5 Best Grand Theft Auto Games to Play While Waiting for GTA 6

The wait for GTA 6 is still going to take some time, but there are plenty of older Grand Theft Auto games that can keep you busy. If you want the closest modern experience, GTA V is the obvious choice, while Vice City is especially interesting because GTA 6 returns to the same fictional city. For a darker story, GTA IV stands out, while San Andreas remains one of the most complete classic GTA experiences.

Rockstar’s own current catalog still includes GTA V, GTA IV, and the classic trilogy containing GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas.

Which GTA Game Should You Play While Waiting for GTA 6?

Before getting into the details, here’s a quick comparison:

Game	Best for	What makes it worth playing before GTA 6?
GTAV	Modern GTA gameplay	The closest overall match to the modern GTA formula
GTA IV	Story and atmosphere	A darker and more grounded GTA experience
GTA San Andreas	Content and exploration	A huge classic world with three major cities
GTA Vice City	GTA 6 connection	Lets you revisit the Vice City setting before GTA 6
GTA III	GTA history	Shows how the modern 3D GTA formula began

1. GTA V

If you want to play one GTA game before GTA 6, start with GTA V.It is the most modern game on this list and gives you the closest overall experience to what you might expect from a newer GTA title. You can explore Los Santos and Blaine County, switch between three protagonists and complete missions at your own pace.

One of GTA V’s biggest strengths is the variety. You aren’t limited to story missions. You can explore the city, drive around, discover activities and spend time simply experimenting with the open world.

Rockstar also continues to support GTA V through its current versions of GTA Online, although you don’t need to play Online to enjoy the single-player story.

Why play it before GTA 6?

GTA V is the best choice if you want something that feels closest to modern GTA.It can also help you appreciate how Rockstar has evolved its open-world design from GTA V toward GTA 6.

Best for: Modern gameplay and open-world freedom.

2. GTA IV

If your priority is a strong story rather than the newest graphics, GTA IV deserves a place on the list.The game follows Niko Bellic after he arrives in Liberty City hoping to start a new life. Instead, he becomes involved with people and situations that pull him deeper into the city’s criminal world.

Liberty City also feels very different from Los Santos. Its atmosphere is darker and more grounded, which gives GTA IV a personality of its own.

Why play it before GTA 6?

GTA IV is useful if you want to experience another side of Rockstar’s storytelling. It shows how the studio can make an open-world game feel serious without relying entirely on spectacle.

Best for: Story, characters and atmosphere.

3. GTA San Andreas

GTA San Andreas is one of the best choices if you want a classic GTA game with a lot to explore.The story follows Carl “CJ” Johnson, who returns to Los Santos after his mother’s death and becomes involved in problems surrounding his family and old neighborhood.

What makes San Andreas particularly interesting is its scale for its era. The game isn’t limited to one city—you travel across the larger San Andreas setting, including Los Santos, San Fierro and Las Venturas. Rockstar’s own description of the game highlights its journey across the entire state of San Andreas.

Why play it before GTA 6?

It gives you a good reminder of how much freedom Rockstar has traditionally packed into its open worlds.It’s also a great choice if you want a game that offers more than simply following the main story.

Best for: Exploration, variety and classic GTA gameplay.

4. GTA Vice City

If you’re excited about GTA 6 because it is returning to Vice City, this is probably the most interesting older GTA to play.The original GTA Vice City takes players to a fictional version of 1980s Miami. You play as Tommy Vercetti as he attempts to build his criminal empire in the neon-filled city.

Of course, the Vice City in GTA 6 is not simply the same map brought into a modern game. GTA 6 takes place in a much larger version of the fictional state of Leonida, with Vice City as one of its major locations. Rockstar currently describes GTA 6 as being set in Vice City and across Leonida.

Why play it before GTA 6?

Playing Vice City now gives you some historical context for the location. You can experience Rockstar’s original interpretation of Vice City before seeing how the studio has rebuilt the setting for a new generation.

Best for: Fans most interested in GTA 6’s Vice City setting.

5. GTA III

If you want to understand where modern 3D GTA began, GTA III is the game to try.Released in 2001, it moved the series into a fully 3D open-world Liberty City and helped establish many of the ideas that later GTA games expanded upon.

The game is obviously much simpler than GTA V or GTA 6, but that’s exactly what makes it interesting today. You can see how Rockstar’s open-world formula developed from a much more basic foundation.

Rockstar still includes GTA III alongside Vice City and San Andreas in The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.

Why play it before GTA 6?

Don’t choose GTA III because you expect it to feel like GTA 6. Choose it because you want to understand the series’ evolution.

Best for: Long-time fans and players interested in GTA history.

Which One Should You Pick?

There’s no single correct answer because each game offers something different.

Choose GTA V if you want the closest overall experience to modern GTA.

Choose GTA IV if story and atmosphere matter more to you than having the biggest world.

Choose San Andreas if you want a classic game with plenty of exploration and variety.

Choose Vice City if GTA 6’s return to Vice City is the main reason you’re excited.

Choose GTA III if you want to see where the modern 3D GTA formula started.

My Pick for the GTA 6 Wait

For most players, GTA V is the best game to start with. It has the most modern gameplay on this list and remains a strong introduction to Rockstar’s open-world formula.

But if you’ve already played GTA V several times, I’d go with Vice City. The original game won’t show you what GTA 6 will be like, but playing it before GTA 6 gives you an interesting look at how Rockstar has revisited the same fictional location across different generations.

Final Thoughts

GTA 6 may be the next major chapter in the series, but you don’t have to leave GTA behind while waiting for it. Each of these games represents a different stage of Rockstar’s development as a studio.

The most interesting part is seeing how the series changed over time—from the compact 3D world of GTA III, through the expanded freedom of San Andreas and the darker storytelling of GTA IV, to the modern open world of GTA V.

That makes the wait for GTA 6 a good excuse to revisit the games that helped build the series in the first place.

going to take some time, but there are plenty of older Grand Theft Auto games that can keep you busy. If you want the closest modern experience, GTA V is the obvious choice, while Vice City is especially interesting because GTA 6 returns to the same fictional city. For a darker story, GTA IV stands out, while San Andreas remains one of the most complete classic GTA experiences.

Rockstar’s own current catalog still includes GTA V, GTA IV, and the classic trilogy containing GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas.

Which GTA Game Should You Play While Waiting for GTA 6?

Before getting into the details, here’s a quick comparison:

Game	Best for	What makes it worth playing before GTA 6?
GTA V	Modern GTA gameplay	The closest overall match to the modern GTA formula
GTA IV	Story and atmosphere	A darker and more grounded GTA experience
GTA San Andreas	Content and exploration	A huge classic world with three major cities
GTA Vice City	GTA 6 connection	Lets you revisit the Vice City setting before GTA 6
GTA III	GTA history	Shows how the modern 3D GTA formula began

1. GTA V

If you want to play one GTA game before GTA 6, start with GTA V.It is the most modern game on this list and gives you the closest overall experience to what you might expect from a newer GTA title. You can explore Los Santos and Blaine County, switch between three protagonists and complete missions at your own pace.

One of GTA V’s biggest strengths is the variety. You aren’t limited to story missions. You can explore the city, drive around, discover activities and spend time simply experimenting with the open world.

Rockstar also continues to support GTA V through its current versions of GTA Online, although you don’t need to play Online to enjoy the single-player story.

Why play it before GTA 6?

GTA V is the best choice if you want something that feels closest to modern GTA.

It can also help you appreciate how Rockstar has evolved its open-world design from GTA V toward GTA 6.

Best for: Modern gameplay and open-world freedom.

2. GTA IV

If your priority is a strong story rather than the newest graphics, GTA IV deserves a place on the list.The game follows Niko Bellic after he arrives in Liberty City hoping to start a new life. Instead, he becomes involved with people and situations that pull him deeper into the city’s criminal world.

Liberty City also feels very different from Los Santos. Its atmosphere is darker and more grounded, which gives GTA IV a personality of its own.

Why play it before GTA 6?

GTA IV is useful if you want to experience another side of Rockstar’s storytelling. It shows how the studio can make an open-world game feel serious without relying entirely on spectacle.

Best for: Story, characters and atmosphere.

3. GTA San Andreas

GTA San Andreas is one of the best choices if you want a classic GTA game with a lot to explore.

The story follows Carl “CJ” Johnson, who returns to Los Santos after his mother’s death and becomes involved in problems surrounding his family and old neighborhood.

What makes San Andreas particularly interesting is its scale for its era. The game isn’t limited to one city—you travel across the larger San Andreas setting, including Los Santos, San Fierro and Las Venturas. Rockstar’s own description of the game highlights its journey across the entire state of San Andreas.

Why play it before GTA 6?

It gives you a good reminder of how much freedom Rockstar has traditionally packed into its open worlds.

It’s also a great choice if you want a game that offers more than simply following the main story.

Best for: Exploration, variety and classic GTA gameplay.

4. GTA Vice City

If you’re excited about GTA 6 because it is returning to Vice City, this is probably the most interesting older GTA to play.

The original GTA Vice City takes players to a fictional version of 1980s Miami. You play as Tommy Vercetti as he attempts to build his criminal empire in the neon-filled city.

Of course, the Vice City in GTA 6 is not simply the same map brought into a modern game. GTA 6 takes place in a much larger version of the fictional state of Leonida, with Vice City as one of its major locations. Rockstar currently describes GTA 6 as being set in Vice City and across Leonida.

Why play it before GTA 6?

Playing Vice City now gives you some historical context for the location. You can experience Rockstar’s original interpretation of Vice City before seeing how the studio has rebuilt the setting for a new generation.

Best for: Fans most interested in GTA 6’s Vice City setting.

5. GTA III

If you want to understand where modern 3D GTA began, GTA III is the game to try.Released in 2001, it moved the series into a fully 3D open-world Liberty City and helped establish many of the ideas that later GTA games expanded upon.

The game is obviously much simpler than GTA V or GTA 6, but that’s exactly what makes it interesting today. You can see how Rockstar’s open-world formula developed from a much more basic foundation.

Rockstar still includes GTA III alongside Vice City and San Andreas in The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.

Why play it before GTA 6?

Don’t choose GTA III because you expect it to feel like GTA 6. Choose it because you want to understand the series’ evolution.

Best for: Long-time fans and players interested in GTA history.

Which One Should You Pick?

There’s no single correct answer because each game offers something different.

Choose GTA V if you want the closest overall experience to modern GTA.

Choose GTA IV if story and atmosphere matter more to you than having the biggest world.

Choose San Andreas if you want a classic game with plenty of exploration and variety.

Choose Vice City if GTA 6’s return to Vice City is the main reason you’re excited.

Choose GTA III if you want to see where the modern 3D GTA formula started.

My Pick for the GTA 6 Wait

For most players, GTA V is the best game to start with. It has the most modern gameplay on this list and remains a strong introduction to Rockstar’s open-world formula.

But if you’ve already played GTA V several times, I’d go with Vice City. The original game won’t show you what GTA 6 will be like, but playing it before GTA 6 gives you an interesting look at how Rockstar has revisited the same fictional location across different generations.

Final Thoughts

GTA 6 may be the next major chapter in the series, but you don’t have to leave GTA behind while waiting for it. Each of these games represents a different stage of Rockstar’s development as a studio.

The most interesting part is seeing how the series changed over time—from the compact 3D world of GTA III, through the expanded freedom of San Andreas and the darker storytelling of GTA IV, to the modern open world of GTA V.

That makes the wait for GTA 6 a good excuse to revisit the games that helped build the series in the first place.

5 Best Grand Theft Auto Games to Play While Waiting for GTA 6

Rockstar’s own current catalog still includes GTA V, GTA IV, and the classic trilogy containing GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas.

Which GTA Game Should You Play While Waiting for GTA 6?

Before getting into the details, here’s a quick comparison:

GTAV

Modern GTA gameplay

The closest overall match to the modern GTA formula

GTA IV

Story and atmosphere

A darker and more grounded GTA experience

GTA San Andreas

Content and exploration

A huge classic world with three major cities

GTA Vice City

GTA 6 connection

Lets you revisit the Vice City setting before GTA 6

GTA III

GTA history

Shows how the modern 3D GTA formula began

1. GTA V

One of GTA V’s biggest strengths is the variety. You aren’t limited to story missions. You can explore the city, drive around, discover activities and spend time simply experimenting with the open world.

Rockstar also continues to support GTA V through its current versions of GTA Online, although you don’t need to play Online to enjoy the single-player story.

Why play it before GTA 6?

GTA V is the best choice if you want something that feels closest to modern GTA.It can also help you appreciate how Rockstar has evolved its open-world design from GTA V toward GTA 6.

2. GTA IV

Liberty City also feels very different from Los Santos. Its atmosphere is darker and more grounded, which gives GTA IV a personality of its own.

Why play it before GTA 6?

GTA IV is useful if you want to experience another side of Rockstar’s storytelling. It shows how the studio can make an open-world game feel serious without relying entirely on spectacle.

3. GTA San Andreas

GTA San Andreas is one of the best choices if you want a classic GTA game with a lot to explore.The story follows Carl “CJ” Johnson, who returns to Los Santos after his mother’s death and becomes involved in problems surrounding his family and old neighborhood.

Why play it before GTA 6?

It gives you a good reminder of how much freedom Rockstar has traditionally packed into its open worlds.It’s also a great choice if you want a game that offers more than simply following the main story.

4. GTA Vice City

Of course, the Vice City in GTA 6 is not simply the same map brought into a modern game. GTA 6 takes place in a much larger version of the fictional state of Leonida, with Vice City as one of its major locations. Rockstar currently describes GTA 6 as being set in Vice City and across Leonida.

Why play it before GTA 6?

Playing Vice City now gives you some historical context for the location. You can experience Rockstar’s original interpretation of Vice City before seeing how the studio has rebuilt the setting for a new generation.

5. GTA III

If you want to understand where modern 3D GTA began, GTA III is the game to try.Released in 2001, it moved the series into a fully 3D open-world Liberty City and helped establish many of the ideas that later GTA games expanded upon.

The game is obviously much simpler than GTA V or GTA 6, but that’s exactly what makes it interesting today. You can see how Rockstar’s open-world formula developed from a much more basic foundation.

Rockstar still includes GTA III alongside Vice City and San Andreas in The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition.

Why play it before GTA 6?

Don’t choose GTA III because you expect it to feel like GTA 6. Choose it because you want to understand the series’ evolution.

Which One Should You Pick?

There’s no single correct answer because each game offers something different.

Choose GTA V if you want the closest overall experience to modern GTA.

Choose GTA IV if story and atmosphere matter more to you than having the biggest world.

Choose San Andreas if you want a classic game with plenty of exploration and variety.

Choose Vice City if GTA 6’s return to Vice City is the main reason you’re excited.

Choose GTA III if you want to see where the modern 3D GTA formula started.

My Pick for the GTA 6 Wait

For most players, GTA V is the best game to start with. It has the most modern gameplay on this list and remains a strong introduction to Rockstar’s open-world formula.

But if you’ve already played GTA V several times, I’d go with Vice City. The original game won’t show you what GTA 6 will be like, but playing it before GTA 6 gives you an interesting look at how Rockstar has revisited the same fictional location across different generations.

Final Thoughts

GTA 6 may be the next major chapter in the series, but you don’t have to leave GTA behind while waiting for it. Each of these games represents a different stage of Rockstar’s development as a studio.

The most interesting part is seeing how the series changed over time—from the compact 3D world of GTA III, through the expanded freedom of San Andreas and the darker storytelling of GTA IV, to the modern open world of GTA V.

That makes the wait for GTA 6 a good excuse to revisit the games that helped build the series in the first place.

Rockstar’s own current catalog still includes GTA V, GTA IV, and the classic trilogy containing GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas.

Which GTA Game Should You Play While Waiting for GTA 6?

Before getting into the details, here’s a quick comparison:

1. GTA V

One of GTA V’s biggest strengths is the variety. You aren’t limited to story missions. You can explore the city, drive around, discover activities and spend time simply experimenting with the open world.

Rockstar also continues to support GTA V through its current versions of GTA Online, although you don’t need to play Online to enjoy the single-player story.

Why play it before GTA 6?

GTA V is the best choice if you want something that feels closest to modern GTA.

It can also help you appreciate how Rockstar has evolved its open-world design from GTA V toward GTA 6.

2. GTA IV

Liberty City also feels very different from Los Santos. Its atmosphere is darker and more grounded, which gives GTA IV a personality of its own.

Why play it before GTA 6?

GTA IV is useful if you want to experience another side of Rockstar’s storytelling. It shows how the studio can make an open-world game feel serious without relying entirely on spectacle.

3. GTA San Andreas

GTA San Andreas is one of the best choices if you want a classic GTA game with a lot to explore.

The story follows Carl “CJ” Johnson, who returns to Los Santos after his mother’s death and becomes involved in problems surrounding his family and old neighborhood.

Why play it before GTA 6?

It gives you a good reminder of how much freedom Rockstar has traditionally packed into its open worlds.

It’s also a great choice if you want a game that offers more than simply following the main story.

4. GTA Vice City

If you’re excited about GTA 6 because it is returning to Vice City, this is probably the most interesting older GTA to play.

The original GTA Vice City takes players to a fictional version of 1980s Miami. You play as Tommy Vercetti as he attempts to build his criminal empire in the neon-filled city.

Of course, the Vice City in GTA 6 is not simply the same map brought into a modern game. GTA 6 takes place in a much larger version of the fictional state of Leonida, with Vice City as one of its major locations. Rockstar currently describes GTA 6 as being set in Vice City and across Leonida.

Why play it before GTA 6?