Being the forefront of the franchise, the protagonists of the Grand Theft Auto series can make or break a game, and some characters certainly rank better than others in the grand scheme of things. With each having a distinct personality, a unique story, and an important role in the game, they’re each integral to the world of GTA in their own special ways – but when it comes to the enjoyment of the player, there are some prominent front-runners (and some equally prominent underdogs).
The long-awaited GTA 6 has yet to reveal a launch date, let alone release details about its story, but it hasn’t stopped players from speculating who the next game’s protagonists will be. While Rockstar Games has remained decidedly quiet about its contents, various leaks and reports have suggested that for the first time in the franchise’s history, one of the playable characters will be a woman. Everything that’s known about female protagonist Lucia in GTA 6 and her partner-in-crime Jason paints the two as a promising duo, but until the game is released, players can’t know for sure how they’ll rank among all the other GTA protagonists.
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11 Claude Speed
Claude is the worst GTA protagonist, which isn’t too surprising, considering that he was Rockstar Games’ first foray into the 3D realm. Despite being the main character of Grand Theft Auto 3, he didn’t receive any voice acting, and as such, he never utters a single word throughout the length of the game. There’s no denying that Claude was pivotal to the entire Grand Theft Auto franchise, as his 3D playable character model proved highly successful and single-handedly changed the future of the crime-sim series. But compared to the other protagonists, he is at an inherent disadvantage with his lack of a personality and backstory.
10 Toni Cipriani
Toni Cipriani is the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and a main character in GTA 3, who unfortunately suffers from his duality. In Liberty City Stories, Mr. Tough Guy was a pleasant character, with his mafia ties and undying loyalty to the Leone family making his story quite exciting to take part in – but his initial cameo in GTA 3 is underwhelming at best. While he shines during his time as a playable protagonist, it’s hard to look past the bland, cookie-cutter mob boss that Toni becomes only a few years down the Grand Theft Auto timeline.
9 Victor Vance
Being the main character in Vice City Stories and also playing a minor role in GTA: Vice City, Victor Vance’s story is far more compelling than that of Toni Cipriani’s. Unlike most GTA protagonists, Vic never planned on becoming a crime boss; his only goal was to provide for his struggling family by any means necessary.
At first, this meant being a devout member of the military, but when his superior ordered him to partake in illegal activities, he was eventually discharged and left with no other choice. Whereas most protagonists in Grand Theft Auto do it for the riches or the fame, Vic does it for survival and for his family, which sets him apart.
8 Johnny Klebitz
Johnny Klebitz, who is the protagonist of GTA 3‘s The Lost and Damned DLC, has an even more tragic story than Victor. When Billy, the president of the Lost MC, gets sent to rehab, Johnny steps up to the role, acting as a strong and level-headed leader of the biker gang. Things quickly get turned upside down, and he is forced to carefully navigate through multiple betrayals in order to keep the Lost MC afloat. His brief reappearance in GTA 5 sees Johnny die an unceremonious death, but in his life, he was one of the better GTA protagonists from a story standpoint.
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7 Franklin Clinton
The debate about which GTA 5 protagonist is best is still ongoing, almost a decade after the game’s release – but one sentiment that most fans can agree on is that Franklin Clinton is the weakest of the bunch. There’s no denying that he’s an integral part of the infamous trio, being the coolest, calmest, and most collected by a long shot, but being the voice of reason inherently makes him a bit less exciting than Michael or Trevor. That being said, it’s still interesting to see him develop as a character as he slowly becomes more adept in the criminal world.
6 Luis Fernando Lopez
Luis Fernando Lopez, who played the star role of GTA 3‘s The Ballad of Gay Tony DLC, is one of the funniest GTA protagonists and a true joy to play as. During the events of the expansion, he finds himself in an increasingly sticky situation as his boss and best friend Tony gets entangled with the wrong people. Despite the severity of the situation, though, Luis always finds a way to crack a joke or make a witty comment. His sense of humor, alongside his loyalty to Tony, makes him one of the more memorable characters in the franchise.
5 Michael De Santa
Michael De Santa is no doubt one of the most iconic Grand Theft Auto protagonists. The former professional criminal is a true master of his craft, and the events of GTA 5 see him display his expertise to no end. But between his own internal conflicts and his hot-headed temperament that threatens to tear his family apart, Michael is a surprisingly multidimensional character. Witnessing his story – and his dynamic with other characters – slowly develop during the course of GTA 5 is one of the best parts of the game, which in turn makes Michael one of the best GTA protagonists.
4 Trevor Philips
Michael De Santa might be the face of GTA 5, but Trevor Philips is a manifestation of what many players enjoy about the franchise: pure, unbridled chaos. Trevor’s penchant for violence, alongside his unpredictable mentality and loyalty to his few loved ones, makes him a dangerous wild card that can surprise players just as much as his in-game opposition. There’s never a dull moment with him around, and even though Trevor has a good side in GTA 5, it’s his more prominent, nearly theatrical bad side that actually makes him one of the best characters in the entire series.
3 Carl “CJ” Johnson
It would be impossible to discuss the best GTA protagonists without mention of Carl Johnson, more commonly known as CJ, from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. In contrast to Trevor, CJ is a respectable young man who treats everyone with kindness but isn’t afraid to put his foot down and get the job done (and oftentimes, crack a joke along the way). His down-to-earth personality, entertaining dynamic with the game’s other characters, and his rags-to-riches story easily place him as one of the most memorable characters in the Grand Theft Auto series.
2 Tommy Vercetti
Tommy Vercetti could make a reappearance in the upcoming game since it takes place in the eponymous location of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. But even though GTA 6 doesn’t need Tommy to be successful, not many players would object to a cameo from one of GTA‘s best protagonists.
At the start of Vice City, the aptly named Harwood Butcher has fallen from glory, having just been released from prison after committing crimes for the Forelli family. Now imbued with a fiery vengeance and a determination to rule Vice City for himself, Tommy stops at nothing to work his way up to the top. It’s his unfaltering dedication, intelligence, ruthlessness, and ultimate success story that makes him an understandable fan-favorite.
1 Niko Bellic
The best GTA protagonist is Niko Bellic, the main character of Grand Theft Auto 4. While other protagonists may have exciting stories and thrilling lifestyles, Niko’s narrative is unique, as it’s somber, realistic, and unexpectedly heavy-hitting.
In hopes of starting anew, the Serbian veteran came to Liberty City to leave his troubled past behind, but he eventually falls down a rabbit hole when he’s faced with the measly reality of the “American Dream” he had once longed for. As such, he quickly adopts a more sinister goal, aiming to find and kill the traitor who got most of his crew (and nearly himself) killed during the Yugoslav Wars.
Unlike other GTA protagonists, Niko’s morally gray actions aren’t just a grab for cash or an attempt at notoriety. Fueled by his traumatic military history and the desire to finally close out a dark chapter, his life-or-death story makes the rest look like mere child’s play. It’s hard not to sympathize with his emotional narrative, which cements Niko Bellic as the best Grand Theft Auto protagonist.
