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WithGrand Theft Auto 6now looming large on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to play through all of theGrand Theft Autogames in order. However, whether you’re new to the franchise and looking to get yourself up to speed or a long-time fan in need of a refresher, trying to figure out the best order to do so may seem like a daunting task.
Those hoping to experience everyGTAgame in order will first need to decide whether they want to play through the franchise in release or chronological order. Some of the games don’t hold up particularly well either, and others can be hard to come by, so players may decide to skip over certain installments, regardless of which of the two orders they decide on.
How to Play All GTA Games in Release Order
Playing throughall of theGrand Theft Autogamesin release order is fairly simple, at least when sticking to the six mainline installments. After finishingGrand Theft Auto, players should move on to the second and third numbered entries, followed byVice CityandSan Andreas. After that, the franchise reverts back to numbers, meaningGTA 4andGTA 5come next. However, if players would rather play througheveryGTAgame in release order, things do get a bit more complicated.
How to Play All GTA Games in Chronological Order
Playing throughall of theGrand Theft Autogames in chronological orderisn’t too complicated either, as the year that each game takes place is usually made pretty clear. The only real exception here isGTA 2, which never fully commits to one particular time period. Most seem to be in agreement that its story takes place in either 1999 or 2013, so it can slot in afterLiberty City Storiesor alongsideGTA 5,depending on which side of the fence you fall on.
The Best Order to Play the Grand Theft Auto Games
Just as there is withthe Machete Order forStar Wars, there’s an argument to be made for skipping a few of theGTAgames when playing through the series in order. Due to how different they are from the series' current formula, players may not want to bother with the first two installments, nor the two London expansions that were sandwiched between them. The handheldGTAgames for Nintendo consoles haven’t aged particularly gracefully, and the PlayStation Portable games are hard to come by, although the latter are still worth playing if you can somehow get your hands on them.
Despite some people preferring the art style of the originals, we’re recommending the 2021 remasters of the 3D trilogy due to their availability on modern platforms and the quality of life updates that they offer. We’re also placing the twoStoriesgamesaftertheir respective mainline installments, as although they are set a little earlier chronologically, the insights that they provide into the lives and backgrounds of their protagonists and supporting casts are a lot more interesting when you already know where and how they end up.
