GTA Vice City has 59 story missions spread across multiple employers and contacts. Unlike later GTA games, the mission structure isn't entirely linear — you often juggle missions from several employers at once. This guide lists every mission in the recommended completion order, so you always know what to do next.
A few missions are required to unlock others, so the order below follows the natural progression of the story rather than strict numeric order.
Ken is Tommy's first contact in Vice City. These early missions establish the story and introduce you to the city.
| # | Mission | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Party | Intro mission. Attend Cortez's party on the yacht. |
| 2 | Back Alley Brawl | First combat mission. Find a chef. |
| 3 | Jury Fury | Smash cars near jurors. |
| 4 | Riot | Set Haitians' vehicles on fire. |
Avery is a Texas real-estate mogul who needs some… persuasion assistance.
| # | Mission | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Four Iron | Kill a target at a golf club. No weapons allowed on the course — steal a golf cart. |
| 6 | Demolition Man | Use an RC helicopter to plant bombs. One of the trickier early missions. |
| 7 | Two Bit Hit | Kill a Haitian gang leader. |
Colonel Cortez is sophisticated, diplomatic and occasionally very dangerous. His missions run parallel to the early story.
| # | Mission | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Treacherous Swine | Kill a French agent with a chainsaw. |
| 9 | Mall Shootout | Chase a courier through the mall on foot. Easier with a shotgun. |
| 10 | Guardian Angels | Protect Lance and Cortez during a deal. Keep an eye on Lance. |
| 11 | Sir, Yes Sir! | Steal an army tank from a convoy. Can be done quietly with a vehicle block. |
| 12 | All Hands on Deck! | Defend Cortez's yacht from attackers. Last Cortez mission. |
Working for Diaz is a pivotal part of the story — and eventually leads to a confrontation that changes everything.
| # | Mission | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | The Chase | Follow a suspect on motorcycle without losing them. |
| 14 | Phnom Penh '86 | Gunner seat on a helicopter. Use explosive weapons on groups. |
| 15 | The Fastest Boat | Steal the fastest boat from the docks. |
| 16 | Supply & Demand | Race to a drug boat by sea. Time-sensitive. Have a fast boat ready. |
After the pivotal mansion raid, Tommy takes control. These missions unlock the second island and the endgame. They're the meat of the story.
| # | Mission | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Death Row | Rescue Lance from the junkyard. Bring heavy weapons. |
| 18 | Rub Out | Kill Diaz. This unlocks Tommy's mansion. |
| 19 | Shakedown | Destroy shopfronts in the mall. |
| 20 | Bar Brawl | Eliminate protection from the Front Page Café. |
| 21 | Cop Land | Get 3 stars, steal cop car with Lance, plant bomb at mall. One of the hardest missions. |
| 22 | Cap the Collector | Kill the Forelli money collectors before they leave. |
| 23 | Keep Your Friends Close... | Final mission. Defend the mansion from Sonny's forces. |
Beyond the main storyline, each property you buy comes with its own mission strand. Completing the Malibu Club, Pole Position, Boatyard, Print Works, Kaufman Cabs, Sunshine Autos, and Cherry Popper strands is required for 100% completion.
Flying an RC helicopter to plant four bombs across a construction site under time pressure is notoriously annoying. The trick is to learn the map layout first — watch a short guide on the building structure, then fly a consistent route. Don't rush the early placements; speed comes from efficiency, not panic.
This mission requires you to intentionally get a 3-star wanted level and then steal a police car. The easiest method: grab a rocket launcher first (use the NUTTERSTOYS cheat or find one near the military base area), fire it once near a cop, then immediately jump in any police vehicle that arrives. Drive to the safehouse garage quickly.
You race by boat to a yacht to claim a drug cargo before other buyers. Fastest solution: have a fast boat pre-positioned at the dock. The Rio or the Squalo are both good choices. Take a straight line rather than following the waypoint exactly — the shortest path wins.
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