21/03/2022
Unravelling the Mission Maze of GTA 5
Grand Theft Auto V, a titan in the open-world genre, offers players an immense sandbox to explore, filled with criminal enterprises, high-stakes heists, and a compelling narrative. A significant part of this experience lies within its extensive mission structure. Many players often wonder about the precise number of missions available, and how to navigate through the game's vast campaign. This guide aims to demystify the mission count, explain the nuances of mission progression, and provide insights into achieving that coveted 100% completion.
How Many Missions Are Truly in GTA 5?
The question of how many missions are in GTA 5 is a common one, often met with slightly conflicting information. While the in-game statistics might suggest a figure of 69 missions, the reality is far more intricate. Due to the branching paths available, particularly with heist approaches, and the inclusion of optional content, the total number of story missions is actually 83. However, not all of these are experienced in a single playthrough. Depending on the choices you make, you will play through approximately 74 missions in one complete run of the story mode, from the initial 'Prologue' all the way to one of the three distinct endings.
The discrepancy in the in-game counter, often cited as 69, is attributed to Rockstar Games' decision not to include certain heist setup missions, such as the 'Fire Truck' and 'BZ Gas Grenades' setups. Additionally, three optional 'Family Missions' that Michael can undertake are also excluded from this count. This exclusion, in true Rockstar fashion, likely serves as a subtle nod to the number 69.
The Significance of Mission Colours
With three protagonists – Michael, Franklin, and Trevor – each having their own unique storylines and mission opportunities, GTA 5 employs a colour-coded system on the map to help players identify who can initiate which mission. Understanding these colours is crucial for efficient progression and for ensuring you don't miss out on any key story beats.
| Icon Colour | Protagonist | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Michael | Missions that can be started by Michael De Santa. |
| Green | Franklin | Missions that can be started by Franklin Clinton. |
| Orange | Trevor | Missions that can be started by Trevor Philips. |
| Yellow (?) | Strangers & Freaks | Side missions involving unique non-playable characters, often referred to as 'Strangers & Freaks' missions. |
When you switch between characters using the Character Wheel, you can also see the number of missions currently available for each protagonist, providing a quick overview of your available tasks.
Mastering Missions: Replaying and Gold Medals
GTA 5 incorporates a detailed mission scoring system, rewarding players who excel in specific objectives. Each mission has a set of criteria, such as completion time, accuracy, damage taken, and more, that must be met to achieve a 'Gold Medal'. While simply completing a mission grants a Bronze Medal by default, earning Silver requires meeting at least one objective. To achieve the prestigious Gold Medal, you must successfully complete 100% of the listed objectives.
The game allows for mission replayability, enabling you to return to previously completed missions to improve your performance and earn those elusive Gold Medals. You can access this feature through the Pause Menu, navigating to the 'Game' tab and selecting the 'Replay Mission' option. It's important to note that you don't need to achieve all Gold Medal requirements in a single playthrough of a mission; you can revisit objectives across multiple attempts.
Achieving a high medal count is not just for bragging rights. Earning at least 70 Gold Medals across both Story Missions and Strangers & Freaks missions is a prerequisite for unlocking the 'Solid Gold, Baby!' Achievement or Trophy, a significant feat for dedicated players.
Grand Theft Auto V culminates in three distinct endings, each influenced by the player's decisions during critical story junctures. To experience all possible outcomes without restarting the entire game, GTA 5 offers a convenient replay function for the final missions.
After completing one of the endings, you can replay the final decision points by accessing the Pause Menu, going to 'Game' > 'Replay Mission', and scrolling to the bottom of the mission list. This feature allows you to explore the consequences of different choices, though it doesn't alter the initial ending you experienced in your primary playthrough.
For players who wish to experiment freely with the endings, it is highly recommended to create a separate save file after completing 'The Big Score' mission. This ensures you have a stable point to return to, allowing you to choose and play through each of the three endings without fear of losing your main game progress. It's worth noting that Ending C, 'Deathwish', is considered the canon ending by Rockstar Games and is the one that allows all three protagonists to survive.
The Optional Mission Landscape
Beyond the core story missions, GTA V is replete with a wealth of optional content designed to extend gameplay and provide further immersion into the world of Los Santos. These include:
- Lester's Assassination Missions: While not required for story progression, these missions are crucial for 100% completion and offer significant financial rewards, especially if saved until after the main story is concluded. It is strongly advised to tackle these optional assassination missions towards the end of your gameplay to maximize your in-game wealth.
- Strangers & Freaks Missions: These missions involve encountering and assisting a diverse cast of eccentric characters outside the main narrative. They offer unique storylines and often humorous interactions.
- Hobbies & Pastimes: Engaging in various activities like golf, tennis, hunting, and stock market trading contributes to the game's overall completion percentage and offers a different pace from the high-octane missions.
- Random Events: The world of Los Santos is dynamic, with random events occurring as you explore, offering spontaneous encounters and opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How many total missions are there in GTA 5?
There are 83 story missions in total, though only about 74 are played in a single playthrough due to branching paths.
Q2: Do Lester's Assassination Missions count towards 100% completion?
Yes, Lester's Assassination Missions are required for 100% game completion, even though they are optional for story progression.
Q3: Can I replay missions to get Gold Medals?
Yes, you can replay any completed mission through the Pause Menu to try and achieve Gold Medal status by completing all objectives.
Q4: Which ending is considered canon in GTA 5?
Ending C, also known as 'Deathwish', is the canon ending as confirmed by Rockstar Games.
Q5: What do the different mission colours on the map mean?
Blue icons are for Michael, green for Franklin, orange for Trevor, and yellow question marks are for Strangers & Freaks side missions.
In conclusion, GTA 5's mission structure is a complex yet rewarding system. Whether you're aiming for a perfect playthrough with all Gold Medals, exploring every narrative branch, or simply enjoying the ride, understanding the mission count and its intricacies will undoubtedly enhance your experience in the sprawling world of Los Santos.
If you want to read more articles similar to GTA 5 Mission Breakdown, you can visit the Taxis category.