GTA VI Prologue Missions: Complete Opening Chapter Walkthrough

The GTA VI prologue serves as one of the most ambitious opening chapters in Rockstar Games history. Spanning five tightly paced missions set across Leonida’s contrasting landscapes, the prologue introduces players to dual protagonists Jason and Lucia while establishing the economic desperation that drives the game’s central narrative.

This complete walkthrough covers every prologue mission in detail, from the opening cinematic to the pivotal moment the duo arrives in Vice City proper. Whether you are hunting gold medals on a replay or experiencing the story for the first time, this guide provides everything you need to master the opening chapter.

Prologue Mission Overview

Before diving into individual mission walkthroughs, here is a quick-reference table for the five prologue missions.

Mission 1: A Fresh Start

Opening Cinematic

The game opens on a dusty morning at the Port Gellhorn Trailer Park on the outskirts of Leonida. Lucia Alvarez, recently released from a five-year prison sentence, stands outside her mother’s trailer with nothing but a state-issued discharge bag and a bus ticket she cannot afford to use. The cinematography immediately establishes the economic hardship of rural Leonida — a deliberate contrast to the neon-lit Vice City players will encounter later.

Gameplay Walkthrough

Objective: Follow the on-screen prompts to move Lucia through the trailer park.

This mission serves as the basic movement tutorial. Follow the marker to Lucia’s mother’s trailer. Along the way, you will encounter contextual prompts for:

• Basic movement — Left stick to walk, hold A/X to jog, tap to sprint
• Camera control — Right stick to look around; press R3/RS to look behind
• Interaction — Press Right D-Pad to greet NPCs (optional but recommended for the full tutorial experience)

Objective: Search the trailer for Lucia’s old belongings.

Enter the trailer and navigate to the back bedroom. Interact with the nightstand drawer to find Lucia’s old phone, a faded photograph, and a small amount of cash ($40). The photograph triggers a brief flashback cutscene providing backstory on Lucia’s past.

Objective: Answer the phone.

After a scripted phone call from Lucia’s parole officer — introducing the parole mechanic that limits certain activities early in the game — exit the trailer.

Objective: Meet Jason at the diner.

This segment introduces driving controls. A worn Declasse Granger SUV is parked near the trailer. Drive approximately 1.2 miles to the Starlite Diner. The game teaches:

• Vehicle entry and exit
• Acceleration, braking, and handbrake turns
• Mini-map navigation and GPS route setting
• Wanted level introduction (you will not gain stars here but the HUD element is explained)

Gold Medal Objectives

• Time: Complete within 8:00
• Headhunter: Score 3 headshots during the combat tutorial (does not apply to this mission — no combat)
• Untouched: Take no damage
• Efficient Travel: Do not deviate from the GPS route by more than 50 meters
• Story Complete: Finish the mission

Collectibles

No collectibles are available during this mission. The open-world collectible system unlocks after completing “Welcome to Vice.”

Mission 2: Repo Business

Mission Summary

This mission introduces players to Jason, a small-time repo man working for a shady Port Gellhorn used-car dealership. It serves as the vehicle-based tutorial and introduces basic combat mechanics.

Gameplay Walkthrough

Objective: Drive to the Port Gellhorn Used Auto dealership.

The perspective shifts to Jason on a humid Leonida morning. Your first task is driving Jason’s personal vehicle — a beat-up Karin Boor — to the dealership. The drive covers approximately 0.8 miles through rural Leonida farmland roads.

Objective: Repossess three vehicles from across Port Gellhorn.

This segment teaches the core vehicle repossession mechanic. The three target vehicles are:

1. Karin Asterope — Parked outside a diner on Route 68. The owner is inside eating. Simply enter and drive away. This introduces the “quiet repossession” approach.

2. Vapid Dominator — Parked at a gas station. The owner confronts Jason. This introduces melee combat: dodge (B/Circle), punch (B/Circle while near enemy), and grapple (X/Square). Knock out the owner and take the car.

3. Declasse Sabre Turbo — The owner is actively driving. This introduces vehicle pursuit mechanics and the PIT maneuver. Ram the vehicle to disable it (press R3/RS while alongside), then enter and return it.

Objective: Return to the dealership.

After returning all three vehicles, a cutscene plays: Jason receives a meager payout ($120) from his boss, establishing the financial desperation that motivates him to partner with Lucia.

Gold Medal Objectives

• Time: Complete within 15:00
• Headhunter: Score 5 headshots during the gas station confrontation
• Untouched: Take no damage during the melee combat sequence
• Efficient Travel: Return all three vehicles with less than $200 combined damage
• Story Complete: Finish the mission

Mission 3: The Port Gellhorn Score

Mission Summary

The narrative converges. Jason and Lucia, both desperate for money, agree to rob a small cash-handling operation at the Port Gellhorn docks. This mission introduces the character-switching mechanic, stealth systems, and the game’s first proper gunfight.

Gameplay Walkthrough

Phase 1: Reconnaissance (Lucia)

Control Lucia as she scouts the dock warehouse from a nearby rooftop. Use the camera (Up on D-Pad) to tag guards and mark entry points. This introduces:

• Stealth tagging — Mark up to 5 enemies; tagged enemies remain visible through walls
• Camera zoom — Click R3/RS while aiming the camera for magnification
• Character switching — Hold Down on D-Pad to switch to Jason

Phase 2: Infiltration (Jason)

Switch to Jason, who is positioned at the rear fence. This segment teaches:

• Stealth movement — Click L3/LS to toggle crouch; move slowly near surfaces for cover
• Takedowns — Approach an unaware enemy from behind and press B/Circle for a silent takedown
• Body disposal — Hold B/Circle near a downed enemy to drag and hide the body

Phase 3: The Heist (Both Characters)

After disabling the security panel (simple minigame), the actual robbery begins:

• Switch between Jason and Lucia to manage different threats
• Lucia handles the vault room (timed lockpicking minigame)
• Jason provides cover and manages hostages in the main office
• The police arrive after the vault opens — introducing the escape and evade wanted-level system

Escaping the Cops

Once you grab the cash ($2,400 split), the wanted level activates at two stars. Lose the cops by:

• Breaking line of sight (indicated by the cone-of-vision mini-map display)
• Changing vehicles to reset police awareness
• Hiding in alleyways or under overpasses

Gold Medal Objectives

• Time: Complete within 20:00
• Headhunter: Score 10 headshots
• Untouched: Take no damage during the escape sequence
• Stealth Expert: Complete the infiltration without alerting any guards before the vault opens
• Story Complete: Finish the mission

Hidden Detail

Listen closely to the dock workers’ ambient dialogue before the robbery begins. One conversation foreshadows a major antagonist you will encounter in the main story missions.

Mission 4: Crossing the Line

Mission Summary

With their Port Gellhorn score attracting unwanted attention from local law enforcement, Jason and Lucia make the decision to flee rural Leonida for Vice City. This mission is a vehicle-heavy chase sequence that teaches advanced driving techniques.

Gameplay Walkthrough

Objective: Pack up and leave Port Gellhorn.

The mission begins at Jason’s trailer. You control Lucia, who must quickly gather supplies while Jason readies the getaway vehicle. A timer adds pressure but is generous enough for first-time players.

Objective: Escape the Port Gellhorn Sheriff’s Department.

Once both characters are in the vehicle (a stolen Declasse Tulip M-100), a three-star wanted level triggers. The escape covers approximately 4 miles of highway through Kelly County. Key driving techniques introduced:

• Drafting — Follow closely behind large vehicles to reduce police helicopter visibility
• Off-road shortcuts — The GPS route is not always optimal; look for dirt paths through orange groves
• Vehicle-switch escapes — The mission teaches switching vehicles mid-pursuit to reset police attention

Objective: Lose the heat in the Everglades.

The pursuit leads into the Leonida Everglades (the game’s analogue to the Florida Everglades). This swampy area teaches:

• Airboat operation — Your first experience with the airboat vehicle type
• Environmental concealment — Hiding among mangrove trees and tall grass
• Wanted-level decay — How time and concealment reduce your wanted level

Gold Medal Objectives

• Time: Complete within 15:00
• Headhunter: Score 8 headshots during the driving segments (shooting from vehicle)
• Untouched: The vehicle must take less than 30% damage
• Off-Road King: Use at least 3 off-road shortcuts
• Story Complete: Finish the mission

Mission 5: Welcome to Vice

Mission Summary

The final prologue mission introduces players to Vice City proper. Jason and Lucia, now officially fugitives, arrive in the city’s North District and must establish a foothold in the criminal underworld. This mission is the longest in the prologue and serves as the bridge to the open-world experience.

Gameplay Walkthrough

Phase 1: Arrival in Vice City

A cinematic montage plays as Jason and Lucia cross the Vice City bridge at dawn. The camera pans across the skyline — a dense, neon-lit metropolis that immediately communicates the scale difference from rural Port Gellhorn. This sequence is fully interactive in New Game Plus.

Phase 2: Finding Shelter

You control Jason as he navigates the North District to find a safehouse. This segment is semi-open: you can explore a limited section of north Vice City, including:

• A convenience store (introducing the robbery side-activity)
• A clothing store (introducing outfit customization)
• An Ammu-Nation (introducing weapon purchasing — though funds are limited)

Objective: Meet with an old contact.

Follow the GPS to a rundown apartment complex in Vice City’s Little Havana district. Here, players meet Elena Vasquez, a fixer who becomes the primary mission-giver for the early chapters of the main story. Elena provides:

• A safehouse (your first permanent save location)
• Information about local criminal opportunities
• An introduction to the main story missions structure

Phase 3: The Initiation

Elena sends Jason and Lucia on a simple errand — roughing up a low-level drug dealer who has been shorting his payments. This combat-focused segment teaches:

• Cover system — Press R1/RB near walls, vehicles, and objects
• Blind fire — Press R2/RT while in cover without aiming
• Weapon wheel — Hold L1/LB to select weapons and equipment
• Special abilities — Each character’s unique skill:
  • Jason’s Eagle Eye — Slows time while aiming, highlighting enemy weak points
  • Lucia’s Ghost Step — Temporarily reduces footstep noise and detection radius

Post-Mission Unlocks

After completing “Welcome to Vice,” the following features unlock:

• Full open-world exploration of Vice City and Leonida
• Character switching at any time (outside of missions)
• Side activities and side missions
• Property purchasing (limited at first)
• The contacts app on your in-game phone

Gold Medal Objectives

• Time: Complete within 25:00
• Headhunter: Score 12 headshots during the initiation combat
• Untouched: Take no damage during the initiation shootout
• Explorer: Visit all 4 optional locations during Phase 2
• Ability Master: Use both Jason’s Eagle Eye and Lucia’s Ghost Step at least once each
• Story Complete: Finish the mission

Prologue Completion Rewards

Finishing all five prologue missions unlocks:

Prologue Tips for New Players

Master Character Switching Early

The dual-protagonist system is central to GTA VI. Practice switching between Jason and Lucia during the open segments of “Welcome to Vice” to understand how each character’s special ability complements the other. Jason excels in direct combat scenarios, while Lucia’s stealth capabilities open alternative approaches to many situations.

Do Not Skip the Optional Exploration

During “Welcome to Vice,” the four optional locations scattered through the North District contain permanent stat boosts and unique dialogue that enriches the story. These are not marked on the mini-map until you are close, so explore thoroughly.

Build Good Habits

The prologue is your training ground for the game’s more demanding mechanics. Pay attention to:

• Cover usage — Enemies in GTA VI are more aggressive than in previous entries. Using cover is not optional on higher difficulties.
• Headshot prioritization — Ammo is scarce early in the game. Headshots conserve resources and build accuracy stats.
• Vehicle maintenance — Damaged vehicles perform worse. Visit Los Santos Customs equivalents between missions.

Conversation Choices Matter

GTA VI introduces a light dialogue system. Choices made during prologue conversations — particularly between Jason and Lucia — affect their relationship meter. A high relationship meter unlocks cooperative perks in later missions, while a low meter limits tactical options. For more on the relationship system, see our Characters guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About the GTA VI Prologue

Can I skip the prologue on subsequent playthroughs?

GTA VI does not offer a prologue-skip option on a fresh save file. However, once you have completed the game once, New Game Plus allows you to start directly after the prologue with all previously unlocked weapons and abilities. Rockstar has stated this is a deliberate design choice to ensure new players experience the full tutorial sequence.

Are there any missable achievements in the prologue?

One achievement, “Clean Getaway,” requires completing the Port Gellhorn Score without triggering the alarm before the vault opens. This is missable if you progress past the prologue without earning it, though the Mission Replay feature allows you to retry it at any time.

What vehicles are available during the prologue?

The prologue provides limited vehicle access: the Declasse Granger (Lucia’s mother’s vehicle), the Karin Boor (Jason’s personal vehicle), the Declasse Tulip M-100 (the getaway car), and an airboat. The full vehicle roster — including high-end sports cars, helicopters, and boats — unlocks after completing the prologue. See our Vehicles guide for the complete catalog.

Does the prologue change based on my playstyle?

Minor variations exist. Approaching the Port Gellhorn Score with a stealth focus versus an aggressive approach changes NPC dialogue during the escape. The game tracks your “preferred style” based on prologue behavior and will suggest approach options tailored to your playstyle in later heist missions.

Where can I find prologue collectibles?

No permanent collectibles are accessible during the prologue. However, several environmental storytelling items (newspaper clippings, photographs, letters) appear during the prologue missions. These do not count toward any completion metric but provide rich backstory about Jason and Lucia’s lives before the events of the game.

Is the prologue fully co-op?

No. While GTA VI features cooperative elements throughout the main story, the prologue is a strictly single-player experience designed to teach core mechanics individually. Cooperative play unlocks in the first post-prologue mission chapter. For details on co-op features, see our Guides section.

Are prologue missions different on harder difficulties?

The prologue difficulty is fixed at Normal regardless of your overall difficulty setting. Enemy health, damage values, and checkpoint frequency are standardized across all players for the tutorial chapter. After the prologue, the game respects your chosen difficulty level for all subsequent main story missions.

What Comes After the Prologue?

Once you complete the prologue, GTA VI opens up significantly. We recommend the following guides to continue your journey:

• Main Story Missions — A complete walkthrough of every story mission in the game, organized by chapter
• Heist Missions — Everything you need to know about planning and executing the game’s major scores
• Side Missions — All optional activities, their rewards, and when to complete them for maximum benefit
• Gold Medal Guide — Detailed strategies for earning gold medals on every mission, including the prologue

The prologue is just the beginning. Vice City and the state of Leonida are the largest, most densely detailed open worlds Rockstar has ever created. Take your time, explore every corner, and enjoy the ride.