Exploring All Cities from the Grand Theft Auto Games

The Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series is a legendary video game franchise, renowned worldwide. Each game immerses players in a vibrant, living world while telling a compelling narrative through the experiences of a well-developed protagonist.

Although the storylines are cherished, the in-game maps often take center stage. From desolate deserts to towering mountains, bustling urban landscapes to expansive oceans, the meticulously designed maps evoke a sense of realism, making players feel as if they are in an actual place. Below is a comprehensive list of all the locations featured across the various GTA games.

From Vice City to San Andreas: All Cities Featured in the GTA Series

Throughout its extensive history, five fictional cities have served as backdrops for the GTA games. Each of these cities is a creative interpretation of a real-world location, with the exception of the unique Anywhere City from GTA 2.

City/State Name	Featured Games
Anywhere City	GTA 2
London	GTA: London 1969/1961
San Andreas	GTA, GTA San Andreas, GTA V
Vice City	GTA, GTA Vice City, GTA Vice City Stories, GTA VI
Liberty City	GTA, GTA III, GTA Advance, GTA Liberty City Stories, GTA IV and its Episodes, GTA Chinatown Wars

Anywhere City

Anywhere City, from GTA 2, is the only fully fictional city in the entire series, appearing solely in this game. This futuristic metropolis stands apart from other locations within the franchise.

As the final installment of the 2D era, Anywhere City is seen from a “top-down”perspective. It consists of three districts: Downtown, Residential, and Industrial. Since its single appearance, Rockstar has not revisited this unique location.

London

London, the capital of England, appears in two installments of the series: GTA London 1969 and GTA London 1961. Both games were built using the same engine as the original GTA and functioned as mission packs to enhance the gameplay experience.

While this may seem unusual today with downloadable content (DLC), mission packs were quite popular in the late 1990s. Although London has only been featured twice within the series, it remains memorable for being the first European setting in the GTA franchise.

San Andreas

While the state of San Andreas is now a beloved location amongst fans, it has only been the main setting in three GTA games. The original GTA included San Andreas, which was later expanded in GTA: San Andreas to feature two additional islands. GTA V further popularized this region by creating an entire island based on it.

The original representation of San Andreas in GTA was based on San Francisco. In 2004’s GTA: San Andreas, the map was divided into three distinct regions: the urban sprawl of Los Santos (inspired by Los Angeles), the lush San Fierro (also modeled after San Francisco), and the dry Las Venturas (inspired by Las Vegas).

The state of San Andreas is very popular (Image via Rockstar Games) — The state of San Andreas is incredibly popular (Image via Rockstar Games)

GTA V’s version of San Andreas, with its iconic Los Santos, has captured players’ hearts, along with surrounding areas like Blaine County, Paleto Bay, and Mount Chiliad. San Andreas holds the distinction of being one of the most favored locations in the GTA series.

Vice City

Inspired by Miami, Florida, Vice City is a quintessential setting in the GTA universe. With its beaches, palm trees, and vibrant nightlife, it stands out as an iconic location. Vice City has appeared in four games: the original GTA, the classic GTA: Vice City, GTA: Vice City Stories, and it is set to return in the highly anticipated GTA VI.

Key landmarks include Vice Beach, Escobar International Airport, and the golf course at Leaf Links. With the upcoming release of GTA VI, the map will expand to incorporate the rural areas of Leonida, inspired by real-life locations in Florida.

Vice City and the state of Leonida will feature in GTA 6 (Image via Rockstar Games)

The release of GTA VI marks the franchise’s return to Vice City after nearly two decades, generating immense anticipation among fans and the gaming community alike.

Liberty City

Liberty City, a fictional version of New York City and its surrounding areas, has become the most frequently visited location in the series, featuring in a total of six games, or seven if you include the DLCs from GTA IV as separate entries.

The original Liberty City appeared in every title except for GTA IV and its expansions; it highlighted areas such as the industrial district of Portland, the business district of Staunton Island, and the upscale Shoreside Vale. Moreover, Liberty City was the setting for the franchise’s first 3D game, GTA III.

Liberty City has been the most-featured location across all the GTA games (Image via Rockstar Games)

In GTA IV, Liberty City retained many familiar districts but divided them into areas such as Broker and Dukes for the industrial section, while Algonquin represented the business district. The addition of Bohan portrayed The Bronx, and Alderney served as New Jersey.

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