Dive into the world of Grand Theft Auto Online with our guide on the top 5 DLCs that every player should own. From game-changing expansions to thrilling updates, these downloadable content packs redefine the GTA experience. Whether you're seeking new adventures, powerful vehicles, or a lucrative business, this guide will steer you through the essential DLCs that promise to elevate your criminal journey in Los Santos.

5. Heist Update

What is it?

The Heists DLC was a brand new 4-player series of cooperative missions for GTA Online, giving players the chance to team up to pull off a group of challenging multi-part heists, raids and robberies for various employers on and off the beaten path. These online heists contained new gameplay, vehicles, and weapons mechanics that started to change GTA V Online for the better.

Why it's great

The Heist DLC was the starting point for all heists in GTA V Online and on its release back on March 10, 2015, The Pacific Standard Job, final heist of the DLC, was the best money-making method online players could do if they wanted to keep up with the notorious GTA inflation (Everything started costing a lot more).

What we love about the Heist DLC

The Heist DLC was luckily released when GTA V Online was at its purest; no fast way to make money, no flying bikes to cheese missions, no in-game events to give cash. All players had to focus on was starting up a setup mission and grinding out the night to get the main heist ready to do with your friends/crew.

Heist DLC Key features:

• Custom License plates of up to 30 were added to player cars via the Ifruit App.
• Introduction of the first fully bulletproof vehicle.
• Introduction of the first VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) vehicle.

Heist DLC score: 80/100

4. The Diamond Casino & Resort DLC

What is it?

The Diamond Casino DLC was a brand-new expansion to GTA Online in the form of a newly updated zone that has a heavy focus on Casino life. The Diamond Casino is the one-stop destination for quality entertainment, high-end living and a range of experiences you won’t find anywhere else.

Why it's great

The update introduces The Diamond Casino & Resort, a newly opened business located in East Vinewood where the original Vinewood Casino was originally found. The casino features an exclusive penthouse that is home to many features, the main casino floor in which players can gamble away their illegitimate gains, and a custom garage storage/parking lot to house personal vehicles.

What we love about the Diamond Casino & Resort DLC

The Diamond Casino & Resort DLC not only gave us an updated zone but gave players a new set of Heist missions, a significantly huge increase to the previous heist available. With a better way to make cash with friends, the Diamond Casino Heist became the one stop shop for money grinding.

Diamond Casino & Resort DLC Key features:

• A new feature called the lucky wheel that offers players a bunch of rewards, one will give out a free car (resets weekly).
• Players can partake in: Three Card Poker Blackjack, Roulette, Slot Machines and a Inside Track
• Music Club all players have access to, this was previously only available to Nightclub owners.

The Diamond Casino & Resort score: 80/100

3. Smuggler’s Run

What is it?

The Smuggler’s Run DLC opened the airways above Los Santos and Blaine County by providing new reliable business opportunities while introducing a new range of planes, choppers and ultralights that GTA Online players are now able to make into their own custom vehicles.

Why it's great

The update introduces The Diamond Casino & Resort, a newly opened business located in East Vinewood where the original Vinewood Casino was originally found. The casino features an exclusive penthouse that is home to many features, the main casino floor in which players can gamble away their illegitimate gains, and a custom garage storage/parking lot to house personal vehicles.

What we love about the Smuggler’s Run DLC

Smuggler’s Run was single handedly responsible for most current aircraft's players will see in all current online lobbies. This is not a bad thing as this quickly became the new method of moving around the map quickly, drastically improving player retention.

Smuggler’s Run DLC Key features:

• Over 300 clothing items, 41 outfits, and 214 masks were added.
• 19 new vehicles were added. 14 aircraft, 4 land vehicles, and 1 weaponized vehicle.
• Storage for all old and new aircraft (First) and the ability to customize them visually and improve overall performance.

Smuggler’s Run DLC score: 90/100

2. Cunning Stunts

What is it?

Cunning Stunts introduced a new sub-category of racing in the form of Stunt Races that would forever change the world of GTA Online. These stunt races involved large circuits, tracks with loops, rings of fire and hamster-like tubes players can race through. Several vehicles were added to this update including new super cars, off-road vehicles and custom-made stunt motorcycles.

Why it's great

This DLC is the main if not the only reason we Online players have such a massive racing community, the Cunning Stunts improved upon the old ways of races and made it so fun it brought over a huge chunk of players from other racing games to give it a go.

What we love about the Cunning Stunt DLC

The Cunning Stunts DLC was the first DLC to have a heavy focus on the racing community and by all standards and measurement Rockstar definitely hit the nail on its head.

Cunning Stunts DLC Key features:

• Over 27 new custom-made race tracks were added.
• 15 new vehicles were added. 
• Stunt Race creator for making your own races.

Cunning Stunts DLC score: 95/100

1. The Cayo Perico Heist DLC

What is it?

The Cayo Perico Heist is another content update for Grand Theft Auto Online that was released on December 15th, 2020. The Cayo Perico Heist is the biggest GTA Online money maker ever, introducing an all-new exotic Heist location (Island in the Caribbean) with a brand-new approach that allows for complete solo play or with up to three other players.

Why it's great

This DLC is the main if not the only reason we Veteran players have so much money to spend. On launch, the Cayo heist was the quickest and highest earning mission money grinders could do, and man did they, players made it possible to make on average $1.3 million in under an hour back-to-back. Rockstar quickly noticed this and has been actively trying to lower this by adding time cooldowns and lower payouts.

What we love about the Cayo Perico DLC

This DLC even after being nerfed is still the best method players can do to make cash solo or with friends/crew. The beauty of this DLC is that you can do the heist setup and finale in under an hour allowing players to partake in other activities, the time taken will vary based on skill level but when done in an invite only or closed session, the wait time for each setup will be drastically shortened. 

Cayo Perico DLC Key features:

• 8 new custom-made race tracks were added.
• 7 new Survival modes were added. 
• New Map Expansion (Kinda).
• Celebrity Cameos, three in total: Dr Dre, DJ Pooh, and Jimmy Lovine.
• 3 new Radio Stations: Music Locker Radio, Still Slipping, and Kult FM.
• New tracks for FlyLo and WorldWide FM.

Cayo Perico DLC score: 100/100

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