In this narrative review, we present a comprehensive report of recent evidence elucidating the diverse roles of GDF11 in liver development, hepatic injury, regeneration and associated diseases such as non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This evidence concerns the gene GDF11 and hepatocellular carcinoma.