How long does it take to beat every GTA game before GTA 6 is released

It's officially 2026, and that means hope Grand Theft Auto 6 is around the corner. The highly-anticipated project from developer Rockstar has already been delayed twice, leading to delays. Grand Theft Auto 6 In a cloud of caution. However, the game seems to be on track, but if it is delayed once again, it will at least leave a lot of extra time to revisit the entire series before its launch. The GTA The franchise has been going strong for nearly 30 years, and for those curious about jumping into the entire series, get ready. GTA 6There are a few things to consider, one of the most important being how long it takes to finish each title.

Time to beat each one GTA The game is very different. When the franchise first started in the late 90s, the entries were much shorter than what they are known for now. Over the years, Rockstar has grown bigger and bolder with each new game, and as the franchise has evolved, so has the length of each story. Main stories, side missions, and additional content offer hours of gameplay, and if players want to complete each game before GTA 6 Arriving, starting early in the year can be important.

A definitive list of how long it takes to beat each Grand Theft Auto game

The list below does not include extensions.

Games	How long to beat	platforms
Grand Theft Auto	Main story – 14 hours With side missions – 14 hours Perfectionist – 16 hours	PC, Playstation, Game Boy Color
Grand Theft Auto 2	Main story – 12.5 hours With side missions – 21 hours Perfectionist – 26 hours	PC, PlayStation, PS2, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color
Grand Theft Auto 3	Main story – 14 hours With side missions – 20.5 hours Perfectionist – 36 hours	Nintendo Switch, PC, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Mobile
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City	Main story – 17 hours With side missions – 24 hours Perfectionist – 38 hours	Nintendo Switch, PC, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S. Mobile
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas	Main story – 30 hours With side missions – 45 hours Perfectionist – 71.5 hours	Nintendo Switch, PC, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Mobile
Grand Theft Auto Advance	Main story – 7 hours With side missions – 11.5 hours Perfectionist – 16.5 hours	Game Boy Advance
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories	Main story – 14 hours With side missions – 23 hours Perfectionist – 41 hours	PS2, PSP, Mobile
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories	Main story – 15.5 hours With side missions – 24 Perfectionist – 41	PS2, PSP, Mobile
Grand Theft Auto 4	Main story – 27 hours With side missions – 40.5 hours Perfectionist – 73.5 hours	PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Xbox One (backwards compatible)
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars	Main story – 9.5 hours With side missions – 13.5 hours Perfectionist – 24.5 hours	PSP, Nintendo DS, Mobile
Grand Theft Auto 5	Main story – 32 hours With side missions – 51.5 hours Perfectionist – 88 hours	PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Grand Theft Auto Online	GTA Online is an ongoing game, so there is no set time to beat it.	PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S.

There are five must-play Grand Theft Auto games

GTA 3
GTA: Vice City
GTA: San Andreas
GTA 4
GTA 5

If taking in all these games is too daunting a task, then embracing the highlights might be a better fit. The GTA The franchise officially became a 3D third-person series GTA 3And while it's a solid change from its previous formula that defines what future games will look like, the suburbs and San Andreas The overall tone and gameplay are the ones that strengthen the game. This trio remains some of the most influential open-world games of the 21st century, and GTA 4 and GTA 5 Introduced a more well-rounded storytelling that shows how engaging and deep the franchise can really go with its stories.

These five games contain the most iconic moments from the franchise. Whether it's the voice of beloved actor Ray Liotta the suburbs hero Tommy Vercetti, San Andreas' Stellar Last Mission, or Trevor's Wild Introduction GTA 5These core entries remain essential games to play ahead GTA 6. Of course, the rest of the games are still great in their own right, but they're more like fun extra chapters rather than essential play.

Grand Theft Auto 6 might be Rockstar's biggest game yet

GTA 6 Currently set to start November 19, 2026.
The game will be available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Right now, it's not clear how long GTA 6 There will be, but based on Rockstar's format, it's likely to be the developer's longest game to date. With each new chapter, Rockstar has expanded the size of the main stories and side content. Its latest game, Red Dead Redemption 2There was a main story that averaged around 50 hours to beat, and it's not impossible GTA 6 to overcome it. Of course, this is pure speculation at this point, but it's likely to be at least equal to the amount of time Rockstar took to develop the game. Red Dead Redemption 2The length of the story.

The first GTA 6 trailer is now two years old.

Only time will tell how long GTA 6 It takes losing, but once it gets here, it will be fascinating to see how it stacks up against the rest of the franchise. Hopefully there won't be another one this year GTA 6 the delay Anticipation for this game has been building for years at this point, so pushing it back a third time would ignite a huge wave of disappointment. All gamers can do now is wait and see what Rockstar decides, and thankfully, the developer has already made several great games to pass the hours until a new chapter is ready.