The mainline Grand Theft Auto games in release order are GTA (1997), GTA 2 (1999), GTA III (2001), Vice City (2002), San Andreas (2004), GTA IV (2008) and GTA V (2013). GTA VI is scheduled for 19 November 2026. Spin-offs include Liberty City Stories, Vice City Stories and Chinatown Wars.
Key takeaways
- First game: 28 November 1997.
- Latest mainline game: GTA V, September 2013.
- Next: GTA VI, 19 November 2026.
- Series total: almost 475 million units shipped, per Wikipedia (undated).
GTA release order
| Game | Release | Setting | Launch platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto | 28 Nov 1997 | Liberty City, San Andreas, Vice City | MS-DOS, Windows |
| Grand Theft Auto 2 | 1999 | Anywhere City | Windows |
| Grand Theft Auto III | 2001 | Liberty City | PlayStation 2 |
| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | 2002 | Vice City, 1986 | PlayStation 2 |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | 2004 | San Andreas, 1992 | PlayStation 2 |
| Liberty City Stories (spin-off) | 2005 | Liberty City, 1998 | PSP |
| Vice City Stories (spin-off) | 2006 | Vice City, 1984 | PSP |
| Grand Theft Auto IV | 2008 | Liberty City | PS3, Xbox 360 |
| Chinatown Wars (spin-off) | 2009 | Liberty City | Nintendo DS |
| The Lost and Damned, The Ballad of Gay Tony (episodes) | 2009 | Liberty City | Xbox 360 |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 17 Sep 2013 | San Andreas (Los Santos) | PS3, Xbox 360 |
| The Trilogy: The Definitive Edition | 11 Nov 2021 | III, Vice City, San Andreas remasters | Switch, PS4, PS5, Windows, Xbox |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 19 Nov 2026 (scheduled) | Leonida, including Vice City | PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
Which are mainline games?
The numbered games, plus Vice City and San Andreas, are usually counted as mainline. Handheld titles and episodes are spin-offs. Rockstar does not publish an official list.
Do you need to play them in order?
No. Stories are mostly self-contained, and Rockstar has not tied GTA 6 to earlier plots. See the series hub.
Frequently asked questions
How many GTA games are there?
Seven mainline games before GTA VI, with several spin-offs.
What was the first GTA game?
Grand Theft Auto, released 28 November 1997.
What is the most recent GTA?
GTA V, released in 2013. GTA VI is due 19 November 2026.
Is the Trilogy a new game?
No. It is a 2021 remaster of III, Vice City and San Andreas.
Sources
We label claims Confirmed (stated by Rockstar Games, Take-Two or a platform holder), Reported (credible reporting without an official statement) or Rumour. Many details below come from news reports and store listings, so check the retailer or platform page before you spend money. How we verify