Grand Theft Auto V: 20 Hidden Missions You Didn’t Know About

The iconic Grand Theft Auto V is all about immersion, exploration, and trying hard to finish every single mission and objective the game has to offer. That’s a particularly tall order, especially when hidden missions abound all over the vast expanse of the map. Many GTA V fans uncover new details every time they play through the game, but some are hidden quite well.

Hunting down these secret missions involves following clues, having a keen eye, and venturing off the beaten path as if it’s a lifestyle. Most of these missions are far more bizarre, hilarious, and satirical than the regular fodder, which is why they should be sought out, just for the sake of experience.

Updated on July 31st, 2021 by Derek Draven: Evidence continues to mount that Rockstar is in the middle of production Grand Theft Auto VI, and that’s not surprising given their well-oiled production history. Meanwhile, Grand Theft Auto V continues to be as lively as ever, with an extremely devoted fan base still playing the game to this day. While the mixture of the modding community and updates to GTA Online keeps the game going, the single-player campaign has a lot of stuff to see, even for those who have been through the game before. The inventive and ingenious side missions continue to surprise gamers who stumble upon them, as many are well hidden. Finding these secret missions means enjoying some of the funniest, and craziest content the game has to offer.

Updated on March 18th, 2022, by Kevin Pantoja: It has now been nearly a decade since Grand Theft Auto V initially launched and it has spanned three different generations of video games systems. The game has actually just launched on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, so that makes it an interesting time to dive back into things. The most shocking thing about the game is that all this time later, there are still plenty of secret missions in GTA 5 to discover. Some players still haven’t experienced many of these but they can breathe new life into a game that is just about 10 years old.

Stop The Therapist

Most GTA V fans have enjoyed almost every aspect of the game but a lot of them can’t seem to get into the therapy sessions that you must go through as Michael. Due to that, not many have discovered this little interaction with the therapist.

You have to actually visit the doctor enough times to trigger a scene where he says that he is leaving the city to go star in his own reality show. The game then prompts you to chase him down and eliminate him in case you don’t want any of Michael’s family secrets to get out. It’s the kind of thing only die-hard fans seem to uncover.

Call Up Patrick McCreary

One thing that stood out about this game is that it has some fun connections to the rest of the GTA franchise. That includes mentions and appearances of characters, with one notable one being Patrick McCreary from Grand Theft Auto IV.

In that game, he was a close friend of protagonist Niko and would make money with him on crimes. Here, you stumble upon him during a heist and if you choose to be his getaway driver, you can contact him later for more work together.

Be A Wildlife Photographer

The hunting minigame in GTA V is one that pretty much everyone knows about. It’s part of the Strangers and Freaks missions and when you complete a kill, you’re tasked with sending a photo of the carcass as confirmation of what you did. However, it can go further.

While working for someone named Beverly, the player can take part in wildlife photography competitions. You’ll be tasked with taking specific images of animals in certain locations. After you complete them all, you unlock the Kraken submersible.

Rob Armored Trucks

For the most part, this isn’t a specific mission that is given to the player by someone. Instead, it’s an option that is always available to you if you dare. For the gamers who want to be all-in on the action, they can attempt to rob any armored truck they find.

To do so you must have explosives as they’re needed to blast open the doors in the back. Once that’s taken care of, you must do battle with the guards who are not easy to put down. You get a challenge, earn some extra cash in the process, and it’s thrilling.

Re-Enact The Hangover

Since the game came out way back in 2013, having a reference to a film from 2009 wasn’t all that out of place, even if it feels odd now. The Hangover can be re-enacted in an unexpected way.

At one point in the game, you can come across a man tied to a lamp pole while wearing only his underwear. As you investigate, you find that it’s the aftermath of his bachelor party and you’re given the option to get him to his wedding in time. His arrival makes for a memorable reaction.

Become A Cult Member

The Epsilon Program makes a comeback in GTA 5 through a series of unique side missions. In order to start them as Michael, players must go to the Epsilon website and take a quick survey. After that, a question mark will be placed on the map to start things off. Michael must endure grueling grunt work on behalf of the cult before shelling out a hefty sum to join up.

For the final mission, Michael is then tasked to deliver a car containing over $2,000,000 in the trunk to another cult member. Players can then choose whether to deliver the cash or keep it for themselves. For such a hot number, this is one mission worth playing.

Kidnap People For A Cannibal Group

One of the hidden missions in GTA 5 that fans aren’t likely to forget involves a cannibalistic cult on the far reaches of the map. To access it, the “Nervous Ron” mission must be completed as Trevor, which will then trigger a text message telling the player about a cult in Blain County. The next step is to visit the Altruist Camp.

After four successful “offerings,” the cult members will betray Trevor and attempt to kill him. To escape the camp, players must fight their way through the cultists, while picking up five briefcases that each contain $25,000 dollars. It’s a lucrative, and downright disturbing hidden mission just waiting to be uncovered.

Collect Nuclear Waste In A Submarine

After completion of “The Merryweather Heist,” the option to buy the Sonar Collections Dock becomes available to any of the three main characters. Along with the property comes a submersible that can be used to start the collection of 30 nuclear waste barrels spread around the shores of the map.

Each collected barrel will earn the character $23,000, and a $250,000 bonus can be earned after collecting them all. They can be found using the Trackify app on the cell phone to make things easier. The submarine itself is fun to ride in, and it’s an excuse to earn a hefty payday at the same time.

Solve The Murder Of Leonora Johnson

After completing the “Repossession” mission early on in the game, all three of the characters can start collecting the 50 letter scraps that are placed around the map. Rockstar has included all 50 locations in the Checklist tab if players have a Social Club account.

Once all 50 have been collected and Franklin reads the letter, players are directed to the killer, Peter Dreyfuss, who is at his home in Vinewood. During the cutscene, Franklin reveals to Peter that he knows he’s the killer, which causes him to run. Players can allow him to escape, or kill him. There’s no reward for this mission besides an Achievement, but for many completionists, that’s enough.

Unlock A Space Vehicle

GTA 5 has a large collection of unique and whacky vehicles, and the Space Docker is near the top. The only way to acquire this vehicle is by obtaining all 50 spaceship parts scattered across the map. Players can begin searching for these objects once the “Far Out” mission is initiated by Franklin. He claims to have been abducted by aliens and shows Franklin a spaceship part on his phone.

After all 50 parts have been collected, Franklin will automatically start “The Final Frontier” mission, where he meets Omega inside his laboratory, and shows him the Space Docker. The mission ends, and as a reward, Franklin gets to keep this far-out, great video game vehicle.

Hunt Sasquatch

To access this mission, players must reach the 100% completion mark of the game. After that enormous task is achieved, a question mark appears on the map in Raton Canyon where a sasquatch hunter is waiting. During the mission cutscene, he recruits Franklin to help him hunt the beast.

What makes this mission so unique is that it actually references an old myth from GTA: San Andreas, where players believed rumors that a similar creature resided somewhere on the map. To say anything more would spoil the experience, which makes this mission even more enticing for GTA V fans.

Go Hunting

While Red Dead Redemption 2 might be one game that made hunting fun, its spiritual roots lie in GTA V. When playing as Trevor, players get a phone call from Cletus, who says to meet him at his lodge. After arriving at the cabin in the woods, Cletus gives Trevor a deer call and tells him they are going hunting. This mission serves more as a tutorial for anybody who wants to continue to hunt as a side activity within the game.

Players will learn where to shoot an animal for more points, how to adapt to the wind when using a gun, as well as make the distinction between male and female deer. After each kill, players send photos of the carcass to Cletus in order to receive a ranking. Sending these to others in the contact list can yield some hilarious responses.

Make Millions Assassinating People

After completing the “Fame or Shame” mission as Franklin, players receive a phone call from Lester, initiating the first of the assassination missions, “The Hotel Assassination.” Completion of this first mission is required to progress through the main storyline. However, in order to acquire this potential wealth, it is prudent to save the remaining four assassinations for after “The Big Score.”

Once complete, and depending on the fates chosen for the trio of characters, players will have a few million dollars from the last heist to spend. Taking that money and properly investing it into the competition of each target can yield a massive return, which can help with purchasing up properties and accomplishing expensive goals.

Collect Hidden Caches Of Money

Hidden all over the map of Los Santos and Blaine County are twelve briefcases full of cash, just waiting to be discovered. No mission progress or any special prerequisites are needed to start hunting for these; just some luck and a keen eye.

The biggest amount that can be found at once is $25,000, which will require the player to have a high lung capacity stat or a scuba suit. This stash can be found just north of Vespucci Beach along the western shore, sitting on top of a sunken submarine on the seafloor. It’s advisable to pack a melee weapon for protection.

Save Thelma And Lousie

At one of the cliff faces in the northern part of the map near Raton Canyon, between the hours of 7 PM and 8 PM, players can find the local police shooting at a familiar-looking convertible. It just so happens to contain two women in a very obvious nod to the 1991 Ridley Scott classic Thelma & Louise.

When the police start to advance up the hill, the scene plays out as it does in the final act of the feature film, with the convertible going straight off the cliff. However, it is possible to block the path of the car and save the two women from going over the edge, effectively changing their cinematic fates for a moment.

Solve A Mysterious Death At Sea

To begin this detective-style mission, players must go to the Strangers and Freak icon at the Sonar Collections Dock, where Abigail awaits. She tells Michael about her husband’s recent death and asks him to collect all 30 submarine pieces to find out if it was an accident or not. The pieces can be found by any of the three characters, but they can only be brought to Abigail by Michael.

When they are all found, Michael concludes that the submarine her husband navigated was sabotaged. She then rewards Michael with a lousy $10, and a photograph. The player can then choose to either let the suspicious woman leave or kill her.

Manage Your Owned Properties

Property management is another aspect of GTA 5 that requires constant attention. Every property has its own designated weekly income for each individual character, as well as certain perks, but with over 16 available for purchase, it can be hard to keep track of them all.

For instance, after Franklin owns Downtown Cab Co., he may be called by his manager Raul to help drive fares across town. Similarly, when the manager of the Hen House calls in need of either an alcohol pickup or protection from robberies, it’s another menial task to complete. These can be ignored, but with detrimental consequences.

Help Run An Arms Supplying Company

There are many unique ways to make money in GTA 5. For Trevor, that includes trafficking in the sale of illegal arms, which can be done once he purchases the McKenzie Field Hangar. Included with the airstrip are a Cuban 800 airplane and a Dune Buggy, which can be used for either air or land shipments.

There are a couple of different mission variations, such as delivering multiple shipments in different drop zones or bombing the competition. Dealing with rivals can be quite a task. Completing each mission successfully can earn potentially $7,000 at any given time, which is a decent chunk of change.

Fight Off An Alien Invasion

It feels like alien invasion movies might have played a role in the creation of this mission, but there’s another element at play. Michael heads towards the Park Square in Downtown Los Santos to meet with Barry, a legal marijuana advocate. After convincing Michael to toke up with him, the world suddenly shifts into a paranoid nightmare for the player.

Strange alien creatures spawn randomly at different angles and proceed to attack. Michael does have decent equipment in the form of a minigun with unlimited ammo, turning it into a nod to the Serious Sam franchise for a brief moment in time. If Michael can defeat the incoming waves, he’ll come down off his high and avoid a trip to the psyche ward.

Enforce The Border As A Vigilante

“The Civil Border Patrol” mission begins by traveling out to the Grand Senora Desert to meet with Josef and Joe. After their initial meeting, the pair asks Trevor to join their vigilante crusade to protect the border in the worst way possible. Trevor happily agrees to help.

The player then joins the two as they head to the Yellow Jacket Inn, where they believe they’ll find their next catch. After a thorough inspection of the properties yields no results, Trevor sees two men take their leave in a hot rod, and the player then has to chase them down and subdue them using a stun gun.