Why Michael De Santa is GTA V's most tragic antihero even in 2025
(Image via Rockstar Games)
Even in 2025,
Grand Theft Auto V
's story continues to hit hard, and a big reason for that is Michael De Santa. He's not just your average bank robber with a mansion in Vinewood; he's
GTA's most tragic antihero
.
And no matter how many times we replay the game, his story still feels like a gut punch in slow motion. Let's break down why.
The Criminal Who Wanted a 'Normal Life'
Michael starts the game living what seems like a dream: a luxury home, family, and retired from crime. But dig deeper, and you'll see he's completely miserable.
He's
bored
,
depressed
, and low-key
hated
by his own wife and kids. He's got money, but no peace. Freedom, but no purpose. It's like he escaped the danger of the streets just to rot in a golden cage.
That's tragic. He
thought
retirement would fix him, but it only made him feel even emptier.
GTA 5: Why Michael De Santa Is The Perfect Anti Hero
Therapy, But Make It Useless
Michael's therapy sessions with Dr. Friedlander are supposed to help him 'find himself.' Instead, they turn into sarcastic venting sessions, full of lies and ego.
Deep down, he
wants
to change. You see it in his reflections, his frustration, and how often he talks about movies, meaning, and legacy. But he's stuck in his own cycle of violence and bad choices.
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He's self-aware, but powerless. And that's the saddest part.
He's the Most Human Character in GTA
GTA characters are usually cartoonish. But Michael? He's grounded. He's a dad trying to connect with his kids. A husband trying to rebuild a dead marriage. A man trying to make peace with his past.
Michael's family is a mess. Amanda cheats. Jimmy hates him. Tracey wants to be famous for the wrong reasons. And Michael? He swings between caring and toxic real fast.
You
want
to root for him because he does try. He wants to reconnect, to fix things. But the damage runs deep. The more he tries, the worse it gets.
He's not the 'bad dad' trope. He's the
failed dad who knows it
, and that makes it way more painful.
GTA 5: Why Didn't Trevor Kill Michael?
His Best Friend Wants Him Dead
Enter Trevor. Michael's past literally comes back to haunt him in the form of an angry, chaotic, bloodthirsty bestie. Their friendship is complicated. There's betrayal, regret, and resentment boiling under every line they share.
Trevor doesn't just want revenge; he wants
Michael to suffer
. And Michael? He's torn between guilt and survival.
In the End, He's Still Alone
No matter which ending you choose, Michael is
never whole
. He might survive, he might get his family back, but the emotional scars stay. He doesn't get redemption. He gets survival.
And that's why his story hits so hard, even in 2025. Michael De Santa didn't just steal cars, he stole our sympathy. And that's why he remains GTA V's most tragic antihero.
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