The 10 Best GTA Characters, Ranked

The "Grand Theft Auto" series has helped transform the way people see video game storytelling. The developers at Rockstar Games continually take cues from iconic crime films and TV shows, paying homage to them while creating new, high-stakes stories with memorable characters. The "GTA" series has some of the greatest main characters in video game history, but each installment is also filled to the brim with unforgettable side characters. Heroes, villains, and comic relief characters are all written with the same level of care, and great vocal talent helps make every character in "GTA" feel alive.

While Rockstar has brought in big stars to voice characters in the past (the rumored cast of "GTA 6" actually incudes a well-known Hollywood actor), it usually goes with unknown actors, especially for the lead roles. The upcoming entry will be standing on the shoulders of giants, as previous "GTA" games have created some legendary characters — no matter how good "GTA 6" turns out to be, no one will forget about the previous installments anytime soon. Opinions on the overall ranking will vary from person to person, but we've scoured through a lot of fan discussions to find out which "GTA" characters the community thinks stand out as the greatest of all time.

Fans often have disagreements about which "Grand Theft Auto" game is the best, but a lot of people still think that "Grand Theft Auto 4" is the cream of the crop. "It may have been smaller in scale when compared to GTA 5, but what it lacked in size, it made up for in great writing and characters. This GTA had the darkest, most grounded and realistic story of the series," wrote one Redditor. It's hard to argue with that assessment, especially when it comes to characters — "GTA 4" is stuffed full of incredible personalities, but few of them are as endearing as Bruce "Brucie" Kibbutz.

Brucie is one of the many mission providers in "GTA 4," but he's way more than just a functional character. He's a steroid-using bodybuilder who's got so much energy that he almost bursts off the screen. Because he's one of the first contacts to get unlocked in the game, Brucie has a lot of time in "GTA 4" to build a bond with players. Players can steal cars to help Brucie make quick cash, but they can also give him a call to head out for drinks or for helicopter and boat rides. While Brucie doesn't play a big role in the overall plot of "GTA 4," he's definitely a standout character.

Big Smoke is a major player in the events of "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas." Early in the game, he acts as a sort of mentor for CJ, the player character. He welcomes CJ back from Vice City and tries to show him the ropes around San Andreas. Players settle into the game with Big Smoke's help and these moments with him are a lot of fun. Yet, while he's certainly an entertaining character, that's not why Big Smoke is such a memorable part of "GTA" history.

Big Smoke has a major impact on the plot of "San Andreas" when he betrays CJ for the Ballas gang. He tries to have CJ killed in a shootout with the gang but settles for CJ going to jail after being arrested by police at the scene. After that point, "San Andreas" turns into a bit of a revenge quest, with Big Smoke transitioning from early game guide to end game antagonist. The heel turn makes for an incredible surprise on a first playthrough, and catching all the subtle hints about Big Smoke's inevitable betrayal makes replaying "San Andreas" a unique experience.

Just a handful of characters in the "Grand Theft Auto" franchise have appeared in multiple games, and Ken Rosenberg is one of them. Players first meet Ken in "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City," where he helps set the whole game in motion. Ken is a lawyer who isn't always interested in working on the side of the law. At the start of the game, he uses his connections to the Italian mob to help Tommy get jobs and work his way up the city's criminal ladder. Eventually, Tommy parts ways with Ken, but that's not the end of the lawyer's story.

In "Grand Theft Auto: San Andres," Ken resurfaces, having left Vice City and spent some time in rehab. Unfortunately, his attempt at kicking drugs didn't stick — when CJ encounters him, Ken is still using and still working for the mob. Once again he becomes a source of under-the-table income for players while plotting out — and failing to follow — his own path to glory. Ken provides plenty of comic relief in his two "GTA" appearances, but the fact that he has some genuinely grounded struggles makes him a fully rounded and much more beloved character.

Most games endeavor to get players to empathize with just a single character. "Grand Theft Auto 5" pulls out all the stops and introduces three main characters for players to experience. Michael De Santa is one member of the game's main trio, and for some fans he's the best part of the game. "Michael De Santa has the deepest and most interesting story out of GTA V protagonists," wrote one fan on Reddit, with another adding, "I agree, his complex story makes him the main character of GTA V." Players have a lot of good things to say about Michael, who is arguably the most complicated main characters in the entire "GTA" franchise.

Michael's parents abandoned him when he was young and he fell into a life of crime when he was still a teenager. He went to prison multiple times, but by the time the events of "GTA 5" get started, he's an experienced thief with no intentions of getting caught again. Michael is involved in robbery and prostitution, but he's also a married father of multiple children. Not many "GTA" protagonists are as smart and put together as Michael, and that's one of the biggest reasons fans like him so much. Michael's got more priorities to balance than the other protagonists of "GTA 5," which gives his personal plot higher stakes.

Michael De Santa is a bit like the experienced master planner for the main trio in "Grand Theft Auto 5," and by contrast, Franklin Clinton is the newcomer. He is the youngest protagonist in the game, so his backstory isn't nearly as long or complicated as Michael's. However, for many players, Franklin is the most relatable of the three protagonists in the game. He's the most level-headed of the trio, and his experience of coming into the crime world with little experience most closely mirrors the experience of players.

Some fans maintain that, despite its multiple protagonists, "GTA 5" is really Franklin's game. They see him as the main character and argue that his choices have the biggest impact on how events in the game play out. Many love him because he's a role model. "I like Franklin a lot, simple, normal and he's sweet too," one Redditor wrote. "How he wants to change actually tells a lot about him and I think that Franklin is someone to look up to for those who can't find their path related to gang violence."

Franklin feels more like a relatable person than a larger-than-life video game character, and that impression is helped along by his many side quests. Many of the flashiest moments in the main story of "GTA 5" belong to other characters, but Franklin's many side missions help flesh him out as the most multi-faceted of the bunch. His earnest approach to life helps him stand out as one of the best protagonists in the "GTA" franchise.

There's no flashier "Grand Theft Auto" protagonist than Tommy Vercetti from "Vice City." After arriving in the titular location, it doesn't take long for Tommy to get deeply involved in its criminal underworld. "Vice City" does a great job getting players invested in the urgency of Tommy's story. Right at the outset of the game, he gets ambushed while overseeing a massive drug deal. He needs to find the shipment or the cash in order to save his life from the mob. That strong story set up is a big part of what makes Tommy so beloved among "GTA" fans.

Other protagonists in the series have great stories, too, but what sets Tommy apart from the rest is his sense of style. Throughout the game players can unlock outfits, cars, and even an opulent mansion, all of which helps Tommy look like the biggest player in Vice City's criminal scene. He really feels like a high roller, and that impression is helped by the choice of voice actor: Rockstar went with established talent here and hired Ray Liotta to voice Tommy in "Vice City." The recognizable voice and the fancy accoutrements have seared Tommy Vercetti into the minds of "GTA" fans.

Anyone who's played "Grand Theft Auto 4" associates the phrase "Hey, cousin" with Roman Bellic. Taxi company owner Roman is the person who welcomes the game's protagonist, Niko Bellic, to Liberty City. Roman has big dreams and a bombastic personality, but he never seems to have the wherewithal to see any of his plans all the way through. That all changes when Niko arrives and inadvertently shakes up Roman's ideas about his own big city lifestyle.

Roman helps introduce players to the world of the game, and he provides some early missions to really get things rolling. What gives Roman such a high ranking here is that he's a three dimensional character with hopes and dreams, as well as massive flaws and redeeming qualities. Players spend a lot of time getting to know him, especially if they take him to hangouts or engage with his side missions. By the end of the game, players love Roman as much as his cousin Niko — and they'd probably agree with Niko that sometimes loving Roman is hard to do.

Trevor Philips is another protagonist from "Grand Theft Auto 5," and he's the highest-ranked of the game's main trio on our list. If Michael is the experienced player and Franklin is the green newcomer, then Trevor is the unpredictable wild card. He's got issues with anger and violence, but while those problems sometimes make him a liability, they're also his greatest assets to the team. Thanks to his incredibly intense personality, Trevor gets some of the most memorable lines in "GTA 5," and more often than not, he's the funniest character in any given scene.

The writing for Trevor is absolutely excellent, but the character wouldn't be nearly as popular if it wasn't for his voice actor: Steven Ogg gives a career-defining performance as Trevor. It's so good, in fact, that he can't escape it even if he tries. The cast of "GTA" has revealed how they really feel about the franchise, and Ogg's got some mixed feelings. He's said that while he loved working on "GTA 5," he's less crazy about fans exclusively associating him with Trevor and not appreciating his other acting roles. We can sympathize with Ogg, but his Trevor performance really did set a high bar for video game acting and will probably be following him around for many years to come.

Carl Johnson, aka CJ, is the star of "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas." That game holds a special place in the hearts of many nostalgic "GTA" fans, but even if you take off your rose-tinted glasses, CJ remains a phenomenal character. His story starts out with a strong plot hook and a surprising amount of emotional depth. At the beginning of the game, we learn that CJ tried to move away from his gang life and start over fresh in Liberty City. Instead, CJ finds himself pulled back to San Andreas after his mother is killed.

From that point on, CJ is one part detective, one part revenge seeker, and one part gang leader. This complicated array of motivations makes him more interesting than most other "GTA" protagonists. The thrill ride of CJ's story, and the shocking betrayal that he faces at the hands of Big Smoke, still delights gamers to this day. CJ always ranks highly in fan polls, with many considering him to be the best "GTA" protagonist of all. For us, there's only one "GTA" character who beats him.

Scroll through fan discussions about the best "GTA" characters and there's one name you're guaranteed to see more than any other. Niko Bellic is the protagonist of "GTA 4," and almost two decades after that game's release, he's still the strongest character that the franchise has ever created. Niko has a great backstory, an incredible arc, and a personality that can keep players engaged for dozens of hours.

Niko comes to Liberty City to escape his shady past and start a new life pursuing the American dream. He quickly learns that old habits die hard and that making money in Liberty City can be just as risky as anywhere else. Niko is someone who's always trying to do good, but his circumstances pull him to the wrong side of the law. Despite that, he really does get to experience a rise to the top, and along the way he meets an unforgettable cast of characters and forges bonds so strong that they feel like real friendships for players.

The writing for Niko's story is second-to-none. It's taken to another level by voice actor Michael Hollick, who gives one of the most memorable performances in the entire series. Hollick's Niko is soft-spoken but firm, morally conflicted but ultimately committed to his goals regardless of what he has to do to achieve them. Niko is the definitive "GTA" protagonist and it will take something truly special to knock him off the top spot.