Every GTA protagonist, ranked from worst to best

Courtesy of its longevity, GTA has a wide variety of protagonists across its highly successful titles. From an unsophisticated immigrant like Niko Bellic to a through-and-through American gangster like Carl Johnson, the broad spectrum of main characters is quite exceptional. As excitement builds for GTA 6, you can also check out the GTA 6 PC system requirements to see if your gaming rig is ready for Rockstar’s next blockbuster.

For this ranked list, we will keep the character development and the charismatic appeal of these GTA protagonists throughout their respective games in mind for deciding the order. Since there was only very limited focus on story elements in the earliest GTA titles, we will be exclusively considering main characters starting from GTA 3. So, with that clear, let’s jump right into it without further ado.

Best GTA main characters

1. Niko Bellic

Chronicling the escapades of Niko Bellic, an immigrant who reluctantly gets embroiled in Liberty City’s crime landscape, GTA 4 expertly tells how the American Dream can quickly come crashing down in a world where expectations are gravely different from reality. This bleak narrative is one of the biggest reasons why GTA fans often rank the 2008 blockbuster hit as the best entry in the series. Another big reason is the equally dark and impactful background of its protagonist.

Having served in the war at a young age, Niko has seen and even been a participant in some of the cruelest crimes against humanity, something that he expresses remorse for throughout the course of the story. However, his continuation of similar deeds post-war implies he has grown insensitive towards such action and would get involved in the same whenever push comes to shove.

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Although a stone-cold killer, Niko is still someone who values connections and looks out for his family. Despite Roman selling him lies about his life in America for years, he forgives him sooner rather than later and starts helping him out with the issues Roman faces with the miscreants in the city. His interactions with other NPCs throughout the game also emphasize his inner kindness that has somehow outlasted the torments of war, adding to what makes his character so appealing and memorable.

Besides the GTA 4 lead’s quest for protecting his cousin brother from trouble, Niko’s time in Liberty City has another purpose, which is to get closure on a haunting past and ultimately leave its ghosts behind. Niko is essentially a broken human, but regardless of that, he strives to fix what’s wrong in the lives of those around him, all while showing a level of empathy and generosity you wouldn’t expect of a hired gun.

2. Carl “CJ” Johnson

There may not be a GTA title as timeless as 2004’s GTA San Andreas. And, besides other factors, a huge credit for that goes to its charismatic protagonist Carl Johnson and Young Maylay’s portrayal of him that has immortalized the character in gaming history.

As the brother of Sweet, the head of the Grove Street Families gang, CJ takes it upon himself to gain the favor of the gang back and revitalize its dwindling influence in Los Santos. That tall order sees CJ constantly face new challenges and overcome them, as he moves across all three major cities, Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas, while running errands for various clients. In the process, he also antagonizes rival gangs such as the Ballas and draws the ire of corrupt police officers.

Throughout the game’s story, CJ’s devotion and loyalty to his gang stand as an exemplary character trait, making him a likable protagonist. Moreover, the resilience he shows in building the Grove Street Families back from scratch is also worth mentioning. Apart from these endearing attributes, the Los Santos-born hoodlum’s witty lines in the game also make for entertaining moments.

3. Trevor Philips

Just ask anyone who has finished GTA 5 about Trevor, and they will tell you how he’s simultaneously the most hilarious and the most insane main character in the franchise’s history. This high-adrenaline mercenary isn’t just cold-blooded but also a complete oddball in the truest sense possible, with a penchant for attracting trouble rather consistently.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about Trevor is that he is as much of a cruel person as he is an emotional person. This strikes a clear contrast between the two prominent sides of his personality, one that is callous enough to kill someone for petty reasons and the other that is sentimental enough to thoroughly experience the pain of betrayal caused by a close friend.

Regardless, a common thread that runs through all that is the character’s unhinged nature, which notably gives birth to some of the most memorable parts of GTA 5’s campaign.

4. Tommy Vercetti

If you think about it, Tommy Vercetti is arguably the one GTA protagonist who finished off, at the end of the story, much stronger than he started. His arc of falling victim to a drug bust to snatching absolute power over Vice City’s underworld is the classic tale of a gangster’s meteoric rise.

In 2002’s GTA Vice City, Vercetti is portrayed as a highly capable hustler, forming useful alliances to track down his target and taking over a criminal empire in the process. The steady pace at which he expands his empire and grows the businesses he purchases forms a significant part of Vice City’s missions, highlighting that the protagonist isn’t all about brawn but also has the brains needed to keep organized crime thriving.

It’s worth noting that Vercetti is also someone who can tell the importance of keeping trusted allies close and of promptly neutralizing his enemies, whether outside or within his circle. The Vice City protagonist’s adventures set in the ’80s are like a reflection of Tony Montana’s in the popular 1983 film Scarface, but minus the decline.

5. Johnny Klebitz

In GTA 4: The Lost And Damned (2009), Johnny Klebitz is a battle-hardened veteran of The Lost Motorcycle Club. As its vice-president, he is very focused on keeping the organization afloat by finding ways to maintain cash flow and avoid unnecessary conflict with rival gangs in Alderney.

Even though Klebitz is officially only the second man-in-charge when the story begins, his remarkably responsible way of going about his club duties portrays him as a level-headed person compared to other members of The Lost, in particular Club President Billy Grey. Johnny’s sympathy and care for his drug-addicted ex Ashley Butler provide a glimpse of his soft side and paint him as more of a complex figure than just an unruly and intimidating biker.

The rise of Klebitz to the undisputed top of The Lost MC and the eventual fate of the group tells a story of desperate survival, internal conflict, and reconciliation with harsh realities. Amidst an overall dark narrative, the pragmatic personality of the Lost And Damned protagonist shines bright.

6. Michael De Santa

Living the dream life doesn’t equate to living a happy life—at least, that’s the message Michael de Santa’s story embodies in GTA 5. Despite having a lavish home in a posh area of Los Santos and despite having a family complete with a wife and two kids, the protagonist’s need to seek therapy for his domestic issues shows the dark reality about the inefficacy of wealth in certain important aspects of life.

One of the key things about Michael is his ability to survive through the most unpredictable situations and turn the tide in his favor. We see that in the game’s prologue, then in his entanglement with a drug cartel leader, all the way through the canon final mission of Rockstar’s best-selling title.

The middle-aged lead, despite his drawbacks, comes off as a very human character who just wants to have the simple joys in life and is willing to do everything he can to make things conducive to that scenario.

7. Luis Fernando López

Luis Lopez’s climb in life gives off the vibe of a rags-to-riches tale or an overnight success story. But the heights he reaches in his 20s aren’t exactly due to his own efforts but instead more of a consequence of joining allegiance with eminent nightclub owner Gay Tony as his bodyguard. While that one is a positive consequence, the less positive ones are what make up the meat of GTA 4: The Ballad Of Gay Tony’s campaign.

The Dominican-American hustler is the archetypal youth still finding his feet in a career his parents—more specifically, his mother—don’t approve of. Despite that opposition, the love for one’s mother and one’s family isn’t lost on him as, in the 2009 expansion game, he is depicted as being someone who deeply cares for and looks after his own.

Beyond those relations, Lopez’s character shows more integrity by tirelessly helping his long-time friend and benefactor Gay Tony and by not giving up on him in spite of the latter’s worsening financial troubles—proof that loyalty doesn’t always need to emerge out of sharing a creed or clan.

8. Franklin Clinton

Being the youngest of the three protagonists in 2013’s GTA 5, Franklin Clinton is someone who stands out in the trio for being relatively inexperienced in the criminal world. The character’s uniqueness in the action-adventure title also comes down to the fact that he appears to be the most “normal” protagonist compared to Michael and Trevor.

Despite not being a long-time felon like the majority of GTA protagonists, Franklin is still able to pull off demanding assignments, emerging as resourceful and ambitious. Moreover, his temperament, which lets him juggle his professional and personal lives while still maintaining some sort of sanity, is a glaringly praiseworthy attribute.

Safe to say, he acts as the glue keeping the GTA 5 triad together and the voice of reason sandwiched between Trevor’s brash recklessness and Michael’s eternally frustrated attitude.

9. Toni Cipriani

First introduced in GTA 3 as one of Claude’s clients who gives him missions, Toni Cipriani got a full-fledged primary role in GTA Liberty City Stories, which was released in 2005. The Italian-origin hitman’s extreme loyalty towards the Leone Crime Family and his complicated relationship with his mother are two prominent aspects of the character exhibited throughout the game.

Cipriani’s rapid ascent that sees him go from a pawn in Salvatore Leone’s crime family to eventually earning the trust of the kingpin himself is an intriguing insight into his brutal dedication toward the criminal organization.

By the end of Liberty City Stories’s course, the hot-headed protagonist establishes himself as someone who puts the collective’s interest ahead of his own and has it in him to go to any length for fulfilling the same—traits that are well-explored through the entirety of the PSP-era game.

10. Victor Vance

There may not be another GTA character who took as big a leap as Victor Vance did when he went from a forgettable tertiary role in 2002’s Vice City to the all-important protagonist in Vice City Stories that released four years later. While closer to a husk of a character in the former, the latter portrayed Vance as one of the few GTA anti-heroes with a surviving conscience.

The journey Vance takes from unfairly losing his job in the army to unintentionally kickstarting his own crime family is nothing short of an intriguing twist of fate. His story, of someone pushed into a life of crime by harsh circumstances and then rising to the top of the criminal ladder, is one that undoubtedly leaves a lasting impression.

11. Huang Lee

Huang Lee is the typical prodigal son and arguably the best protagonist ever in a top-down view GTA game. From being an aimless scion of the Triad criminal organization to becoming capable enough to avenge his late father, Lee’s character trajectory shown in 2010’s GTA Chinatown Wars is truly something remarkable to watch unfold.

12. Mike

Mike is certainly one of the more well-written protagonists of GTA’s 2D era. Despite relying on just text to channel his character traits, the leading man of 2004’s GTA Advance still has enough of a story going around him to keep players interested. The deeply personal motive for Mike’s actions early in the game, combined with the plot twist that happens later, makes for an amusing experience.

13. Claude

It feels somewhat unfair to compare Claude with other protagonists, as it was Rockstar’s decision, spurred by both artistic choice and limited resources, not to have any lines recorded for the GTA 3 lead. As such, he doesn’t have any memorable quotes or iconic voiceover that fans remember him from.

However, 25 years later, Claude being mute itself is a trait that helps him stand out in the long list of GTA main characters, while also giving him a “cold and calculated” demeanor. His revenge saga in Liberty City is a cliché yet entertaining trope and, at that time, it was responsible for giving players their first taste of a meaningful storyline in a GTA game.

Rounding up

So, with that, we come to the end of our list. Based on the general consensus in the GTA community, I assume it was no surprise to see Niko and CJ leading the rankings. However, what I’m more interested in knowing is which of these two fan-favorites you would pick as the number-one GTA protagonist and why. Tell us your answer or your own personal ranked list of these characters in the comments below!

On the other hand, you may also share how you feel the two protagonists in GTA 6, Jason and Lucia, will compare to those that have come before them. Personally, judging from what I experienced in Rockstar’s latest work, Red Dead Redemption 2, I think they will surely be among the most well-written and complex GTA protagonists we have seen in the franchise yet. If you’re excited for the next game, don’t miss our complete GTA 6 weapon list to see the arsenal Rockstar has revealed so far.

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