GTA V Storymode

GTA V: A Retrospective Before the Next Chapter

With GTA VI on the horizon, it feels like the right time to revisit GTA V. This piece focuses on Story Mode—fair warning, there may be spoilers ahead, though I’ll keep them minimal. Given that the game has been out for over a decade, I figure most players have either experienced the story or made peace with knowing how it unfolds.

(Links to: GTA V Online | GTA RP Servers

Story Mode: Personal Reflections

This isn’t a formal review—more of a personal reflection on GTA V and the series as a whole.

The game opens in North Yankton, dropping us into the middle of a bank heist. It’s an explosive introduction that immediately establishes the tone and introduces us to three characters who will drive the narrative forward.

I recently watched a streamer named Stacey play through Story Mode for the first time. While enjoyable, it was clear she missed many of the subtle nods to earlier games—understandable, since she hasn’t played the rest of the series. As someone who’s completed roughly ten GTA titles from the very beginning, I caught every reference: familiar locations returning, gameplay callbacks, and story threads connecting across the franchise.

Take Grove Street, for example. When a drug deal goes sideways there, it’s more than just a mission—it’s a return to GTA III’s iconic neighborhood, complete with gang colors and territorial loyalty. When Stretch emerges from prison still clinging to outdated gang mentalities, the tension between him and Franklin becomes palpable. Stacey missed these layers, which is fine—not everyone has that history with the series. But for longtime fans, these details reward our investment.

Character Craft and an Uncertain Future

Dan Houser’s character work has always been Rockstar’s secret weapon. His ability to build complex, memorable protagonists defines the series. But Houser has since left Rockstar, leaving me both hopeful and cautious about GTA VI. Can the studio maintain that narrative quality without its main writer? I’m optimistic, but trying not to overhype—expectations can be dangerous things.

The End of an Era

GTA V feels like a closing chapter in many ways. It delivers a brutal conclusion to GTA IV: The Lost and Damned, where we previously played as Johnny—a biker who fought his way to club presidency only to watch everything crumble. His story was dark, desperate, and ultimately tragic. Seeing Trevor dispatch him so casually in GTA V hits hard; it’s a stark reminder that in this universe, legacy doesn’t guarantee survival.

Looking Ahead

I wonder if GTA VI will carry that same weight. Without Houser penning the script, will the attention to detail remain? My hope is simple: a compelling story that balances darkness with humor, much like GTA V did. The game wasn’t afraid to get bleak, but the character interactions and writing kept it from becoming oppressive.

If you’ve made it this far but don’t plan to play the game yourself, I’d recommend checking out Stacey’s playthrough linked above—it’s a fresh perspective on a modern classic.