Niko Bellic didn't come to America for the scenery. He came because Roman lied about the mansions and the sports cars. If you’ve spent any time behind the wheel of a cracked-windshield Cavalcade, you know that the GTA 4 mission list isn't just a series of chores. It’s a slow-burn descent into the American Dream’s dumpster. Honestly, playing through it again in 2026 makes you realize how much modern gaming has lost that gritty, heavy-physics feel. Rockstar wasn't trying to make you a superhero here. They were trying to make you feel the weight of every bullet and every bad decision.
It’s long. Really long.
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Depending on how you count them—considering the choices and the branching paths—the GTA 4 mission list clocks in at around 88 main story missions. That’s not counting the random encounters or the "Most Wanted" side hustles. Some people say it drags in the middle. Maybe. But the pacing serves a purpose. You start by picking up Roman’s drunk friends and end up orchestrating a multi-million dollar bank heist that inspired an entire genre of heist games.
The Early Days of Broker and Dukes
You start small. The Cousins Bellic is basically a driving tutorial disguised as a reunion. It's cold, it’s grey, and the car handling feels like driving a boat on ice. That was intentional. Rockstar North, led by Dan Houser at the time, wanted Liberty City to feel oppressive. You aren't doing high-octane stunts yet. You’re working for Vlad Glebov, a low-level Russian parasite who thinks he’s a kingpin.
Missions like It’s Your Birthday and Three-Card Monte introduce you to the mechanics, but the story doesn't truly kick off until Uncle Vlad. That’s the turning point. Niko kills a made man for disrespecting his family, and suddenly, the "safe" world of Broker is gone. You’re thrust into the service of Mikhail Faustin and Kenny Petrović. The mission Final Destination is a masterclass in early-game tension, forcing you to hunt down a target on the subway tracks. It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s peak GTA.
Stepping Into the Big Leagues: Algonquin and Beyond
Once the bridges open up, the GTA 4 mission list explodes in complexity. You move from being a Russian mob errand boy to working for the McReary family, Italian mobsters, and even the "United Liberty Paper" guy—who we all know is basically a CIA handler.
Three Leaf Clover is the mission everyone remembers. It’s the bank job. If you haven't played it in a decade, you might forget how punishing the escape through the subways is. There are no mid-mission checkpoints like in GTA 5. If you die right at the end because you clipped a police cruiser, you're starting back at Packie’s mom’s house. It’s brutal, but it makes the victory feel earned.
Then you have the Pegorino arc. Jimmy Pegorino is a pathetic character, honestly. He’s a guy trying to get a seat at a table that doesn't exist anymore. Working for him in missions like Payback or Flatline feels dirty. You can see Niko’s soul eroding with every phone call.
The Choices That Actually Matter
Rockstar experimented with player agency here more than people give them credit for. In the GTA 4 mission list, you often have to decide who lives and who dies.
- Ivan the Not So Terrible: Do you let him hang or kick him off?
- The Holland Play: Kill Playboy X or Dwayne? (Always kill Playboy, his apartment is way better).
- Blood Brothers: Francis or Derrick McReary? This one is dark. Killing a cop brother for a criminal brother—or vice versa—changes the tone of the late game significantly.
These aren't just "good vs. evil" choices. They’re "bad vs. slightly less bad." It fits the narrative. Niko is a man trapped by his past, and these choices emphasize that no matter what he does, someone is getting hurt.
The Infamous "Middle Slump"
Critics often point to the missions involving Elizabetha Torres and Manny Escuela as filler. The Snow Storm is a great shootout, sure, but some of the drug running feels repetitive. Honestly, though? It builds the world. It shows that Liberty City is full of people who think they’re the main character, only for Niko to realize they're just another obstacle.
The pacing shifts when you hit the Ray Boccino missions. Boccino is a slimeball, but he leads you to the "Lost and Damned" crossover moments. Seeing Johnny Klebitz in the background of missions like Museum Piece was mind-blowing back in 2008. It made the city feel alive, like things were happening even when Niko wasn't in the room.
Technical Nuance: Why the Mission List is Harder Than You Remember
If you're looking at a GTA 4 mission list to plan a replay, keep the physics in mind. This isn't the arcade handling of GTA 5.
- The Euphoria Engine: Every bullet impact staggers enemies. You can't just spray and pray; you have to use cover.
- No Health Regen: You need those hot dog stands and vending machines.
- The Phone: Getting a call mid-mission can actually change the objective. If you ignore Roman, it might have consequences later for your friendship buffs (like the free taxi rides).
The mission A Dish Served Cold is arguably one of the toughest towards the end. Taking on an entire cargo ship full of Russians requires actual strategy. You can’t just rush the deck. You have to pick them off from the cranes or use grenades to clear the tight hallways. It’s a grueling slog that perfectly sets up the finale.
The Ending: Revenge or Deal?
The entire GTA 4 mission list leads to one final, agonizing choice. Do you take the deal with Dimitri Rascalov, the man who betrayed you, or do you go for revenge?
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If you choose Revenge, you lose Kate McReary.
If you choose Deal, you lose Roman.
Losing Roman is objectively worse for gameplay because you lose the free taxis, but narratively, it’s devastating. The mission Out of Commission (Revenge path) or A Revenger’s Tragedy (Deal path) both involve a high-speed chase involving a dirt bike and a helicopter. It’s notoriously glitchy on modern PCs if your frame rate is too high—the final jump often fails because the game engine can't register the button mashing. If you’re playing on a 144Hz monitor, you might need to cap it at 30fps just to finish the game.
Final Thoughts on the Grand Theft Auto 4 Journey
The GTA 4 mission list is a journey through a cynical, biting satire of New York. It’s not always "fun" in the traditional sense. It’s stressful. It’s muddy. But it’s one of the most cohesive stories Rockstar has ever told. It doesn't have the jetpacks of San Andreas or the three-character gimmick of GTA 5. It just has Niko, his cousin, and a very long list of people who need to be dealt with.
If you are planning a full 100% completion run, remember that the "Main Missions" are only about 60% of the total progress. You still have the 50 stunt jumps, the 200 pigeons (the "Flying Rats"), and the endless friend activities. Does anyone actually want to go bowling with Brucie? Probably not. But that’s Liberty City for you.
To get the most out of your next playthrough, try these specific steps:
- Cap your FPS to 30 or 60: This prevents the "final mission helicopter bug" and keeps the physics from breaking.
- Focus on the Friendship Perks: Get Jacob’s friendship up to 75% early. Having a gun dealer drive to your location saves a massive amount of time between missions.
- Listen to the Radio: The news reports on the radio actually update based on the missions you’ve completed. It’s one of the best ways to see how Niko’s actions are changing the city’s landscape.
- Check the Police Computer: During the "Most Wanted" side missions, use the car's computer to find lore on the targets. It adds a lot of flavor to what would otherwise be generic hits.