GTA games in order of the years they are set in

#3 - Grand Theft Auto: 1997

Note: The year Grand Theft Auto II is set is unclear, as no mention of it is made during the events of the game.

The first game in the series and the grand-daddy of the franchise, GTA burst onto the scene in a violent flash of blood, skid marks, and bullets. The core gameplay loop benefitted from the simple, accidental addition of the police's behavior, which led to one of the greatest franchises in gaming.

The first Grand Theft Auto might not have been the most polished title by any stretch of the imagination, but it did its job well, and the GTA franchise was off to a decent start.

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#4 - Grand Theft Auto 3: 2001

The two games that followed, San Andreas and Vice City, did not have a numbered title and were the only two titles in the series to have been set in an older period.

If the pattern is to be believed, then every game in the series with a numbered title is set at the time of its release. However, that logic begins to waver a little when considering just how long games take in development in the modern era.

GTA 3 was set right at the start of the new millennium and feels every bit the 2000s as a game possibly can. With baggy cargo attire to a slick, blueish tint over the game, GTA 3 is indeed a great time capsule for players to experience the 2000s all over again.

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#5 - Grand Theft Auto 4: 2008

GTA 4 marked the series returning to modern times after visiting San Andreas and Vice City in 1992 and 1986. The fourth numbered title was the biggest change in the game's creative direction since the earliest days of the franchise.

The series took a much darker turn and a far more serious story than the series had told up to that point. Niko Bellic's story truly struck a chord with fans and critics and still sits atop the series as the highest-rated GTA game on Metacritic.

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#6 - Grand Theft Auto 5: 2013

Perhaps the most seminal entry in the series, even more so than GTA 3, Grand Theft Auto 5 has truly set the bar for every open-world game that has come out since. The game has stood the test of time amazingly well and never feels like it has been seven years since it was released.

Its commentary and satire remains as relevant as it was back then, albeit a little less layered or nuanced. Regardless of its flaws, GTA 5 remains a fantastic achievement for Rockstar and a timeless entry in the franchise.

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#7 - Grand Theft Auto Online: 2013 and beyond

The fact remains that Grand Theft Auto Online is much more than PvP deathmatches and adversary modes. The game tells great, over-the-top stories and even picks up the pieces from the story mode.

It was meant to be a prequel to 2013's GTA 5 but has moved past that and into 2020 with the Cayo Perico Heist DLC.