Grand Theft Auto IV Lore & Story Guide
Dive into the lore, story events, and characters of Grand Theft Auto IV.
What is the story of Grand Theft Auto IV?
Grand Theft Auto IV is a 2008 open-world action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. Set in a reimagined Liberty City based on New York, it follows Eastern European war veteran Niko Bellic, who comes to America in search of a new life.
Story and timeline
- The Three Universes (Meta - The Multiverse) — The distinct timelines that separate the generations of Grand Theft Auto games.
- Niko's War & Betrayal (1998-2008 - Eastern Europe to Liberty City) — The traumatic backstory that drives Niko Bellic - a wartime betrayal that haunts him across continents.
- Lazlow: From Radio King to Reality TV Wreck (2001-2013 - Across America) — The only character to span all five mainline GTA games - and his embarrassing descent through each one.
- Liberty City Across the Ages (1998-2008 - Liberty City) — The evolution of GTA's most iconic city across three games, two universes, and a decade of gaming history.
- The American Dream (2008 - Liberty City) — Niko Bellic arrives in Liberty City seeking a fresh start, but finds himself drawn back into a life of crime.
- The McReary Family (2008 - Liberty City) — An Irish-American crime family in decline provides Niko with some of his most memorable - and tragic - missions.
- Playboy X vs. Dwayne Forge (2008 - Algonquin) — A flashy drug dealer and his former mentor clash - and Niko must choose who lives.
- The Pegorino Crime Family (2008 - Alderney) — A struggling Italian-American Mafia family desperate for a seat at the Commission draws Niko into the endgame.
- Deal or Revenge: The Final Choice (2008 - Liberty City) — Niko faces the defining decision of GTA IV - take the money or get revenge. Either way, someone dies.
- The Diamond Deal: Three Stories, One MacGuffin (2008 - Liberty City) — A set of diamonds passes through the hands of all three GTA IV protagonists, connecting their stories.
- Liberty City Reimagined (2008 - Liberty City) — The HD Universe reimagining of Liberty City - a darker, grittier, and more realistic New York.
- 100% Completion Guide (2008 - Guide) — Complete breakdown of everything needed for 100% in GTA IV - missions, activities, pigeons, and more.
- Missable Items & Key Choices (2008 - Guide) — Important choices and missable content in GTA IV that affect your completion run.
- Packie McReary: From Liberty City to Los Santos (2008-2013 - Liberty City to Los Santos) — An Irish mob enforcer flees Liberty City and shows up as a random event in GTA V, bridging the HD Universe.
Characters
- Niko Bellic — Protagonist
- Roman Bellic — Major Character
- Luis Fernando Lopez — Minor Character
- Dimitri Rascalov — Primary Antagonist
- Patrick McReary — Major Character
- Anthony Prince — Minor Character
- Jimmy Pegorino — Antagonist
- Trey Stewart — Mission Giver / Determinant
- Dwayne Forge — Mission Giver / Determinant
- Ray Bulgarin — Antagonist
- Florian Cravic — Major Character