With three playable protagonists, asprawling open worldand a darkly-comic script that never lets up, Grand Theft Auto 5’s story is packed with unforgettable moments. But some missions stand out for more than just their chaos.
8 Best Grand Theft Auto Games of All Time
Grand Theft Auto is one of the most popular video game franchises, and these games are the best in the series.
Whether they reveal deeper truths about Michael, Franklin or Trevor, or simply showcase Rockstar’s eye for cinematic spectacle, these are the best story missions in Grand Theft Auto 5 and they hit harder than most.
8Marriage Counseling
The Most Chaotic Way to Handle Couples Therapy
Michael’s suburban meltdown boils over in this early-game mission when he comes home to find his wife Amanda cheating with her tennis coach. What follows is a ridiculous and destructive chase that ends with Michael and Franklin literally pulling down a cliffside mansion – the wrong one, no less.
The mission’s tone, which dances between absurdity and fury, perfectly captures Michael’s fractured psyche. It’s not just fun to play, it also sets the tone for his explosive character arc.
7The Jewel Store Job
The First Big Score Is the One That Changes Everything
This is where Grand Theft Auto 5 really opens up. Planning the first heist with the crew gives players their first taste of how GTA V’s heist mechanics work – choose your approach, hire your team and hope they don’t screw up.
While the actual robbery is tense and slick, it’s the build-up and aftermath that matter more. Lester’s involvement, the clean execution (if done right) and the way it drags Michael back into a life of crime create ripples that impact the rest of the story.
6Bury the Hatchet
The Moment that Unmasks Everything
What begins as a quiet trip to North Yankton quickly spirals into one of the game’smost significant reveals. This mission finally pulls back the curtain on Michael and Trevor’s past, showing what really went down in Ludendorff all those years ago.
Digging up a grave – only to find something you didn’t expect – brings the tension between the two men to a boil. It’s also a rare return to a snowy environment, mirroring the game’s prologue and giving the whole sequence a chilling, full-circle feel.
5Caida Libre
One Bullet Brings Down a Plane and a Family
Trevor and Michael team up here to take out a high-value target, and the method is as cinematic as it gets. Using a scoped rifle on a mountain ridge, Michael has to shoot down a private jet.
8 Best Ways to Make Money in GTA V
Earning money in GTA 5’s story mode is pretty easy, and these 8 activities give the biggest payout.
Once it crashes, Trevor gives chase through the hills to finish the job. What makes this mission stand out is how it blends precision shooting with a high-speed, off-road pursuit. The victim’s identity also ties into Martin Madrazo’s storyline, subtly weaving side plots into the main narrative.
4The Paleto Score
A Small Town, a Big Score and Even Bigger Firepower
What starts off as a quiet setup in the rural town of Paleto Bay turns into one of GTA V’s most action-packed missions. The score is simple – hit the bank, get the cash, escape. But the execution is anything but.
As soon as the alarm goes off, the entire town turns into a warzone. The highlight is the use of the heavy-duty Minigun as the trio blasts their way through waves of police, choppers and military-grade resistance. It’s the kind of mission that letsRockstar show offits chaotic sandbox at full throttle.
Everything Starts With a Betrayal
Set nine years before the events of the main game, this snowy opening in Ludendorff sets the tone for the entire story. The mission walks a fine line between tutorial and full-on narrative intro, giving players just enough time with Michael, Trevor and Brad to feel the sting when things go sideways.
The foreshadowing here is subtle but smart – the grave, the “death” of Michael, the FIB’s involvement – all of it returns later in the game. As far as opening missions go, few games pull players in this quickly.
2Three’s Company
An International Rescue with Explosive Results
This is the first time all three protagonists work together in a single mission, and it’s beautifully orchestrated. While Trevor dangles from a helicopter and Franklin provides sniper support, Michael infiltrates a government building to extract an informant.
The blend of stealth, action and coordination between the characters gives the mission a cinematic flair that hadn’t been seen in a GTA game before. It’s also the point where the story shifts from street-level jobs to government conspiracies, expanding the scale dramatically.
1The Third Way
The Ending that Lets Everyone Walk Away – Barely
Instead of choosing between Michael or Trevor, players can pick the third option – and it’s arguably the best ending Rockstar’s ever done.
What follows is a desperate, no-holds-barred series of confrontations that has the trio taking down every major threat in the game. Stretch, Steve Haines, Devin Weston – one by one, they fall. The mission juggles multiple perspectives, tense shootouts and big story payoffs, all while giving the characters a rare shot at peace. In a game full of betrayal and backstabbing, “The Third Way” is a rare moment of unity.
