Which GTA game should you start with?

In brief: If you have a PS5, Xbox Series X|S or modern PC, start with GTA V's story mode. It is sold on current platforms, uses the most modern controls of any released GTA game and has a story that needs no earlier knowledge. Choose The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition if you want the 2000s classics, GTA IV if you play on Xbox or PC and want a slower, story-focused game, and a handheld GTA if you only have a short time to play.

NextPlayIntel original diagram · Not a gameplay screenshot

GTA games don't form one continuous story you have to follow from the beginning. Each numbered game has its own lead characters. Our What is GTA? guide explains why release order and story order are different questions. So the real question is which game suits your hardware, your patience with older controls and the time you have. Here are the criteria we used, followed by the recommendation each one leads to.

How we chose: five criteria

1. Platform access. Can you buy and run it on hardware you already have? A great game you can't run isn't a useful first choice.

2. Controls and conveniences. Do aiming, the map and checkpoints feel like a current game, or will you need time to adjust?

3. Story structure. One lead character or several? Do you need to know earlier games?

4. Time commitment. How long does the main story take? We use player-reported averages from HowLongToBeat. They are averages, not guarantees.

5. Online interest. Do you want a multiplayer mode afterwards? The online mode is a separate experience, not part of the story campaign.

All of these games are made for adults. PlayStation's GTA VI page notes that GTA V was rated M (Mature 17+) by the ESRB and PEGI 18, and Xbox India lists GTA VI as 18+. Check the rating shown for your country before buying for someone else.

The comparison

• GTA V — Story structure: Three protagonists you can switch between, with planned heists; Controls: Most modern of the released games; Where you can play it now: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (plus PS4 and Xbox One); Main story (HowLongToBeat average): 32 hours; Best for: Most new players

• The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition — Story structure: Three separate games with separate leads; Controls: Updated with GTA V-inspired controls; Where you can play it now: PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch, PC (mobile availability has changed, so check your store); Main story (HowLongToBeat average): Vice City 16½ h; San Andreas 30 h (original-game figures); Best for: Players curious about the classics

• GTA IV: The Complete Edition — Story structure: Niko Bellic's story, plus two connected episodes; Controls: Heavier, slower handling; Where you can play it now: PC; Xbox Series X|S through backward compatibility; not on PS4 or PS5; Main story (HowLongToBeat average): 27 hours; Best for: Story-first players on Xbox or PC

• Liberty City Stories — Story structure: Prequel set in Liberty City; Controls: Designed for a handheld; Where you can play it now: PSP, PS2, mobile; Main story (HowLongToBeat average): 13½ hours; Best for: Short sessions

• Chinatown Wars — Story structure: Overhead view, mission-based; Controls: Built around DS and PSP controls; Where you can play it now: DS, PSP, mobile; Main story (HowLongToBeat average): 9½ hours; Best for: A short, different-style GTA

The Definitive Edition times are the HowLongToBeat figures for the original Vice City and San Andreas. A remaster's length may differ slightly.

Our recommendation for most players: GTA V

GTA V meets the most criteria for a first game. It is sold for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, so you probably own something that runs it. The PS5 version adds faster loading, adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, according to PlayStation's listing. The story follows Michael, Franklin and Trevor, and you can switch between them. That gives you three styles of play and the heist missions the series is known for. You don't need to know anything from earlier games.

GTA V's average main story is about 32 hours, rising to about 51½ hours with side content. That's a large but manageable commitment. GTA Online is a separate, ongoing multiplayer mode with its own character and progression. PlayStation says online play needs PS Plus. Finish the story first if you want a self-contained ending. See our GTA Online guide for how the two differ.

If you have a PS4 copy, Rockstar Support says PS4 owners can upgrade to the PS5 version for free (article updated 18 June 2026). Start from the PS5 version so your progress isn't on a generation you'll stop using. Our GTA V game guide covers the characters and editions.

When the Definitive Edition is the better start

Choose the remastered trilogy if you want to see where the modern series began without fighting 2001 controls. PlayStation's 2021 description lists GTA V-inspired controls, lock-on targeting improvements, waypoints on the mini-map, new weapon and radio wheels, and updated visuals.

The three games differ a lot in size. Vice City is the shortest, at about 16½ hours of main story. Its 1980s setting and Tommy Vercetti's rise make it a good test of whether you like the older mission style. San Andreas is about 30 hours. It adds systems such as food, fitness and vehicle schools that are explained in our San Andreas guide. GTA III is the oldest and simplest of the three. Read the Definitive Edition guide before buying so you know what the remaster changed.

When GTA IV is the better start

GTA IV suits players who care most about story and don't mind slower driving and combat. Niko Bellic's story is followed by two episodes that cover connected events from other points of view, and the Complete Edition includes all three. The limit is platform. On PlayStation, GTA IV only came out on PS3, which a PS5 can't play. Rockstar lists GTA IV and Episodes from Liberty City as backward compatible on Xbox Series X|S, and PC players can buy the Complete Edition. Its main story averages about 27 hours. Our GTA IV guide explains the characters and episodes.

When a handheld GTA makes sense

If you only play in short sessions or still own a PSP, the handheld games are complete GTA stories in their own right. Liberty City Stories averages about 13½ hours and Chinatown Wars about 9½ hours. Chinatown Wars uses an overhead camera and was designed around DS and PSP controls. Neither has a current-console version. Mobile ports were released, but check your app store for current availability. See the Chinatown Wars guide for the differences between versions.

What about starting with GTA VI?

GTA VI launches on 19 November 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only. PlayStation describes it as "a single-player experience", and Rockstar introduces two new leads, Jason and Lucia. Nothing in the official descriptions we read says you need to play earlier games first. Rockstar hasn't published how long the story is, and nobody outside Rockstar has played the final game, so we can't compare it on time or controls yet. If you're buying it anyway, starting with GTA VI is a reasonable choice. Use our GTA VI hub to check what is confirmed.

A quick way to decide

• You have a PS5, Xbox Series X|S or modern PC and want one game: GTA V.

• You want the classics with modern controls: the Definitive Edition, starting with Vice City.

• You're on Xbox or PC and want the most story-focused game: GTA IV: The Complete Edition.

• You only have short sessions or a PSP: Liberty City Stories or Chinatown Wars.

• You're buying GTA VI at launch: start there. You can play earlier games later.

Not sure your device runs a game? Use the GTA platform and edition checker or browse the GTA catalogue.

How we verified this

Platform and feature details come from PlayStation, Xbox and Rockstar Support pages checked on 27 October 2026, and from PlayStation's 2021 Definitive Edition announcement. Play times are the HowLongToBeat main-story averages shown on 27 October 2026. They are reported by players and will change as more people submit times. The recommendation applies our five stated criteria. It is editorial judgement, not a review score, and NextPlayIntel has not timed these games itself. This article was drafted with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. To report an error, use our corrections policy.