Every ‘Grand Theft Auto’ Main Character, Ranked from Worst to Best

The ‘Grand Theft Auto’ series has introduced a wide range of playable leads across multiple eras and platforms. From the early top down games to the modern city spanning epics, each main character anchors a specific setting, criminal scene, and set of mechanics that define their game. This list gathers them all in one place so you can quickly see where each protagonist comes from and what they do in their stories.

You will find entries from the classic PlayStation and PC era, the PlayStation Portable spin offs, Nintendo DS and mobile releases, and the current console generation. The details below cover where each character operates, which factions they deal with, and the major events that shape their missions and endings.

GTA 1 Protagonists

The original game lets players choose from a roster of eight avatars with different names and appearances. These characters operate across Liberty City, San Andreas, and Vice City in a top down format that uses payphones to deliver jobs. The storylines are modular and focus on score based progression with escalating wanted levels and territory themed challenges.

Each city features competing gangs and law enforcement escalation that responds to player actions. Vehicles, weapons, and mission structures introduce series staples such as getaway driving, timed pickups, and multi stage heists. The avatars do not have individual biographies and are interchangeable within the mission structure.

Mike

‘Grand Theft Auto Advance’ follows Mike in Liberty City during the period leading up to the events of ‘Grand Theft Auto III’. The story begins with the death of his partner Vinnie in a car explosion that pushes Mike into dealings with familiar names from the series. The top down perspective returns while the missions connect to the same criminal circles that later intersect with Claude.

Mike works with contacts who operate chop shops, gun running, and protection rackets around the city. Appearances from characters such as 8 Ball and Catalina tie the plot to later games while Liberty City landmarks create continuity with the three dimensional era that follows.

Claude Speed

‘Grand Theft Auto 2’ uses Claude Speed as its unnamed in game lead in Anywhere City with live action material linking to his identity. The setting divides the map into districts ruled by groups such as the Zaibatsu Corporation, the Yakuza, and the Loonies. Respect points control access to missions which creates branching progression through competing faction jobs.

Players can raise standing with one group by taking contracts while lowering it with rivals through sabotage. The future tinged city layout adds car types, weapon variants, and score chains that reward efficient escapes and multi target objectives. Story beats depend on which gangs receive help during each district run.

GTA Online Protagonist

The online character is a custom created newcomer who arrives in Los Santos and Blaine County. Early tasks come through Lamar before the player branches into contact missions, business operations, and multi part heists with Lester. Progression adds properties, vehicles, and organizations that open new mission givers and cooperative finales.

Later updates expand the portfolio with facilities, nightclubs, arcades, illicit labs, and private agencies. Partnerships include figures such as Agent 14, Tony Prince, and Franklin Clinton with missions that link freemode preparation to instanced finales. The character functions as a persistent lead across years of content with new equipment and systems added over time.

Toni Cipriani

‘Grand Theft Auto Liberty City Stories’ takes place in 1998 and follows Toni Cipriani as he earns status within the Leone family. The game uses Liberty City districts from the later release of ‘Grand Theft Auto III’ with roads and islands adjusted to reflect the earlier timeline. Missions involve dockside smuggling, political manipulation, and clashes with rival families.

Toni reports to Salvatore Leone while dealing with internal disputes and outside pressure from Sicilian interests. The story explains how specific neighborhoods fall under Leone influence by the time Claude arrives. Side activities include motorcycle challenges and property based tasks that match the portable platform structure.

Victor Vance

‘Grand Theft Auto Vice City Stories’ is set in 1984 and centers on Victor Vance, a soldier who is pulled into Vice City’s criminal economy. The story explains his family connections and his initial attempt to support relatives before he is discharged from service. The city map reflects an earlier build of the area with construction sites and businesses in different stages.

Victor interacts with figures like Phil Cassidy and Ricardo Diaz as he takes over assets through empire building mechanics. Properties can be converted into fronts that unlock mission chains tied to smuggling, protection, and distribution. The plot also establishes the Vance family role in later events that affect the 1986 storyline.

Huang Lee

‘Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars’ features Huang Lee in Liberty City with a narrative focused on Triad politics. After a theft leaves his family sword missing, he navigates conflicts between Uncle Kenny, Chan Jaoming, and Zhou Ming. The game uses cel shaded visuals and touch or button based minigames for actions such as hacking, safecracking, and assembling explosives.

The map compresses key boroughs while preserving familiar landmarks and gang territories. A citywide contraband economy allows buy low and sell high loops with police stings and ambushes affecting routes. Mission design emphasizes short bursts that fit portable play while still connecting to the broader Liberty City timeline.

Johnny Klebitz

‘Grand Theft Auto The Lost and Damned’ follows Johnny Klebitz of The Lost Motorcycle Club in Alderney and neighboring boroughs. The story opens with his leadership during Billy Grey’s rehab absence and then tracks the split that follows Billy’s return. Club politics drive jobs that involve weapons deals, biker convoy protection, and turf retaliation.

Johnny’s path intersects with major events from the base game including the diamond exchanges that tie multiple stories together. The game adds biker friendly mechanics such as formation riding and gang backup calls that change pursuit and combat pacing. His arc continues through later appearances that connect to series wide timelines.

Luis Lopez

‘Grand Theft Auto The Ballad of Gay Tony’ centers on Luis Lopez who works as both bodyguard and partner to nightclub owner Tony Prince. The setting returns to nightlife venues such as Maisonette Nine and Hercules with missions that combine high rise base jumps, armored convoy raids, and diamond exchanges. Luis works with contacts like Yusuf Amir and Mori Kibbutz while facing pressure from Ray Bulgarin.

The expansion adds explosive shotgun rounds, advanced helicopters, and club management activities that shape daily income. Episodes from Liberty City packaging places this story alongside the other ‘Grand Theft Auto IV’ narratives. Shared events appear from different angles which ties Luis to the same criminal web that affects Niko and Johnny.

Claude

‘Grand Theft Auto III’ introduces Claude in a fully three dimensional Liberty City. The opening bank job with Catalina sets up the betrayal that pushes Claude into contracts with the Leone family. Work for Joey Leone, Luigi Goterelli, and Salvatore Leone leads to later ties with Asuka and Kenji Kasen of the Yakuza.

The story highlights a move from Portland to Staunton Island and then to Shoreside Vale with payphone assassinations and cartel confrontations along the way. Claude never speaks during cutscenes which keeps focus on mission givers and city factions. The finale at the Cochrane Dam closes the arc that began with the prison transport breakout.

Franklin Clinton

‘Grand Theft Auto V’ introduces Franklin Clinton as a former repo driver who meets Michael during a job gone wrong. Early missions with Simeon set up Franklin’s move into higher stakes work with Lester that centers on surveillance, heist prep, and getaway driving. He later partners with Michael and Trevor on multi target scores.

Franklin’s personal story includes ties to Lamar Davis and the Families with neighborhood conflicts that escalate into citywide pursuits. Skill growth favors driving and special time slowing maneuvers on the road. Property purchases, assassination job lines, and eventual choices in the finale connect Franklin to both of the other leads.

Michael De Santa

Michael De Santa lives in Rockford Hills under an arrangement with a federal agent after a North Yankton robbery. His family includes Amanda, Tracey, and Jimmy with household disputes that lead to missions across golf courses, movie studios, and high end neighborhoods. The story reintroduces Michael to his former partner Trevor and a new partner in Franklin.

Michael’s work includes casing targets, assembling crews, and running multi phase heists that require prep missions such as vehicle thefts and uniform collection. His connections to Devin Weston and Solomon Richards pull him into business disputes and a studio takeover attempt. The final choices determine which associates remain in his life after the last score.

Trevor Philips

Trevor Philips operates out of Blaine County with a history that links to Michael and Brad from the North Yankton crew. His company handles gun running and cross border smuggling while rivalries with the Lost MC, the O’Neil family, and the Aztecas drive early conflict. Encounters with nervous federal handlers lead to tasks that mix low altitude flying with ground raids.

Trevor’s special ability boosts damage output and resilience during combat which changes how assaults and escapes feel. His story crosses city limits as he enters Los Santos to confront Michael about the past. Later missions include offshore extractions, chemical lab thefts, and a jet pursuit that ties back to his pilot background.

Tommy Vercetti

‘Grand Theft Auto Vice City’ follows Tommy Vercetti after his release from prison with an assignment from the Forelli family. A botched drug deal forces him to track down stolen money while building a network that includes Ken Rosenberg, Avery Carrington, and Lance Vance. The 1980s setting shapes radio, fashion, and vehicle selection across the beach and downtown districts.

Tommy acquires businesses such as a print works, a cab company, and an adult film studio that open unique mission lines. The story culminates at his mansion with a showdown that settles his break from the Forelli family. Weapon variety, vehicle classes, and property takeovers become permanent features in later entries.

Carl CJ Johnson

‘Grand Theft Auto San Andreas’ brings CJ back to Los Santos after the death of his mother. He reconnects with Sweet and the Grove Street Families while dealing with rival sets such as the Ballas and the Vagos. The map expands across Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas with countryside and desert regions that add aircraft, off road racing, and survival elements.

CJ can eat, work out, and change physical stats that influence stamina and driving handling. Storylines involve Officer Tenpenny, Wu Zi Mu, and The Truth with missions that move from burglary stealth to casino heists. Friends, side hustles, and territory wars all feed resources used to complete the final push back into Los Santos.

Niko Bellic

‘Grand Theft Auto IV’ follows Niko Bellic as he arrives in Liberty City to reconnect with his cousin Roman. He seeks the man who betrayed his unit while taking jobs from figures such as Vlad Glebov, Dimitri Rascalov, and Ray Boccino. The city’s physics based driving and cover shooting define car chases and gunfights through Algonquin, Bohan, Broker, and Alderney.

Niko faces pivotal choices that affect later missions and the ending with outcomes that change who survives in the final act. Activities such as darts, bowling, and cab driving expand relationships with friends and contacts. The story’s network links directly to the events seen again in the two episodic expansions that run alongside his timeline.

Share your own order in the comments and tell everyone which lead you think defines the series for you.