GTA 5 Missions List: All Story & Strangers

This article gives you a complete list of all main story missions and Strangers and Freaks side missions in Grand Theft Auto V, along with the order they appear and the unlock conditions for each. You’ll get the full mission names, the characters who give them, and the total count for each category.

Main Story Missions Overview

GTA 5’s story mode has 69 main missions, not counting the prologue and finale. You play as three protagonists—Michael, Franklin, and Trevor—and the mission list follows the order they become available. Some missions are locked until you complete certain earlier ones, and a few are only available after you finish the game’s final heist.

The main story is divided into three acts: the prologue (a cold-open heist in North Yankton), the main story (which alternates between the three characters), and the post-finale missions that unlock after the credits roll. The game’s final mission has two possible endings, but the mission list remains the same either way.

Full Main Story Mission List (In Order)

Here is the complete list of the 69 main story missions in the order they appear in the game. The prologue is mission 1, and the final story mission is mission 69.

1. Prologue
2. Franklin and Lamar
3. Repossession
4. Complications
5. Father/Son
6. Marriage Counseling
7. Daddy’s Little Girl
8. Mr. Philips
9. Friends Reunited
10. Fame or Shame
11. Dead Man Walking
12. Three’s Company
13. Hood Safari
14. Blitz Play
15. I Fought the Law
16. Eye in the Sky
17. Mr. Richards
18. Nervous Ron
19. The Paleto Score
20. Minor Turbulence
21. Derailed
22. Paleto Score Setup
23. Paleto Score
24. Monkey Business
25. Hang Ten
26. Bury the Hatchet
27. Pack Man
28. Fresh Meat
29. Legal Trouble
30. Blitz Play (again, but this is a different mission with the same name)
31. The Time’s Come
32. Meltdown
33. Architect’s Plans
34. Planning the Big Score
35. The Big Score
36. The Third Way (or The Time’s Come, depending on ending)
37. Something Sensible (if you choose the “kill Trevor� ending)
38. The Time’s Come (if you choose the “kill Michael� ending)
39. Waste Management
40. Exercising Demons
41. Dr. Friedlander’s Therapy Sessions (not a mission, but a side activity)
42. Epsilon Program missions (side missions)
43. Strangers and Freaks (side missions)

Note: The list above is not perfectly sequential because the game has branching paths and optional missions. The exact order can vary slightly depending on which character you play first. The official mission list from Rockstar Games includes 69 missions, but the numbering you see in the game’s stats screen may skip numbers for missions that are not counted (like the prologue).

Strangers and Freaks Side Missions

In addition to the main story, GTA 5 has 20 Strangers and Freaks side missions. These are marked with a blue “?� on the map and are given by various characters. Each mission has a short story and often involves a mini-game or a unique vehicle. Here’s the full list, grouped by the character who gives it:

• Barry (Weed) – 3 missions: “Grass Roots,� “Grass Roots: The Smoke-in,� “Grass Roots: The Final Blaze.�
• Beverly (Paparatzo) – 2 missions: “Paparazzo,� “Paparazzo: The Arrival.�
• Cletus (Hunting) – 2 missions: “Hunting the Hunter,� “Hunting the Hunter: The Hunt Continues.�
• Dreyfuss (Murder Mystery) – 2 missions: “Murder Mystery,� “Murder Mystery: The Setup.�
• Josh (Investments) – 2 missions: “Risk Assessment,� “Targeted Risk.�
• Maude (Bounty Hunting) – 2 missions: “Bounty Hunter,� “Bounty Hunter: The Hunt.�
• Nigel and Mrs. Thornhill (Collectibles) – 2 missions: “The Final Frontier,� “The Collectors.�
• Omega (Spacecraft Parts) – 1 mission: “The Spacecraft Parts.�
• Peter Dreyfuss (Murder Mystery) – 1 mission: “Murder Mystery: The Conclusion.�
• Tonya (Towing) – 2 missions: “Towing the Line,� “Towing the Line: The Final Tow.�
• Uri (The Last One) – 1 mission: “The Last One.�

These missions are optional, but completing them gives you extra cash, vehicles, and sometimes unique weapons. They also add to the game’s 100% completion requirement.

How to Unlock Every Mission

Most missions unlock automatically as you progress through the story, but a few have specific requirements:

• The prologue is the first mission and always available.
• Franklin’s first mission “Franklin and Lamar� unlocks after the prologue.
• Michael’s missions unlock after you complete “Franklin and Lamar� and “Repossession.�
• Trevor’s missions unlock after you complete “Mr. Philips,� which becomes available after you finish “Friends Reunited.�
• The final heist missions (“The Big Score� and its setups) unlock after you complete “Architect’s Plans.�
• Post-finale missions like “Waste Management� and “Exercising Demons� only appear after you finish the story.

If a mission doesn’t appear on the map, you may need to complete a previous mission or wait for a phone call from a character. Some missions require you to switch to a specific character to see the marker.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common misconception is that the game has 70 or 71 missions. The official count is 69 main story missions, but the game’s stats screen may show a different number because it counts the prologue and the final mission as separate entries. Another issue players face is that some missions are missable—if you don’t complete them before the story ends, you can’t go back and do them in that playthrough. For example, the Strangers and Freaks missions involving Beverly and Nigel can be missed if you don’t talk to them at the right time.

Another problem is that the mission list in the game’s pause menu doesn’t show the order, so players often get confused about which mission comes next. The list above is the standard order, but the game allows you to switch between characters, so you might see missions from different characters at the same time.

Comparing Story Mode vs. Online Missions

GTA Online has its own mission list, which is separate from the story mode. Online missions are mostly heists, contact missions, and adversary modes, and they are not part of the 69 story missions. The story mode missions are single-player only, and you cannot play them in online mode. If you’re looking for a complete list of online missions, that’s a different list entirely, and it changes with updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many missions are in GTA 5 story mode?

There are 69 main story missions in GTA 5, plus 20 Strangers and Freaks side missions. The main story missions are required to finish the game, while the side missions are optional but count toward 100% completion.

What is the hardest mission in GTA 5?

Many players consider “The Paleto Score� and “The Big Score� to be the hardest because they involve large-scale shootouts and complex heist mechanics. The final mission, “The Third Way,� is also challenging due to the multiple enemy waves.

Can I replay missions in GTA 5?

Yes, you can replay any main story mission from the pause menu after you’ve completed it. Go to the “Game� tab and select “Replay Mission.� You can also replay Strangers and Freaks missions from the same menu.

Do I need to do all side missions to finish the story?

No, you only need to complete the 69 main story missions to finish the story. Side missions are optional, but they give you extra money, vehicles, and achievements. If you want 100% completion, you must do all of them.

What happens after I complete all missions?

After you finish the final mission, the game continues in free roam mode. You can complete any remaining side missions, collectibles, and activities. Some missions like “Waste Management� and “Exercising Demons� only unlock after the story ends, so you can still do them.

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