Gangs have played an important role in the Grand Theft Auto franchise, with many of them causing issues for the main protagonists. However, several have also become important allies on missions as well. Whether it's a street gang or an organized crime family, gangs have featured heavily in the franchise's storylines.
In a lot of the games, the main protagonist will be part of one of these gangs, and the player will see the action from their point of view.
On occasion, street gangs and organized crime families clash, but in equal measure, they can appear to work together. Whatever the situation, the player needs to accept their existence in the world, in order to survive.
9 Altruist Cult
One of the most disturbing gangs in Grand Theft Auto 5 is the Altruist cult who are situated in the Chiliad Mountain state wilderness. They are also featured in GTA Online, where the player can visit a stash house on their land, and encounter one of the hardest raids for stolen money.
The gang largely consists of elderly men with a hatred of technology and every generation that followed them. They walk around naked and in the story mode, Trevor has connections with them. In exchange for money rewards, he delivers random encounters to them.
8 Los Santos Vagos
The Los Santos Vagos are a big Mexican street gang who appear in GTA 5 and GTA: Online. They pride themselves on being the largest Latinx street gang in the whole of Los Santos.
They are thought to have connections with some of the big Mafia families, and are proud supporters of LS Pounders football team. Their main criminal enterprise is drug trafficking, but it becomes known that they have moved into mid level distribution as well. The Vagos control the whole of Rancho and can often be seen on the sidewalk in small groups, smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol.
7 Varrios Los Aztecas
This gang is featured as the secondary antagonists in GTA: San Andreas. They aren't a major part of the story, but they did leave a lasting impression on fans.
It's mentioned on the radio that the Aztecas were in a war with the Vagos in East Los Santos, and this is interesting as that area was controlled by the Ballas. They are a gang that could potentially be fleshed out properly in a future installment of the franchise.
6 Ballas
Ballas are a nasty street gang primarily featured in GTA 5, though they do appear in GTA: San Andreas as well. They deal in many things, including drug manufacturing and drug trading.
The gang seems to have a beef with Franklin, and tend to attack him when they see him. They also have a rivalry with the crime families. For weapons, the gang uses knives and guns, and they are easy to identify in their distinctive purple attire.
5 Grove Street Families
The protagonist gang in GTA: San Andreas is the Grove Street Families. One of their leaders is fan favorite, CJ Johnson. They are an African American gang and the arch enemies of the Ballas. Both gangs also have strong rivalries with the Varrios Los Aztecas and the Los Santos Vagos.
Their territories are usually found in the poorer neighborhoods of the city. The green gang color is a sign that the player has entered their territory, and should be careful not to stir up any fights.
4 Los Santos Triads
Wei Cheng Triad was the former name of the Los Santos Triads, the largest Chinese crime syndicate in Grand Theft Auto 5. They are the secondary villains in the game, alongside the Ballas and The Lost MC.
Wei Cheng is the head of the organization. He ends up dead when Franklin arrives to rescue Michael after he is captured and held at Raven Slaughterhouse by the triads.
3 The Russian Mafia
The Russian Mafia are the major antagonists of Grand Theft Auto 4. They are a ruthless gang who don't care who they hurt in their quest to reach the heights of the underworld.
One of the major players in the Russian mafia is Dimitri Rascalov, who forces fan favorite Niko Bellic to kill their boss, Mikhail Faustin. Rascalov is a nasty gangster who gets his comeuppance in the final act of the game. He provides plenty of entertainment throughout the game to make GTA 4 one of the best entries in the long-running saga.
2 The Madrazo Cartel
The Madrazo Cartel are a huge drug syndicate in GTA 5 and GTA: Online, and they play an instrumental role in the plot. Members of the Madrazo Cartel are typically young Hispanic men who wear Flying Bravo polo shirts. The gang is ruthless and strike fear into the people of San Andreas.
They are heavily involved in the drug trade, but also operate in arms trafficking, and a bit of prostitution on the side. The big boss is Martin Madrazo, who very much runs the business as a family operation, with his son Miguel and his cousin Javier running things on street level.
1 The Leone Crime Family
Salvatore Leone is a legendary character in the Grand Theft Auto franchise, as he is the head of the most powerful Mafia family in GTA 3. The Leone family run everything and experience very limited resistance from rival gangs in Liberty City.
They are based on the Corleone family in The Godfather, and their involvement in gambling is inspired by the famous fictional Cosa Nostra family. They have appeared in many entries in the franchise, which cements their place as the top gang in the franchise.