Summary

• GTA 5 is full of hidden, bizarre, and satirical missions that fans enjoy for the unique experiences offered.
• These secret missions, from sabotaged submarines to cannibal cults, add depth to the game world of Los Santos and are worth uncovering.
• Players can even hunt Sasquatch, tackle alien invasions, manage properties, and more in these intriguing and entertaining activities.

The iconic Grand Theft Auto 5 is all about immersion, exploration, and trying hard to finish every single mission and objective the game has to offer. That's a particularly tall order, especially when hidden missions abound all over the vast expanse of the map. Many GTA 5 fans uncover new details every time they play through the game, but some are hidden quite well. Hunting down these secret missions involves following clues, having a keen eye, and venturing off the beaten path as if it's a lifestyle.

Most of these missions are far more bizarre, hilarious, and satirical than the regular fodder, which is why they should be sought out, if not for the rewards, then just for the sake of experience. While they may not add value to the main campaign, they do help build the world of Los Santos and its outskirts, from the beautiful and rare encounters in GTA 5 to the totally awkward. In the end, it is up to the player to explore and find these hidden missions.

20 Stop The Therapist

Quest: Abandonment Issues

Most GTA 5 fans have enjoyed almost every aspect of the game, but a lot of them can't seem to get involved with the therapy sessions that players must go through as Michael. Due to that, it is reasonable to believe that not many have discovered this little interaction with the therapist Isiah Friedlander. Players have to actually visit the doctor enough times to trigger a scene where he says that he is leaving the city to go star in his own reality TV show.

Isiah even tells Michael he needs to find a new therapist and even implies that he is ready to share his patients' secrets under other names. The game then prompts the player to chase him down and eliminate him in case they don't want any of Michael's family secrets to get out. Players have the option to let him leave if they prefer. The entire sequence is quite hilarious and it's the kind of thing only die-hard fans seem to uncover.

If Isiah is let loose, he will tell Michael that both of them should forget the incident, to which Michael may reply with a death threat.

19 Call Up Patrick McCreary

Event: Getaway Driver

One thing that stood out about this game is that it has some fun connections to the rest of the Grand Theft Auto franchise. That includes mentions and appearances of characters, with one notable cameo being Patrick McCreary from Grand Theft Auto 4. In the previous game, he was a close friend of the protagonist Niko, and would make money with him committing crimes. Here, players stumble upon him during a heist and if they choose to be his getaway driver, they can contact him later for more work together.

In GTA 5, Patrick McCreary is mainly used as a heist companion. He can be selected as one of the operatives in heists, both in the single-player mode and in GTA Online. Contrary to his role in the prequel, however, McCreary does not have much of an impact on the main story of the game set in Los Santos.

18 Be A Wildlife Photographer

Quest: Wildlife Photography Challenge

The hunting mini-game is one that pretty much everyone knows about. It is part of the Strangers and Freaks missions and when players complete a kill, they are tasked with sending a photo of the carcass as confirmation of what has been accomplished. However, it can go further. While working for the Paparazzo named Beverly Felton, the player can take part in Wildlife Photography Competitions.

Exclusive to Franklin in GTA 5 are then tasked with taking specific images of animals in certain locations. In total, players have to take pictures of 20 different animals – and, despite the name of the mission, Wildlife Photography Challenge, players can take pictures of pets in the city. After the player completes them all, they unlock the Kraken submersible, which can then be used to take to the seas.

17 Rob Armored Trucks

Random Event

For the most part, this is not a specific mission that is given to the player by someone in GTA 5. Instead, it is an option that is always available to players if they dare. For the gamers who want to be all-in on the action, they can attempt to rob any armored truck they find. To do so they must have explosives as they are needed to blast open the doors in the back. Once that's taken care of, they must battle with the guards who are not easy to put down.

This is not an explicitly stated quest, but an objective that can be accomplished. The game does not tell players to start an assault on the armored trucks that roam Los Santos, but they are a great side objective that, once completed, can earn them some extra cash in the process. That is not to mention that the spontaneity of it is thrilling.

16 Re-Enact The Hangover

Random Event: Stag Do Running Man

Since GTA 5 came out way back in 2013, having a reference to a film from 2009 was not all that out of place, even if it feels odd nowadays. The popular comedy film The Hangover can be re-enacted in an unexpected way. At one point in the game, players can come across a man tied to a lamp pole while wearing only his underwear. As they investigate, they should find that it's the aftermath of his bachelor party. At this point, they are given the option to get him to his wedding in time.

The hungover groom, the outrageous conditions in which he is found, and the pressure of getting over the past night's events and getting ready for the big day are all fitting and match The Hangover, even if it is never mentioned by name. The groom's arrival makes for a memorable reaction.

15 Become A Cult Member

Questline: Truth (Strangers and Freaks)

The Epsilon Program makes a comeback in GTA 5 through a series of unique side missions. In order to start them as Michael, players must go to the Epsilon website and take a quick survey. After that, a question mark will be placed on the map to start things off. Michael must endure grueling grunt work on behalf of the cult before shelling out a hefty sum to join up. For the final mission, Michael is then tasked to deliver a car containing over $2,000,000 in the trunk to another cult member.

Players can then choose whether to deliver the cash or keep it for themselves. For such a hot number, this is one mission worth playing. This is also a fairly funny questline to follow, as it mocks the cult-like activities in real-life Los Angeles and even gives them a sinister air, as if there are enforcer henchmen ready to take out anyone who deviates from the path.

14 Kidnap People For A Cannibal Group

Location: Altruist Camp

One of the hidden missions in GTA 5 that fans are not likely to forget involves a cannibalistic cult on the far reaches of the map. To access it, the Nervous Ron mission must be completed as Trevor, which will then trigger a text message telling the player about a cult in Blain County. The next step is to visit the Altruist Camp at the very center of the Chiliad Mountain range.

After four successful "offerings," all of which involve taking people to the location, the cult members will betray Trevor and attempt to kill him. To escape the camp, players must fight their way through the cultists, while picking up five briefcases that each contain $25,000 dollars. It is a lucrative, and downright disturbing hidden mission just waiting to be uncovered, even if its awkwardness has made it quite popular.

13 Collect Nuclear Waste In A Submarine

Achievement: Waste Management

After completion of The Merryweather Heist, the option to buy the Sonar Collections Dock in GTA 5 becomes available to any of the three main characters. Along with the property comes a submersible that can be used to start the collection of 30 nuclear waste barrels spread around the shores of the map.

Despite a few similarities in their design, for this activity, players will use a free Minisub made available through the Sonar Collections Dock rather than the Kraken, should they have unlocked it beforehand.

Each collected barrel will earn the character $23,000, and a $250,000 bonus can be earned after collecting them all. They can be found using the Trackify app on the cell phone to make things easier. The submarine itself is fun to ride in, and it's an excuse to earn a hefty payday at the same time.

12 Solve The Murder Of Leonora Johnson

Quest: A Startlet In Vinewood

After completing the Repossession mission early on in the game, all three of the characters can start collecting the 50-letter scraps that are placed around the map. Rockstar has included all 50 locations in the Checklist tab if players have a Social Club account. If they do not, they are encouraged to follow a guide to grab all letter scraps without getting lost or potentially missing one of them.

Once all 50 have been collected and Franklin reads the letter, players are directed to the killer, Peter Dreyfuss, who is at his home in Vinewood. During the cutscene, Franklin reveals to Peter that he knows he's the killer, which causes him to run. Players can allow him to escape, or kill him. There's no reward for this mission besides an Achievement, but for many completionists, that's enough.

11 Unlock A Space Vehicle

Quest: The Final Frontier

GTA 5 has a large collection of unique and whacky vehicles, and the Space Docker is near the top. The only way to acquire this vehicle is by obtaining all 50 spaceship parts scattered across the map. Players can begin searching for these objects once the Far Out mission is initiated by Franklin. He claims to have been abducted by aliens and shows Franklin a spaceship part on his phone.

After all 50 parts have been collected, Franklin will automatically start The Final Frontier mission, where he meets Omega inside his laboratory, and shows him the Space Docker. The mission ends, and as a reward, Franklin gets to keep this far-out, great video game vehicle. They simply need to collect the space-themed Dune Buggy from Omega's garage. After that, the car is incorporated to every character's own garage.

10 Hunt Sasquatch

Quest: The Last One

To access this mission, players must start The Last One quest in Grand Theft Auto 5. After that task is achieved, a question mark appears on the map in Raton Canyon where a sasquatch hunter is waiting. During the mission cutscene, he recruits Franklin to help him hunt the beast. What makes this mission so unique is that it actually references an old myth from GTA: San Andreas, where players believed rumors that a similar creature resided somewhere on the map. In fact, the hunter says he's been following the sasquatch for eight years.

To say anything more would spoil the experience, which makes this mission even more enticing for fans. It is worth noting, however, that the questline references Red Dead Redemption and can even unlock a unique item that can be consumed later on for special effects that are worth checking out themselves.

9 Go Hunting

Unlock Quest: Fair Game

While hunting in Red Dead Redemption 2 might be one game that made the activity fun, its spiritual roots lie in GTA 5. When playing as Trevor, players get a phone call from Cletus Ewing, who says to meet him at his lodge. After arriving at the cabin in the woods, Cletus gives Trevor a deer call and tells him they are going hunting. This mission serves more as a tutorial for anybody who wants to continue to hunt as a side activity within the game.

Players will learn where to shoot an animal for more points, how to adapt to the wind when using a gun, and how to make the distinction between male and female deer. After each kill, players send photos of the carcass to Cletus in order to receive a ranking. Sending these to others in the contact list can yield some hilarious responses.

8 Make Millions Assassinating People

Unlock Quest: Fame Or Shame

After completing the Fame or Shame mission as Franklin, players receive a phone call from Lester in GTA 5, initiating the first of the assassination missions, The Hotel Assassination. Completion of this first mission is required to progress through the main storyline. However, in order to acquire this potential wealth, it is prudent to save the remaining four assassinations for after The Big Score.

Once complete, and depending on the fates chosen for the trio of characters, players will have a few million dollars from the last heist to spend. Taking that money and properly investing it into the competition of each target can yield a massive return, which can help with purchasing properties and accomplishing expensive goals.

7 Collect Hidden Caches Of Money

Recurring Collectibles

Hidden all over the map of Los Santos and Blaine County in GTA 5 are twelve briefcases full of cash, just waiting to be discovered. No mission progress or any special prerequisites are needed to start hunting for these; just some luck and a keen eye.

The biggest amount that can be found at once is $25,000, which will require the player to have a high lung capacity stat or a scuba suit. This stash can be found just north of Vespucci Beach along the western shore, sitting on top of a sunken submarine on the seafloor. It's advisable to pack a melee weapon for protection.

6 Save Thelma & Louise

Easter Egg On Chiliad Mountain

At one of the cliff faces in the northern part of the map near Raton Canyon in GTA 5, between the hours of 7 PM and 8 PM, players can find the local police shooting at a familiar-looking convertible. It just so happens to contain two women in a very obvious nod to the 1991 Ridley Scott classic Thelma & Louise.

When the police start to advance up the hill, the scene plays out as it does in the final act of the feature film, with the convertible going straight off the cliff. However, it is possible to block the path of the car and save the two women from going over the edge, effectively changing their cinematic fates for a moment.

5 Solve A Mysterious Aquatic Death

Quest: Death At Sea

To begin this detective-style mission, players must go to the Strangers and Freak icon at the Sonar Collections Dock, where Abigail awaits in GTA 5. She tells Michael about her husband's recent death and asks him to collect all 30 submarine pieces to find out if it was an accident or not.

The pieces can be found by any of the three characters, but they can only be brought to Abigail by Michael. When they are all found, Michael concludes that the submarine her husband navigated was sabotaged. She then rewards Michael with a lousy $10, and a photograph. The player can then choose to either let the suspicious woman leave or kill her.

4 Manage Your Owned Properties

Players Can Make A Lot Of Money

Property management is another aspect of GTA 5 that requires constant attention. Every property has its own designated weekly income for each individual character, as well as certain perks, but with over 16 available for purchase, it can be hard to keep track of them all.

For instance, after Franklin owns Downtown Cab Co., he may be called by his manager Raul to help drive fares across town. Similarly, when the manager of the Hen House calls in need of either an alcohol pickup or protection from robberies, it's another menial task to complete. These can be ignored, but with detrimental consequences.

3 Help Run An Arms Supplying Company

Quests: Arms Trafficking Ground & Arms Trafficking Air

There are many unique ways to make money in GTA 5. For Trevor, that includes trafficking in the sale of illegal arms, which can be done once he purchases the McKenzie Field Hangar. Included with the airstrip are a Cuban 800 airplane and a Dune Buggy, which can be used for either air or land shipments.

There are a couple of different mission variations, such as delivering multiple shipments in different drop zones or bombing the competition. Dealing with rivals can be quite a task. Completing each mission successfully can earn potentially $7,000 at any given time, which is a decent chunk of change.

2 Fight Off An Alien Invasion

Quest: Grass Roots

It feels like alien invasion movies might have played a role in the creation of this GTA 5 mission, but there's another element at play. Michael heads towards the Park Square in Downtown Los Santos to meet with Barry, a legal marijuana advocate. After convincing Michael to take up with him, the world suddenly shifts into a paranoid nightmare for the player.

Strange alien creatures spawn randomly at different angles and proceed to attack. Michael does have decent equipment in the form of a minigun with unlimited ammo, turning it into a nod to the Serious Sam franchise for a brief moment in time. If Michael can defeat the incoming waves, he'll come down off his high and avoid a trip to the psych ward.

1 Enforce The Border As A Vigilante

Quest: The Civil Border Patrol

The Civil Border Patrol mission begins by traveling out to the Grand Senora Desert to meet with Josef and Joe. After their initial meeting, the pair asks Trevor to join their vigilante crusade to protect the border in the worst way possible. Trevor happily agrees to help.

The player then joins the two as they head to the Yellow Jacket Inn, where they believe they'll find their next catch. After a thorough inspection of the properties yields no results, Trevor sees two men take their leave in a hot rod, and the player then has to chase them down and subdue them using a stun gun in Grand Theft Auto 5.