GTA 6 Complete Guide: Missions, Secrets & Pro Tips for 2025
Key Takeaways
- GTA 6’s main story runs about 35-40 hours, with over 100 missions split between Lucia and Jason
- Hidden packages, stunt jumps, and random encounters offer 15+ hours of optional content
- The stock market is back but now tied to in-game events you can manipulate for quick cash
- Starting choices affect early mission availability and faction reputation—choose wisely
---
GTA 6 Complete Guide: Your Roadmap to Vice City
After spending 80 hours in Rockstar’s latest sandbox, I can tell you this: GTA 6 is both familiar and surprising. The dual-protagonist system with Lucia and Jason isn’t just a gimmick—it reshapes how missions play out. This guide covers everything from the opening heist to the hardest secrets.
Getting Started: Prologue and Character Selection
You begin as Lucia in a prison breakout sequence. The tutorial teaches basic movement, cover, and driving. Here’s what most guides won’t tell you: your dialogue choices in the first three missions affect which early side jobs open up. Pick aggressive responses with Jason, and you’ll unlock a smuggling contact faster. Stay neutral, and a security job appears instead.
Pro tip: Save manually after the prologue. You can’t replay it, and some achievements require zero deaths.
---
Main Story Walkthrough: Act 1 (Chapters 1-5)
The game splits into three acts. Act 1 focuses on establishing your criminal network in Vice City’s poorer districts.
Chapter 1: The Setup
- Mission 1: Breaking Out – Steal a police boat. Use the mini-map’s heat zones to avoid patrols.
- Mission 2: First Score – Rob a liquor store. Time your getaway with Lucia’s ability to slow time while driving (hold LB).
- Mission 3: Meeting Jason – A scripted chase. Don’t waste bullets—ram his car instead.
Chapter 2: Building Rep
Here you choose between three factions: the Cartel, the Russians, or a new biker gang. Each offers unique vehicles and weapons early. The Cartel gives you an armored SUV (best for survival). Russians offer silenced pistols (great for stealth). Bikers give a fast motorcycle (useful for time trials).
I recommend the Cartel first—the SUV makes later missions much easier until you unlock better armor.
---
Secrets and Collectibles
GTA 6 has 75 hidden packages (up from GTA V’s 50). They’re marked as gold briefcases on the map only after you find one in each district.
Notable Secrets
- The Alien Egg – In the swamp north of Vice City, near the abandoned gas station. Only appears between 2-4 AM. Opens a side story about a crashed UFO.
- Murder Mystery – Find 15 bloodstained notes across the city. Solving it gives you the “Detective” outfit and a unique revolver.
- Stunt Jumps – 30 total. Completing all unlocks a rocket-powered bicycle.
Comparison: Collectibles Reward Table
| Type | Count | Reward |
| ------ | ------- | -------- |
| Hidden Packages | 75 | Infinite ammo for pistol |
| Stunt Jumps | 30 | Rocket Bicycle |
| Random Encounters | 20 | Special vehicle unlocks |
| Photo Locations | 50 | $500,000 bonus |
---
Money-Making Strategies
Forget the stock market trick from GTA V—it’s patched. Here’s what works in 2025:
1. Heist Replays – The first heist pays $50,000 minimum. Use the planning board to choose high-risk approaches for 2x payout.
2. Drug Trafficking – Buy low in the docks, sell high in the suburbs. A full van run nets $15,000-$30,000.
3. Property Investments – Buy the strip club early ($200,000). It generates $5,000 per in-game week passively.
4. Street Races – Win 10 races to unlock a $100,000 bonus from the racing sponsor.
My opinion: Avoid the casino until you have $500,000 saved. The odds are rigged, and you’ll lose everything.
---
Advanced Tips for Completionists
- Wanted Level Drops – Hide in sewers or subway tunnels. They’re marked with blue icons on the map. Staying still for 30 seconds drops one star.
- Vehicle Storage – You can store 10 cars in your main garage, 5 in each safehouse. Buy the airport hangar ($300,000) for aircraft.
- Skill Progression – Lucia’s driving maxes at 100; Jason’s shooting at 100. Use each character for their strength during missions to level faster.
---
FAQ
Q: Can I switch between Lucia and Jason freely?
A: Yes, after Chapter 2. Press the D-pad down to swap. Some missions lock you to one character, but free roam lets you switch anytime.
Q: What’s the best starting weapon?
A: The pump shotgun (found in the police station armory during the first heist). It one-shots most enemies until Chapter 4.
Q: Is there a New Game Plus?
A: Not at launch. Rockstar confirmed it’s coming in a free update around summer 2025. For now, you can replay individual missions from the pause menu.
---
*This guide will be updated as Rockstar releases patches and DLC. Bookmark this page for future secrets and strategies.*