[News] GTA 5's Most Exhilarating Missions That AREN'T Heists

[#Drennn.]

Grand Theft Auto 5's heists are often considered to be the best missions in the game. Here are three non-heist missions that are equally fun.

Grand Theft Auto 5 is brimming with high-octane missions that Rockstar Games liberally scattered throughout the virtual city of Los Santos. GTA 5's heists are often regarded as the most chaotic and devilishly fun quests that give players several ways to tackle increasingly daring, Mission Impossible-style robberies. While these grand larcenies have become some of the game's most memorable moments, there are countless other side quests and story missions that are equally as thrilling.

Rockstar designed Los Santos to be a living and breathing world that will constantly surprise players no matter how many times they've returned to the bustling cityscape. GTA 5 is home to a treasure trove of secrets and Easter eggs that gamers could spend months trying to find. Those hidden gems are complemented by a massive roster of can't-miss minor missions and heart-pumping storylines that are every bit as exhilarating as the game's heists.

Rockstar lets players do everything from solving a cold murder case to fending off a swarm of alien attackers and getting roped into a shady battle between two government agencies. Every square foot of Los Santos is full of colorfully chaotic characters and unexpected events that have made GTA 5 one of the most memorable open-world adventures in recent memory. Here are three of the most exciting game missions that aren't heists.

[Warning: Grand Theft Auto 5 spoilers below.]

GTA 5 Best Non-Heist Missions: Grass Roots

In the game, GTA 5 protagonists - Michael, Trevor, and Franklin - will all receive a Strangers and Freaks side mission, called Grass Roots, at different points of the story. A marijuana legalization activist named Barry will offer the characters a sample of his special strain of weed that has a distinct effect on Michael, Trevor, and Franklin. Both Michael and Trevor are thrown into a hallucination-induced rage that requires Michael to spray down alien invaders with a minigun, while Trevor assaults an army of clowns with a shotgun. On the other hand, Franklin isn't affected by Barry's grass and is instead asked to complete a favor for him.

The Strangers and Freaks side missions are supposed to keep players guessing what outlandish characters Rockstar will introduce players to next. Grass Roots is particularly special because it results in a thrilling mini-game for Michael and Trevor, and it gives hilarious insight into the characters' reaction to marijuana and some of their irrational fears. It features subtle storytelling, exciting gunplay, and side-splitting interactions with Barry.

GTA 5 Best Non-Heist Missions: Three's Company

While the Grass Roots quests feature a dedicated story snippet for Michael, Trevor, and Franklin, Three's Company is the first GTA 5 mission that sees the trio collaborate as a unit. The Federal Investigation Bureau coerces Michael into extracting a person of interest from the International Affairs Agency's skyscraper headquarters, which Michael accomplishes with the help of Trevor and Franklin. Trevor pilots the helicopter that lets Michael break into the 36th floor of the IAA building, while Franklin provides support and cover with a sniper rifle from atop a neighboring building.

Three's Company is the precursor to GTA 5's heists and serves as an exciting tutorial of how the game's protagonists will work together to accomplish even more dangerous robberies. Switching between perspectives and timing Michael's entrance and escape for the first time is an addictive thrill ride that will have newcomers glued to their screens. It's also a key moment in the story that unlocks the ability to freely swap between Michael, Trevor, and Franklin at any point while exploring Los Santos and leading into GTA 5's controversial torture scene.

GTA 5 Best Non-Heist Missions: The Wrap Up

Three's Company introduced players to the clash between the FIB and IAA, and The Wrap Up is GTA 5's climax to the rivalry between both agencies. Michael meets his FIB contact Dave Norton for a debrief, but the meeting quickly turns into a standoff when Dave is betrayed by his partner that attempts to arrest him and Michael. The IAA and the mercenary group Merryweather also show up when tensions are high, which results in an all-out firefight that players need to navigate using primarily Michael, with Trevor making an unexpected appearance later in the missions.

The main story quest is an unforgettable moment of sheer mayhem that is one of  GTA 5's most exciting firefights. To top it off, The Wrap Up also sows distrust among the game's three protagonists, which eventually leads to players having to make one of three decisions of how to end Grand Theft Auto 5.