The short version
- The series runs across three separate continuities that do not connect.
- Release order is the only order that makes sense to play in.
- GTA VI is the sixteenth mainline or spin-off entry, released November 19, 2026.
- No game requires any other to be understood.
Release order is the answer. The series has used three separate continuities, and they do not join up, so there is no chronology to follow across them.
The list below is every entry by release date.
The mainline series in release order
Handhelds and expansions are excluded; this is the numbered and titled line.
| Year | Game | Continuity |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Grand Theft Auto | 2D universe |
| 1999 | Grand Theft Auto 2 | 2D universe |
| 2001 | Grand Theft Auto III | 3D universe |
| 2002 | Grand Theft Auto: Vice City | 3D universe |
| 2004 | Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | 3D universe |
| 2008 | Grand Theft Auto IV | HD universe |
| 2013 | Grand Theft Auto V | HD universe |
| 2026 | Grand Theft Auto VI | HD universe |
Why the three continuities matter
Each reboot restarts the world. The same city names recur with different maps, different characters and no shared events.
Liberty City is three different cities
The 1997, 2001 and 2008 versions share a name and nothing else.
The same is true of Vice City in 1986 and in 2026.
So chronological order does not exist
There is no in-universe timeline that spans the three.
Release order is the only sequence that tracks how the series actually developed.
Where GTA VI sits
It is the eighth mainline entry and the third in the HD universe, releasing November 19, 2026.
It does not continue GTA V
No story link has been announced. Our newcomers guide covers what that means if you are starting here.
What it does continue is a design direction, which our evolution guide traces.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I play the GTA games in?
Release order. The series uses three separate continuities that do not connect, so there is no chronological order to follow.
How many GTA games are there?
Eight mainline entries from 1997 to 2026, across three separate continuities, plus handheld and expansion titles.
Is GTA 6 connected to GTA 5?
They share the HD universe, but no story connection between them has been announced.
Keep reading
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Do You Need to Play GTA 5 First?
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