The greatest heists in Grand Theft Auto

Trevor Philips is one of the most memorable videogame characters of recent years. From his petrol-soaked fuse to his psychotic quest to grow his desert empire, his story throughout Grand Theft Auto V had more turbulence than one of his dicey, airborne smuggling runs.

From blasting aliens to battling a secluded cult, Trevor’s missions were the highlights of one of the biggest games of recent years. But it’s far from the first time Grand Theft Auto has served up delirious jobs. Read on to see how the Grand Theft Auto series has been lacing its heists with surreal humour. Not picked GTAV up yet? Click here to get your copy at a wallet-friendly price.

Game: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

Mission: In the Air Tonight

It’s not easy being an international rock star. One minute you’re Sussudio-ing in a crisp pastel suit, the next you’re trying to avoid deranged hitmen while performing on stage.

In the version of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City released on PSP, that’s exactly what happens to poor old Phil Collins. As Victor Vance, odd-jobbing star of the game, you arrive at a weirdly empty stadium and check in your weapons for security reasons. As Collins takes to the stage and launches into one of his biggest hits, In the Air Tonight, a mob of hired goons arrives to try to sabotage the show and bump off Collins.

Armed with only your fists, you must take down each of the thugs before they manage to drop a lighting rig on to the stage. Your reward? Your own personal Collins concert, a snip at 6,000 in-game bucks.

Game: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Mission: Black Project

What do you associate most closely with Area 51, the shadowy facility hidden deep in the Mojave Desert? Flying saucers? Little grey men? Or jet packs? In Area 69, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas’s take on the mysterious site, the latter is what you’ll find.

As Carl Johnson, you meet a conspiracy theorist called The Truth, who tips you off about Area 69. What follows is a heart-pounding infiltration just like something straight out of The X-Files. You’ll dodge heavily armed guards and defy security systems to snag your very own jet pack, essentially to prove a crackpot’s point.

Game: Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony

Mission: For the Man Who Has Everything

The Grand Theft Auto series can be safely assumed to contain instances of stealing cars. The clue’s in the name, after all. But in this mission, you’re after something a little larger: a subway carriage. Oh, and you need to pinch it while it’s on the move.

It’s silly, it involves evading half of Liberty City’s police force in a helicopter and, best of all, you’re stealing it in the name of art; a billionaire wants to use the carriage as a cutting-edge installation.

Game: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Mission: Body Harvest

Once again The Truth is behind this memorable mission to steal a humble combine harvester from a cult’s compound. It begins as a sneaky stealth job to slip into the cult’s grounds, but soon becomes something much crazier.

Once behind the wheel of the harvester, you’re set on by a mass of psychopathic extremists, and the only way to escape is by turning the hulking farming equipment you now control against them.

The mission is also a cheeky homage to a Nintendo 64 game called Body Harvest, developed by DMA Design, who would become Rockstar North and go on to create the Grand Theft Auto series.

Game: Grand Theft Auto V

Mission: Kifflom!

A clever send-up of a high profile religion that’s especially prevalent in Hollywood, Grand Theft Auto V’s Michael decides to find himself and lighten his wallet in the process.

As Michael, you’ll spend thousands on a polyester jumpsuit, walk for five miles in the desert to prove your dedication and pay heavily for your enlightenment. Eventually, though, you’ll get the chance to help yourself to a big pay-off…