The Grand Theft Auto series spans across 17 games, excluding GTA Online, so it’s natural for players to be overwhelmed when embarking on this chaotic journey. Most players are unaware that the older and newer titles are divided into three separate universes.
So, in this guide, we take a look at all Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto outings in their release and chronological order, so you don’t miss a step when replaying the franchise before November 19, 2026.
All GTA Games in Order of Release
| GAME | RELEASE DATE | DEBUT PLATFORM |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto | November 28, 1997 | MS-DOS & Windows |
| Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 (Expansion Pack) | April 30, 1999 | – MS-DOS & Windows – PlayStation 1 |
| Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 (Expansion Pack) | June 1, 1999 | – MS-DOS & Windows – PlayStation 1 |
| Grand Theft Auto 2 | October 22, 1999 | – Windows – PlayStation |
| Grand Theft Auto III | October 23, 2001 | PlayStation 2 |
| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | October 29, 2002 | PlayStation 2 |
| Grand Theft Auto Advance | October 26, 2004 | Game Boy Advance |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | October 26, 2004 | PlayStation 2 |
| Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories | October 25, 2005 | PlayStation Portable (PSP) |
| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories | October 31, 2006 | PlayStation Portable (PSP) |
| Grand Theft Auto IV | April 29, 2008 | – PlayStation 3 – Xbox 360 |
| Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned (Expansion Pack – Episode 1) | February 17, 2009 | Xbox 360 |
| Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony (Expansion Pack – Episode 2) | October 29, 2009 | Xbox 360 |
| Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars | March 17, 2009 | Nintendo DS |
| Grand Theft Auto V | September 17, 2013 | – PlayStation 3 – Xbox 360 |
| Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition | November 11, 2021 | – PlayStation 4 – PlayStation 5 – Windows – Xbox One – Xbox Series X/S – Nintendo Switch |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | November 19, 2026 | – PlayStation 5 – Xbox Series X|S |
How Many GTA Universes Are There?
The 2D Era (1997-1999)
Surprisingly, Rockstar Games wasn’t around to develop the 2D Era of Grand Theft Auto, but it did have a grand start in the industry. This era began with Grand Theft Auto and its expansion packs, GTA: London 1969 and GTA: London 1961, concluding with Grand Theft Auto 2. Pixelated 2D graphics and a top-down perspective largely defined this universe.
These titles are obviously dated, but they shaped the backbone of Grand Theft Auto going forward. Funny thing is, Liberty City, Vice City, and San Andreas all made their first appearances during this era, but without the freedom you’d find in the later games.
It’s interesting that the Grand Theft Auto: London expansion packs were among the few times the series pivoted to a real city, rather than a fictional version of America. But with Grand Theft Auto 6 on the horizon, it’s always fun to look at where the series started and how far it has come.
3D Era (2001-2006)
GTA’s 3D Era started with Grand Theft Auto III, with Claude as the protagonist, and continued through iconic mainline entries like GTA: Vice City, and concluded with GTA: San Andreas, which is perhaps the most iconic GTA game next to GTA 5.
Between these mainline entries, smaller spin-offs like Grand Theft Auto Advance, GTA: Liberty City Stories and GTA: Vice City Stories also found their place on consoles like Game Boy Advance and PlayStation Portable. But the mainline titles are what made Grand Theft Auto the cultural phenomenon it is today.
Memorable characters like Carl Johnson and Tommy Vercetti, along with the freedom to explore San Andreas and Vice City popularized the franchise. Even GTA 6 is going back to Vice City within the state of Leonida, so the 3D Era’s impact on the Grand Theft Auto franchise cannot be understated.
HD Era (2008-Present)
This is where we are with the Grand Theft Auto series right now. The HD Era began with GTA 4 and its Episodes from Liberty City, bringing Niko Bellic’s tragic story to life, and continued with Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars on the DS and PSP, and with GTA 5, arguably the most-played game in the series.
Built on the RAGE Engine, GTA 4 and GTA 5 expressed truly what Rockstar Games is capable of in creating immersive open-world titles. The developers took a three-protagonist approach with the latter, introducing Michael, Franklin and Trevor to the world of Grand Theft Auto, along with including multiple endings.
GTA 6 is also confirmed to take place in the HD Era, continuing it through November 19, 2026 and marking the biggest and most immersive evolution in the franchise. Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos are set to become the next face of Grand Theft Auto, and it’s the first time a mainline title will feature a female playable protagonist.
Everything We Know About GTA 6
Rockstar Games describes it as the “biggest and most immersive evolution in the Grand Theft Auto series”, and from the official trailers and promotional images, we can already tell. Set in the sprawling State of Leonida, Grand Theft Auto 6 centres on the relationship between Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, our playable protagonists.
The criminal duo find themselves involved in a conspiracy after an “easy score” goes wrong. Leonida will feature regions such as Amrbosia, Port Gellhorn, Mount Kalaga and more, with Vice City being the main metropolitan hub. The game is officially set for November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, after facing multiple delays.
It’s been nearly a month since pre-orders opened. Two editions have been officially revealed: the Standard Edition costs $79.99 while the Ultimate Edition costs $99.99. If you pre-order before November 20, 2026, you’ll receive the Vintage Vice City Pack and a month of GTA+ with it. However, there’s no physical disc release, as the “physical” box will contain a code inside.
GTA Games in Chronological Order
Most of the Grand Theft Auto games take place in their release year, with a few exceptions, so here’s what the in-game timelines suggest, divided into three separate eras:
2D Universe
| GAME | IN-UNIVERSE TIMELINE |
|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 (Expansion Pack) | 1961 |
| Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 (Expansion Pack) | 1969 |
| Grand Theft Auto | 1997 |
| Grand Theft Auto 2 | 1999 |
3D Universe
| GAME | IN-UNIVERSE TIMELINE |
|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories | 1984 |
| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | 1986 |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | 1992 |
| Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories | 1998 |
| Grand Theft Auto Advance | 2000 |
| Grand Theft Auto III | 2001 |
HD Universe
| GAME | IN-UNIVERSE TIMELINE |
|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto IV | 2008 |
| Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned (Expansion Pack – Episode 1) | 2008 |
| Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony (Expansion Pack – Episode 2) | 2008 |
| Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars | 2009 |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 2013 |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 2026 |
We assume most Grand Theft Auto players will begin their marathon before GTA 6 arrives on November 19, 2026, and this guide will definitely help you find your footing in this immersive and chaotic universe.
How many GTA games are there?
Excluding GTA Online and The Definitive Edition, there are 16 GTA games, separated into 3 universes: the 2D Universe, the 3D Universe, and the HD Universe.
What is the best order to play all GTA games?
The release order is the best way to play the GTA games, starting with the 2D Universe titles and ending with the HD Universe games. GTA 6 is included in the order.
What is the earliest setting in GTA?
The earliest GTA setting is 1961 London, featured in Grand Theft Auto: London 1961, the series’s earliest chronological entry.
Will GTA 6 release on PC?
Yes, if you look at Rockstar’s past GTA releases, they always release new titles on consoles first, then on PC. While there’s been no official confirmation of a PC port, you can expect one around next year.
