Grand Theft Autogames don’t directly follow on from each other. Certain characters or locations may appear in multiple installments, but, overall, most entries are self-contained adventures. This allows Rockstar to have the events of each title occur in whatever year the company chooses, and, sometimes, the year or decade in which a game is set plays a big part in its presentation or themes.
The franchise doesn’t change things radically as each of its entries is still agreat crime-based game. In fact, it’s pretty impressive how Rockstar can make its signature brand of gameplay fit into different time periods. With multiple games spanning over 50 in-universe years, however, it can be a little tricky keeping track of what happened when.
Updated Jul 27, 2025, by Tom Bowen:Although not quite as chronologically confusing as Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda series, understanding where every Grand Theft Auto game fits into the overall GTA timeline is far from easy. Many of the games are set decades before their actual release dates, while others take place in what was once the present day. With this in mind, understanding the true order in which key events take place can quickly become a challenge, even for the most meticulous of players. Thankfully, Grand Theft Auto 6 appears to be set in the present day, making its placement in the timeline a lot more straightforward.
Anywhere City, 1999 or 2013
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Grand Theft Auto: London 1961
Setting: London, 1961
Typically,Grand Theft Autogames are set in fictional American locations. However, the original title has two mission packs thattransport players back to Londonin the midst of the swinging sixties. As its name suggests, the second of these mission packs focuses on the year 1961.
The place and time are represented through things like the game’s locations and vehicles. For instance, red Double Decker buses and Mini Coopers are all over the roads, and they look just like they did in 1961. Well, as close as the graphics will allow them to, anyway.
Grand Theft Auto: London 1969
Setting: London, 1969
Before players traveled back to 1961 Britain, they first visited the country’s capital in 1969 forGTA’s very first mission pack. Cars driving on the left, constant references to British culture, and plenty of music from the era are just a few ways that the game aims to recreate the country and era.
While the story isn’t a big focus in the series' older installments,London 1969does introduce some characters who later go on to appear in the 1961 mission pack. That said, there’s very little personality or character development to them, so it’s difficult to really notice.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Setting: Vice City, 1984
Vice City Storiesacts as a prequel to thearguably timeless,Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. Despite being set in the same location though, the Miami-esque city looks a little different in this one. For instance, certain landmarks, such as the Avery Construction building, don’t even exist yet due to the game taking place some two years earlier.
A man who does exist, however, is Victor Vance, who serves as the game’s main protagonist. After being dishonorably discharged from the army, he needs to make his way in the drug-filled city and ends up getting dragged down into a life of crime. He also appears at the beginning of Tommy Vercetti’s adventure two years later.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Setting: Vice City, 1986
When fans think of aGTAperiod piece,Vice Cityis generally the first one that springs to mind. Its 1980s setting is perfectly realized in the game’s bright and vibrant presentation and the in-game radio is filled with iconic tracks that are synonymous with the decade.
Players control Tommy Vercetti as he tries to build a drug empire following his release from prison. As is typically the case withGTAnarratives, there are a lot of betrayals and plenty of gunfire throughout his blood-spattered journey to the top. It’s a wild ride, but, sadly, one that hasn’t aged particularly well.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Setting: San Andreas, 1992
Gangsta rap was absolutely huge in the ’90s, so it’s not all that surprising that the genre features so prominently throughout theGTA: San Andreassoundtrack. The songs instantly allow players to identify the era, as too do the outfits and hairstyles sported by the game’s varied cast of characters.
The main story goes far beyond tunes and threads, however, as gang warfare plays a large role in the narrative. The playable character, CJ, gets involved right from the very beginning after returning to San Andreas – which remains one ofthe biggest maps that Rockstar has ever madeeven to this day.
Grand Theft Auto
Setting: Liberty City, San Andreas & Vice City, 1997
The firstGrand Theft Autogame has several elements that identify it as one that’s set in the late ’90s, from the music to the heavy use of payphones. Yet, it wasn’t designed to be a period piece. The game simply takes place in what was the present day at the time of the game’s release, which just goes to show how long the series has lasted.
The title actually introduces several locations that would go on to become significant in later installments in the franchise, including Liberty City, San Andreas, and Vice City. However, these places are a lot smaller in the original title than they are today, and look very different when rendered in only two dimensions.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Setting: Liberty City, 1998
Three years before working with Claude inGTA 3, Toni Cipriani was busy serving as the main protagonist inGrand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories. The game begins with him rejoining the Leone crime family after having spent some time lying low for murdering one of Liberty City’s many made men.
As a prequel to the third game,Liberty City Storiesallows players to get a glimpse of what the city looked like back in 1998. However, the year doesn’t really have too much of an impact on the game itself, with Rockstar having seemingly only selected it so that the game could fit neatly into the series' overarching narrative.
Grand Theft Auto 2
Setting: Anywhere City, 1999 or 2013
GTA 2is the only game in the series that doesn’t inform the player of the year that everything is taking place. Fans, of course, have theories, however, ranging from 1999 to 2013. Though some promotional material points to the latter, many consider 1999 to be more likely due to one of the radio hosts mentioning that the millennium is coming.
It’s hard to tell by the environment of the game as everything occurs in a retro-futuristic city, which is just one of manystrange things about the series. The lack of any real story or character development means that it doesn’t connect to the other titles anyway, nor does it take place in one of the series' three main cities.
Grand Theft Auto Advance
Setting: Liberty City, 2000
Grand Theft Auto Advancetakes place several years before the game’s actual release date. Much likeLiberty City Stories, though, this has less to do with Rockstar looking to take advantage of the time period and more to do with the game being a prequel toGTA 3.
The game actually shares a few characters with the thirdGTAinstallment, although features a brand new protagonist in Mike. The small-time criminal is attempting to gain vengeance for his friend’s untimely demise, but must first find those responsible before he can finally bring them down.
Grand Theft Auto 3
Setting: Liberty City, 2001
Grand Theft Auto 3made a lot of changes to the series' tried and tested formula. Most notably, it was the first 3DGTAgame and also put a lot more emphasis on its narrative than each of its predecessors. The story followssilent protagonist Claudeas he attempts to track down his ex-girlfriend Catalina and introduces players to a lovable cast of rogues.
While the game was innovative from a gameplay perspective, the time period was perhaps less so. The game’s events take place in what was at the time the present day, meaning that it often felt like a generic everyday city. Looking back though, it’s pretty cool to see what Liberty City - and society, in general - was like in the early 2000s.
