Grand Theft Auto V is an absolutely enormous game, filled with hours upon hours of content, story, and an expansive map to explore. And, like the most pop🔯ular of open-world games, theories abound regarding the secrets of the map, the motivations of the characters, and the internal logic of the game's world.
Theories regarding Grand Theft Auto V have been around since the game released back in 2013, but even today, we are no closer to unveiling or realizing the truth regarding these unanswered questions. Some character motivations remain tantalizingly obscure, forcing the players to come up with 🍎reasons and excuses as to why a certain character performed a certain action. Some things like mysteries or Easter eggs littered throughout the map have led to endless debate and discussion online as devoted players try to crack the secrets. And other things, such as inconsistent logic wꦛithin the game's universe, have led players into making up excuses to explain away various aspects of the gameplay.
But those aren't the only theories regarding Grand Theft Auto V. Sometimes the players go a little high-school-English-class and debate the meaning of various symbols and apparent metaphors. In other words, sometimes a phone is not just a phone – sometimes it reveals hidden depths to the characters, or even represents a thematic concept that Rockstar was✨ attempting to capture.
Please keep in mind that these theories are just those – t𝓀heories. There is no consensus or universal agreement regarding their veracity, but at the same time, they're obviously popular enough to warrant a place on this list. So let's get into it and (attempt to) debunk some of these theories!
24 The Three Characters Represent Three Geꦕnerations Of GTA Players
We're going to start with this , simply because it's a very popular and fiercely-held belief within the GTA fandom. According to many, many people, the three protagonists of GTA V represent three generations of GTA players. You have the experienced GTA player who gets sucked back into the glamour of the series, represented by Michael. Then you have the player who just wants to experience a good, traditional rags-to-riches GTA story, represented by Franklin. And finally, you have Trevor, the completely unhinged maniac who will do everything and anything to cause destruction. Also known as "most GTA players."
23 The Epsilo❀n Program Is A Spoof Of Scientology
The Epsilon Program is a religious cult that permeates the GTA universe but is seen most prominently in GTA V. This is because the player, as Michael, has the option to i❀ntegrate themselves into the cult. While there, you donate large sums of money for "educational tools," search for aliens, and meet famous celebrities who are members of the cult. You can also hear on the radio that the cult's founder, Cris Formage, was seen crying on the courthouse steps after being ordered to pay taxes. While nothing is definitively concrete, it is STRONGLY theorized that Epsilon is modeled after Scientology and that Formage is a stand-in for its leader, David Miscavige, who made the Church of Scientology exempt from paying taxes.
22 The Game Is Set In The Same Univer🧸se As Red Dea💛d Redemption
Are all Rockstar games connected? This theory certainly lends credence to the idea. A book titled "Red Dead" by author "J. Marston" can be seen sitting on Frank's bookshelf. While this is likely just a cute Easter egg Rockstar threw in to honor their acclaimed video game, players have theorized that GTA V takes place in the same universe as Red Dead Redemption. The J. Marston is none other than Jack Marston, who wrote a book ꩵabout his father John's criminal life and eventual path to redemption. The book was a huge success and is still in print as of 2013, and Franklin owns it because he sees something of himself and his situation in John.
21 The Mount Chiliad Mural Is There Simp🌞ly To Troll Players
Rockstar loves peppering their games with tantalizing mysteries and Easter eggs, and they know that their fans know this. Enter the elusive Mount ༺Chiliad mural, which could be there for no reason other than to troll the secret seekers. And it seems to have worked. Players have been agonizing over the mural for half a decade now, with seemingly no end or concrete answers in sight. Sure, it looks interesting and could lead to further secrets, but let's be real here – Rockstar devs are known trolls, and this time, we may have been the victims.
20 Michael Is Claude ♛
Is Michael the silent protagonist from Grand Theft Auto III? No, probably not, but it's still fun to consider! There's a out there, however small, that Claude met Trevor sometime after the events of GTA III and eventually decided to settle down from his life of crime by beꦚtraying his contacts and entering 🌌the Witness Protection Program. The timeline checks out, as Claude seems to be in his late 20s or early 30s in 2001, and Michael is around 45 in 2013. No one knows why he suddenly decided to start talking, but hey, people grow up and try different things all the time!
19 The Creatures ༺
If there's one theory that continues to abound, it's that mythical creatures inhabit the worlds of Grand Theft Auto. This mostly started around the time of San Andreas, when players claimed that Bigfoot roamed the forests. This theory has continued into Grand Theft Auto V, as players have reported seeing multiple mythical creatures, from the Ratman to Goatman to (yep, you guessed it) Bigfo🍰ot. Rockstar even acknowledged this famous theory by implementing Bigfoot into a mi🎐ssion as an Easter egg, but of course, this only added fuel to the theoretical fire.
18 ♈ 🔴 The Game Takes Place In The Underworld
Since the dawn of Grand Theft Auto, the series has been criticized for its relentless violence. But perhaps it all makes sense. You see, we're not controlling dangerous madmen in a world just like our own – we're controlling sinners in an Underworld full of them! The world of GTA V is filled with greed, selfishness, unchecked power, and, yes, endless carnage and mayhem. Perhaps these vices abound not as themes or social commentary, but because we're literally in an Underworld full🀅 of vice and sinners. This also explains why the playable characters don't permanently pass away – they're already gone!
17 San Andreas' Citizens Are Monit🌳ored By Life Insurance Agencies
Do you ever wonder how the police and ambulances are so quick to respond? One user has an intriguing theory. Every citizen in San Andreas has been ꦫimplanted with some sort of life monitor, possibly in exchange for a reduction in their insurance rates. Therefore, when you eliminate a random citizen, their life monitor flatlines and immediately notifies the authorities, hence the immediate response. This also helps explain how they are notified of a crime despite it taking place in the middle of the desert. There are no magical witnesses or an omnipotent police force – it's the life monitors!
16 🅰 We Aren't Speeding
It's a tradition in this series to drive fast and recklessly. And yet no matter how fast we drive, we are never pulled over. While players have always excused this as a simple gameplay mechanic (being pulled over for speeding would get real old real fast), perhaps there's actually an in-universe explanation. Another user points to the fact th💞at one second in real time equates to one minute in game time, so while it may seem like we're speeding, we're actually just experiencing a weird time fluctuation. Of course, this doesn't explain why everyone else is driving so slowly, but we didn't say this theory was perfect...
15 The Rampages Take Place In Trevor's Head ও 🌟
Rampages are a Grand Theft Auto tradition, and in the fifth official installment, they are rightfully experience🥂d by Tre𓃲vor. However, it's possible that these rampages aren't literal acts of violence – perhaps they are all in his wild, substance-addled brain. It's bizarre to think of the authorities letting Trevor off after his rampages, especially after he directly attacks the military. Perhaps these rampages are nothing but a form of wish fulfillment or stress relief for Trevor whenever he encounters a situation or person he doesn't like. He simply imagines an invigorating path of destruction before taking a breath and simply moving on.