GTA Protagonists

GTA protagonists since the series went 3D run from Claude in GTA III (2001) through Tommy Vercetti, CJ, Niko Bellic, and GTA V's trio of Michael, Franklin and Trevor, to GTA 6's Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos. Here is every lead in order, with the side games included for completeness.

Each protagonist reflects the city and the era of their game. That pattern continues with GTA VI's modern Bonnie and Clyde couple.

Who are the protagonists of the 3D era GTA games?

• Claude, GTA III (2001). A silent criminal betrayed and left for dead during a bank robbery in Liberty City.
• Tommy Vercetti, GTA Vice City (2002). A mob enforcer who builds his own empire in 1986 Vice City.
• Carl "CJ" Johnson, GTA San Andreas (2004). A young man who comes home to Los Santos after his mother's death and rebuilds his gang.
• Mike, GTA Advance (2004). A small-time criminal in Liberty City chasing revenge.
• Toni Cipriani, GTA Liberty City Stories (2005). A Leone family made man, first seen in GTA III.
• Victor Vance, GTA Vice City Stories (2006). A soldier drawn into the Vice City drug trade in 1984.

Who are the protagonists of the HD era?

• Niko Bellic, GTA IV (2008). An Eastern European war veteran looking for a fresh start in Liberty City.
• Johnny Klebitz, The Lost and Damned (2009). A biker gang vice president.
• Luis Lopez, The Ballad of Gay Tony (2009). A nightclub bodyguard and business partner.
• Huang Lee, GTA Chinatown Wars (2009). A Triad heir in Liberty City.
• Michael De Santa, GTA V (2013). A retired bank robber in witness protection.
• Franklin Clinton, GTA V (2013). A young repo man looking to move up.
• Trevor Philips, GTA V (2013). Michael's volatile former partner.

GTA V was the first mainline game with three switchable leads. For how these games fit into separate continuities, see the GTA timeline.

Who are the protagonists in GTA 6?

GTA 6 stars Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, a couple working together in a Bonnie and Clyde style story across Leonida.

Lucia is the first female lead in a mainline GTA in decades, since the original game let you pick from a cast of characters. She begins her story in Leonida Penitentiary. Jason grew up around grifters, served in the army and now works for drug runners in the Keys.

Their story is covered in depth on Jason and Lucia's story, and how switching between them may work is on GTA 6 dual protagonists.

Which GTA protagonist is the most popular?

There is no official ranking, but fan favourites usually include Tommy Vercetti, CJ, Niko Bellic and Trevor Philips. Each is tied to a defining moment for the series: Vice City's style, San Andreas' scale, GTA IV's realism and GTA V's chaos.

FAQ

Who was the first GTA protagonist?

The original 1997 game had several selectable characters. Claude in GTA III (2001) was the first protagonist of the 3D era.

How many protagonists does GTA 6 have?

Two: Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos.

Is Lucia the first female GTA protagonist?

She is the first female lead of a mainline GTA in decades. The original Grand Theft Auto let you choose female characters, but none had a full story.

Which GTA had three protagonists?

GTA V, with Michael De Santa, Franklin Clinton and Trevor Philips.