Every GTA Game in Release Order
From the original 1997 top-down GTA to GTA 6 in 2026 — the full mainline and spin-off release timeline.
The Grand Theft Auto series spans nearly three decades, evolving from a top-down 2D game into one of the most technically ambitious open-world franchises in the industry. Here's every entry in order.
Mainline and Major Releases
- Grand Theft Auto (1997) — the original top-down game that started the series
- Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999) — an expanded top-down sequel with multiple cities
- Grand Theft Auto III (2001) — the leap to 3D and open-world gameplay, setting the template the series still follows
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) — introduced the 1980s Miami-inspired setting, GTA 6's spiritual predecessor
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004) — expanded to three cities and a much larger map, following protagonist CJ
- Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (2005) — a PSP-originated prequel set before GTA III
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006) — another PSP prequel, set before Vice City
- Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) — a tonal shift toward grounded realism, following Niko Bellic in Liberty City
- GTA IV: The Lost and Damned (2009) — episodic DLC following a biker gang storyline
- GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony (2009) — a second episodic DLC, following a nightclub promoter
- Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (2009) — a top-down handheld entry for DS and PSP
- Grand Theft Auto V (2013) — the three-protagonist Los Santos story that became one of the best-selling entertainment products in history, later expanded by GTA Online for over a decade
- Grand Theft Auto VI (2026) — set in Leonida, following Jason and Lucia, launching November 19, 2026
What Stands Out About the Timeline
The gap between GTA V and GTA VI — 13 years — is by far the longest between mainline entries in the series' history. Every previous mainline gap was three years or less; GTA Online's decade-plus lifespan is the primary reason Rockstar had less pressure to rush a direct sequel.
FAQ
What was the first Grand Theft Auto game?
The original Grand Theft Auto, released in 1997, using a top-down perspective.
How long was the gap between GTA V and GTA VI?
13 years — the longest gap between mainline entries in the series' history.
Is Vice City Stories connected to GTA 6's Vice City?
They share the same fictional city concept, but GTA 6's Leonida and Vice City are a new, modern-day take rather than a direct sequel to the earlier Vice City games.
Are the DS/PSP entries considered mainline games?
They're typically treated as spin-offs rather than mainline numbered entries, despite being full games with their own stories.
Conclusion
From a top-down 1997 original to a two-protagonist open world launching in 2026, the GTA timeline shows a franchise that's expanded scope with nearly every release — with GTA VI arriving after the longest wait between mainline games the series has ever had.