GTA 5 Infographic: Complete Guide to Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V, better known as GTA 5, is one of the most successful open-world games ever released. Developed by Rockstar Games, GTA 5 takes players to the fictional state of San Andreas, with the story primarily centered around the huge city of Los Santos and the surrounding Blaine County.
What makes GTA 5 different from many other open-world games is the way it combines a large explorable world, three playable protagonists, driving, shooting, heists, side activities, businesses, and a massive online component. Whether you are playing through the story for the first time or returning years later, there is always another part of Los Santos to explore.
This infographic-style guide brings together some of the most useful GTA 5 information in one place.
GTA 5 at a Glance
Game: Grand Theft Auto V
Developer: Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Genre: Action-adventure / Open-world
Setting: Los Santos and Blaine County, San Andreas
Main Protagonists: Michael De Santa, Franklin Clinton, Trevor Philips
Original Release: 2013
Game Modes: Story Mode and GTA Online
Perspective: Third-person and first-person
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox and PC versions
GTA 5 originally launched in 2013, but its popularity continued long after release because Rockstar kept expanding the game through GTA Online and later released versions for newer hardware.
Los Santos: The World of GTA 5
The main GTA 5 map is divided between the urban environment of Los Santos and the more rural areas of Blaine County.
Los Santos is inspired by Los Angeles and southern California. The city contains busy streets, expensive neighborhoods, industrial districts, beaches, highways, shopping areas, airports and countless locations that players can explore.
Outside the city, Blaine County provides a very different atmosphere. Players can find deserts, mountains, forests, small towns, military areas and open countryside.
This contrast is one of GTA 5’s biggest strengths. A player can move from a crowded downtown street to a remote mountain road without leaving the same game world.
Three Protagonists Instead of One
One of GTA 5’s most recognizable features is its three-protagonist structure.
Michael De Santa
Michael is a retired bank robber living a wealthy but complicated life in Los Santos. Despite having money and a large house, his family life is far from perfect.
His previous criminal career eventually pulls him back into dangerous situations.
Michael represents experience and the old-school criminal side of the story.
Franklin Clinton
Franklin starts the game as a young man trying to escape a relatively small-time criminal lifestyle.
He becomes involved with Michael and eventually takes part in increasingly ambitious criminal operations.
Franklin is also particularly useful behind the wheel, making driving an important part of his gameplay identity.
Trevor Philips
Trevor is arguably the most unpredictable character in GTA 5.
He lives in Blaine County and operates around the illegal drug and weapons trade. His aggressive personality creates some of the game’s most chaotic moments.
Trevor’s special ability allows him to enter a rage-like state, making him extremely dangerous during combat.
Switching Between Characters
Instead of following one character throughout the entire story, GTA 5 allows players to switch between Michael, Franklin and Trevor during many parts of the campaign.
The switching system helps Rockstar tell different sides of the same story.
A mission might begin with one character, switch to another during a chase and then move to the third protagonist during a shootout.
This mechanic also makes the world feel more connected because the three protagonists continue living their own lives even when the player is controlling someone else.
GTA 5 Story and Heists
The central story follows the three protagonists as they become involved in increasingly dangerous criminal operations.
Heists are one of the most important parts of the campaign.
Instead of simply starting a mission and completing it, many major operations involve preparation. Players may need to acquire vehicles, equipment, weapons or other resources before the main robbery.
Some heists also provide choices that influence how the operation is carried out.
This system gives the campaign a stronger feeling of planning rather than simply completing a sequence of unrelated missions.
GTA 5 Mission Structure
The story contains a large collection of main missions, setup missions and optional activities.
The campaign also includes missions connected specifically to individual protagonists.
Some missions are mandatory for story progression, while others can influence optional content or completion progress.
Players interested in completing the game should also pay attention to strangers and freaks, random events, collectibles and other activities.
For players who want a quick reference, a GTA 5 mission list is useful because it allows them to track their progress without replaying large sections of the story.
The GTA 5 Map
The map is much more than a collection of roads.
Players can explore:
Los Santos
Blaine County
Vinewood
Downtown Los Santos
Vespucci Beach
Del Perro
Sandy Shores
Paleto Bay
Mount Chiliad
Los Santos International Airport
Fort Zancudo
Grand Senora Desert
Alamo Sea
Each region has its own visual identity.
The city is filled with traffic, pedestrians, businesses and buildings, while the countryside provides mountains, dirt roads, wildlife and quieter locations.
Mount Chiliad is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the game and has also become famous for the mysteries and theories surrounding it.
Vehicles in GTA 5
Vehicles are central to GTA 5.
Players can drive cars, motorcycles, boats, helicopters, airplanes and other specialized vehicles.
Different vehicles are useful for different situations. Sports cars are excellent for fast driving, off-road vehicles perform better away from paved roads, while aircraft allow players to travel across the map much faster.
Vehicle customization is another major part of the experience.
Depending on the vehicle, players can modify performance, brakes, engines, suspension, transmission, armor, wheels, paint and other visual elements.
Weapons and Combat
GTA 5 provides a large selection of weapons.
Players can use pistols, assault rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, explosives and other weapons during missions and free-roam gameplay.
The weapon wheel makes switching between weapons relatively quick.
Each protagonist also has a special ability that changes how certain situations can be handled.
Michael can slow down time during gunfights, Franklin can slow time while driving, and Trevor can enter a highly aggressive combat state.
These abilities encourage players to approach similar situations differently depending on which character they control.
GTA 5 Side Activities
Los Santos is filled with activities outside the main story.
Players can participate in:
Golf
Tennis
Hunting
Yoga
Cycling
Swimming
Skydiving
Racing
Flight activities
Shooting challenges
Arm wrestling
Stock market activities
Collectibles
Random events
These activities help make GTA 5 feel like a living open-world game instead of a simple mission-based action game.
GTA 5 Economy
Money plays an important role in the game.
Players earn money through story missions, heists, businesses, activities and other opportunities.
The single-player campaign also includes a stock market system.
Players can purchase stocks and potentially benefit from changes caused by certain events in the game.
Managing money becomes especially interesting toward the end of the campaign because different choices and investments can affect the amount of money the protagonists have available.
GTA 5 Story Endings
One of the most memorable features of GTA 5 is its ending structure.
Near the end of the story, Franklin faces an important decision involving Michael and Trevor.
The player can choose between three major outcomes:
Ending A — Something Sensible: Franklin chooses to eliminate Trevor.
Ending B — The Time’s Come: Franklin chooses to eliminate Michael.
Ending C — The Third Way: Franklin, Michael and Trevor work together against their enemies.
The third option is often considered the most favorable outcome for players who want to keep all three protagonists available after the story.
GTA Online
GTA Online takes the GTA 5 world and turns it into a persistent multiplayer experience.
Instead of controlling Michael, Franklin or Trevor as the main playable character, players create their own online character.
They can purchase properties, vehicles, weapons and businesses while completing missions, races, heists and other activities.
Over the years, GTA Online has received numerous updates that expanded the game with new businesses, missions, vehicles, properties and activities.
This long-term support helped GTA 5 remain relevant many years after its original release.
GTA Online Businesses
Money-making businesses became an important part of GTA Online.
Depending on the player’s progress, they can participate in activities involving:
Executive offices
Vehicle warehouses
Gunrunning
Motorcycle businesses
Nightclubs
Special cargo
Arcades
Bunkers
Auto shops
Kosatka-related operations
Each business works differently, and players often combine several income sources to build their online empire.
Why GTA 5 Remains Popular
GTA 5’s longevity comes from several factors.
The large open world gives players freedom to explore. The three-character story provides variety. The heists add memorable set pieces, while GTA Online provides an experience that can continue long after the campaign has been completed.
The game also supports experimentation.
Players can simply follow the story, explore the countryside, customize cars, search for secrets, complete collectibles, cause chaos in free roam or spend time building their GTA Online character.
That freedom is one of the main reasons GTA 5 has remained one of the most recognizable open-world games of its generation.
GTA 5 Quick Facts
Release year: 2013
Main location: Los Santos and Blaine County
Playable story characters: 3
Main characters: Michael, Franklin and Trevor
Major gameplay elements: Driving, shooting, missions, heists and exploration
Story modes: Multiple major endings
Online mode: GTA Online
Map environment: Urban, suburban, desert, mountain, coastal and rural areas
Notable landmark: Mount Chiliad
Major airport: Los Santos International Airport
Military location: Fort Zancudo
GTA 5 Infographic Takeaway
GTA 5 is more than a traditional open-world action game. Its combination of a large map, three protagonists, branching decisions, heists, vehicles, weapons, side activities and GTA Online created an experience that could appeal to different types of players.
For story-focused players, the campaign provides a crime-focused narrative built around Michael, Franklin and Trevor. For explorers, Los Santos and Blaine County provide a huge environment filled with locations and activities. For online players, GTA Online offers a separate progression system with businesses, properties, missions and multiplayer activities.
That combination is what made GTA 5 such a long-lasting part of the Grand Theft Auto series.
For GTA fans looking for a quick reference, an infographic can turn all of these elements into an easy visual guide: three protagonists, one huge world, countless vehicles, major heists, hundreds of activities and a multiplayer experience that continues to evolve.
GTA 5 remains an important part of the Grand Theft Auto legacy—and understanding its characters, map, missions, gameplay systems and online world provides useful context for anyone following the future of the series.