Should You Play GTA 5 Before GTA 6?

GTA 6 launches on 26 May 2026. But until the most anticipated game of all time hits the stores, should you still play GTA 5 before GTA 6?

Whether you’re curious about the single-player campaign, GTA Online, or just need some nostalgia to reminisce before Rockstar’s next big release, revisiting GTA 5 is still worth it.

Why GTA 5 story mode is still worth playing

One of the strongest reasons to play GTA 5 before GTA 6 is still its single-player story mode. The campaign follows three antiheroes in a gripping, satirical, and chaotic adventure that remains one of Rockstar Games’ most sprawling narratives.

Playing GTA 5 story mode gives you a look at the evolution of open-world gameplay. Missions, heists, and mechanics in GTA 5 laid the foundation for what you can expect in GTA 6, making it easier to appreciate the improvements and innovations in the sequel.

So far down the road, however, one of the most exciting reasons to dive in is the modding community on PC. Besides the obvious, like adding new vehicles, some mods completely overhaul the whole experience, bringing the good old GTA 5 story mode up to current standards.

GTA 5 Enhanced Edition especially shines in this regard. Combined with some of the best visual mods, like VisualV, the ray-traced global illumination truly showcases some of the next-gen flair that you can expect from GTA 6.

Why GTA Online is still relevant before GTA 6

Beyond the story, GTA Online offers a massive, ever-evolving multiplayer world. It continues to thrive with new events, updates, and roleplay servers. Playing GTA Online before GTA 6 lets you enjoy heists, businesses, and community-driven content while honing skills that will likely carry over into Rockstar’s next online experience. If you plan to jump into GTA 6 Online, your experience in GTA 5 will give you a head start.

Playing GTA 5 with mods and staying strictly in single player is risk-free. However, when in GTA Online, beware that the mods that go beyond just the visuals of your own character will influence other players, interfering with the natural flow of the game and potentially resulting in penalties from Rockstar. For your own sake, don’t go online if you have mods installed.

Modding has a learning curve, and getting into it might not be your cup of tea if you aren’t already into scripts and file editing.

Avoid grind in GTA Online

But what about the grind, you ask? Infamously getting killed by those pesky Oppressor owners while running around in GTA Online with empty pockets is no fun. Well, you don’t have to start from scratch if you don’t want to.

You can skip the grind and buy GTA 5 accounts for as little as a few bucks on Eldorado and be on top of the Los Santos criminal underworld. Just pick a GTA account that suits your cravings and enjoy the fruits of someone else’s labor.

Final thoughts

All in all, should you play GTA 5 before GTA 6? If you want to experience one of the most influential open-world games and conduct a test drive for GTA 6 with some modded enhancements, the answer is yes.

And if you don’t know how to make money fast in GTA 5 or simply don’t want to grind, Eldorado.gg is here to help with a wide selection of GTA 5 accounts. But if you’d rather save your excitement for the next-generation mechanics of GTA 6, skipping GTA 5 won’t hurt your experience.

Some of us at Eldorado.gg are already going through a GTA marathon, starting WAY back with the remastered trilogy. Will you revisit Los Santos before stepping into Vice City in GTA 6? 👀