Where to Play Every Grand Theft Auto Game in 2026
A guide to the spotty availability of the entire GTA series, from the original 2D games to the upcoming GTA 6, detailing official and unofficial methods to
Grand Theft Auto 6 is set for release on November 19, yet accessing the series' back catalog remains surprisingly difficult. Rockstar Games has an ambivalent attitude towards its own history, leaving many classic titles officially unavailable.
The series is often split into three eras: the 2D universe, the 3D universe, and the HD universe. Games from the latter two are mostly playable today, but the earliest titles require old hardware or modified code.
GTA Plus Subscription Service
For players seeking a straightforward option, the GTA Plus subscription offers a roster of classic games. It costs $7.99 per month. Access is limited to the subscribed platform and compatible mobile versions.
The following GTA titles are currently included in GTA Plus:
| Game |
|---|
| Grand Theft Auto 3 |
| Grand Theft Auto: Vice City |
| Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas |
| Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories |
| Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars |
| Grand Theft Auto 5 |
| Grand Theft Auto Online |
The Unavailable 2D Era
The original Grand Theft Auto from 1997 is not officially available. Rockstar removed the free download from its website in 2013. The game is now considered abandonware. It will not run on a modern PC without modification. Retro console versions exist for Game Boy Color and PlayStation 1.
Its expansions, Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 and Grand Theft Auto: London 1961, share the same fate. The 1961 expansion was originally released as freeware for PC but is now officially unavailable. Grand Theft Auto 2, set in 2013, is also inaccessible through modern storefronts. The Polygon report advises avoiding the Game Boy Color version in favor of Dreamcast or PlayStation copies.
The 3D Universe and Remaster Issues
Availability improves dramatically with the 3D universe games, but significant caveats exist. Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City, and San Andreas are most easily played via the 2021 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy, The Definitive Edition. This remaster is available on a wide range of platforms.
However, the remaster was widely criticized. Polygon notes it was "developed by Grove Street Games" and was "widely criticized for technical issues and unfaithful visual upgrades." Patches have improved it, but it remains a poor representation of the classics. For a better experience, the 10th Anniversary mobile ports are still on iOS and Android. Purists are directed to original PlayStation 2 or Xbox copies.
For San Andreas specifically, the 10th anniversary edition also released on PS3 and Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 version is backward compatible with Xbox One and Series X consoles, but it is no longer for sale.
Handheld Curios and Prequels
Several spinoffs are locked to legacy hardware. Grand Theft Auto Advance, a 2004 Game Boy Advance title, is a top-down 2D prequel to GTA 3. It requires an original cartridge and retro hardware to play.
The PSP prequels have mixed availability. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories received a mobile port and is playable on Android and iOS. Its sibling, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, was not granted a mobile release. Playing it requires a PSP or a PS2.
The guide concludes that while the iconic series dominates popular culture, actually playing through its history demands effort, old consoles, or ethical compromises regarding abandonware.
