GTA VI 100% Completion Order: The Optimal Route
Five phases. One rule above all others: never advance the story with side missions waiting. Here's exactly how to structure your run.
Last updated: June 3, 2026 · Phase-by-phase breakdown updated on launch day
The one rule that prevents 99% of missable failures
Whenever a stranger mission or side mission icon appears on your map, complete it before triggering the next main story mission. This single habit is the entire completionist strategy — the rest of this guide is just applying it consistently.
In GTA V, players who followed this rule completed 100% with zero missable losses. Players who didn't often discovered a locked mission after 50+ hours of progress — requiring a full restart.
The five-phase completion route
Opening Chapters — Follow the Story
Hours 1–10 (est.)The early game is story-locked. Most side content has not unlocked yet and the map is partially hidden. Focus on main story missions to open up the world.
- →Complete all available story missions to unlock more of the map
- →Check for stranger icons after each story mission — complete any that appear before continuing
- →Collect any visible collectibles in areas you naturally pass through
- →Do not backtrack extensively for collectibles yet — the map is still unlocking
Early Mid-Game — Side Content Priority
Hours 10–35 (est.)This is the highest-risk phase for missable items. Stranger mission strands have unlocked, and story checkpoints that close those windows are approaching. This is where most 100% runs fail.
- →STOP advancing the main story whenever new stranger missions appear
- →Complete all available side mission strands for both Jason and Lucia
- →Check both protagonist maps — stranger content is character-specific
- →Begin zone-clearing collectibles in areas you have fully explored
- →Trigger and complete random events as you encounter them
⚠ Major story checkpoints in this phase may close stranger mission windows. Never advance the story with uncompleted stranger missions available on your map.
Late Mid-Game — Collectibles & Activities
Hours 35–70 (est.)Story is roughly 50–60% complete. Side mission risk is lower now (most time-sensitive windows have passed). Shift focus to methodical collectible completion and starting hobbies.
- →Continue clearing stranger strands as they unlock
- →Zone-clear collectibles systematically — finish one map area completely before moving on
- →Begin hobbies and activities (races, sports, mini-games)
- →Advance story missions in between side sessions to continue unlocking content
- →Track your random event count — ensure you are hitting the required threshold
Story Endgame — Final Push
Hours 70–90 (est.)Approaching the final story chapters. Before triggering endgame missions, do a full checklist audit. Some content may have a final lock-out point tied to the story conclusion.
- →Pause before the final story chapter and audit your checklist
- →Complete any remaining stranger missions — the finale may close final windows
- →Finish all hobbies and activities
- →Clear remaining collectible zones
- →Verify random event threshold is met
⚠ Do not start the final story chapter until your checklist shows all stranger missions complete. GTA V had a similar final lock-out point.
Post-Story Cleanup
Hours 90–130 (est.)After the credits, GTA games typically allow open-world completion of anything not locked by the story. This phase is the lowest pressure — no more missable windows.
- →Complete any remaining collectibles using your Hundo checklist
- →Finish remaining hobbies and activities
- →Mop up any random events still needed for the threshold
- →Verify 100% trigger in-game once all objectives are complete
Principles that save the most time
Zone-clear collectibles.
Chasing collectibles across the full map is the most inefficient approach. Work through one area completely before moving on. In GTA V, players who used this method finished collectibles 30–40% faster than those who collected globally.
Alternate protagonists deliberately.
With two protagonists in GTA VI, it's easy to neglect one character's side content while grinding the other's. Check both maps after every story mission to ensure you're not letting one protagonist's side content backlog.
Save hobbies and activities for low-energy sessions.
Races, golf, and sports activities are available throughout the game and have no missable risk. These are ideal for play sessions when you want to make progress without high mental load. Save them for the end or for casual sessions.
Do a checklist audit before major story beats.
Before any mission that looks like a major narrative turning point, open your Hundo checklist and verify all available side content is complete. Story missions that feel climactic are usually the ones that close missable windows.
Let Hundo track the order for you
Hundo shows you exactly what's available now, what's at risk of locking, and what can wait. The optimal route built into your checklist.
GTA VI completion order — FAQ
What is the best order to complete GTA VI for 100%?
The optimal strategy is: complete all available stranger/side missions whenever they unlock before advancing the main story, then do collectibles zone-by-zone, then finish hobbies and activities last. This order prevents missable items from locking and reduces total backtracking time by 25–35%.
Should I do side missions or story missions first in GTA VI?
Side missions first — always. In GTA V, several side mission strands locked permanently after specific story chapters. Clearing available side content before advancing the story is the one rule that prevents most 100% failures. When side missions are available on both Jason and Lucia, clear both before proceeding.
Can you get 100% in GTA VI without a guide?
Technically yes, but most players miss at least one missable item without a guide. In GTA V, even experienced players frequently missed the Epsilon Program or Dom's parachute missions because there was no in-game alert when those windows closed. A tracker like Hundo eliminates this risk.
Is there a chapter select in GTA VI to replay missable missions?
GTA V had a mission replay feature, but it did not allow replaying Strangers and Freaks missions — only main story missions. If GTA VI follows the same pattern, you cannot replay locked stranger missions. The story replay feature is for enjoyment, not for recovering missed 100% content.
How long does it take to complete all stranger missions in GTA VI?
In GTA V, completing all 20 Strangers and Freaks mission strands took roughly 20–28 hours total. GTA VI is expected to have a similar count across both protagonists. Spreading these across your playthrough (rather than doing them all at once) is the most time-efficient approach.
What should I do first at the start of GTA VI?
In the opening chapters, focus on story missions until side content unlocks — the map fills in as you progress. As soon as stranger icons appear on your map, pause story progress and clear them before continuing. The first 4–6 hours of GTA VI are typically story-locked with limited side content available.