The Darkest GTA Fan Theories
Gamers are always looking for more content, particularly when it comes to hugely popular series. Playground rumors and unique story interpretations can become talking points that extend the longevity of franchises. From the early days of the series, "Grand Theft Auto" has always lent itself to bizarre fan theories and speculation. As an early example of the open-world genre, it was easy to spread rumors about hidden secrets and phenomena that could lurk in the game's code. From Bigfoot sightings to secret risqué mini-games, these ideas could circulate through the entire player community without even being available in the game.
However, not every fan theory is as innocent as the ability to find Bigfoot in the woods. Some "GTA" fan theories can be downright bone-chilling. The series is already focused on high crime, violence, and drugs, so it doesn't take much for fans to believe in some of the wilder stories out there and spread them like wildfire. These darker "GTA" theories will make players see the story they thought they knew in a new light. While some of the following theories may not be the most believable interpretations of the plot, they can at least spice up a series that hasn't seen a mainline release in over 10 years. Here are some of the darkest and most interesting "GTA" fan theories.
No kids allowed
As many "GTA" players may have easily noticed, the younger generation is oddly absent. Out of the endless amounts of NPCs and characters scattered throughout the series, fans would be hard pressed to find a single non-adult background character. In fact, for a series supposedly rooted partially in reality, the lack of children seems like a bit of an oversight. On further examination, though, this may not be such a bad choice. Given the amount of death and destruction featured in every entry, including child NPCs could be a step too far for some consumers. However, without an official in-game reason for their absence, every "GTA" city seems like a strange, childless, almost post-apocalyptic landscape.
Fans have decided to explain the lack of "GTA" children themselves with their own theories. One popular theory on Reddit explains that the violent atmosphere of the series explains why there are no kids. In every game, the level of crime rises to ridiculous levels. Over the course of each campaign, players frequently participate in a series of absurdly violent heists and shootouts. With so much dailydestruction, it's easy to see why families would move out of the cities where the games take place. Many theorists also believe that parents who stay in the city end up sending their children to the Bullworth Academy boarding school — tying the "GTA" franchise to "Bully," another Rockstar game.
Police are profiling Franklin
Due to the series being rooted in the modern era, "GTA" has never shied away from dealing with social issues. Many fan theories are built around these, with some pointing to some bizarre occurrences in the series' police AI. Although there isn't any concrete proof or evidence, some players believe that the police in "GTA 5" are racist and more likely to target black characters, even when unprovoked. While this feels like something that could actually be programmed into the game, it seems very unlikely that Rockstar would have done this and never acknowledged it. This still hasn't stopped fans from crafting an upsetting fan theory pointing surrounding just how corrupted the Los Santos police force really is.
In the campaign of "GTA 5," some players have noticed that the police seem to target Franklin more than any other playable character in the game. One account even describes being targeted for seemingly no reason, simply while walking down the street. This player recounts that while playing, "I was strolling down a boulevard... Abruptly, I have 1 star – absolutely no reason besides the fact a citizen reported the situation and I was presumed the culprit... and the cops arrive." The player even claims the police pulled their weapons on Franklin while he was clearly unarmed.
After hearing a story like this, the "GTA 5" police theory seems like it fits right in with the difficult social issues that "GTA" has tackled in the past, but some fans remain skeptical.
Trevor is a demon
Although "GTA 5" sometimes deals with fantastical elements, the game generally has one foot in reality. However, some fans have noticed certain characters seem to possess supernatural characteristics that may hint that they aren't human. Trevor, as many already know, is the most chaotic character in the "GTA 5" roster. Between his frequent rampages and violent personality, players have gone as far to call Trevor a representation of humanity's worst tendencies. Some theorists go even further than this, stating that Trevor may be something separate from humanity entirely, calling him a demon that has been sent to cause chaos and destruction any way he can.
Firstly, Trevor's special ability — which reduces damage taken and increases damage output — proves that the character has strength beyond that of an average mortal. While Michael and Franklin's abilities are slightly more plausible, Trevor literally possesses a power that makes him almost impossible to kill. Even when taking bullets to his vital organs, Trevor will continue to fight. This alone is enough to show that Trevor is built differently from the other characters. On top of his mystical powers and thirst for blood, players on Reddit have also noticed that his mother's eyes have yellow irises in some shots, a characteristic often reserved for evil, non-human characters in pop culture. With all these factors combined, it's easy to see why fans have decided that Trevor doesn't belong to the human race. In fact, Trevor being a demon makes more sense than him being a human.
Trevor killed his parents
For many players, Trevor is an extremely interesting character who adds a chaotically evil perspective to the usual roster of protagonists. His extreme personality and damaged psyche lend themselves naturally to theories from fans attempting to unravel the mysteries of his mind. While some look towards the supernatural to explain his demeanor, some are much more grounded in the real world. The latter group includes one theory that explains what exactly happened to Trevor's family.
Throughout the story, players briefly learn that Trevor's brother, mother, and father are deceased. On top of this, it's revealed that his father was abusive towards him, causing Trevor to develop a large amount of animosity towards him. Due to Trevor's hatred of his father and his violent outbursts, many fans have theorized that Trevor may have killed his father. Additionally, Trevor also hints that he disliked his brother. Though Trevor states that his brother died in an accident, some gamers think it's more likely that Trevor may have killed him as well. Another Redditor adds to the theory by stating, "I believe Trevor also killed his mother. And the final mission for him where he sees his mother is a guilt ridden hallucination." This theory is strengthened by the fact that Trevor's mom mysteriously vanishes at the end of the one and only mission involving her. Although a lot of this theory is speculation based on Trevor's personality, it doesn't seem entirely unlikely. The only other possibility is that Trevor's father killed both his sibling and mother, leaving Trevor distraught enough to murder him.
Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt
An interesting aspect of many of Rockstar's franchises is that there are small bits of continuity that connect them. For example, many players have already noticed small references to "GTA" in "Red Dead Redemption," and vice-versa. This has led the more devoted fans to create theories that place all of Rockstar's properties in the same world. While a connection between the games doesn't make for a dark theory on its own, some easter eggs hint that one of Rockstar's most upsetting games may not be too far removed from the rest of the company's library. That game is "Manhunt," a Rockstar IP infamous for its extreme violence.
In this theory, Rockstar's "Manhunt" is said to take place in the same world as the "GTA" series. Most noticeably, Carcer City, the main city of "Manhunt," is mentioned frequently in "Grand Theft Auto" games. For example, in "GTA 5" Michael mentions that his first score was in Carcer City. Some fans even believe that Claude from "GTA 3" could be related to James Earl Cash from "Manhunt," as they share some notable character traits. While "Manhunt" is a relatively self-contained game, this theory still suggests some strong world-building between the two franchises. One player even comments, "In fact I'm surprised [Carcer City] hasn't appeared as a GTA city yet." Although "Manhunt" may be a touch too dark for many gamers, seeing Carcer City eventually appearing in a mainline "GTA" game doesn't seem impossible.
Ratman and Goatman are hiding
For the longest time, "GTA" fans have theorized about mysterious cryptids lurking in the outskirts of every entry. These sort of theories seem to be some of the most popular in the entire fandom, as far back as the Bigfoot rumors in "San Andreas." Although the initial Bigfoot myth was eventually proven false by Rockstar, fans have yet to give up searching, coming up with more theories with every new entry.
Two of the newer additions to the "GTA" cryptid club are Ratman and Goatman. Rumors of the Ratman started when "GTA 4" came out and players posted unsettling photos of a humanoid rat creature that they supposedly encountered in subways and abandoned buildings. Supposedly, this creature has enhanced speed and attacks the player on sight. Besides a few supposed sightings, players have reported that they found the Ratman's blood in a few locations on the map. Goatman is a similar story in "GTA 5," where some players claim they've seen a half-human, half-goat creature somewhere in the outskirts of Los Santos. However, unlike Ratman, there have seemingly been fewer sightings.
Sadly, as many players may have guessed, these two creatures don't exist; they've just been invented by fans having a fun time. However, there's hope they could appear in a future game, as Bigfoot was added to "GTA 5" nine years after the initial rumors.
Scientology references in GTA 5
"GTA" has often been a source of satire, poking fun at various high-interest people or celebrities with a side of over-the-top dialogue and stylized violence. Not even religion is safe from this brand of comedy, receiving frequent jabs in various games. Fans familiar with "GTA 5" are bound to be remember the Epsilon Program. This cult operates out of Los Santos, complete with a website that players can visit while playing as Michael. After filling out a short survey, players can even briefly join the cult and learn the secrets of their organization.
Fans have spent a great deal of time puzzling over the Epsilon Program and its apparent similarities to the Church of Scientology. While at first the Epsilon Program may seem like more of a commentary on new age religions in general, rather than the Church of Scientology itself, attentive players have noticed some details that are anything but coincidental. For example, both Scientology and the Epsilon Program are located in geographically similar areas, both receive tax breaks from the government, and both use personality tests as a recruitment method. If that's not enough, the leader and creator of Epsilon, Cris Formage, oddly resembles both Scientology creator L. Ron Hubbard and David Miscavige, the religion's current leader.
The Business Plot theory
Have you ever wondered why society seems so destructive and violent in the "GTA" series? Or why cities are named differently from their real life counterparts (for instance, Miami has become Vice City)? Well, Reddit user Zpopee has a detailed theory that explains just why so much crime exists in the "GTA" universe. The catalyst of this theory brings us back to real-world 1933, when wealthy businessmen made a plot to overthrow FDR and take over the American government. While this plan obviously never succeeded, Zpopee suggests that the Business Plot may have been successful in the "GTA" universe. This would make the "GTA" world an alternate dystopian reality, one that is now run by big business and capitalism.
Some evidence that helps prove this theory can be seen in the strange way that society functions in "GTA." For example, blatant and mindless consumerism is constantly present throughout each "GTA" entry, often played for laughs. On top of this, the celebrity and political landscape seems to be extremely dark, with famous people openly murdering people and facing zero repercussions. Although this theory could just be an attempt to rationalize the biting satire of the games, this potential dystopian future is still an intriguing theory. Zpopee concludes this theory by stating, "Really the GTA world is horrifying. An alternate timeline were the rich directly control the nation. At least in my theory."
GTA is Hell
Similar in style to the last entry, this theory sets out to explain some of the chaos that has always been present in "GTA." However, unlike the Business Plot theory, this one is a bit more straightforward in some ways. As the title suggests, some players believe that every city in "GTA" is some sort of bizarre form of punishment in the afterlife. Basically, all characters, both protagonists and NPCs, are sent to these cities to relive horrible experiences. This is why they're constantly dying, respawning, and starting the cycle all over again. Writing for the Huffington Post, Michael Rundle notes, "The ever-present destruction, mayhem, cruelty and dishonour in GTA 5 make that a somewhat obvious surface conclusion, in some ways. (I have a feeling a few of the characters may literally say it at one point.)"
Even so, many members of the "GTA" community have been underwhelmed by this theory. In response to the aforementioned Huffington Post article, some fans have left comments suggesting a lukewarm reception. One commenter writes, "That's ehh, one way to look at it I guess." Another writes, "It is witty but the whole time I just wonder...why?" In the end, while this may be a fun theory, it doesn't seem to have captured the interest of the public like some of the others discussed here.
Trevor's rampages are fake
In yet another Trevor-related theory, many players have wondered why he suffers only minor repercussions for the crimes he commits during his rampages. In each "Rampage" sequence, Trevor murders tons of innocents, destroys vehicles, and even storms a military base at one point. What's even more bizarre is that after the rampages, there is no mention of these horrific tragedies on the news, and Trevor is treated as an innocent man. Combined with the strange tint of the camera and Trevor's impossible feats of strength, one Reddit user has come to the conclusion that all these rampages must be figments of Trevor's imagination.
After presenting this theory, many players have sought to counter it with their own evidence. Firstly, many point out that there is some destruction left behind, even when the rampage is over. Plus, Trevor can pick up items like money and weapons, keeping them well after the rampage is finished. However, the original poster still stays firm with their theory, suggesting that the circumstances in which he received the money and weapons in could have been part of an extensive, drug-induced hallucination. One commentor seemed to agree, writing, "weed causes Micheal to see aliens what do you think meth does to Trevor?"
All of the GTA 5 protagonists are one person
One Reddit user set out to explain some of the more bizarre elements of each of the "GTA 5" protagonists' personalities. For example, while Franklin and Michael seem more well-adjusted in cutscenes, they can commit atrocities on par with Trevor's rampages as soon as the player gains control. While this is very obviously due to the nature of open world video games in general, this user theorizes that all three protagonists are the same person. In this case, the player character is actually one soul who can jump between each of the characters.
Basically, this theory states that during cutscenes and when the player isn't in control of a character, Michael, Franklin, and Trevor are living their lives like normal. However, right when a character becomes playable, the true protagonist — the soul of a deceased "GTA Online" character — hops into their body, taking control and creating chaos as them. "GTA 5 is the story of a person giving up on going to the afterlife because they're having too much fun being a criminal," writes this Redditor. This also ties in nicely with another theory that the protagonist of "GTA Online" is deceased by the events of "GTA 5." Sadly, due to more recent expansions taking place after that game's campaign, this theory doesn't make nearly as much sense anymore — but it's still fun to take a look at.