The Best GTA Missions - IGN

What the report says

IGN published a ranked feature by Charlie Lopresto on July 28, 2026, selecting what it describes as the best missions from Rockstar Games’ modern mainline Grand Theft Auto titles, beginning with Grand Theft Auto 3. The piece frames the series as having 346 story missions across five games, arguing that its strongest entries combine cinematic setups, open-world chaos and memorable character moments.

In the excerpt provided, IGN’s list begins at No. 11 with GTA 3’s “Give Me Liberty,” praised less for difficulty than for establishing the 3D-era formula: a prison escape, Liberty City atmosphere and a simple drive that introduced players to a more cinematic version of GTA. At No. 10, GTA 4’s “Museum Piece” is highlighted for its museum shootout and for linking Niko Bellic, Johnny Klebitz and Luis Lopez across the base game and later expansions.

The article places GTA: San Andreas’ “Black Project” at No. 9, emphasizing its playful shift into stealth-action as CJ infiltrates the Area 69 military base and escapes with a jetpack. IGN ranks GTA 5’s “Minor Turbulence” at No. 8, focusing on Trevor’s airborne assault on a Merryweather cargo plane as an example of the series delivering a large-scale action set piece while making flight feel exciting.

The feature matters mainly as a retrospective on how Grand Theft Auto missions evolved from simple introductions into elaborate, genre-mixing spectacles. The supplied text does not include IGN’s full ranking or its No. 1 choice.