Top 20 Greatest GTA Missions Ever

“Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” (2004)

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None of the “Grand Theft Auto” protagonists are good people. But sometimes a mission will really make you feel like a complete psychopath. Deconstruction is one of those missions. After Kendl is harassed by some construction workers, C.J. decides to retaliate by hijacking a bulldozer and destroying their site. But he doesn’t just destroy the site. He runs over and kills various construction workers along the way, and then he buries the foreman alive inside a stinky port-o-potty under a puddle of cement. It’s pretty twisted stuff, but then again, what’s “Grand Theft Auto” without a few twisted missions?

“Grand Theft Auto IV” (2008)

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Museum Piece is a wonderful “GTA” mission, combining a unique setting, exciting story developments, and whirlwind storytelling into a rousing whole. The mission takes place in the expansive and beautiful Libertonian museum - a rare setting for a “GTA” mission. The story takes a turn when Luis kills Mori, Isaac takes the diamonds, and Johnny snags the cash, which in turn infuriates Ray. The mission also combines all three disparate “GTA IV” storylines by placing Niko, Johnny, and Luis under the same roof. This was unlike anything seen in the “GTA” series before, and it proved that the series’ ambition was growing with its technological prowess.

“Grand Theft Auto V” (2013)

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Museum Piece walked so missions like The Paleto Score could run. Every heist mission in “Grand Theft Auto V” was a thing of beauty, including The Paleto Score, in which Michael, Franklin, and Trevor rob the Blaine County Savings Bank. This mission is an exciting piece of work, filled with many unbelievable set pieces and working parts. These include robbing the bank of $8 million, blowing away the cops and their vehicles with a minigun, rescuing Michael and Trevor in a Dozer, and making your escape by hopping onto a moving train. It’s a marvellously cohesive mission, and that shot of Michael and Trevor emerging from the bank will forever remain ingrained in our memories.

“Grand Theft Auto V” (2013)

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As the title suggests, The Big Score is the sixth and final heist mission in “GTA V.” And as is often the case with finales, it’s the biggest and boldest one. There are two approaches the player can take with The Big Score - Subtle and Obvious. Subtle sees you sneaking into the Depository as guards, loading the trucks with stolen gold, manipulating traffic lights for the escape, and shooting your way through Merryweather goons. Obvious sees you using a Driller to drill into the vault, flying the gold out with a helicopter, and blasting your way through the streets and skies of Los Santos with guns and rocket launchers. Each approach is thrilling in its own unique way, and each end the story in spectacular fashion.

“Grand Theft Auto III” (2001)

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The Exchange caps the storyline of “Grand Theft Auto III,” and it sees Claude paying $500,000 to Catalina in exchange for the kidnapped Maria Latore. The exchange obviously goes poorly, and you are forced to fight your way to Catalina. The game removes all your weapons beforehand, which effectively nerfs your capabilities and adds an extra challenge to the mission. The mission’s structure is also captivating, as you chase Catalina’s helicopter to a dam, battle through an army of goons, dodge missiles, and shoot down Catalina’s chopper with a rocket launcher. It’s incredibly challenging, but also remarkably rewarding.

“Grand Theft Auto V” (2013)

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Setting is an important aspect of a “GTA” mission. An exciting mission can come across as bland if placed in a boring setting, and an otherwise run-of-the-mill mission can be elevated if placed in an exciting location. Such is the case with Hood Safari. There’s not a whole lot to this mission, as you simply escape from the cops and ride away on jet skis. Typical “GTA” stuff. But the mission begins in Grove Street, and that really gets the nostalgia pumpin’. Hood Safari obviously won’t mean much to newcomers of the “GTA” series, but for those who played “San Andreas,” returning to Grove Street was like visiting old friends. It really warmed the heart to see it again.

“Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned” (2009)

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Rockstar wasn’t messing around when it came to “GTA IV.” Both the main game and “The Lost and Damned” were real downers, and they both contained tragic, but electrifying, final missions. Get Lost sees Johnny assaulting Alderney State Correctional, which includes blowing away the massive doors with a rocket launcher. He subsequently makes his way through the prison and kills Billy before making a loud and violent escape. And when Johnny returns to the clubhouse and finds it ransacked, he decides to burn it to the ground. Despite the excitement of the gameplay and the intriguing drama of the story, Get Lost is arguably the most tragic ending to a “Grand Theft Auto” story. It gets even worse when you consider Johnny’s eventual fate…

“Grand Theft Auto IV” (2008)

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“GTA IV” took a different approach to its storytelling. Whereas other games in the series were rigidly told and experienced, this game put numerous narrative decisions in the hands of the player. The Holland Play is one of those choices. Both Playboy X and Dwayne ask Niko to kill the other, and it’s up to you to make the decision. Killing Playboy X grants you his penthouse, the iconic Claude outfit, and a friendship with Dwayne. Killing Dwayne is far more tragic - not only does he reluctantly accept his death, but Playboy X severs his ties to you after paying you a measly $25,000. The Holland Play is a clear indication of just how tough and depressing “GTA IV” would be.

“Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” (2004)

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“San Andreas” began rather slowly, with C.J. doing various errands for the Grove Street gang, getting haircuts, going to the gym, and shopping for clothes. And then Just Business happened. This mission sees you driving Big Smoke to some type of mafia meetup, which naturally goes awry. You are then forced to shoot your way through the Atrium and escape on a bike through the sewers while shooting goons, causing explosions, and jumping an exploding Packer. It really took things up to eleven, and it’s easily one of the most exhilarating missions in a game packed to the brim with exhilarating missions.

For a game as goofy and hilarious as “Vice City,” it ends on a bit of a dour note. This final mission sees you shooting your way through the Starfish Island mansion, disposing of a seemingly endless army, and killing both Lance and Sonny. Lance’s betrayal certainly hurts, and killing Sonny proves incredibly difficult owing to the barrage of gunfire and his large health pool. When it comes to final missions, few are as challenging and blood soaked as Keep Your Friends Close. It’s a vicious, difficult, and ultimately rewarding ending reminiscent of the climax of “Scarface.” Unlike Tony Montana, Tommy actually survives. Betrayed and hurt, but alive.

It may not be complex, but it's exciting enough for us. “Publicity Tour”, the last mission given to Tommy Vercetti by the heavy metal band Love Fist, involves a bomb threat. Specifically, as a nod to the film “Speed”, Tommy must keep Love Fist's limo driving at a certain speed lest a bomb in the limo detonate. Besides being a fun reference, this premise also allows for effortless tension to be infused into an otherwise straight-forward mission concept, mixed in with the absurd banter of the band trying to figure out how bomb defusal works. Don't slow down, Tommy... don't ever slow down.

“Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” (2004)

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A secret military base to infiltrate and a hi-tech gadget to abuse, how fun! The Truth, an aged and off-kilter conspiracy theorist, tasks Carl “CJ” Johnson with breaking into the nearby Area 69 and looking into reports of a classified project. For players, this means sneaking past guards or blasting one's way into the facility, a fittingly exciting challenge in its own right. However, the kicker is when CJ finds said top-secret project – a jetpack – and makes use of it as part of his thrilling escape.

“Grand Theft Auto IV” (2008)

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No one ever said kidnappings were easy, but man can they be entertaining. “I'll Take Her” has Niko working to kidnap Gracie Ancelotti, the daughter of a mob boss, under false pretences. It's a rather simple mission in its design – Niko drives Gracie to a warehouse, and delivers her to his employers. What moves things into amusing territory is Gracie's reaction to it all. She goes from somewhat enthused by Niko to increasingly agitated and even violent, giving the audience some delightfully mean-spirited back-and-forth dialogue in the process.

“Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony” (2009)

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When life gives you lemons, send someone to cause pain and suffering in turn. That appears to be the thought process behind Luis being sent to gun down the owner of the Liberty City Rampage hockey team.“Dropping In” commences with a parachute drop onto the massive MeTV building, before segueing into a string of firefights in the building's tight corridors. The action is just brutal enough to fit with the tone of this assassination mission, while still keeping to the lighter, wackier spirit of the DLC. The parachute escape at mission's end certainly doesn't hurt.

“Grand Theft Auto V” (2013)

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Well... that was explosive. The task is simple enough: semi-retired criminal Michael De Santa gets into position to bring down a plane carrying the cousin of Martin Madrazo. It's difficult yet viscerally engaging to carefully aim at, and snipe, the plane's engine – taking into account bullet curve and the plane's movement. But “Caida Libre” doesn't stop at precision sniping; players must then chase down the falling plane as Trevor Philips, all in order to execute Madrazo's cousin and finish the mission.

Chainsaws and a police pursuit – yep, that sounds about right. Tommy's goal in “Treacherous Swine” is one of murder; the retired Colonel Cortez asks him to hunt down and kill his henchman Gonzalez, in no uncertain terms. By no means elaborate, the task of locating Gonzalez at his penthouse hideout and chasing him down is nevertheless morbidly amusing. And it dovetails nicely into the escape from Vice City police clutches, courtesy of a visit to the famed Pay 'n' Spray chain of spray shops.

“Grand Theft Auto V” (2013)

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Rev up your engines and put the pedal to the metal, it's time for a chase. Very early in “Grand Theft Auto V”, Michael and his new ally Franklin are drawn into a struggle to retrieve Michael's yacht from thieves. Things are further complicated by Michael's son Jimmy being stuck on the stolen yacht, forcing Michael and Franklin to chase the thieves down along a freeway. It all leads up to an extended sequence where Michael has to keep his car lined up with the yacht while Franklin works to liberate both it and Jimmy.

“Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” (2004)

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Like the title says, this is the endgame... and it's magnificent. “End of the Line” caps off CJ's efforts to reform and refocus the Grove Street Families with a full-scale siege of his former boss Big Smoke's crack fortress. To that end CJ, and the player, must battle through the forces of multiple rival gangs and the Russian mob before finally getting the chance to duel Big Smoke one-on-one. Even then, it isn't over – there's one final car chase to put an end to the villainous Officer Tenpenny before all is said and done. It's multi-layered and cathartic, to say the least.

“Grand Theft Auto V” (2013)

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Being the first heist mission of the game, “The Jewel Store Job” spares no expense in showing gamers what's in store for them. Everything from staking out target locations to obtaining the necessary equipment is explained and undertaken, giving a sense of the intricate process. But when the setup is complete, seeing all your carefully-laid plans take flight is truly rewarding. Whether players opt for the Smart or Loud route, the end result is a cinematic bike escape and a healthy payout that teases great things to come.

“Grand Theft Auto IV” (2008)

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The desperate escape after a successful heist is quite a sight, as this mission proves. While in the midst of doing a favour for the McReary brothers – namely, robbing a bank – Niko finds himself caught up in a steadily escalating flight from the police. The mission takes Niko and company through Liberty City's Chinatown section and into the city's subway tunnels before culminating in a getaway by car. Working well as high-tension gameplay, “Three Leaf Clover” also succeeds at its secondary goal: paying homage to the 1995 crime drama film “Heat”. Nice how that works out.