With GTA 6 dropping in November 2026, there's no better time to go back and look at everything that came before it. The GTA series has been running for almost 30 years, and there are way more games in it than most people realize. I went through the whole franchise and put together this GTA games tier list to help you figure out where to start, what to prioritize, and what you can safely skip.
Table of Contents
GTA Games Tier List
| Tier | GTA Games |
|---|---|
| S Tier | GTA 5, GTA San Andreas |
| A Tier | GTA 4, GTA Vice City, Ballad of Gay Tony |
| B Tier | GTA 3, GTA Online, Vice City Stories, Liberty City Stories |
| C Tier | GTA Chinatown Wars, The Lost and Damned, GTA 2, GTA 1, GTA London 1969, GTA Advance |
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Best Grand Theft Auto Games
GTA 5
GTA 5 is still one of the main open-world games that other games are compared to, and I think it hasn't been beaten yet (at least until November 19, 2026). Los Santos feels like a real, active city. You can spend a long time just driving around and watching NPCs go about their daily activities without getting bored. The ability to switch between Michael, Trevor, and Franklin at any time helps keep the story interesting and makes it different from earlier GTA games. The game has been released on several console generations since 2013 because it continues to be popular.
GTA San Andreas
San Andreas is the game that made many people love the GTA series, and CJ's story is still enjoyable even today. Returning to Los Santos, rebuilding your reputation, learning new skills, and customizing CJ's appearance and body gave the game a lot of depth. If you want to play it, I recommend you to try the original PS2 version or the PC version with mods, because the remaster does not capture the same feel as the original game.
A-Tier GTA Games
GTA 4
GTA 4 is often overlooked compared to other games in the series, but I still consider this one of the best. The story follows Niko Bellic, an immigrant from Eastern Europe who comes to Liberty City hoping for a better life. It is one of Rockstar's most serious and emotional stories, with a more realistic and personal tone. Yes, the driving takes a bit of getting used to since it has weight to it. But once it clicks, it feels more satisfying than the arcade style of GTA 5.
GTA Vice City
Vice City is pure style. The 1980s Miami setting, the incredible radio stations full of actual 80s hits, and Ray Liotta voicing Tommy Vercetti all come together into something that still feels cool today. Driving around Vice City at night with the neon lights is a vibe. The missions can spike in difficulty and get frustrating, especially mid-game, but the overall package is worth pushing through.
GTA 4: Ballad of Gay Tony
Hands down the best DLC Rockstar has ever put out. You play as Luis Lopez, working for flamboyant nightclub owner Gay Tony as his world falls apart around him. The expansion adds new activities such as base jumping, new weapons, and nightclub-related missions. It also connects with and expands on events from GTA 4's main story, giving you more background on important characters and events. If you're playing GTA 4, I'd also recommend playing GTA 4: Ballad of Gay Tony expansion as well.
B-Tier GTA Games
GTA 3
GTA 3 is historically important because it invented the 3D open-world crime game format that everything else on this list built on. But playing it now is rough. The main character is completely silent, the mission design is repetitive, and the world feels thin compared to what came later.
GTA Online
GTA Online is fun when you've got a crew to play with. Heists, ridiculous purchased vehicles, and wild random moments make it entertaining. But it's also the reason GTA 5 never got proper story DLC. Rockstar had multiple single-player expansions planned and GTA Online's success killed all of them.
GTA: Vice City Stories and Liberty City Stories
Both built for the PSP, both solid for what they were. Vice City Stories in particular has a good story about building a criminal empire from nothing. If you want more time in either Vice City or Liberty City after finishing the main games, these are worth looking up.
C Tier GTA Games
GTA 1, GTA 2, GTA London 1969, and GTA Advance are interesting mainly because they show how the series began. They are worth trying once if you want to see the history of GTA, but I don't think so you will keep coming back to them. Chinatown Wars and The Lost and Damned are good games, but for me, I feel they are overshadowed by other, more popular GTA titles.
If you've never touched GTA before, start with GTA 5. Then go back to San Andreas. After that, give GTA 4 a proper run with both DLC packs included. Those three alone will keep you busy for months, and by then GTA 6 will finally be here!
