Five mainline games sit between the first 3D Grand Theft Auto and GTA 6: GTA III (2001), Vice City (2002), San Andreas (2004), GTA IV (2008) and GTA V (2013). Thirteen years separate V from VI, the longest gap in the series. Confirmed Confirmed
The games
| Game | Year | What it left behind |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto III | 2001 | The modern open world; a six-star wanted meter |
| Vice City | 2002 | Place and period as a character; the empire loop; motorcycles and helicopters |
| San Andreas | 2004 | State scale: three cities, RPG stats, gang warfare |
| Grand Theft Auto IV | 2008 | Grounded realism and physics; the last six-star game before GTA 6 |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 2013 | Three switchable leads; GTA Online; a five-star meter |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 2026 | Two leads, six stars again, a state-sized map |
What GTA 6 takes from them
A six-star meter from III (Wanted level), a return to Vice City from 2002 (Vice City (2002) vs GTA 6), state scale from San Andreas (Leonida), the grounded physics line from IV and character switching from V (Character switching). Confirmed
Which universe?
GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas share the 3D Universe. GTA IV, V and VI belong to the HD Universe. Stories do not carry across the line, which is why you can start with GTA 6 without playing anything else.
Official screenshots
Questions
How many mainline GTA games are there before GTA 6?
Five in the 3D and HD eras: GTA III (2001), Vice City (2002), San Andreas (2004), GTA IV (2008) and GTA V (2013).
How long has it been since GTA V?
Thirteen years. GTA V launched in September 2013; GTA 6 launches November 19, 2026.
Sources and further reading
- The road to GTA 6: every mainline GTA in order (SixStarsWanted)
- The Classics (SixStarsWanted)
- Rockstar Games: Grand Theft Auto VI
Last updated 2026-10-18.
