The wait for GTA VI is moving the gamer community. Scheduled in 2025 , the game promises an impressive graphic jump and the return of Vice City , rekindling the hype among fans.
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Rockstar Games ' new adventure , how about diving into the history of the franchise and understanding how games of the games connect? Although the series has been released without a fixed timeline, many titles form a coherent chronology within the expanded GTA universe.
If you want to relive the experience or simply understand the order of events better, check out the full chronology of the Grand Theft Auto franchise , from the 2D era to the latest HD era games.
The Era 2D: The First Steps of Chaos
The Grand Theft Auto saga started in the 90s, with simple graphics and gameplay viewed from above. Despite the technical limitation, these games have established the DNA of the series: open world, freedom of exploitation and crimes .
1 - Grand Theft Auto (1997)
🕒 Year in chronology: indefinite (probably 90 years)
The first GTA presents a unnamed protagonist who needs to complete criminal missions in three fictional cities: Liberty City, Vice City and San Andreas . The plot is simple, but the base for future titles was already there.
2 - Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 and London 1961 (1999)
🕒 Year in chronology: 1961 and 1969
They are expansions of the first game, carrying the action to London . Here, players take on the role of criminals in the British capital, performing robberies and Epic escapes to the GTA -style.
The 3D era: a new beginning and deeper stories
From GTA III, the series migrated to 3D , bringing charismatic characters and film narratives. This is where the franchise begins to build an interconnected universe.
3 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006)
🕒 Year in chronology: 1984
The game serves as a prologue of GTA: Vice City Victor Vance 's journey , a former military man who enters the crime to help his family. The plot shows the first conflicts that shape the vice city in the 1980s.
4 - Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)
🕒 Year in chronology: 1986
Inspired by the classic Scarface, this game follows Tommy Vercetti , a former convict who, after being betrayed, decides to build his own crime empire in Vice City. The game is full of references to the 1980s, from the soundtrack to the cars and clothes of the time.
5 - Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)
🕒 Year in chronology: 1992
Considered one of the franchise's most iconic games, GTA: San Andreas tells the story of Carl “CJ” Johnson , a young man who returns to Los Santos after his mother's death. The game explores topics such as police corruption, gangs and rise in crime , bringing one of the vast maps of the series, including the cities of Los Santos, San Fierro and Las Venturas .
6 - Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005)
🕒 Year in chronology: 1998
Here, we follow Toni Cipriani Leone family mobs that needs to regain her space in Liberty City . The plot takes place years before GTA III, showing corruption and disputes between criminal families.
7 - Grand Theft Auto III (2001)
🕒 Year in chronology: 2001
The game that revolutionized the open world . The protagonist Claude seeks revenge after being betrayed by his girlfriend, Catalina . With a living city full of criminal activities, GTA III raised the industry's standard and paved the way for the future hits of the franchise.
The HD era: a new universe and more realistic stories
With GTA IV, Rockstar Games redefined the franchise, creating a separate universe from previous games, focusing on even greater realism.
8 - Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)
🕒 Year in chronology: 2008
The story follows Niko Bellic , a former Eastern European soldier who comes to Liberty City in search of the "American dream." The game has a more mature plot, exploring the consequences of crime and the difficulties of illegal immigration.
9 - Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned (2009)
🕒 Year in chronology: 2008
Expansion of GTA IV, puts players in the role of Johnny Klebitz , member of the motorcycle gang The Lost MC. The game offers a new crime perspective in the city, focusing on disputes between rival gangs.
10 - Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony (2009)
🕒 Year in chronology: 2008
Another expansion of GTA IV shows the life of Luis Lopez , bodyguards of influential businessman Tony Prince . Here, the game explores the world of parties and high -level crime in Liberty City .
11 - Grand Theft Auto V (2013)
🕒 Year in chronology: 2013
With three playable protagonists - Michael, Franklin and Trevor - GTA V has become a worldwide phenomenon. The story addresses topics such as corruption, betrayal and ambition, while players exploit Los Santos and Blaine County .
In addition to history mode, the game introduced GTA online , allowing players to create their own characters and participate in missions in a multiplayer open world.
What to expect from GTA's future?
Now that you know the entire chronology of the franchise, the expectation for GTA VI just increases!
Rumors indicate that the game will bring Vice City back , as well as a larger map and a more immersive experience than ever. While waiting for more information, revisiting previous titles can be a great way to prepare for the new adventure.
After all, Grand Theft Auto is not just a series of games - it is a cultural phenomenon that continues to evolve and surprising each release.
