GTA games in order: the short answer
The Grand Theft Auto main series, in release order, is Grand Theft Auto (1997), Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999), Grand Theft Auto III (2001), Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002), Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004), Grand Theft Auto IV (2008), Grand Theft Auto V (2013) and Grand Theft Auto VI, due November 19, 2026. That is eight games, with the last still to come.
Wikipedia's series table gives an exact date only for the original game, November 28, 1997, and for GTA VI, so we list the others by year rather than guess a day. The sections below add platforms and developers where the source states them, then cover the spin-offs and a practical order to play.
Dates and platforms in this guide come from Wikipedia's Grand Theft Auto article and Rockstar's own GTA VI page, both opened on November 10, 2026.
The 2D era: Grand Theft Auto and GTA 2
The original Grand Theft Auto launched on November 28, 1997 for MS-DOS and Windows, developed by DMA Design. Grand Theft Auto 2 followed in 1999 for Windows. Wikipedia lists both as the series' first entries and does not give GTA 2 a developer in the table we read.
These two games are the most distant from the modern series. Two other 1999 releases sit beside them: Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 for PlayStation, developed by Rockstar Canada, and Grand Theft Auto: London 1961 for MS-DOS and Windows.
“Coming November 19, 2026”
The PlayStation 2 trilogy: GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto III arrived in 2001 as a timed exclusive on PlayStation 2. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City followed in 2002, also a timed PlayStation 2 exclusive, developed by Rockstar North. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas came in 2004 on PlayStation 2.
The three are the games most people mean by the '3D era'. They were released one, then two years apart, a pace the series never matched again. Grand Theft Auto Advance, a 2004 Game Boy Advance spin-off developed by Digital Eclipse, sits in this period too.
The HD era: GTA IV (2008) and GTA V (2013)
Grand Theft Auto IV released in 2008 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and Grand Theft Auto V in 2013 on the same two platforms. Wikipedia notes that the series is primarily developed by Rockstar North.
Wikipedia's article cites a New Yorker report that GTA V had sold about 13 million copies, a figure that is clearly dated by now, so we do not rely on it for current sales. For a measure of the series' scale, the useful number is the gap: five years separated IV from V, and thirteen years will separate V from VI.
The spin-offs: portable and expansion games
Wikipedia lists these spin-offs: London 1969 and London 1961 (1999), Advance (2004), Liberty City Stories (2005, PlayStation Portable, Rockstar Leeds), Vice City Stories (2006, PlayStation Portable), Chinatown Wars (2009, Nintendo DS), The Lost and Damned (2009, Xbox 360 timed exclusive, Rockstar North) and The Ballad of Gay Tony (2009, Xbox 360 timed exclusive). Episodes from Liberty City is dated October 29, 2009 for Xbox 360.
Most are optional. They are shorter, built for handhelds or as expansions to GTA IV, and none is required to follow the main series.
GTA VI: what we can say on November 10, 2026
Rockstar's GTA VI page reads 'Coming November 19, 2026' for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and Take-Two's November 9 earnings release says the launch is ten days away. Neither source mentions a PC version.
Wikipedia's table describes the date as delayed to November 19, 2026. Pre-load opens November 10 for digital pre-orders, according to reports covered in our separate pre-load guide.
The gaps tell the story
Between 1997 and 2004 the series averaged a new main game every two years or less: 2 years, 2 years, 1 year, 2 years. Then 4 years to IV, 5 years to V, and 13 to VI. Growing scope is the obvious explanation, but no source we read states a reason, so we stop at the numbers.
For a casual fan, that means GTA V has been the newest main game for over a decade.
Where to start: release order or jump in
Release order shows how the series changed, but most players do not need it. Because the main games are standalone, the sensible starting points are the one you can play on hardware you own and the one that appeals most. We have not played-through-verified story links for this guide, so we do not claim a plot order.
If you want to be ready for the new game, GTA V is the most recent and easiest to find. If you want the series' history, start with III and work forward.
Frequently asked
What are the GTA games in order of release?
Grand Theft Auto (1997), Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999), Grand Theft Auto III (2001), Vice City (2002), San Andreas (2004), Grand Theft Auto IV (2008), Grand Theft Auto V (2013) and Grand Theft Auto VI, due November 19, 2026. Wikipedia gives an exact date only for the original game, November 28, 1997, so the others are listed by year. Spin-offs are listed separately in this guide.
When is GTA 6 coming out?
November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, according to Rockstar's GTA VI page, which reads 'Coming November 19, 2026'. Take-Two's earnings release of November 9 repeats the date. No PC version has been announced by either source. Digital pre-load opens November 10 for pre-orders, per reports covered in our pre-load guide.
How many main GTA games are there?
There are seven released main-series games: Grand Theft Auto, GTA 2, GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, GTA IV and GTA V. GTA VI is the eighth, due November 19, 2026. Wikipedia also lists eight spin-offs, including London 1969, Liberty City Stories, Chinatown Wars, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony.
Do I need to play the older GTA games before GTA 6?
We have no source saying you must. Rockstar's page does not require earlier games, and the main entries are standalone releases on different platforms, so you can start fresh. We have not verified story links between games for this guide, so we do not claim a required order. GTA V is the most recent main game if you want context.
What platforms were the original GTA games on?
The original Grand Theft Auto launched on MS-DOS and Windows in 1997, and GTA 2 on Windows in 1999. GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas debuted on PlayStation 2, with III and Vice City as timed exclusives. GTA IV and GTA V debuted on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, per Wikipedia's series table.
What is the longest gap between GTA games?
The gap between GTA V in 2013 and GTA VI on November 19, 2026 is 13 years, the longest between two main-series games. By comparison, IV (2008) to V (2013) was 5 years and San Andreas (2004) to IV was 4 years. Wikipedia describes GTA VI as delayed to its current date.