Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto series has evolved from a PlayStation 1 title into a global phenomenon, with Grand Theft Auto 5 standing as one of the best-selling games of all time. The franchise's expansive narrative and open-world design have been cultivated over two decades, leading to over sixteen distinct entries. As anticipation builds for Grand Theft Auto 6, players new to the series may wonder where to begin their journey through its intricate criminal underworlds. Understanding the series' continuity is key, as Rockstar divides its titles into three distinct universes: the 2D, 3D, and HD timelines, which do not share canon with each other.
The 2D Timeline
The earliest games in the series are set within the 2D universe. This era includes the original Grand Theft Auto and its expansions, alongside Grand Theft Auto 2.
- Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 This expansion for the original Grand Theft Auto, available only on PC, serves as a prequel to Grand Theft Auto: London 1969. It follows an unnamed criminal ascending the ranks of London's crime families under the tutelage of Harold Cartwright.
- Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 The first expansion for the original Grand Theft Auto marked the series' debut in London. Players control a nameless British criminal navigating the city's treacherous crime syndicates.
- Grand Theft Auto The inaugural entry in the series, set in 1997, sees an unnamed protagonist making a name for themselves across Liberty City, San Andreas, and Vice City through heists, assassinations, and getaways.
- Grand Theft Auto 2 This installment takes players to Anywhere City, a futuristic metropolis. The game follows Claude Speed as he works with various criminal organizations. Its placement on the timeline is ambiguous, with in-game references suggesting both 1999 and 2013 as its setting, making it the final game of the 2D era.
The 3D Timeline
The 3D universe introduced a significant graphical leap and narrative depth, encompassing titles that laid the groundwork for the series' modern form.
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Set in 1984, this prequel to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City follows former US soldier Victor Vance as he enters the Vice City underworld after being dishonorably discharged. He eventually establishes a crime family with his brother, Lance.
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Taking place in 1986, this entry follows Tommy Verceti, a gangster from Liberty City sent to Vice City to oversee his boss's drug operations. A botched deal forces Tommy to navigate the city's criminal landscape to recover his losses and build his own empire.
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Set in 1992, the game centers on Carl 'CJ' Johnson, who returns to Los Santos following his mother's murder. CJ reunites with the Grove Street Families gang and becomes embroiled in a struggle for control of the city amidst betrayal and corrupt law enforcement.
- Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories This 1998-set prequel to Grand Theft Auto 3 follows Toni Cipriani, a mobster working for Salvatore Leone. Returning to Liberty City after a stint in Italy, Toni works to rebuild his boss's influence and power.
- Grand Theft Auto Advance Released in 2000 for the Game Boy Advance, this title serves as a prequel to Grand Theft Auto 3. It follows Mike, who seeks revenge for his partner Vinnie's death, navigating Liberty City's criminal elements.
- Grand Theft Auto 3 Although released first, this game concludes the 3D timeline. Set in 2001, it follows Claude, a bank robber left for dead by his girlfriend Catalina. After escaping a prison convoy, Claude becomes involved in Liberty City's criminal factions, ultimately seeking vengeance against Catalina.
The HD Timeline
The current and most recent era of Grand Theft Auto began with Grand Theft Auto 4 and continues to evolve.
- Grand Theft Auto 4 Set in 2008, this game introduces Niko Bellic, an Eastern European ex-soldier seeking a new life in Liberty City. He becomes entangled in the city's criminal underworld while searching for a former military comrade who betrayed him.
- Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and The Damned This expansion for Grand Theft Auto 4 unfolds during the main game's events, focusing on Johnny Klebitz, the vice president of The Lost MC motorcycle club, as internal conflicts and gang wars erupt.
- Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony Also set concurrently with Grand Theft Auto 4, this expansion follows bodyguard Luis Lopez as he navigates the nightclub scene and deals with his boss's debts to the Ancelotti crime family.
- Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Taking place in 2009, the story follows Huang Lee, the son of a murdered Triad leader, who travels to Liberty City to deliver a sacred sword. He becomes embroiled in a conspiracy after being ambushed and robbed of the weapon.
- Grand Theft Auto Online While its exact placement is fluid due to continuous updates, Grand Theft Auto Online begins shortly before Grand Theft Auto 5. It allows players to create their own criminal characters and engage in various illicit activities in Los Santos, with its narrative progressing significantly beyond the events of GTA 5 in later updates.
- Grand Theft Auto 5 Set in 2013, this title follows the intertwined stories of Franklin Clinton, Michael Townley, and Trevor Phillips as they execute elaborate heists in Los Santos. The narrative explores their complex relationships and past betrayals.
The Road to GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated for release on November 19, 2026. Preorders have confirmed Standard and Ultimate editions, and the game is currently slated for console release only. This highly anticipated title represents the next chapter in the storied history of the Grand Theft Auto franchise.