Games to Play Before GTA 6: Should You Play GTA 5 First?

Choose one game to start with

You do not need to turn the wait for GTA 6 into a completion checklist. Our recommendation is to choose a game for the experience you want now. The table below is an editorial selection based on the settings and stories described by Rockstar.

What interests you	Our pick	Why start here
A modern city crime story	Grand Theft Auto V	A Los Santos story built around several criminals and heists
The earlier Vice City	Grand Theft Auto: Vice City	A separate, 1980s take on the city
Another classic GTA setting	Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas	CJ’s story across San Andreas in the early 1990s
A western gang story	Red Dead Redemption 2	Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang in 1899

Should you play GTA 5 before GTA 6?

You do not need to. Rockstar has not announced any required game, GTA 6 has new leads and a new setting, and none of its announced characters appear in GTA 5. Play GTA 5 because you want a full GTA story now, not because GTA 6 depends on it.

• Short on time: Story Mode alone is enough. You can skip GTA Online entirely.
• Only want the plot: our GTA 5 story recap covers it in ten minutes, with full spoilers.
• Ready to buy: GTA 5 Enhanced vs Legacy explains which version you get on each platform.

GTA V: our first choice if you want one GTA game

GTA V’s official page describes a Los Santos crime story involving multiple leads and dangerous heists. We recommend starting with Story Mode if you want a focused introduction rather than building a multiplayer routine.

Treat it as its own game. Our GTA 6 versus GTA 5 comparison separates what GTA 6 has actually shown from assumptions based on its predecessor. Enjoying a feature in GTA V does not confirm its return in GTA 6.

Vice City or San Andreas: choose the setting

Pick Vice City if the return to a tropical city is what drew you to GTA 6. Rockstar places that older story in the 1980s. It is a useful comparison in atmosphere, not a guide to GTA 6’s streets, missions or map.

Pick San Andreas if you would rather follow CJ’s story in another setting. You do not need to complete both to follow our recommendations. The official Trilogy collection includes these two games and GTA III; check the platform and edition you actually intend to buy.

For the wider chronology, see all GTA games in release order. For the new setting, use the Leonida overview.

Red Dead Redemption 2: a change of genre

Rockstar’s description follows Arthur Morgan and a gang struggling to survive in 1899. Choose it if the group relationships and western setting appeal more than another city crime story.

This is our alternative recommendation, not a GTA prequel. Comparisons between Rockstar games can be interesting, but they do not establish which systems GTA 6 will use.

Before you spend money or start a long playthrough

• Start with a game you already own if it fits the type of story you want.
• Check the current store listing for your exact platform, included modes and language support. We are not treating prices or subscription catalogues as permanent.
• Pick one story rather than assuming every earlier game is required. Rockstar has not announced a prerequisite play order for GTA 6.
• Do not buy or grind an older game expecting progress, cash or rewards to transfer into GTA 6; those benefits have not been announced.

If you only want to catch up on GTA 6 itself, the official trailers and character guide are a shorter starting point.

Rockstar: Grand Theft Auto VI