GTA V Has Sold Over 230 Million Copies and Is Still Thriving 13 Years Later: Story Mode & GTA Online In-Depth Review—Is It Worth Buying Today?

The reason I'm revisiting GTA V recently is because of a staggering set of numbers: originally released back in 2013, the game has now surpassed 230 million copies sold, and as of February 2026, Steam alone still averages nearly 160,000 concurrent daily players. For a thirteen-year-old title to maintain this level of popularity—especially right now, with Rockstar teasing that GTA VI is finally right around the corner—is an absolute anomaly across the entire gaming industry. As LifeHunter just launched our new gaming category, I decided to compile my own playthrough impressions alongside feedback and reviews gathered from forums like PTT, Bahamut, and Vocus. I'm breaking this down into two distinct sections: the single-player campaign and GTA Online. In truth, these are two completely different games; their gameplay loops, player mindsets, and overall value propositions have to be evaluated separately. Many people buy it only to realize they actually just wanted one half of the package.

Single-Player Story: A Dark Comedy of Three Clashing Personalities

Franklin, one of the three protagonists, hails from a South Los Santos street gang and is desperate to break free from his circumstances. (Source: Rockstar Games official promotional screenshot)

The core design of the single-player campaign revolves around switching between three playable protagonists at any time: Michael, a retired bank robber living a hollow facade of a suburban midlife crisis; Franklin, a street hustler determined to climb above his environment; and Trevor, a meth-peddling hitman who serves as the story's wildest wildcard. Each has their own separate storyline, but the narrative weaves them together to plan and pull off six massive heist missions. Players can choose between a cunning tactical approach or going in guns blazing. Different approaches to the same heist alter how things unfold, and that flexibility remains one of the most widely praised aspects of the game.

Trevor, widely regarded in player reviews as the "most popular character"—crazy as he is, his emotional scenes feel surprisingly genuine. (Source: Rockstar Games official promotional screenshot)

Looking through player feedback, Trevor is almost unanimously the character people love to hate: on the surface, he's an unhinged lunatic ready to kill at any second, yet several of his dramatic scenes confronting Michael carry the heaviest emotional weight in the entire narrative. Franklin's arc plays out more like a coming-of-age story; candid remarks from his close circle and ex-girlfriend constantly push him to reflect on what kind of life he actually wants, giving his quieter storyline a surprisingly heavy punch. Michael's arc centers on repairing a dysfunctional household, moving from the brink of total collapse toward gradual reconciliation, delivering the most well-rounded narrative loop of the three.

Michael and Trevor—their volatile dynamic delivers the most intense emotional tension in the entire single-player campaign. (Source: Rockstar Games official promotional screenshot)

When it comes to campaign length, players generally report spending around 30 to 50 hours to beat the main story (which easily stretches past 100 hours if you're chasing every side mission and collectible). The story concludes with three branching endings based on the pivotal decision you make at the climax. Honestly, by today's game pricing standards, the sheer polish, narrative depth, and length of the single-player campaign alone are well worth the price of admission. That's why, regardless of how GTA Online has evolved over the years, the story mode continues to be recommended as something everyone should experience at least once—it's a self-contained, complete story with no microtransactions required, representing a completely different mindset from GTA Online below.

GTA Online: This Is No Longer the Online Mode of a Decade Ago

The core gameplay of GTA Online today is no longer just goofing around in freemode, but tackling coordinated, squad-based heists one after another. (Source: Rockstar Games official promotional screenshot)

Back when it launched in 2013, GTA Online was essentially an oversized freemode sandbox: messing around with friends, settling personal vendettas, and taking on occasional contact missions to scrape together cash. But over more than a decade, Rockstar has steadily piled on criminal empires (illicit drug businesses, cargo warehouses, nightclubs), the casino, motorcycle clubs, and gunrunning operations. Today, the core gameplay loop has transformed entirely into "business management + squad heists"—compared to where it started ten years ago, calling it an entirely different game is hardly an exaggeration. The "Kortz Center Heist," which rolled out in July 2026, has you team up with two dedicated crewmates to raid a heavily guarded art gallery while unlocking the new "Art Studio" business. Maintaining this kind of update cadence and continuously adding substantial content over a span of thirteen years is extraordinarily rare in multiplayer gaming.

Major updates like "The Doomsday Heist" introduced sci-fi elements like flying vehicles and jetpacks, a world away from the gritty realism of the single-player campaign. (Source: Rockstar Games official promotional screenshot)

The sheer volume of content in GTA Online today is staggering—vehicle customization, real estate, and business facilities alone offer hundreds of hours of gameplay, complemented by regular drops of new heists, vehicles, and map zones. That explains why, even with GTA VI approaching, nearly 160,000 players still log in every single day. However, player reviews also consistently point out several long-standing issues. The early-game economy is painfully slow; if you don't know the ropes during your first few hours, the sluggish grind can make you want to quit on the spot. On PC, mod menus and cheaters have been a chronic plague for years—complaints about frozen bank balances or being trapped in bizarre modded lobbies populate virtually every gaming forum. Meanwhile, Rockstar's monetization model centered on Shark Cards (in-game cash bundles) remains an enduring point of criticism in the community. The game's economy is undeniably designed so that spending real money feels significantly faster. Whether that bothers you comes down to personal tolerance, but it's definitely something you want to be mentally prepared for before jumping in.

The Motorcycle Club is one of the business ventures added in later updates, utilizing a "passive production + periodic delivery" operational loop alongside illicit lockups and cargo warehouses. (Source: Rockstar Games official promotional screenshot)

Recommended Progression Route for Beginners in GTA Online

If you're jumping into GTA Online on a fresh account, the community consensus on progression is remarkably uniform: first, clear the tutorial and introductory missions to build your baseline rank. Resist the urge to blow your early earnings on cosmetic apparel or novelty supercars—save every dollar you can. Next, run low-barrier, time-efficient missions (like The Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid) to get comfortable with the combat mechanics while stacking your initial bankroll. Once your savings hit around GTA$ 2.2 million, make it your top priority to purchase the Kosatka submarine, which unlocks The Cayo Perico Heist. This heist is universally recognized as the most reliable, lucrative income stream from the early to mid game because it can be completed entirely solo with hefty payouts. Once you have a steady cash flow established, invest in passive revenue facilities like Nightclubs or illicit drug labs that continue generating stock while you're offline. That way, you won't be starting from zero every time you log back on.

The Verdict: Is It Still Worth Buying Today?

For the single-player campaign, my verdict is crystal clear: yes, it's absolutely worth it, regardless of when GTA VI eventually drops. It delivers a self-contained, fully fleshed-out story, and the retail price has long dropped to an extremely budget-friendly sweet spot. With nearly 1.9 million Steam reviews and a 96 score on Metacritic for PC, that level of reputation isn't built on nostalgia alone.

As for GTA Online, it really boils down to what you're looking for. If you enjoy planning intricate heists with friends and managing a sprawling criminal empire as a long-term investment, this thirteen-year-old game still offers one of the richest, most expansive sandboxes in multiplayer gaming. But if you're just looking for casual, pick-up-and-play sessions, the steep early-game learning curve and the modder-heavy environment on PC might give you pause. It's best to manage your expectations beforehand, or ideally, team up with experienced friends who can shepherd you through the early grind. If you're interested in picking it up, it's worth comparing authorized official channels against discounted options you can find through price comparison, so feel free to shop around and check them out.