The Grand Theft Auto series spans multiple timelines, and the best way to understand it is by story chronology rather than release date. Rockstar has broadly split the franchise into the 2D, 3D, and HD eras, with most fans arranging the games by the years their stories take place.
The full story timeline
The earliest known GTA stories begin in London, first with GTA: London 1961 and then GTA: London 1969, which act as stand-alone expansions to the original formula. After that comes GTA: Vice City Stories in 1984, followed by GTA: Vice City in 1986. These two games build the foundation of the 3D-era criminal world and introduce one of the most iconic settings in the series.
Next is GTA: San Andreas, set in 1992, which remains one of the most important games in the franchise because of its huge map, deep gang-war storyline, and memorable characters. After that comes the original Grand Theft Auto, which is usually placed in 1997 in the broader timeline. Then the story continues with GTA: Liberty City Stories in 1998, serving as a prequel to GTA III and expanding the rise of organized crime in Liberty City.
Moving into the 2000s
The timeline gets a little complicated around GTA 2, because its exact year is unclear. Most story-order lists place it around 1999 or 2013, depending on how you interpret the game’s setting and universe style. After that comes GTA Advance, which is set in 2000 and acts as a bridge between older and newer Liberty City events.
Then comes GTA III, set in 2001, which was the game that changed GTA forever by bringing the series into 3D open-world crime storytelling. GTA: Vice City and San Andreas may have released earlier than some later games, but in story order they sit before the main HD-era titles. Following the 3D era, GTA IV takes place in 2008 and resets the tone with a more grounded, realistic crime drama centered on Niko Bellic.
The HD era timeline
After GTA IV, the story continues with GTA: Chinatown Wars, set in 2009. The two story expansions for GTA IV, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, also fit around the same general 2009 period and add more depth to Liberty City’s criminal ecosystem. These episodes are important because they show different sides of the same world while connecting directly to the events of GTA IV.
Then comes GTA V, set in 2013, which follows three protagonists and brings together heist action, satire, and large-scale chaos in Los Santos. In chronological story order, GTA V is the latest fully established game in the main timeline for now. That makes it the endpoint of the series’ current narrative arc before GTA VI enters the picture.
Story order list
Here is the clean chronological order most fans use:
1. GTA: London 1961
2. GTA: London 1969
3. GTA: Vice City Stories
4. GTA: Vice City
5. GTA: San Andreas
6. Grand Theft Auto
7. GTA: Liberty City Stories
8. GTA 2
9. GTA Advance
10. GTA III
11. GTA IV
12. GTA IV: The Lost and Damned
13. GTA IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony
14. GTA: Chinatown Wars
15. GTA V
Best way to experience the series
If you want to understand the story world properly, start with Vice City Stories and move forward from there. That gives you the cleanest view of how the criminal networks evolve across different cities and eras. If you prefer the historical impact of the franchise itself, then release order is still the better choice because it shows how Rockstar developed the series step by step.
For most new players, story order is more useful for context, while release order is better for appreciating the evolution of gameplay. Either way, GTA remains one of the most influential game franchises ever made, and its timeline is a huge part of why fans still study it so closely.
Do the 3D and HD era games share the same universe
No — the 3D Universe and HD Universe are separate continuities in GTA, not the same shared story world. Rockstar has treated them as different universes, with only recurring brands, references, and similar locations carrying over between them.
The 3D era includes games like GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, and Liberty City Stories, while the HD era starts with GTA IV and continues through GTA V and GTA Online.
Because they are different universes, a character from the 3D era is not considered the same canon version of that character in the HD era, even if the name or concept appears again [1][5].
Why people get confused
Rockstar reused cities, businesses, radio bits, and occasional brand names across both eras, which makes the worlds feel connected.
But those are best understood as shared satire and worldbuilding, not proof of one single timeline.
Simple way to remember it
3D Universe: old-school GTA continuity.
HD Universe: new continuity starting with GTA IV.
Connection: similar names, places, and jokes, but not the same canon.
FAQ
Do the 3D and HD eras share the same universe?
No. Rockstar treats them as separate continuities, with the 3D Universe and HD Universe existing as different canon worlds.
Then why do some names and brands repeat?
Rockstar reuses locations, companies, radio personalities, and references as part of the series’ satire and worldbuilding, not because the two eras are one timeline.
Can a 3D-era character be the same person in HD-era games?
Generally no. If a character or brand appears in both eras, it is usually a new version, a reference, or a reused concept rather than the exact same continuity.
Which games belong to the 3D Universe?
The 3D Universe includes GTA III, Vice City, Vice City Stories, San Andreas, Liberty City Stories, and Advance.
Which games belong to the HD Universe?
The HD Universe starts with GTA IV and includes its episodes, Chinatown Wars, GTA V, and GTA Online content tied to that era.
Why does this matter for GTA lore?
It helps explain why some characters, events, and city details do not line up perfectly across games. Once you split the series into universes, the lore becomes much easier to follow.