Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5) is no stranger to chaos, but one player decided to push the game’s limits in a way few would even consider. YouTuber Adichu set out on a mission that sounds like something straight out of a deranged supervillain’s playbook: systematically hunting down and eliminating every single NPC variant in the game. That’s right—every pedestrian, every cop, every background character—all 850+ unique models that make Los Santos feel alive.
Why would someone do this? Partly for the challenge, partly for the sheer absurdity of it, and partly to see how the game would react. The result is a bizarre, oddly mesmerizing experiment that highlights just how much detail Rockstar packed into GTA 5’s world.
The Mind-Boggling Scale of GTA 5’s NPC Population
One of the most impressive aspects of GTA 5 is how lived-in its world feels. Walk down the streets of Vinewood, and you’ll see wealthy socialites and paparazzi. Head to Grove Street, and gang members and working-class pedestrians dominate the scene. Rockstar didn’t just recycle the same handful of character models—they designed over 850 unique NPC variants, each with distinct appearances, clothing, and even behaviors.
Adichu’s goal was to eliminate every single one of them. That meant tracking down not just the generic civilians but also the rare spawns—homeless people in alleyways, tourists snapping photos, even the occasional celebrity lookalike. Some were easy to find (like main story characters), while others required patience, lurking in specific areas just waiting for the right NPC to appear.
The Grueling Process of Wiping Out an Entire Virtual Population
This wasn’t just a mindless killing spree—it was a meticulous, almost scientific process. Adichu had to keep track of which NPCs had already been eliminated to avoid duplicates. Some characters only spawn under certain conditions, like time of day or weather. Others appear only in scripted events or missions.
To make matters more complicated, the game’s dynamic AI means NPCs don’t always behave predictably. Civilians flee when they see violence, cops swarm in if you cause too much chaos, and some NPCs even fight back. Adichu had to strategize, using silenced weapons and stealth tactics to pick off targets without alerting others.
At one point, the challenge became less about firepower and more about patience and persistence. Some NPCs took hours to track down, requiring multiple in-game days of waiting in the right location.
What Happens When You Kill Every NPC in GTA 5?
After days (possibly weeks) of virtual genocide, Adichu finally succeeded—every NPC in the game had been eliminated. So, what happens when Los Santos is completely depopulated?
The answer is both eerie and anticlimactic. The streets become eerily silent. No pedestrians, no cops, no random encounters—just empty sidewalks and abandoned cars. For a brief moment, it feels like a post-apocalyptic version of Los Santos.
However, the game isn’t designed to stay that way. NPCs eventually respawn, meaning the massacre isn’t permanent. But for those few quiet minutes, it’s a surreal experience—proof of just how much life Rockstar breathed into this digital world.
What This Experiment Tells Us About GTA 6
With GTA 6 on the horizon, this experiment raises some fascinating questions. The new game’s map is rumored to be significantly larger, which means even more NPCs—possibly thousands. If Rockstar maintains the same level of detail, we could see:
- More diverse NPC behaviors (e.g., reacting to weather, time of day, or player actions in deeper ways)
- Greater environmental storytelling (unique characters tied to specific locations or events)
- New challenges for completionists (imagine trying to hunt down every NPC in a map twice the size of GTA 5’s)
Adichu’s experiment might seem like a ridiculous stunt, but it’s also a testament to the depth of Rockstar’s open worlds. If GTA 6 builds on this foundation, players could be in for an even more immersive—and chaotic—experience.
Also, Read
- GTA 6 Second Trailer Release Potentially Delayed – Here’s Why
- GTA 6 Release Window Leak – What Mafia’s Date Reveals
- GTA 5’s Free Graphics Overhaul Is a Game-Changer – Here’s Why
Would You Attempt This Insane Challenge?
Adichu’s quest to eliminate every NPC in GTA 5 is equal parts impressive and absurd. It’s the kind of challenge that only the most dedicated (or slightly unhinged) players would even consider. Yet, in a way, it’s also a tribute to the game’s incredible attention to detail.
What do you think? Could you see yourself attempting this, or is it just too ruthless? Let us know in the comments—and if you’ve ever tried something similarly extreme in a game, share your stories!