GTA Games: Series Timeline, Releases and Where to Start

GTA Games: Series Timeline, Releases and Where to Start

FOCUS: gta games | LAST FACT CHECK: November 6, 2026

The Grand Theft Auto series has changed from top-down crime sandboxes to expansive 3D open worlds. If you want the GTA games in order, release chronology is the cleanest starting point; fictional timelines and remastered editions can otherwise make the list confusing. This overview points to individual games without turning into a ranking of which one is best.

Main GTA entries in release order

The original Grand Theft Auto arrived in 1997, followed by Grand Theft Auto 2 in 1999. GTA III appeared in 2001 and marked the franchise's dramatic move into a fully 3D urban world. Vice City followed in 2002 and San Andreas in 2004. Grand Theft Auto IV was released in 2008; Grand Theft Auto V first appeared in 2013. Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for November 19, 2026. Dates here refer to initial main-game releases, not every later port or updated edition.

Side stories, handheld games and remasters

A complete franchise catalog also includes games and expansions such as Liberty City Stories, Vice City Stories, Chinatown Wars and GTA IV's Episodes from Liberty City. The Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition collects updated versions of GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas. A compilation release is not a wholly new numbered GTA game. When creating your own checklist, mark original release, platform-specific release and remaster separately rather than counting the same core adventure multiple times.

Release order is not story chronology

The franchise uses different fictional continuities and cities, and several stories take place earlier than their release dates. Playing in chronological fictional order is therefore a different project from understanding the history of the games. New readers usually benefit from selecting an accessible title on their existing platform rather than forcing a complex cross-game timeline. Individual entries provide their own introductions; you do not need to finish every older GTA to understand the basic open-world format.

How gameplay changed over time

The earliest entries emphasize top-down navigation, driving and mission chains. GTA III and its successors established the third-person city format many players associate with the name. GTA IV offered a different tone and city experience, while GTA V combined three protagonists with a sprawling single-player campaign and a separate online component. GTA VI promises a new setting and protagonists, but its current marketing should not be mistaken for a fully reviewed launched game before November 19.

Choosing a GTA game and finding legal versions

Start with your device, tolerance for older graphics and whether you prefer a focused story or a broad sandbox. Check the official Rockstar Store and platform listings for current versions, ratings and availability. Do not download an “all GTA games free” package from an unrelated site. The separate best-GTA article explains comparison criteria, while the GTA V and GTA VI pages cover those particular releases in much greater detail.

A clean checklist for collecting the series

Create columns for game title, original release, edition, platform, ownership and whether that edition is still actively supported. This prevents a remaster, expansion and original game from being counted as identical purchases. For example, a player who owns a Definitive Edition collection does not necessarily own the original PC binaries or their historically licensed tracks. If you care about chronology, sort by original release year; if you care about the fictional timeline, sort by the narrative setting. Both lists are useful, but mixing them makes a simple question needlessly confusing.

Frequently asked questions

What was the first GTA game?

The original Grand Theft Auto was released in 1997.

Is GTA V the most recent main game as of November 6, 2026?

GTA VI is still scheduled for November 19, so GTA V remains the latest released numbered main entry.

Does the Definitive Edition count as GTA IV?

No. It is a collection of reworked GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas.

Is release order the same as story timeline?

No. Release dates and fictional chronology are different questions.

Related guides

• Grand Theft Auto 1: Release Date, Gameplay and Legacy

• Best GTA Game: Comparing Story, World and Replay Value

• Grand Theft Auto V: The Game, Story and Online Modes

• GTA 6 Release Date, Platforms and Verified Launch Facts

Sources and further reading

• https://store.rockstargames.com/view-all-games

• https://www.rockstargames.com/VI

• https://www.rockstargames.com/games/vicecity

Editorial disclosure: Independent informational article; not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive. Live prices, dates, platform support and product terms may change. Check the linked publisher or storefront sources before relying on these details.