Grand Theft Auto (GTA) will undoubtedly go down as one of the most successful and beloved video game franchises the gaming world has to offer. Thanks to the hard work of Rockstar Games, players are given a chance to experience immersive open worlds and intricate stories while going out guns blazing or eating a lot of fried chicken. Considering how well-made the GTA games are, there’s no questioning its success in the industry.
In total, the GTA franchise has sold over 410 million units collectively. And with the recent hype for GTA 6, who knows how much that number will rise when it comes out? But that’s something to look forward to in 2025. For now, let’s look back at the ten best-selling GTA games.
10. Grand Theft Auto II
Units Sold: 2 million copies
It’s hard to imagine a time when GTA games were purely 2D, yet here we are. Despite how it looks now, Grand Theft Auto II was a significant improvement compared to the first game due to its better driving, missions, and gameplay. Nonetheless, it made less than its predecessor, with only 2 million copies sold.
GTA II is more or less the same as GTA I, only with a few minor upgrades. For instance, the police seem to be more relentless, and the visuals were improved. The camera was also fixed, so the shakiness in the first game is no longer a problem. But other than that, GTA II was all about hijacking cars, ensuing chaos, and escaping, just like the first game.
9. Grand Theft Auto
Units Sold: 3 million copies
It’s important to pay respects to the game that started it all. In an era when gaming was slowly finding its footing, Grand Theft Auto was released by DMA Design (now known as Rockstar North), and it was immensely different from any other GTA titles. While it still made enough sales to be on this list, the first GTA game might be considered dated by today’s standards.
Unlike the modern GTA games, this one was made in 2D and featured a top-down view. The game made you steal cars, wreak havoc, and escape the cops like any other GTA game, but that’s about it. The game is straightforward, has clunky controls, and only features a small world. Nevertheless, it had just the right amount of crime and reckless driving to pave the way for the later installments.
8. Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City
Units Sold: 3 million copies
As a compilation, Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City includes two expansion packs for GTA IV: The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony. While the expansions started as an Xbox 360 exclusive, it would eventually be released for the PS3 and PC. Moreover, Episodes from Liberty City gifted players two new stories to experience, more guns, and extra vehicles to toy with.
Plenty of fans agree that both DLCs are worth playing. The stories of the two new protagonists, Johnny Klebitz and Luis Lopez, also intersect with the events of GTA 4 as they fill in a lot of its storyline and give closure to the stolen diamonds. If you want to spend more time with Liberty City, you could never go wrong with replaying this compilation along with GTA 4.
7. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Units Sold: 6 million copies
Released for the PSP and eventually the PS2, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories earned enough from both platforms to take the #7th spot. Vice City Stories is a prequel to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and is canonically the first game in GTA’s 3D Universe. It gave us the luxury of revisiting Rockstar’s fictionalized take on 80’s Miami and learning the backstory of an original Vice City character.
Set two years before Vice City, Vice City Stories followed the life of Vic Vance and the rise of his criminal empire. As a former soldier who was kicked from the Army, Vic and his brother Lance went on to compete against Vice City’s underground, which gave birth to the Vance Crime Family. The game is a nice blast from the past to play even today
6. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Units Sold: 11 million copies
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories is the first-ever 3D GTA game released for the PSP. Like Vice City Stories, Liberty City Stories was initially a PSP-exclusive until it received a port for the PS2. The game is also a prequel to Grand Theft Auto III, as it tells us the origin of one of its main characters, Toni Cipriani.
It shows us how the Leone family increased its influence three years before the events of GTA 3, with familiar faces like Salvatore Leone appearing in the game. Aside from character backstories, Liberty City Stories also did a fantastic job of giving us the world of GTA 3 on a handheld console. Despite removing some features like swimming, crouching, and customization that console GTA games had innovated, Rockstar delivered a fun and portable GTA experience.
5. Grand Theft Auto III
Units Sold: 14.5 million copies
With 14.5 million copies sold, Grand Theft Auto III marked a significant turning point for the franchise. As the first GTA game made in 3D, GTA 3 set a standard for action open-world games moving forward. It received universal acclaim because of its leaps in player freedom, map size, and unique gameplay. However, the game is not without its flaws.
GTA 3 had you play as Claude, a silent protagonist who journeys through Liberty City’s underground empire. While voiceless main characters can sometimes work, Claude feels like an empty shell without a personality. Nonetheless, it was still excusable at the time since GTA 3 was ground-breaking in all other aspects, and it sold over 14 million copies for a very good reason.
4. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Units Sold: 17.5 million copies
At #4, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City earns its spot with 17.5 million copies sold. Back then, GTA: Vice City perfectly captured the aesthetic of an 80’s Miami-like setting with its vibrance, neon lights, and music. Vice City wasn’t only carried by nostalgia because you’ll also fall for its characters.
Here we enter the game as Tommy Vercetti, voiced by the late Ray Liotta (may he rest in peace), who descends into the drug-forsaken trades of Vice City. Throughout the game, we witness how ruthless and determined Tommy can be as he rises to the top of the criminal empire. GTA: Vice City’s storytelling and setting made it an exceptional entry to the franchise, which is why it isn’t surprising that it’s one of the best-selling GTA games.
3. Grand Theft Auto IV
Units Sold: 25 million copies
Grand Theft Auto IV took the series forward and never looked back with its visual and mechanical upgrades. GTA 4 is the first game of the franchise that leaped to high-definition. The difference between this and previous games was as clear as day and night. The driving also never felt this realistic, and the cinematics vastly improved.
Another key selling point for GTA 4 was the story and its main character, Niko Bellic. Niko is considered one of the best GTA protagonists as his backstory as a war veteran hits hard, and his characterization is uniquely well-written. The game’s story is also rather dark and serious compared to other GTA games. GTA 4’s writing and technological advancements were considered exceptional when it was released, so it truly deserves the success it got.
2. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Units Sold: 27.5 million copies
Of course, who could forget the classic Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas? Released in 2004, GTA: San Andreas was an iconic hit for the PS2. The innovative gameplay, customization, and freedom it gave players were game-changing for the franchise. Not only that, but the game also holds a special place in the hearts of GTA fans everywhere.
Nothing beats the wave of nostalgia you’ll feel from its gang-filled streets, great soundtrack, and fantastic storyline when you decide to replay the game. It’s also hard not to mention the protagonist, Carl “CJ” Johnson, whose loyalty knows no bounds and is not afraid to do what needs to be done. And with the addition of mods and cheats, there are countless ways to enjoy this masterpiece. Today, San Andreas is still well-renowned for its impact and quality, which is why many argue it’s the best GTA game ever.
1. Grand Theft Auto V
Units Sold: 190 million copies
At #1, with a whopping 190 million units sold (which is almost ten times as many as San Andreas), Grand Theft Auto V has the highest sales among the GTA games. Since its initial release in 2013, GTA 5 has been re-released over three different non-Nintendo console generations, from the PS3/Xbox 360 era to the PS5/Xbox Series X | S of today. While that may be part of the reason for its financial success, the game itself stands tall on its own.
The heightened scale of Los Santos and its graphics made GTA 5 the largest and most beautiful game in the franchise. It’s also the first GTA game where we follow three protagonists: Franklin Clinton, Michael De Santa, and Trevor Philips. But the real reason behind GTA V’s longevity is GTA Online. As an online multiplayer game, GTA Online has no shortage of activities to do with your friends, like heisting, racing, and deathmatches. And with its massive playerbase and constant updates, the game shows no signs of dwindling soon.
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