To play through the Grand Theft Auto franchise in chronological order, players must navigate a timeline that spans over four decades of fictional history, starting with the 1984 setting of GTA: Vice City Stories and concluding with the modern-day events of GTA V and GTA Online. While Rockstar Games has maintained three distinct "universes"—2D, 3D, and HD—the chronological narrative primarily focuses on the 3D and HD eras, which are linked by recurring themes and evolving lore.
The 3D Universe Timeline
The 3D universe, which established the open-world formula for the franchise, features a cohesive narrative thread that begins in the mid-1980s. According to Rockstar Games’ official lore, the chronological progression for this era is as follows:
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (1984): Set in Vice City, this title serves as the earliest entry in the 3D era, following Victor Vance.
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (1986): Players control Tommy Vercetti as he rises to power in the criminal underworld of Vice City.
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (1992): This entry centers on Carl "CJ" Johnson and his return to Los Santos.
- Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (1998): Set in Liberty City, this title follows mobster Toni Cipriani.
- Grand Theft Auto III (2001): The game that introduced the 3D open-world standard, following the protagonist Claude.
The HD Universe Timeline
The HD universe represents a reboot of the series, featuring more detailed environments and a more grounded approach to storytelling. These titles are not narratively connected to the 3D universe but follow a strict internal timeline.
- Grand Theft Auto IV (2008): Set in a reimagined Liberty City, this game introduces Niko Bellic, an immigrant seeking a new life.
- The Lost and Damned (2008): This expansion runs concurrently with the events of GTA IV, focusing on the Liberty City biker gang.
- The Ballad of Gay Tony (2008): Also occurring during the same timeframe as GTA IV, this expansion explores the high-end nightclub scene.
- Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (2009): This title takes place shortly after the events of the HD-era Liberty City games.
- Grand Theft Auto V (2013): Set in Los Santos, the game follows three protagonists—Michael, Franklin, and Trevor—and takes place five years after the events of GTA IV.
- Grand Theft Auto Online (2013–Present): While launched with GTA V, the game’s timeline has evolved significantly. According to Rockstar’s updates, recent expansions like "The Contract" (2021) have moved the GTA Online timeline forward to be concurrent with the present day, effectively placing it years after the main story of GTA V.
Understanding the Narrative Split
It is important to note that the "2D Universe" (the original GTA, GTA 2, and the London expansions) exists in a separate continuity from the 3D and HD eras. Rockstar Games developers have confirmed that characters and events from the 2D era do not cross over into the later games.
When playing through the series chronologically, players should prioritize the 3D and HD titles, as these contain the complex character arcs and interconnected missions that define the modern Grand Theft Auto experience. While the 3D and HD universes are also separate—meaning events in GTA III do not impact the plot of GTA V—the HD games share a consistent world map and timeline that allows for a seamless play-through experience.
Related reading