The Grand Theft Auto franchise is perhaps one of the most famous (and infamous) series in the history of the game. Since its humble beginnings on PlayStation in the late 1990s, the series has amassed a large global fanbase and garnered both critical acclaim and media controversy. Grand Theft Auto 5 was originally released in 2013, but has enjoyed consistent popularity thanks to re-releases and the engrossing GTA Online, which has attracted millions of users to log in and start building their own crime empires. Thanks to its perennial sales, it has also become one of the best-selling video games ever made, behind industry titans like Tetris, Minecraft, and (ahem) Wii Sports.
The world of GTA 5 is deep and complex, with an incredible amount of things to do and see. However, with so much going on, it can be easy to miss certain events, experiences, and secrets hidden in the vast open world. Rockstar has a history of putting crazy intricate details into their games that only the most hardcore and dedicated gamers among their fans have any hope of discovering, and GTA 5 is no exception. Here are 15 things you NEVER knew you could do in GTA 5.
15 Take selfies during scenes
Michael De Santa takes a photo during a scene in GTA 5
One of the funniest features of GTA 5 is the Snapmatic phone app that allows players to document anything they find in the GTA wilderness, be it a funny sign, a beautiful sight, Trevor in a dress, or a snapshot of the absolute carnage that ‘I just annoyed unsuspecting NPCs. However, what people may not know is that it is possible to use the camera during movie scenes.
If the player opens Snapmatic just as a cutscene begins, your character can start taking screenshots and selfies of the unfolding action. Best of all, the scene will show Michael / Franklin / Trevor wielding his phone and staring at the screen, presumably half listening to the dialogue with all the enthusiasm of a disinterested teenager at a family gathering.
14 Find a Frozen Alien
The body of an alien trapped under a frozen lake in GTA 5
GTA has had a strange preoccupation with all things extraterrestrial since the days of San Andreas. In the 2004 classic, if CJ visits Area 69, he will hear talks about some aliens who have landed on Earth. Nine years later, they seem to have felt right at home, although they may have taken a few missteps along the way.
In the GTA 5 Prologue mission in North Yankton, it is possible to veer off the snowy road and drive right onto a frozen lake. If you find the right place, you can see the body of an alien creature trapped under the ice. It’s easy to miss, but players who have already made the initial heist can revisit the area in the “Bury the Ax” mission later in the game.
13 go ghost hunting
The ghost of Mount Fat, aka Jolene Cranley-Evans in Grand Theft Auto 5
With all the surprisingly regular deaths that occur in Grand Theft Auto, it makes sense that more than a few ghosts are floating around the world. There have been myths about the appearance of wraiths in games since the early days, but GTA 5 took things several steps further.
Some players have reported seeing mysterious plumes of black smoke, nicknamed “ghosts” in certain areas, but the most interesting (and tangible) example is the Ghost of Monte Gordo. If the player climbs Monte Gordo between 23:00 and midnight in the game, he will see the appearance of a woman. You cannot interact with the spirit in any way, other than her disappearing when you get too close, but thanks to the “JOCK” scrawled on the rock below, internet detectives have discovered the identity of the woman: a Jolene Cranley- Evans, former wife of politician Jock Cranley. An article on her death can be found in the Senora Beach newspaper, which points the finger at her husband who murdered her wife by pushing her off the edge of the cliff and getting away with his own. Nice.
12 Dress Up Like Other Rockstar Games Characters
Michael De Santa dressed as Max Payne in Grand Theft Auto 5
There are thousands of unique styles possible when it comes to customizing the three main characters. However, there are some particularly daring Easter eggs and hidden references in some of the outfits you can equip. Strangely, Michael seems to have most of them.
Like Michael, you can dress up in an outfit very similar to Tommy Vercetti’s stylish 80s outfit from GTA: Vice City. You can also find a garish Hawaiian shirt that looks exactly
