Grand Theft Auto V isn't just about the high-stakes union depository heist or the way Trevor Philips manages to look like he smells of old milk and gasoline. It's the people you meet on the sidewalk. Honestly, the GTA Strangers and Freaks missions are what keep the world from feeling like a hollow, digital diorama. You’re driving through Vinewood, and suddenly, there’s a guy in a suit screaming about celebrities. Or a woman in the desert who thinks she’s being watched by aliens.
These side missions aren't just filler. They are the soul of Rockstar’s satire.
The Weirdos You Actually Remember
The main story is great, sure. Michael, Franklin, and Trevor have a compelling dynamic. But think about the first time you ran into Mary-Ann. She’s this fitness-obsessed ball of rage screaming at you while she cycles or runs. It’s hilarious because it’s so close to real-life California culture. These missions serve a specific purpose: they anchor the protagonists to the absurdity of their environment.
Franklin usually gets the "grounded" stuff. Think of Hao and the street racing or Tonya and the tow truck missions. Tonya is a masterpiece of writing because she represents that specific person everyone knows—the one who is constantly making their problems yours while acting like they're doing you a favor. You aren't just completing a checklist; you're feeling the weight of Franklin's old life pulling him back down.
Then you have the truly bizarre. The Epsilon Program for Michael is basically a massive, interactive middle finger to cults. It’s tedious by design. They make you walk through the desert for miles. They charge you thousands of dollars for "robes." It’s brilliant. If you’ve ever looked into the history of real-world groups like Scientology, the parallels aren't even subtle. Rockstar didn't just write a parody; they built a functional, frustrating cult inside the game engine.
Why GTA Strangers and Freaks Missions Are Essential for 100% Completion
If you're a completionist, these aren't optional. You need them. Specifically, Franklin has 20 missions that count toward that coveted 100% stat. But here is the thing people miss: not every mission counts.
You can meet Abigail, the widow who wants you to find submarine pieces, or Josh, the real estate agent who wants you to ruin his rival. These are fun, but they don't move the needle for the trophy. It creates this weird, organic layer where some things are for the "job" of completing the game, and others are just for the sake of experiencing the world. It’s a messy system. It’s not a clean 1-2-3 list.
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The Cletus Factor
Cletus is a favorite for many. He represents the rural, "gun-toting" side of San Andreas. Hunting elk or shooting tires out of moving cars with him feels like a separate game entirely. These missions transition the player from the urban sprawl of Los Santos into the rugged, dangerous territory of Blaine County. It’s environmental storytelling done through character interaction.
Dom’s Adrenaline Addiction
Then there is Dom. If you want to talk about high-octane nonsense, Dom is the poster child. Parachuting off the Maze Bank building or landing on a moving train—it’s peak GTA. But look at how it ends. No spoilers, but his final mission is a grim, sudden reminder that the "extreme sports" lifestyle in Los Santos usually ends in a very messy way. It’s dark humor at its most biting.
The Mystery of the Final Stranger
Most players never even see the "The Last One." This is the pinnacle of GTA Strangers and Freaks. To unlock it, you have to hit 100% completion. Only then does a question mark appear in the Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness.
You find a hunter. He’s obsessed with a beast. Specifically, Bigfoot.
For years, the Bigfoot myth haunted the original GTA: San Andreas. Rockstar knew this. By including this mission in GTA V, they were talking directly to the fans who spent thousands of hours in 2004 looking for a blurry monster in the woods. It’s meta-commentary. When you finally catch the "beast," the payoff is a mix of hilarity and disappointment that perfectly sums up the life of an internet conspiracy theorist.
The Logistics of Finding Everyone
Some of these missions only trigger at night. Some only appear after you’ve completed specific story beats. For example, the Nigel and Mrs. Thornhill missions—the elderly British tourists who want celebrity "souvenirs"—only show up after a certain point in Trevor’s journey.
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If you're hunting for these, you have to pay attention to the map colors.
- Green is for Franklin.
- Blue is for Michael.
- Orange is for Trevor.
If the icon is a large "?" then you haven't met them yet. If it’s a letter (like "B" for Barry), you’ve started the chain. It sounds simple, but when you’re flying over the mountains at 3 AM, missing a small icon is easy.
Cultural Impact and the Satire of 2013 vs Today
When GTA V launched, people thought the satire was "on the nose." Looking back from 2026, it almost feels like a documentary. The "Strangers and Freaks" missions focused on influencers, fake gurus, corrupt realtors, and paranoid survivalists.
Take Barry, the guy campaigning for the legalization of marijuana. When Michael smokes his "special" blend, he hallucinates fighting off aliens. When Trevor smokes it, he fights clowns. It’s a hilarious way to show the internal psychology of the characters. Michael fears the unknown and being watched; Trevor is terrified of the goofy and the performative.
The writing in these encounters is dense. It’s fast. If you skip the dialogue, you’re missing half the game. The voice acting for these minor characters is often just as good as the main trio. They didn't phone it in.
Actionable Steps for Completionists
If you are aiming for that 100% checklist right now, here is the reality of what you need to do.
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First, focus on Franklin. Since he is the only character required for the "100%" trophy, his GTA Strangers and Freaks missions are priority one. Make sure you finish the Tonya towing missions early—she’ll stop calling if you ignore her too long, though you can usually trigger it again by calling her yourself.
Second, check your "Brief" tab in the pause menu. Rockstar actually tracks what people say to you there. If you missed a location or a specific instruction from a stranger, it’s recorded.
Third, don't ignore the emails and texts. Characters like Maude (who gives Trevor bounty hunting missions) or the Epsilon people will communicate primarily through Michael’s in-game phone. If you aren't checking your "junk" mail, you aren't finding the freaks.
Finally, keep a separate save file before you finish the main story. While most of these missions are available in the "post-game," some people have reported glitches where certain triggers don't fire after the final credits roll. It’s better to be safe than to have to restart a 60-hour save just to find a guy who wants you to collect scraps of a letter.
The world of San Andreas is bloated, loud, and often disgusting. But without these weirdos standing on the street corners waiting for a protagonist to ruin their day, it would just be another empty map. Go find the guy in the gump suit. Talk to the woman looking for spaceship parts. It’s where the real game is hidden.