Beginner’s Guide to Starting Grand Theft Auto V

Welcome to Los Santos (again)

Welcome to Southern California, a sprawling sandbox of sun, sin, and opportunity. Grand Theft Auto V (GTA5) is a massive, living world where you can follow a cinematic story or get lost in countless activities. To help you hit the ground running without spoiling the epic narrative, here’s your essential guide to navigating Los Santos and Blaine County.

See other game guides : Guides and Walkthroughs in Gaming, Beginner’s Guide to Grand Theft Auto Series

What GTA5 feels like?

Grand Theft Auto V delivers an unparalleled open-world experience, empowering players to explore a vast, stunningly detailed rendition of Los Santos and Blaine County. The gameplay thrives on freedom, allowing you to seamlessly transition between three distinct protagonists, each with unique stories and abilities, offering diverse perspectives on the city’s vibrant underworld. Whether you’re engaging in thrilling heists, participating in a myriad of side activities from golf to base jumping, or simply cruising through the breathtaking landscapes, the game consistently offers an exhilarating sense of agency and discovery. The fluid combat, responsive driving mechanics, and endless opportunities for emergent gameplay ensure that every session is filled with excitement and personalized adventure, making it a truly captivating digital playground.

1. Embrace the Three-Protagonist System

GTA V‘s defining feature is its trio of main characters: Michael (the retired bank robber), Franklin (the ambitious repo man), and Trevor (the volatile wildcard).

• You Can Switch at (Almost) Any Time: Use the directional pad to jump between their lives during free roam. See what each is up to.
• They Have Unique Abilities:
  • Michael: Enters Bullet Time in shootouts, slowing time for precise shots.
  • Franklin: Slows time while driving, allowing for impossible turns and maneuvers.
  • Trevor: Goes into a “Rampage” mode, dealing double damage and taking half.
• Play to Their Strengths: Use Franklin for driving missions, Michael for shootouts, and Trevor for… well, chaos.

2. Early Money & Progression: Don’t Rush the Heist

The story will dangle the promise of a multi-million dollar score early on. Be patient.

• Do the Side Hustles: As Franklin, use your phone to do Simeon’s car repo missions and Lester’s assassination missions (when they unlock). These provide solid starter cash and introduce mechanics.
• Invest Wisely (After Assassinations): Lester will give you stock market tips before certain assassination missions. Save your game before starting one. Complete the hit, then invest all your money in the stock he suggests before the mission, and sell after the market shifts. This is the #1 way to build early wealth.
• Pick Up Cash & Armor: Look for hidden cash bundles (glowing) and bulletproof vests (on walls behind ammunation) during story missions. They carry over.

3. Mastering Movement: Driving, Shooting, and Flying

The controls are dense but become second nature.

• Driving: Start with Franklin. Use his special ability to handle tight corners. Remember, the handbrake (R1/RB) is your friend for sharp turns.
• Shooting: Use cover (L2/LT) constantly. Pop out to shoot. The auto-aim is strong by default; use it to get comfortable. Switch to Michael’s ability for tough fights.
• Flying: The flight school (later at the Los Santos International Airport) is a huge help. For your first flight, remember: the left stick controls pitch (nose up/down) and roll, while the right stick controls the camera. Gently does it.

4. Health, Armor, and Wanted Levels

• Health Regenerates… Partially: Your health meter will regenerate up to 50% after taking damage. To fill the rest, you need to eat snacks (purchase from stores) or use a first-aid kit.
• Always Wear Armor: Buy bulletproof vests from Ammu-Nation. They are a second health bar and are crucial for survival. Re-stock after every big fight.
• Losing the Cops: When you have a wanted level (stars on the screen):
  • Out of Sight: Break the police’s line of sight. Duck into alleys, under bridges, or through parking garages.
  • Repaint & Respray: Driving into a Los Santos Customs shop while hidden changes your car’s color and instantly drops a low-level wanted star.
  • Change Vehicles: Switching cars helps throw them off.

5. Exploration & Activities: The Real Game

The main story is just one thread. To truly experience Los Santos, you must explore.

• Random Events: Look for blue dots on your minimap. These are random encounters—help someone, or rob them. They often have decent rewards.
• Hobbies & Pastimes: Go to the movie theater, play tennis, golf, or scuba dive. Visit the strip club. These activities often increase a character’s special stat.
• Collectibles: If you’re a completionist, look for spaceship parts, letter scraps, and nuclear waste. They unlock rewards and backstory, but don’t stress over them initially.

6. Character Stats & Customization

• Improve Your Skills: Each character has hidden stats (Shooting, Driving, Stamina, etc.). They improve simply by doing those activities. Run to increase Stamina, shoot to increase Shooting, etc.
• Change Your Look: Visit barbershops and clothing stores to customize each character’s appearance. This has no gameplay effect but is fun.
• Upgrade Your Weapons: At Ammu-Nation, you can add flashlights, scopes, and extended magazines. The Silencer is particularly useful for stealth approaches.

7. Key Settings for a Better Experience

• Go to “Settings” > “Save Game” > Turn ON “Auto-Save.” The game will save after missions and activities. Still, manually save in different slots when you accomplish something big.
• Adjust Your Radar: In the Display settings, set the Radar to “Expanded” so it’s always slightly zoomed out, giving you more time to react to turns during chases.
• Control Your Phone: Your in-game phone is your mission hub and lifeline. Use it to save the game, contact friends, and browse the internet (which is full of hilarious parody sites and even some secret stock tips).

8. Mindset: Create Your Own Chaos

The beauty of GTA V is the freedom to approach anything your way. See a military jet at the airport? Try to steal it. Want to see how long you can survive with a 5-star wanted level on top of Mount Chiliad? Go for it. The story missions are a blockbuster movie, but the open world is your personal playground.

Los Santos is a city of dreams and nightmares, and you now hold the keys. Play the story, get lost in the world, and remember: it’s not about the destination, it’s about the beautifully chaotic journey. Now get out there.