Why GTA 6 should have bigger and more secrets to uncover

If there is one single feature that could help GTA 6 become even more distinctive than it already is with its huge map and realistic graphics, it would be the hidden secrets that are waiting to be discovered. Having more numerous and more significant secrets in the game would cause the game world to seem like a living and breathing place.

Rockstar’s open-world titles have always had some degree of obscure puzzles and ambiguous occurrences, but the opportunities for GTA 6 to build on this concept more heavily are considerably larger.

Note: Parts of the article are subjective and represent the author's view.

---

Why GTA 6 should expand its world with more secrets and discoveries

In the GTA series, secrets have always influenced player engagement with the game world. The Mount Chiliad mystery in GTA 5 kept players unraveling it for years, linking clues together and sharing the latest theories online. That type of discovery based on the community kept players engaged for years, and it's something that Rockstar would be wise to recreate with GTA 6.

Lucia and Jason in GTA VI (Image via Rockstar Games)

Environmental details can tell stories that missions don’t. Think back to San Andreas, where hidden graves hinted at Catalina’s backstory, or GTA 5’s graffiti messages that teased the game’s deeper lore. Secrets like these make players feel like detectives, connecting the dots of a living world.

If GTA 6 expands on this idea, players could uncover Leonida’s hidden history through exploration instead of exposition.

Also read: Why GTA 6 should have more types of animals

---

A larger map needs meaningful discoveries

Early comparisons between GTA 5 and GTA 6 suggest that the new map could be almost twice as big. But bigger doesn’t always mean better as it has to be filled with things worth finding. Every abandoned house, crashed plane, or locked building should hint at something like a mystery, a collectible, or a story fragment.

That’s where secrets play a vital role. Instead of stretching out empty space, they turn travel time into opportunities for discovery. Maybe a swamp hides the wreckage of a missing smuggler’s boat or a rural town has an NPC who mentions a strange noise in the woods.

These moments make exploration feel personal and unpredictable, not just another run from point A to B.

---

Secrets that tell stories

Rockstar has always been strong on environmental storytelling and GTA 6 could be a new height for that aspect of the game. Vice City's neon streets and the edges of Leonida will provide tons of opportunities for nostalgia with possibly hidden mysteries. Hidden bunkers, scattered newspapers, or NPCs saying otherwise mundane phrases could subtly point to clues to the deep lore of the world.

The beauty of secrets like these is that they do not need to be related to the missions. They make the city feel like it has a past, something that existed long before the player showed up.

Read also: Why GTA 6 Online shouldn't have armored civilian vehicles

---

Keeping players engaged long after release

Gameplay still from GTA VI trailer (Image via Rockstar Games)

Secrets extend the game’s life. Once the story’s done, it’s the mystery hunts that keep players coming back. Just look at how GTA 5’s community kept digging into Mount Chiliad years after release, trying to uncover something that might not even exist. That kind of shared obsession keeps the game relevant long after the credits roll.

Rockstar could easily repeat that formula with GTA 6 by hiding deeper puzzles across Leonida.

---

Creating memorable discoveries

The best GTA moments often come when players stumble upon something unexpected, like the ghost on Mount Gordo or the UFO above Fort Zancudo. These aren’t scripted missions; they’re surprise moments that you talk about years later. GTA VI should double down on that kind of magic.

A secret shouldn’t just be a collectible. It should make you stop and think “What did I just find?” That sense of wonder is what makes Rockstar worlds special. And in a game as ambitious as GTA 6, it could be a great add-on.

---

If this article is to your liking, you can check other GTA content below:

• Which version of GTA 4 is the best in 2025?
• Should Rockstar mention Niko in GTA VI?
• Top 5 fixes from Fusion Fix that rumored GTA 4 remaster on PC could have
• 5 best GTA Online DLCs ever released, ranked
• RTX mod for GTA 4 implements path-tracing into the game

Edited by Rishi Pallav