So, I decided to check out how to play darts in GTA 5 the other day. Been meaning to try out all the little side activities, and darts seemed like a chill way to pass some time in Los Santos.
First Things First: Finding a Dartboard
Alright, so the first step was actually finding a place to play. I remembered seeing a dartboard in one of the grungier bars. I drove over to Sandy Shores, thinking about that spot Trevor sometimes hangs out in. Sure enough, the Yellow Jack Inn had one tucked away in the corner. You can also find them in some of the player-owned apartments if you’ve bought one with that amenity, but the bar felt more authentic for a game of darts, you know?
Getting Started with the Game
Once I found the board, getting the game started was pretty straightforward. I just walked up to it, and a little prompt popped up to begin. I hit the button, and boom, I was in. It usually pits you against an NPC, which is fine, adds a bit of a challenge rather than just throwing at a board by yourself.
The game that loaded up was a classic 301. The goal is to get your score from 301 down to zero. Simple enough, I thought.
The Actual Throwing Part
Now, this is where it got a bit more involved. Aiming the dart wasn’t just point-and-shoot. I noticed a reticle, or a little aiming circle, that moved up and down on its own. My job was to time it right. I had to press the throw button when the reticle was lined up with the segment I wanted to hit.
My first few throws were, well, not great. Some hit the wall, some landed way off from where I intended. It took a few tries to get the feel for the reticle’s movement. After you lock in your aim, there’s usually another little mechanic, sometimes a power bar or just a final confirmation, to actually release the dart. I just focused on getting the vertical alignment right first.
I started aiming for the big scores, like the triple 20, but quickly realized just hitting the board consistently was a good starting point. The segments are pretty small, especially those doubles and triples.
Understanding the Rules (The Hard Way)
Speaking of doubles, I learned pretty quick that you can’t just hit zero any old how. To win the leg, your final dart must land on a double that brings your score exactly to zero. Or the bullseye, if its value is 50 and you need 50, and it counts as a double. That caught me out a few times. I’d get my score down low, like to 10, and then I’d just hit a single 10. Nope, doesn’t count. Had to hit the double 5.
This made the end game pretty tense, especially with the NPC opponent also chipping away at their score. I found myself doing some quick mental math: “Okay, I’m on 32. That’s double 16. Where is double 16 again?”
My Overall Take
So, how was it? Honestly, it was a pretty fun little diversion. Here’s what I figured out:
- Practice helps: The timing gets easier the more you do it.
- Aim high (on the board): Those 20s and 19s are your friends early on.
- Don’t forget the doubles: Crucial for finishing!
It’s not something I’d spend hours on, but for a quick 10-15 minute game to break up the usual chaos of GTA, it’s surprisingly engaging. The mechanics are simple but have enough skill involved to make a good throw feel rewarding. Definitely give it a shot if you’re looking for something different to do in the game. It’s a nice change of pace, and winning a close game against the AI actually felt pretty good!
