The 10 Most STRESSFUL Moments in GTA Games

The 10 Most Stressful Moments in GTA Games

Welcome to MojoPlays, and are you a 90s baby who grew up to develop high blood pressure? Its probably Grand Theft Autos fault. Today, were looking at the 10 Most Stressful Moments in GTA Games. Hard doesnt always mean stressful, but stressful almost always means hard. Let's split some hairs!

Tanker Commander

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)

Its hard to argue that Catalina isnt one of the most stress inducing characters in the Grand Theft Auto series, and the mission Tanker Commander gets off to a rough start thanks to Catalinas constant yelling, which doesnt let up for a second a goddamn second. Im not kidding. Things only get worse when you're tasked with stealing a gas-filled tanker while under fire from enemies trying to blow you up or ram you off the road. Considering the tanker is extremely volatile and can explode with the slightest mistake, the whole mission becomes a tense, frustrating ordeal. Ive perfected my method, and Im still sweating from the brow the second Catalina points her gun at the bulletproof glass.

Robbing Uncle Sam

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)

Im gonna drop a real early spoiler on you guys. GTA San Andreas features a LOT on this list. Theres no doubt that patience is essential for getting through missions in GTA: San Andreas, and Robbing Uncle Sam is no exception. After arriving at Ocean Docks with Ryder, youll need to open the gates and then fend off waves of soldiers while loading crates into the van. The forklift controls are clunky, making the task even more frustrating. On top of that, Ryder constantly needs backup, as he struggles to deal with the growing number of enemies. Between the awkward vehicle handling and non-stop gunfire, this mission quickly tests your stress levels. Doing any slow task while bullets are flying past your head is as stressful as it gets.

Death Row

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)

Before San Andreas strolled onto the scene, Vice City was considered pretty damn stressful itself, and its missions like Death Row that are as prime of an example as it gets. As the name implies, this mission practically demands trial and error before you finally complete it. You're racing against the clock to reach the scrapyard before Lance dies, with his health rapidly draining the entire time. Its a tense, high-pressure drive where every second counts. Youll need to move fast and avoid mistakes if you want to save Lance and prevent the frustration of starting the mission all over again. Start again - stress rises - you get worse at the game. Its a dangerous cycle.

O.G. Loc

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)

OG Loc makes me feel stressed even before we do missions for him. Just lower the register of your voice by like 4 semitones... PLEASE. After picking up OG Loc from the police station, you're sent to track down Freddy, who OG Loc wants eliminated. Once Freddy makes a run for it, the chase becomes frustrating, navigating tight alleyways while trying to stay locked on your target from a motorbike is no easy task. The dense traffic only adds to the challenge, making it far too easy to crash or lose him. Ding a car lightly, and youll both go flying off the bike. Also, Loc doesnt rush back to the bike, he lightly jogs. This mission isnt as simple as it first appears.

Three Leaf Clover

Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)

Grand Theft Auto IV changed the pace of the gameplay from the previous entries. The new car handling and gameplay style had its own moments of stress, but pulling off a multi-million dollar bank heist was as stressful as it got. Once youve secured the cash, the LCPD is already waiting at the front door to greet you. From there, its a chaotic escape through narrow alleys with cops in hot pursuit. The pressure doesnt let up until you shake off your wanted level and make it safely back to the McReary residence. Staying calm and navigating carefully is key, and this is one getaway that demands both skill and composure. Unfortunately, I dont have a lot of either.

S.A.M

Grand Theft Auto III (2001)

S.A.M. (short for Surface to Air Missile) is easily one of the toughest missions in the GTA series. In it, Claude is tasked with retrieving packages at the airport. After arriving in Shoreside Vale, you must time your rocket launcher shot perfectly to take down the Dodo as it approaches the runway. Landing that hit is challenging enough, but once you destroy the plane, the NCPD comes down hard, turning your escape into a chaotic, high-stakes showdown. The stress from this mission obviously comes from the mission itself, but it also comes from how often this mission gets repeated, especially by first time players.

Flight School

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)

Learning to Fly in San Andreas is a true test of patience and aerial control. The flight mechanics are awkward at best, making every lesson feel like an uphill battle, especially if youre playing on PC, which I know a lot of you did. Whether youre missing hoops by inches or crashing in bizarre ways, expect plenty of frustrating attempts. Each challenge ramps up in difficulty, forcing you to master the basics before moving on. Its easy to feel overwhelmed, or even tempted to throw your controller across the room, but stick with it. With enough practice, your skills will improve, and guess what? They better, because this school is compulsory.

Supply Lines

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004)

Thats right, were not done talking flying in GTA San Andreas. Nearly every mission involving aerial vehicles in San Andreas is notoriously tricky, and Supply Lines is no exception. This mission is unforgettable, not because its fun, but because completing it feels like having your toenails pulled off in an interrogation. Youre tasked with piloting a miniature RC plane to take out multiple moving targets, and the awkward, clunky controls make the task feel nearly impossible. Precision is essential, but the handling works against you at every turn, turning the mission into a frustrating grind. Fuel drops quickly, health drops quicker, the whole thing sucks d**k.

Demolition Man

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002)

Easily the toughest mission in GTA Vice City, that is what also makes it the most stressful, and trust me, youll be repeating this a few times on your first go. Demolition Man is far from a casual task. It demands patience, precision, and plenty of retries. You're tasked with piloting a remote-controlled helicopter to pick up and plant four bombs at various points inside a construction site, all under a strict time limit - a time limit that makes the stress levels skyrocket. With no checkpoints, any mistake means starting over from the very beginning. To make things worse, the controls are clunky and unintuitive, making an already difficult mission even more frustrating. Its a true test of perseverance and restraint, restraint from snapping the PS2 over your knee like a shaolin monk.

Getting Masterminds Achievement

Grand Theft Auto Online (2013)

The most difficult achievement in GTA V is easily Masterminds. To earn it, you must complete all three Criminal Mastermind challenges from The Doomsday Heist without any team member dying, on hard mode, with the same group throughout. Im gonna repeat that again: hard mode, same group. What the f**k? The three Criminal Mastermind challenges require you to beat the Doomsday Heist in order not once, but three times: with two players, then three, and finally four. Its brutally demanding, requiring flawless teamwork, coordination and communication. This achievement is the ultimate test of co-op endurance.