Walkthrough

Missions41 (19 Portland, 14 Staunton Island, 8 Shoreside Vale)
Islands openPortland at the start, Staunton Island after Show the Money, Shoreside Vale after Bad Pimpin’
Biggest paydayTruth Revealed, $100,000
Final missionFreedom Flies, $40,000

The story is a straight line: every mission unlocks the next, so there is only one order for the 41 missions. What you choose is when to do the side jobs. This page gives the story order first, then the points where races, side jobs and collectibles fit best.

Mike beside the green car marked with a blue arrow, with the tip to enter it

All missions in order

#MissionGangPhoneReward
1Jump StartStory missionNo cash reward
2Dirty LaundryStory mission$1,000
3Hot WheelsStory mission$3,000
4Ill-GottenStory mission$3,000
5PaybackStory mission$4,000
6Fake IDsStory mission$3,000
7GetawayStory missionNo cash reward
8Twisted MetalStory mission$1,000
9Ill ReputeStory mission$4,000
10Droppin’ BombsStory mission$6,000, $12,000 if you also deliver three Diablos in time
11ScorelliStory mission$5,000
12Love BoatStory mission$5,000
13Time’s UpStory mission$5,000
14Sober DriverStory mission$6,000
15Happy HourStory mission$5,000
16Grand OpeningStory mission$6,000
17Pocket RocketStory mission$5,000
18Political WillStory mission$10,000
19Show the MoneyStory mission$1,000
20Race to RunStory mission$10,000, $30,000 for a fast second race
21Latin CoffeeStory mission$10,000
22The Big ScoreStory mission$10,000
23Fine DiningStory mission$10,000
24Flying HighStory mission$10,000
25Factory WagesStory mission$10,000
26School’s OutStory mission$10,000
27Kid’s a HeroStory mission$10,000
28Ante UpStory mission$5,000
29Two-Hand TossStory mission$10,000
30Scorned LoverStory mission$10,000
31Sue Me SushiStory mission$10,000, $20,000 if you bring the last driver back alive
32Down the RiverStory mission$10,000, $15,000 for 16 to 18 recruits, $20,000 and Asuka’s Yakuza Stinger for 19 or 20, $30,000, the Yakuza Stinger and Asuka’s Katana for 21 or more
33Bad Pimpin’Story mission$15,000, Access to Shoreside Vale
34Mystery KillerStory mission$15,000
35Decoy DisasterStory mission$20,000
36Truth RevealedStory mission$100,000
37Love of MoneyStory mission$20,000
38Taking RevengeStory mission$20,000
39SmackdownStory mission$40,000
40Assault JointStory mission$50,000
41Freedom FliesStory mission$40,000

Portland plan

Play Jump Start first. It opens your hideout, and the hideout lets you save and restock ammunition. Paramedic, Firefighter and Vigilante are available from the start, so you can try them whenever a suitable vehicle turns up.

Dirty Laundry pays $1,000 and opens the six Portland street races. Do the races once you have the cash, since the early courses use ordinary cars and pay $2,000 to $7,000. Missions from Vinnie, 8-Ball and Jonnie run in one chain, and the Portland page lists them with the contact locations.

Mike driving through Hepburn Heights past an orange van and a red car

Staunton Island plan

Show the Money ends with Mike chasing a car over the Callahan Bridge. From here you can cross between islands freely. Staunton Island has its own race course, a new hideout in Belleville Park and a fresh set of side-job kills and fires to count, all listed on the Staunton Island page.

Race to Run is itself a race, so it works as a warm-up for the island’s street races. After the Staunton races you will have finished 12 races in total, which is what opens Demolition Football at the Liberty Memorial Coliseum.

Race timer running as Mike drives past Belleville Park

Shoreside Vale plan

Bad Pimpin’ sends you over the Staunton Lift Bridge to Shoreside Vale. Mystery Killer runs straight into Decoy Disaster, so save at the Pike Creek hideout before you start. Truth Revealed ends the hunt for Vinnie, then Love of Money, Taking Revenge, Smackdown, Assault Joint and Freedom Flies finish the game. Visit the Shoreside Vale page for locations.

The Shoreside races are the longest courses in the game, with F1 cars and up to three laps. Firefighter, Vigilante and package totals are counted per island, so check the stats screen for what is left on each.

Mike driving in Wichita Gardens past a hidden package in a pink ring

Choices that change the payout

A few missions let you choose how to finish. Every choice counts as completing the mission, so none of them affects your percentage. They only change your cash.

MissionChoicePay
Droppin’ BombsDeliver the bomb and the three Diablos on time$12,000 instead of $6,000
Show the MoneyWait for Freddy to bring more money$5,000 instead of $1,000
Race to RunFinish the first race with 0:59 or more left to unlock the second race$30,000 instead of $10,000
Kid’s a HeroTake the money and drive away from the drop point$30,000 instead of $10,000
Ante UpKill the corrupt police officer$10,000 instead of $5,000
Sue Me SushiBring the truck driver back alive$20,000 instead of $10,000
Down the RiverRecruit 21 to 24 thugs$30,000, Asuka’s Katana and her Yakuza car
Mystery KillerMeet Cisco first$15,000 instead of $10,000

Where side jobs fit

  • Street races: six per island. Do Portland after Dirty Laundry, Staunton Island after Show the Money, Shoreside Vale after Bad Pimpin’. Details on the street races page.
  • Vigilante and Firefighter: 20 kills and 20 fires on each island, so 60 of each. Work on them on the island you are on, because progress is counted per island. See Vigilante and Firefighter.
  • Paramedic: 12 levels in a row, because failing or canceling sends you back to level 1. See Paramedic.
  • Taxi Driver: 100 fares across the whole game, which you can split into sessions. See Taxi Driver.
  • Demolition Football: after 12 street races, at the Liberty Memorial Coliseum. See Demolition Football.
  • Hidden Packages and Rampages: gather them as you drive. See Hidden Packages and Rampages.
Pager message reading Found 80 of 100 packages, minigun awarded at hideout