GTA Roleplaying servers: how to get started

For almost as long as Grand Theft Auto Online has been available on PC, there have been modders trying to create the most authentic, realistic experience for a group of players to enjoy with it. While some mods for GTA V do allow you to live the life of a random NPC, GTA Online is completely different and much more complicated. However, GTA roleplaying (GTA RP) servers have popped up over the last few years, and grown exponentially both in popularity with players, and those who watch streamers play in them on Twitch. Understanding what these servers are is a minefield. And figuring out how to get approved to play on them — let alone actually playing them — is even more so.

This guide will walk you through GTA RP servers and everything that you need to know.

What are GTA RP servers?

The simplest way to explain a GTA RP server is to say that it’s a GTA game in which you aren’t the protagonist. Instead, players take on the role of police, criminals, shopkeepers, ambulance drivers, taxi drivers, or anything else you can imagine. This is made possible by the mod, or collection of mods, applied to a server.

Most servers don’t use the same mods, since each one offers a distinctly unique roleplaying experience within Los Santos. In order to play on one properly you’ll also likely need to be part of the relevant Discord community, and definitely have the required mods downloaded to your PC.

The general rule with any GTA RP server is ‘don’t break character.’ All players want these worlds to feel real. While there is some leniency for just how immersive everyone has to keep it, you won’t get to stick around in one for long if you mess around and play like this is GTA V.

Getting the right mods

As I mentioned above, you’ll need the correct set of mods if you want to join a GTA RP server. Finding these is easier than you’d think, because most of these servers use a single package that collects together everything you need. The most popular of these is FiveM, which is widely used and should be absolutely fine for anyone to download without fear of malware or other malicious software. FiveM does require you to turn off your antivirus however, which I wouldn’t feel great about to be honest. If you’re looking for a mod that doesn’t ask this of you, then you could try out Rage MP Client, which is used by the Eclipse Roleplay server.

Joining a GTA RP server

This is probably the hardest part of playing GTA Online in any sort of RP server. The communities are acutely aware that there are people out there who want to come into these servers and mess things up.

As a result of this sort of behavior, most GTA RP servers have an application form for you to fill out. Even once your application has been accepted, you’ll be put in a queue most of the time before you can actually get onto the server. During this time, the best thing to do is be active in the Discord server, and prove to the moderators that you’re not looking to cause any trouble. Once you’re in, you need to keep up the good behavior, otherwise you’ll find yourself getting kicked out.

GTA RP servers to play on

Since there are so many different servers you could play on out there, here are some of the GTA RP servers that you can look into playing on today.

NoPixel

This is possibly the most popular server out there, and as a result it’s also the toughest to join. Currently, the server is only accepting players who donate, just to give you an idea of what’s required. Up to 32 players are able to play at a time, and some of the biggest streamers playing GTA RP have used this community.

Eclipse RP

This server allows for up to 200 players at any one time, but it’s another one that generally only accepts those who donate to support it. The Discord server lays out all of the crime factions that you can join, and it looks like a really fun server to get in on, if you want to play GTA RP.

GTA World

This server is very different to all the others because it is purely text-based. If you hate chatting to other people online, don’t want to be yelled at, or just don’t have a mic, this server is your best option. It’s quite well populated, with about 500 members, but it’s always worth trying to get in if you really want to play here.

Mafia City

This server is the one for those who want a GTA RP crime experience. It took two years just to get the server up and running, and now it’s fully operational. You can ascend through the ranks of the Mafia, and become a power-hungry CEO. Every building is available to purchase, and there are very few limits to the number of ‘legitimate’ businesses you can have on the side. This is the server I would go for if I wanted something different from GTA Online.

The Family RP

The Family RP feels like a meta game. Once you’ve applied to the server, you’ll be judged on how well you play with others in the forums, and the public server. If you manage to impress the moderators, then you’ll get invited to the private server, where the hardcore roleplaying goes on.

That is all you need to known about GTA RP servers, and which ones are the best to look into. It’s always worth trying a few servers out to begin with, because you may hear about others out there that offer something slightly different. Mooch around and see which one you like best.