With Grand Theft Auto VI officially pushed back to November 19, 2026, the wait for a return to Vice City has grown just a little bit longer. While delays are painful, they offer a unique opportunity: there is now ample time to revisit the franchise that defined the open-world genre.

Most fans played these games as they were released, bouncing from the 80s to the 2000s and back again. But playing them in the order the events actually happened—from the neon-soaked 1980s to the high-definition modern day—reveals a surprisingly cohesive narrative web of rising empires, betrayals, and tragic downfalls.

If you want to experience the Rockstar saga as a linear history, here is how to play the games in chronological order.

Understanding the "Universes"

Before diving into the timeline, it is crucial to understand that not all GTA games exist in the same reality. Rockstar Games officially separates the franchise into three distinct "universes," meaning characters from one era generally do not exist in the others (with a few spiritual exceptions like radio hosts).

• The 2D Universe: GTA 1, GTA London, and GTA 2.

• The 3D Universe: GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, etc.

• The HD Universe: GTA IV, GTA V, and GTA VI.

While you can technically play London 1969 first, the narrative meat of the series begins with the 3D Universe.

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The 3D Universe Timeline

The classic era of the PlayStation 2 and PSP.

1. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

Setting: 1984 | Release: 2006

Chronologically, the 3D saga begins not with Tommy Vercetti, but with Victor Vance. Set two years before the events of Vice City, this PSP classic (later ported to PS2) tells a more tragic tale. Vic is a soldier trying to pay for his brother’s medical bills, but he is quickly chewed up by the criminal machinery of the city.

Why it matters: It adds immense weight to the opening of Vice City. The "Empire Building" mechanic here is also a direct gameplay precursor to the property management systems seen in later titles.

2. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Setting: 1986 | Release: 2002

This is the game that put the timeline on the map. You play as Tommy Vercetti, fresh out of prison and looking to reclaim his spot in the Mafia. The neon aesthetics and 80s soundtrack are iconic, but the story is where the connections shine.

The Connection: If you played Vice City Stories first, the opening drug deal ambush hits harder—you know exactly who is killed in that scene, bringing a grim closure to the previous protagonist's story.

3. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Setting: 1992 | Release: 2004

We jump forward to the early 90s West Coast. Carl "CJ" Johnson returns to Los Santos following his mother's murder. This game is pivotal for bridging the gap between the eras.

The Connection: During a mission in the countryside, CJ races a frantic woman named Catalina and her new boyfriend—a silent, leather-jacket-wearing man. This is Claude, the protagonist of GTA III, and they are literally driving off to Liberty City to start the events of that game.

4. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

Setting: 1998 | Release: 2005

Toni Cipriani returns to Liberty City to restore order to the Leone Crime Family. This game serves as a direct setup for the political and gang landscape you find in GTA III. It explains how the city fell into chaos and how the Leone family consolidated the power that they would eventually lose just three years later.

5. Grand Theft Auto Advance

Setting: 2000 | Release: 2004

Often overlooked due to its hardware limitations on the Game Boy Advance, this title is actually canon. It serves as a direct prequel to GTA III, explaining the backstory of minor characters like 8-Ball and how he ended up arrested with burned hands.

6. Grand Theft Auto III

Setting: 2001 | Release: 2001

The game that started the 3D revolution is historically the final chapter of this universe. Claude arrives in Liberty City, is betrayed by Catalina (who we saw him leave with in San Andreas), and goes on a rampage that dismantles the Mafia families Toni Cipriani worked so hard to build in Liberty City Stories.

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The HD Universe Timeline

The modern era, introducing high-definition graphics and a new, separate canon.

1. Grand Theft Auto IV (and Episodes from Liberty City)

Setting: 2008 | Release: 2008

The HD universe resets the clock. Niko Bellic arrives in a reimagined Liberty City chasing the American Dream. Unlike the 3D universe, the expansions here (The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony) happen concurrently with the main story.

The Best Way to Play: To get the true chronological experience, you should alternate between the three campaigns, as the diamond deal missions in all three games intersect at the exact same moment in the timeline.

2. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Setting: 2009 | Release: 2009

While it uses a top-down view, this DS/PSP/Mobile title is firmly in the HD universe. It deals with the Triad power struggles in Liberty City shortly after Niko Bellic's story concludes. It offers a grittier look at the drug trade mechanics that would later influence GTA Online.

3. Grand Theft Auto V

Setting: 2013 (Prologue in 2004) | Release: 2013

GTA V is unique because its prologue takes place in 2004 (North Yankton), pre-dating GTA IV. However, the main story picks up in 2013. The connections to GTA IV are subtle but cool: Packie McReary, a major character from Niko’s story, can be found robbing a store and recruited as a heist crew member.

The Tragic Connection: Johnny Klebitz, the protagonist of The Lost and Damned, meets a gruesome end at the hands of Trevor Philips, proving that being a main character doesn't grant you immunity in this universe.

4. Grand Theft Auto Online

Setting: 2013 – Present | Release: 2013

Originally, GTA Online was a prequel set months before the GTA V story. However, with years of updates (like the Gunrunning and The Contract updates), the timeline has shifted to the present day (2017-2025). It is now a living timeline that has surpassed the single-player story.

5. Grand Theft Auto VI

Setting: 2026 (Projected) | Release: November 19, 2026

Set in the state of Leonida (a fictional Florida), GTA VI will bring the HD universe into the mid-2020s. Trailers have already hinted at a social-media-obsessed modern world. Will we see an older Michael De Santa or a mention of the bewildering success of GTA Online protagonists? We will find out in 2026.

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Summary: The Master List

If you are ready to start your marathon, here is the cheat sheet:

Game Title	Chronological Year	Universe
GTA: London 1961	1961	2D
GTA: London 1969	1969	2D
GTA: Vice City Stories	1984	3D
GTA: Vice City	1986	3D
GTA: San Andreas	1992	3D
Grand Theft Auto 1	1997	2D
GTA: Liberty City Stories	1998	3D
Grand Theft Auto 2	1999 (or 2013)	2D
GTA Advance	2000	3D
Grand Theft Auto III	2001	3D
GTA V (Prologue)	2004	HD
GTA IV + Episodes	2008	HD
GTA: Chinatown Wars	2009	HD
Grand Theft Auto V	2013	HD
GTA Online	2013 – Present	HD
Grand Theft Auto VI	2026	HD

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