GTA 6 Beginner Guide — First 5 Hours in Vice City

The first few hours of a Rockstar game teach you the systems you'll rely on for the next eighty. This guide is what we'd tell a friend before they hit Start.

Change these settings first

• Aiming — Free Aim if you're used to first-person shooters; Assisted Aim if you want a more cinematic feel.
• Camera — Third-person by default, but bind first-person to a hotkey. Different missions favor different perspectives.
• HUD — Turn off the mini-map's traffic overlay for a cleaner picture.

Play the opening missions in order

They exist to introduce systems, and Rockstar hides tutorials inside them for character switching, the weapon wheel, and the phone. Skipping them leaves you fighting the UI later.

Money in the early game

Don't spend on cosmetics in the first five hours. Save for a first-tier apartment upgrade (see our money guide) and one mid-range weapon.

What to ignore

Collectibles that require full map access, side businesses gated behind story progress, and any activity that requires a vehicle class you haven't unlocked yet. Come back for them after the first act.