation system. These games look nothing like modern GTA and are best treated as historical curiosities rather than essential play.

The 3D Universe (2001–2006)

GTA III in 2001 is the pivot point of the entire series and, arguably, of the medium. Vice City followed in 2002, San Andreas in 2004, then two PSP prequels: Liberty City Stories in 2005 and Vice City Stories in 2006. There was also GTA Advance on Game Boy Advance in 2004, a top-down Liberty City story that is easy to overlook. All of these share one continuity, with characters and organisations crossing between them.

The HD Universe (2008–present)

GTA IV rebooted everything in 2008 with a rebuilt Liberty City and no connection to the 3D universe games beyond shared names. Its two episodes, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, launched in 2009 and were later bundled as Episodes from Liberty City. Chinatown Wars, also 2009, sits in the same continuity despite its top-down camera. GTA V arrived in 2013 with GTA Online alongside it, and has been re-released across three console generations since. Grand Theft Auto VI, set in Leonida and a modern Vice City, is dated for 19 November 2026 at the time of writing.

The GTA Series in Order of In-Game Chronology

Story Order Within Each Universe

Because the universes are reboots, a single unbroken timeline does not exist. Within each continuity, though, the order is clear. In the 2D universe: London 1961, London 1969, the original GTA, then GTA 2. In the 3D universe: Vice City Stories in 1984, Vice City in 1986, San Andreas in 1992, GTA Advance in 2000, Liberty City Stories in 1998, then GTA III in 2001. In the HD universe: GTA IV and both episodes in 2008, Chinatown Wars in 2009, GTA V in 2013, and GTA VI in the present day.

Why Chronological Order Is Not the Best Play Order

Playing the 3D universe chronologically means starting with a PSP game and finishing on GTA III, which is by far the least forgiving of the four to control. Vice City Stories also spoils several San Andreas relationships. The stories are self-contained enough that release order within a universe delivers the callbacks as they were designed to land.

How to Play the GTA Series in Order as a Newcomer

The Recommended Route

Start with GTA V, because it is the most accessible, best-looking and easiest to buy. Move to GTA IV next for a darker, more grounded Liberty City and its two episodes. Then go back to San Andreas, which holds up better than any other classic-era entry, followed by Vice City. Add Chinatown Wars whenever you want something different. GTA III and the 2D games are for players who want to see where it all came from. When GTA VI arrives you can jump straight in, since HD universe entries never require prior knowledge.

Which Versions to Buy

The Definitive Edition trilogy covers GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas on modern platforms with widescreen support and updated controls, and it has improved considerably through post-launch patches. GTA IV is PC and last-gen console only, so a PC copy is the practical choice. GTA V’s enhanced version on PC and current-gen consoles is a substantial visual upgrade over the original release. For PC players deciding what hardware to run all this on, our best graphics card buying guide compares performance per dollar, and our gaming PC build guide walks through a complete parts list.

Getting the Most From a Series Marathon

Working through a dozen open-world games is a long project, so comfort and controls matter. Older GTA titles were designed around gamepads and the classic entries in particular play far better with one — our game controller buying guide covers what works on PC. Long sessions are where seating and audio pay off, so see our gaming chair buying guide and our gaming headset buying guide. If you want the neon skylines of Vice City to look right, our gaming monitor buying guide explains why contrast matters more than raw resolution, and our gaming SSD buying guide covers the storage upgrade that cuts GTA V’s notorious load times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to play the GTA series in order to understand the stories?

No. Every Grand Theft Auto game tells a self-contained story with its own protagonist, and the three universes are full reboots rather than sequels. Playing in order rewards you with recurring characters, in-jokes and radio callbacks within a single continuity, but nothing in GTA V requires knowledge of GTA IV, San Andreas or anything before it.

How many Grand Theft Auto games are there?

Counting main entries, handheld titles and expansions, there are roughly fifteen: GTA, two London expansions, GTA 2, GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, Advance, Liberty City Stories, Vice City Stories, GTA IV, its two episodes, Chinatown Wars and GTA V. Grand Theft Auto VI will be the sixteenth when it launches.

Which GTA game should I play first?

Grand Theft Auto V is the best starting point for most players. It has modern controls, runs on current hardware, offers three protagonists for variety, and connects to GTA Online if you want to keep playing after the credits. If you specifically want the classic era, San Andreas is the most rewarding of the older games.

When is GTA 6 releasing and where is it set?

Rockstar has dated Grand Theft Auto VI for 19 November 2026 after an earlier delay. It is set in the state of Leonida, a Florida-inspired region centred on a modern reimagining of Vice City, and features Lucia and Jason as dual protagonists — the first playable female lead in a mainline GTA game.