The Grand Theft Auto series contains one of the biggest and most expansive open world playing areas in gaming history. Across 15 titles over 20 years gamers have immersed themselves in the fictional realms of Liberty City, Vice City, Los Santos and San Andreas (based on the real-life cities of New York, Miami, Los Angeles and the state of California), and carried out 100s of different storyline missions and side quests. From the Heat-inspired bank robbery (Three Leaf Clover) in GTA IV, the redemptive finale of The Exchange in GTA III, to the crazy assassination mission Dropping In from GTA: The Ballad Of Gay Tony, the series never disappoints with its variety.
Similar to other 3D open-world games GTA excels at the small details, so with a series as in-depth and involving as GTA you can expect a vast number of plots and stories you might miss. Did you know you can also put your Sherlock Holmes cap on and go in search of the truth behind Bigfoot, aliens, cults, and more! Here's a look at 20 of the strangest and most interesting hidden plot lines in the GTA franchises you might not be aware of.
20 Solve The Infinity Murders
GTA V is full of intriguing mysteries and none is more blood curdling than the Infinity Murders. In 1999 The Infinity Killer, known to his mum as Merle Abraham, murdered eight male joggers over a short period and hid their bodies around the state. Abraham was arrested but died awaiting trial and never confessed to the killings, but that doesn’t mean you can’t figure out the mystery yourself.
Throughout the game, there are clues written by Abraham that hint at not only his mental state, but the murders that were to come. You can find clues at his burnt down house, on a large rock near Sandy Shores, and inside his prison cell in Bolingbroke Penitentiary. If you follow the clues carefully, you’ll end up finding all eight bodies bound and buried at the bottom of the sea near the small islands of Mount Chiliad, putting the Infinity murders to rest.
19 Bigfoot Really Does Exist
The mystery of Bigfoot's existence is one that gamers have been trying to prove since he was rumoured to appear to in GTA San Andreas. Although most gamers couldn't find him in San Andreas (despite Rockstar confirming "something" was living in the woods), he eventually showed up in GTA V.
He can be first glimpsed through a sniper rifle during the Predator mission in Cassidy Creek. The entire The Last One mission is based around hunting Bigfoot, but all you find is a man dressed as the hairy creature. Further investigation revealed if you complete the game 100% and collect all 27 peyote plants, special gold ones will appear at different locations daily. If you collect one a day for a week, you will morph into the Sasquatch and end up battling a Teen Wolf look-alike, unlocking both monsters as playable characters, finally confirming Bigfoot's existence.
18 The Apocalypse Is Close
The end of the GTA world as we know it was first prophesied by conspiracy theorist Manuel in GTA Vice City who warned the robots would rise up and destroy civilization, much like the film The Terminator. The coming apocalypse was further discussed by radio host Marvin Trill. After his show Area 53 was taken off air during GTA San Andreas, he returned to a website in GTA IV detailing what might happen after the world ended and how he planned on migrating to Planet X.
It's no surprise Trill was a member of The Epsilon Program, and his claims were backed by another non-playing character Steve Henderson, who believed it was the aliens who were coming to take over. As you can see the threat of the apocalypse has hung over the GTA world for a number of games, but we are yet to see it play out. Here's hoping GTA 6 takes place in a post-apocalyptic Mad Max type-world where players must fend for themselves.
17 Body In The Mines
There are many mysteries contained within the GTA world, and one of the most challenging is found in GTA V. There is an abounded mineshaft that can only be accessed by blowing up the concealed entry. Once inside you will come across the body of a man dressed in a suit from the 1940s. Next to him is a film reel. If you watch the film, you'll discover the body is that of a cartoonist called Isaac who was ended because of a secret he knew. There is also a body of a woman that can be found underwater who may also be connected to this murder. How are they connected and what is the secret? This is something you will have to find out yourself.
16 Zombie Outbreak On The Way
Rockstar's obsession with aliens also extends to the cultural phenomenon that is zombies. In early instalments of the series there are references to a zombie Elvis, articles on global corporation Zombotech (who are dedicated to researching the zombie-virus), and persistent rumours that zombies can be seen wandering unpopulated areas of San Andreas.
Most of the evidence pointing to a zombie outbreak is found in GTA V. The Humane Labs and Research centre is invested in researching toxins but are also developing a zombie virus. The package Micheal steals from the centre during the game could possibly contain the deadly virus that will start the zombie apocalypse. You can also find a box labelled "Zombie Outbreak" in Lester's house while a Weasel news report mentions pharmaceutical Zombrex, a drug from the Dead Rising world administered to stop people turning into zombies. Could a zombie outbreak be on the cards in future GTA games?
15 FIB Agents Guarding Satellite Secrets
The FIB (Federal Investigation Bureau) is GTA's version of the FBI (Federal Bureau Of Investigation) are often turn up at the most unexplained and unusual times during the game. Take for instance the satellite dishes in the Grand Señora Desert. Between 10 am and 5 pm every day they appear standing guard over some scientists who are in a deep discussion.
Good luck trying to find out what they are talking about though, as the longer you linger near the satellites, the more agitated the FIB agents become before eventually chasing after you. Whatever is going on in the desert must be important and no doubt alien related, although we will never know just what the scientists have discovered.
14 Jack The Ripper Lives In Liberty City
The infamous villain, Jack The Ripper attacked a number of "women of the night" in the Whitechapel district of London during 1888. Jack was never caught, and many GTA players believe Rockstar have melded fact with fiction with sightings of the unidentified killer occurring in GTA IV.
Players have claimed to see a man attacking prostitutes in the dead of night in Liberty City, although there is no photographic evidence. Despite the lack of proof, the mission Portrait Of Killer is named after a real-life book written by Patricia Cornwell about Jack the Ripper. Could this just be a coincidence or a subtle nudge that the Ripper has been resurrected in Liberty City to resume his murderous ways?
13 Global Flooding
Global Warming is a series issue and one that appears to have made its way into the GTA universe. Throughout a number of barber shops (including Herr Kutz, Hair on Hawick, and Beach Combover) in GTA V there is a map of the world hanging on the walls. While it seems like a standard image of the world, closer inspection reveals many of the countries have different coastlines, indicating a rise in sea levels. You can even find more evidence on the in-game internet at www.accept-the-chaos.com where a newspaper can be found showing a picture of a flooded island with a headline declaring a tsunami has hit.
Lending, even more, credence to this theory is the fact San Andreas is technically a large island, possibly separated from the coast of America. This could be a way of keeping the game world enclosed in one space, but I like to think its because the polar ice caps have melted and the world is now flooded.
12 Mr. Trenchcoat The Serial Killer
The Infinity Killer isn't the only mass murder in the GTA series. Another serial killer is said to feature in both GTA III and GTA San Andreas. In GTA III the unidentified man is seen wearing a trench coat and fedora and is known to randomly attack players on the streets of Liberty City without reason.
San Andreas also featured a character named Mr. Trenchcoat who looks remarkably similar to the one seen wandering the streets of Liberty City. Dressed in a trenchcoat and fedora, the aptly named Mr. Trenchcoat doesn't harm anyone in San Andreas, but continually speaks about his interactions with aliens and how he's been abducted before. It's debatable if these two characters are the same person, but either way, it makes for an interesting storyline focusing on one character transcending multiple titles.
11 The Murder Of Leonora Johnson
A movies star and model, Leonora Johnson was on the cusp of becoming the biggest star in the 70s before she was murdered in 1975. The crimes committed against her are horrible even by video game standards, with her body disfigured, abused, and finally cut into pieces, with various parts left around Los Santos.
The menace that attacked her was never found, but by using the in-game internet you can find clues to who did it. Players can collect 50 small pieces of paper around Los Santos that when put together reveal the name of the dastard. Closely resembling the Black Dahlia case, this plot was taken straight out of Hollywood and is another way Rockstar cleverly merge real-life with the GTA world.
10 Charles Manson Lives In Vinewood Hills
Charles Manson is one of the most well-known evil people of all time. His Manson Family cult went on a "spree" in California during 1969. Between July and August, they decimated a number of people at four seperate locations, including pregnant actress Sharon Tate. Although locked up in the real world, it appears Manson might still be on the loose in GTA V.
Some players claim to have seen a man resembling Manson wandering around Vinewood Hills while a brick wall contains graffiti reading 1807, along with a red arrow pointing to the house next door. The house is eerily similar to the one where Tate and four others were ended in the 60s, with players speculating the 18 stands for the amount of woman following Manson at that time and the 07 the number of attacks they had committed. This plot thread is one that’s just a little too close to home.
9 Area 69 More Fact Than Fiction
Aliens have become a massive part of the GTA universe and that’s reflected in the restricted Area 69 from GTA San Andreas. Based on the real-life Area 57, it’s believed to be a haven for extraterrestrial activity.
Just like in real-life Area 69 is a no-fly zone and players will be shot down by SAM (Surface-to-Air-Missiles) if they fly above the area. Trying to enter the base on the ground results in similar action, with the soldiers guarding the secret compound quick to attack, raising your wanted level to 5-stars. If you do manage to sneak in (cheat codes normally needed) you will find autopsy tables, oscilloscopes and other scientific equipment players believe have been used to study and interrogate the aliens seen in the game. Although no aliens are found in the base, there is enough evidence to point to UFOs existing within the GTA landscape.
8 Mount Chiliad Mystery
There might not seem anything extraordinary about Mount Chiliad in GTA V, but on further investigation, it appears to be at the center of many strange and wild events depicted in the game.
At the base of the mountain is a map inside the cable car station of Mount Chiliad. The map is full of references to aliens and the Illuminati and features five crosses identifying secret locations hidden throughout the game. There is a long-held theory by players the map shows the location of the famed jetpack that’s believed to be hidden in Los Santos, although this one has yet to be proven correct. Whatever your thoughts about Mount Chiliad there'ss no doubt it has a strong connection to the game and the secrets of the GTA universe.
7 The Death Of Jolene Cranley-Eavans
The tale of Jolene Cranley-Evans is one of the more somber plotlines of the entire GTA series. Jolene was married to Jock Cranley and all was going swimmingly until Jock let it be known his aspirations to become a professional stuntman in Los Santos. Jolene didn't approve of her husband's dream and was hesitant to leave their home in Blaine County. This caused much tension in their marriage with the two continually arguing over Jock's career ambitions.
Not long after revealing his dream the couple went hiking up Mount Gordo where Jolene fell to her death. Jock was suspected of pushing her off the cliff and taken into custody but quickly released due to insufficient evidence against him. While Jock moved on with his life and became a successful stuntman, actor, and politician, Jolene has yet to find peace. She can be spotted at the top of the mountain close to midnight with the word JOCK written in blood underneath her, hoping someone will one day take revenge on her husband.
6 The Epsilon Program
First appearing in GTA San Andreas, The Epsilon Program has had a bigger impact in the game with each further release. Loosely based on Scientology, the Epsilon Cult follow a deity known as Kifflom who abide by his 12 tenets and follow the 12 goals of Epsilonism.
Playing as Michael De Santa allows you to become a member of the cult in GTA V. You will have to pass a number of initiations test that includes delivering a variety of cars to different locations, searching for alien artifacts, and wearing a robe for 10 days straight. The catch is Michael must continually stump up large donations to stay in the cult, very much like Scientology. This plot thread is a very funny parody of real-life cults and once again shows the humor Rockstar are well known for.
5 Is Ratman Real?
The elusive Ratman is one of GTA's biggest unknowns. The half-man half-rat creature first came to prominence when a photo appeared online from GTA IV showing a strange beast. Other fans soon came forward with their own Ratman sightings, with most agreeing the creature was super fast and lived in the subway.
Throughout the game there are hints that Ratman exists, with the abandoned factory in the north part of the island where strange experiments took placed signposted with "Risk Of Mutation," and Craplist (a parody of Craigslist) containing an advertisement for "Human Lab Rats." Ratman is also said to roam the sewers of Los Santos and if you kill a normal rat while underground you will hear the footsteps of Ratman as he scurries away.
4 Giorgio Forelli The Real Don Of Vice City
The Italian-American cousin of mafia don Sonny Forelli, mafia capo Giorgio Forelli was the real MVP of the Forelli crime family. Running a number of crews in both Vice City and Liberty City, Giorgio was the lone wolf of the organization, seemingly doing as he pleased.
Although never actually appearing in any of the GTA games he is frequently mentioned. The mission Jury Fury in Vice City involves you having to intimidate a jury so Giorgio can get off fraud chargers while a host of attacks that have occurred in Vice City are attributed to Giorgio, particularly the men found at the bottom of the ocean wearing cement shoes. What really makes Giorgio the biggest success of the Forelli crime family is the fact he's the last one alive by the games end, making him the real don of Vice City.
3 Catalina's Missing Husbands
It's clear from the outset Catalina is a woman not to be messed with. Appearing in both GTA III and GTA San Andreas Catalina is a continual nuisance for her romantic interests Claude and Carl Johnson. Her rundown cabin featured in San Andreas gives another clue to just how love-crazy she can get.
Having mentioned she'd been married on three separate occasions to three different men, it's worth noting there are three graves to the side of the cabin. Further discussion with Catalina makes it obvious these are her former husbands. Any sane man would walk away before getting in too deep, but these bodies on the ground don't seem to bother Carl, which is a good thing otherwise there's a great chance he might have ended up as number four.
2 Men In Black Questions
The secretive government agents known as the Men In Black make a surprise appearance in the mission Stowaway during GTA San Andreas. The shadowy agency are involved in all manner of dark conspiracies and alien related sightings, and are known to intimidate UFO witness into staying quiet.
Tasked with blowing up the plane carrying the agents in San Andreas, you can see the MIB agents carrying the unattainable M4 assault rife and hear them muttering strange comments about aliens and UFO activity. They are not seen again after this mission but leave gamers with many questions. Are they really the MIB, and if so, what are they transporting in the plane? Are other similarly dressed agents from further GTA installments part of the same agency? Do aliens exist? So many questions yet so few answers.
1 Did The Altruist Cult Survive?
The Altruist Cult from GTA V are a group of elderly and deranged men who loathe technology and enjoy walking around in their birthday suits. Did I also mention they are cannibals who believe the flesh of younger generations will give them eternal life? Well, now you know.
During the events of GTA V one of the protagonists, Trevor Phillips, delivers victims to the cult for cash. During one routine deliver he is kidnapped by the cult and forced to enter their camp at gunpoint. Trevor manages to escape but in the ensuing battle all of the camp's inhabitants are ended. Later in the game, if you fly over the area you will see smoke rising from the abandoned camp. Did some of the cult members survive, and if so, what do they have in-store for Trevor?