GTA: Liberty City Stories icon
GTA: Liberty City Stories Mobile Review: Faithful Port With Classic Gameplay

by Rockstar Games

โ˜…3.9
ANDROIDAdventure Games
Rockstar's mobile adaptation of the PlayStation Portable classic brings 2005's Liberty City to Android devices. This open-world crime saga offers 30-minute free trial with full purchase option, targeting franchise veterans and mobile gamers seeking depth.

Detailed Review

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories represents Rockstar Games' ambitious effort to translate the PlayStation Portable exclusive to mobile platforms. Originally released in 2005 as a prequel to GTA III, this Android version maintains the core experience of navigating Liberty City's criminal underworld as Toni Cipriani, a Leone family operative returning from hiding. The port preserves the distinctive early-3D-era GTA gameplay that established the franchise's reputation for open-world freedom and narrative-driven crime drama. The game delivers comprehensive open-world features including story missions, side activities, vehicle theft, and the signature blend of driving and shooting mechanics. Players navigate three distinct boroughsโ€”Portland, Staunton Island, and Shoreside Valeโ€”each with unique environmental design and criminal factions. The mission structure follows Rockstar's established formula of progressing through criminal ranks while engaging in car chases, shootouts, and property acquisition. Notably, the Android version includes touchscreen controls optimized for mobile play alongside optional controller support. User experience varies significantly based on device capabilities, with performance optimization being crucial for smooth gameplay. The interface adapts the original PSP controls to touch inputs, resulting in functional but occasionally cramped virtual buttons. Real-world usage patterns show players typically engage in short sessions of mission completion or free-roaming exploration, though the lack of cloud saves limits continuous play across devices. The 30-minute trial provides adequate sampling of core mechanics before requiring the one-time purchase for full access. User feedback indicates generally positive reception with specific criticisms. Multiple reviews from Corey Dryden (2025-07-02) note appreciation for the game's longevity while highlighting intentional design choices like the small minimap and challenging motorcycle physics. Another review from Ice Bear (2025-06-27) mentions nostalgic value but reports technical issues with mission cinematics glitching during transitions. The 3.9-star aggregate rating reflects this balance between content quality and port-specific limitations. The Android port succeeds as a faithful recreation of classic GTA gameplay but shows its age in technical execution. Strengths include the complete original content, responsive touch controls, and absence of microtransactions beyond the initial purchase. Limitations involve performance inconsistencies on older devices, occasional control precision issues, and missing quality-of-life features from newer mobile titles. Ideal for players seeking substantial single-player content and franchise enthusiasts wanting portable access to this chapter.

Key Features

  • โ€ขComplete original storyline following Toni Cipriani's rise through Leone crime family with 50+ missions maintaining narrative depth and character development
  • โ€ขOpen-world exploration across three distinct districts featuring pedestrian interactions, vehicle theft, and hidden collectibles encouraging thorough exploration
  • โ€ขDiverse vehicle handling including cars, motorcycles, boats, and helicopters each with unique physics and handling characteristics affecting gameplay strategy
  • โ€ขTouch-optimized control scheme with customizable button layout and sensitivity options accommodating different play styles and device sizes
  • โ€ขSide activities including vigilante missions, taxi driving, and rampages providing gameplay variety beyond main story progression
  • โ€ขOne-time purchase model after trial period delivering full content without recurring fees or energy systems common in mobile games

Why Users Love It

Complete console-like experience
No recurring monetization

Perfect for: GTA franchise enthusiasts and mobile gamers seeking deep single-player content

Screenshots

GTA: Liberty City Stories screenshot 1GTA: Liberty City Stories screenshot 2GTA: Liberty City Stories screenshot 3GTA: Liberty City Stories screenshot 4GTA: Liberty City Stories screenshot 5GTA: Liberty City Stories screenshot 6

Ranking History

Track GTA: Liberty City Stories's performance in Adventure Games over the last 30 days

Top 5
Top 10
Top 15
Below 15

Current Rank

#45

โ†“

6 from last week

Best Rank

#33

All-time high

Average Rank

#42

30-day average

User Reviews

Corey Dryden
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Jul 2, 2025

been enjoying the game for a good while now. I do have an issue with how small the Mini map is and how easily it is to crash on motorcycles. but this is all intentional game design and not a glitch/bug. it's better than GTA III but lesser compared compared to San Andreas. as it should be chronologically. 5 stars!

Corey Dryden
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Jul 2, 2025

been enjoying the game for a good while now. I do have an issue with how small the Mini map is and how easily it is to crash on motorcycles. but this is all intentional game design and not a glitch/bug. it's better than GTA III but lesser compared compared to San Andreas. as it should be chronologically. 5 stars!

Corey Dryden
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
Jul 2, 2025

been enjoying the game for a good while now. I do have an issue with how small the Mini map is and how easily it is to crash on motorcycles. but this is all intentional game design and not a glitch/bug. it's better than GTA III but lesser compared compared to San Andreas. as it should be chronologically. 5 stars!

Corey Dryden
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
Jul 2, 2025

been enjoying the game for a good while now. I do have an issue with how small the Mini map is and how easily it is to crash on motorcycles. but this is all intentional game design and not a glitch/bug. it's better than GTA III but lesser compared compared to San Andreas. as it should be chronologically. 5 stars!

Sanjay J Kamath
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Aug 30, 2025

Edit: Completed my 3rd Run and 100% on 30/09/2025 & 2nd Run on 09/09/24 Great Game! Finally completed ๐Ÿ’ฏ 1st Run was in 2018 or 2019 Just completed main missions and stories Overall, a good game. Has crashed 2-3 times during main gameplay. RC missions are the hardest, but with patience, you can complete them. It took almost 25 hours of the same play in 4 days to finish it.

App Details

Developer

Rockstar Games

Platform

android

Rating

โ˜…3.9

Last Updated

10/7/2025