Grand Theft Auto V came out in September 2013 on PS3 and Xbox 360. It has since been re-released on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and again on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2022. Plenty of people who'll buy GTA 6 on November 19 last played the story more than a decade ago, and some never finished it.
So, should you go back before the new one? Short answer: you don't need to, but there are good reasons to want to.
Do you need to play GTA V to understand GTA 6?
No. Grand Theft Auto games have always been standalone stories with new casts and new cities. GTA 6 follows Jason and Lucia in the state of Leonida, a fictional take on Florida built around a modern Vice City. GTA V's Michael, Franklin and Trevor lived on the other side of the country in Los Santos.
The series shares a universe and a sense of humour, and there are usually small references and in-jokes for returning players. But you won't miss anything important by going into GTA 6 fresh. Rockstar writes each game so it works on its own.
What still holds up
The driving and the city. Los Santos is still one of the most convincing open-world cities around, and the current-generation version runs well. Driving up the coast with the radio on is as good as it was in 2013.
The heists are the other highlight. GTA V's big story missions, where you plan a job, pick a crew and pull it off, are some of the best set pieces Rockstar has made. If you remember nothing else about the story, you probably remember at least one of them.
The three-protagonist structure also still feels fresh. Switching between Michael, Franklin and Trevor mid-mission was a new idea at the time, and not many games have copied it since. GTA 6 has two leads instead, which makes GTA V an interesting comparison.
What's aged
Some of the humour. GTA has always aimed its satire at American culture, and some of GTA V's jokes from 2013 land differently now. How much that bothers you depends on your tolerance for the series' tone in the first place.
The mission design can also feel dated. A lot of missions are tightly scripted, with instant fails if you step outside what the game expects. Rockstar's later work, especially Red Dead Redemption 2, loosened that up somewhat.
And it's long. The main story is a big commitment, with plenty of side content on top. If you're trying to clear your backlog before GTA 6, a full replay might not fit.
Three ways to go back
You don't have to replay the whole thing to get something out of it.
Play the heists only. Load up the story and focus on the major heist missions. You'll get the best of GTA V's design without the filler.
Just drive around. Pick a car, put on a radio station and drive for an evening. It's a good way to remember what Rockstar does well with a city, without any commitment.
Do a full replay, but start now. If you want the whole story, give yourself the time. Starting a replay in early November and racing to finish before launch is a good way to burn out on both games.
What about GTA Online?
GTA Online has been running since 2013 and is still active. It's a different experience from the story: a persistent multiplayer world with its own progression and a lot of content added over the years. If you have friends who still play, it's an easy way to hang out in Los Santos before the move to Vice City. If you don't, it can be overwhelming to jump into this late.
Rockstar hasn't announced details of GTA 6's online component, so there's no reason to grind GTA Online now expecting anything to carry over.
The case for leaving it alone
There's also something to be said for going into GTA 6 with GTA V as a memory rather than a fresh comparison. It's been more than thirteen years. Your memory of Los Santos is probably fonder than a replay will be, and GTA 6 will feel newer if you haven't just spent a month in its predecessor.
We made a similar argument about going back to The Witcher 3: sometimes the old game is better left where it was.
So, should you?
If you've never finished GTA V, now is a fine time, as long as you start soon. If you've finished it once and loved it, play the heists or just drive around for a night. And if you're already excited enough, skip it and play something short instead. GTA 6 doesn't need homework.
