A decade ago, Rockstar Games released the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto V. And, in the years since, it's become one of the biggest titles in video game history. Regular updates and support for online have helped the 2013 release survive the test of time, with fans continuing to flock to Los Santos eight years on. And with the game scheduled to come to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, it doesn't seem like clamor and excitement will die down anytime soon.
While online players have been given what they want, however, it's a different story when it comes to single players. That area of the game has somewhat been neglected, with Rockstar choosing to allocate their resources elsewhere. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean there aren't a few things about the story mode that are worth revisiting. There are still many things gamers can do in 2021, despite the obvious...
Adding To Their Vehicles
Fans have never been shortchanged when it comes to vehicles in Grand Theft Auto. And GTA V has a huge 348 separate modes of transport to use during their time in Los Santos. There are cars to cruise in, planes characters can use to soar around the sky, or boats if gamers prefer to take the scenic route.
With so many vehicles, there is no guarantee that a person has tried them all out. And with Los Santos being home to some rare machines, many players are still hunting for specific ones. Chances are, most players don't have a jet from Fort Zancudo, for example, given how tricky it is to obtain one. That is if they haven't used cheats...
Modding Vehicles
While on the subject of vehicles, another thing players are doing in their spare time is modding them out. Chances are, when someone finishes the story mode, their in-game bank balance will be looking pretty healthy. So there's no better thing to spend cash on than making your modes of transport as good as possible.
With unlimited dollars at the player's disposal, deciding to add on accessories such as strong armor, bulletproof tires, and turbo engines can make the difference when it comes to fighting and escaping from cops and other adversaries. Furthermore, just giving certain cars a lick of paint can give them an entirely new feel. It's a good thing Los Santos Customs is still open for business all these years down the line.
Upping The Money
If a player finishes Lester's Assassination Missions and uses the Stock Exchange, they can give Franklin, Trevor, and Michael significantly more money than they had before. It's a neat trick, one that means players can have a bottomless pit of cash for the rest of their story mode days. But, just like in real life, there's no such thing as too much money.
Sure, gamers can rob banks and do other petty crimes to give themselves an even bigger cash injection. Or they can continue to use the stock market. If players get things right, perhaps using a couple of back-up saves, then each character may even have over $1 billion at their disposal. Not bad whatsoever.
Exploring Land
Grand Theft Auto IV had a relatively big setting in the form of Liberty City. But Los Santos is even larger. There's plenty of the map to explore, whether that's in the city or out in the desert. And if players haven't got the achievement for exploring all 100 per cent of it, then that's definitely something to commit to.
Even fans who do have that trophy will likely have forgotten about certain places they can go to. Most are accessible via car but, for other places, players will need a boat or plane handy.
Taking Photos
Even though GTA V was first released eight years ago, it's still visually spectacular. The Los Santos sunset is a sight to behold, storms feel real and the sunny skies can make players believe they are actually living in Los Angeles - for those who aren't. So what better way to document everything you find than taking pictures?
This is doable via the in-game phone, which comes with a camera. A player can save plenty of images to their camera roll or even upload them to the Rockstar Social Club for other users to see. Rather conveniently, each snap comes with a tag that shows where it was taken. That's pretty handy if gamers plan on going back to capture more.
Exploring Underwater
Los Santos is home to some brilliant settings on land. But there's also plenty of things to find underwater, from the peyote plants to space part and scraps.
Some players may not know this but there's a UFO buried deep underwater. A player can't enter it but they can swim around it and, true to GTA form, it's rather creepy and eerie. There's also a hatch similar to the one found in Lost and bones that seem to belong to a huge and mysterious creature.
Solving The Chiliad Mystery
At the top of Mount Chiliad, there is a drawing. It shows a UFO at the top of the mountain and also has a depiction of a dragon's egg on it, suggesting that there is a way to find a jetpack within the game. The mystery has sparked endless debates in the time since the game first came out and many players are still attempting to crack the code now.
Some users believe they've been successful, but others aren't so sure. There's still no jetpack in story mode and, until it's finally found and obtained, chances are the mystery will go on. There's even a whole subreddit devoted to getting this treasured object and whether the mystery is ever solved is something only time will tell.
Using Cheats
Most story mode players go through the game without using cheats. This is to ensure they can pick up every trophy on offer. But once they have done that, it's time to let chaos reign.
Cheats were a big part of San Andreas, Vice City, and Liberty City Stories. They could also be accessed via the in-game phone on GTA IV. And there is plenty to experiment with on V. Super-jumping makes you feel like a superhero, invincibility lets players cause mischief without having to fear the consequences, and unlimited guns give players an attacking arsenal like no other. All in all, it's a great way to spend countless hours.
Hanging Out With Side Characters
GTA V introduced many brilliant side characters. And while spending time playing as Franklin, Trevor and Michael is immense fun, it's great to branch out. Because of the hobbies and activities that exist within the game, players able to go with a friend if they choose so.
Lemar was potentially the best side character, with his banter with Franklin amusing to experience. And it's also amusing driving as Michael or Trevor with Jimmy De Santa, whose laziness is unparallelled. Be careful not to kill or injure any of these characters, however, because they may leave you on read or ignore your calls if you suddenly decide to make them the latest victim of your killing spree.
Bombarding Rockstar For DLC
Out of all the things included on this list, bombarding Rockstar for DLC is one of the biggest things story mode fans do today.
Given how much support the online section of the game has received, it's maddening to know Rockstar doesn't currently intend to open up Los Santos for single-players. That's a shame because Grand Theft Auto, when it originally released, had that as its priority. Alas, all these years on, there's been nothing new to keep users occupied.