GTA III – Definitive icon
GTA III – Definitive Edition iOS Review: Liberty City Reimagined for Mobile

by Rockstar Games

4.9
IOSAction Games
Rockstar Games' remastered classic brings Liberty City to iOS with enhanced graphics and modern controls. The definitive version offers both free trial and purchase options, targeting nostalgic gamers and mobile open-world enthusiasts seeking premium experiences.

Detailed Review

GTA III – Definitive Edition represents Rockstar Games' ambitious effort to bring the groundbreaking 2001 open-world title to modern iOS devices with substantial visual and technical enhancements. The app maintains the original game's core narrative and gameplay while implementing contemporary mobile optimization, positioning itself as a premium offering in the mobile gaming market rather than a freemium title. The definitive edition features comprehensively upgraded graphics with higher-resolution textures, improved lighting effects, and refined character models that significantly surpass the original mobile port. Gameplay mechanics have been adapted for touchscreen interfaces with customizable control schemes, including touch-based movement and contextual action buttons. The implementation includes full controller support for compatible devices, cloud save functionality across platforms, and the complete original soundtrack and radio stations that defined the Liberty City experience. User experience demonstrates careful consideration for mobile play sessions, with optimized checkpoint systems and adjustable difficulty settings. The interface provides multiple control layout options, including a left-thumbstick movement configuration and customizable button transparency. Real-world usage patterns show players typically engage in shorter sessions utilizing the auto-save feature, though the game supports extended gameplay through its pause functionality. Performance varies across device generations, with newer iPhones and iPads delivering smoother frame rates at higher graphical settings. User feedback trends indicate overwhelming appreciation for the graphical improvements and mobile accessibility, though some technical limitations persist. Reviewer ffxdg42646 (August 2024) noted 'graphics wow and some bugs fix' while Zacharris (January 2025) observed that 'improved graphics and improved explosions' sometimes come at the cost of certain nostalgic elements from earlier mobile versions. Multiple reviewers including JJTLGD (March 2025) and Rock__dude (December 2023) specifically praised the ability to play this classic on mobile devices while requesting higher-resolution options and additional Rockstar titles on iOS. The definitive edition succeeds as a technically competent mobile adaptation that preserves the original game's revolutionary open-world design while making necessary concessions for mobile hardware. Strengths include visual enhancements faithful to the original aesthetic and flexible control options, while limitations involve occasional performance inconsistencies on older devices and some preservation issues with minor environmental details. The game serves as an ideal entry point for both nostalgic players and new audiences seeking a substantial open-world experience on iOS devices, particularly when paired with modern controllers for extended play sessions.

Key Features

  • Enhanced visual package featuring higher-resolution textures, improved lighting, and refined character models that modernize the classic Liberty City environment while maintaining original artistic direction
  • Customizable touch controls with multiple layout options and full controller support, providing accessibility for both casual touchscreen users and dedicated gaming peripheral enthusiasts
  • Free trial system offering thirty minutes of gameplay before requiring purchase, allowing users to evaluate performance and compatibility on their specific iOS devices before committing
  • Cloud save functionality enabling progress synchronization across compatible devices, particularly valuable for players switching between iPhone and iPad gaming sessions
  • Complete original soundtrack and radio station preservation, maintaining the iconic audio landscape that defined the early 3D Grand Theft Auto experience
  • GTA+ membership integration providing unlimited access for subscribers, creating value for existing members of Rockstar's subscription service

Why Users Love It

Substantial visual enhancements
Flexible control options

Perfect for: Nostalgic gamers and mobile open-world enthusiasts seeking premium experiences

Screenshots

GTA III – Definitive screenshot 1GTA III – Definitive screenshot 2

User Reviews

ffxdg42646
Aug 7, 2024

This is way better than vice city it has graphics wow and some bugs fix like this is the greatest Better This is way better than vice city it has graphics wow and some bugs fix like this is the greatest

JJTLGD
Mar 18, 2025

What an amazing game truly the graphics have improved and the gameplay is phenomenal. Rockstar I beg you. Please release more titles onto the iOS platform. I feel iPhones and iPads are powerful enough to run GTA 4. Please release GTA 4. You will have a huge mobile fan base! Thank you Rockstar. Please release more titles onto iOS. What an amazing game truly the graphics have improved and the gameplay is phenomenal. Rockstar I beg you. Please release more titles onto the iOS platform. I feel iPhones and iPads are powerful enough to run GTA 4. Please release GTA 4. You will have a huge mobile fan base!

Zacharris
Jan 28, 2025

I love the improved graphics and the improved explosions and flames but aside all of that, it seems like all the fun got taken out of it. In the 10 year anniversary (mobile) version, when you would exit the game at a certain spot or location and go back in the game at some point, it would resume exactly where you were and whatever you were doing. Also when you die or get busted, you lose everything you have. I understand trying to focus on realism but that was what made the original version more fun was you didn’t lose all of your weapons and this version doesn’t resume exactly where you were when you exited the game. To me that just seems like the fun was taken out and this version was solely for just doing missions and then immediately being done with it. If I had another thing to suggest, it would be to make the Empire State Building (Bedford point tower) look more like it does in real life or in GTA IV and add the statue of happiness but that’s just my opinion. Great improvements of graphics overall. Fine I guess. I love the improved graphics and the improved explosions and flames but aside all of that, it seems like all the fun got taken out of it. In the 10 year anniversary (mobile) version, when you would exit the game at a certain spot or location and go back in the game at some point, it would resume exactly where you were and whatever you were doing. Also when you die or get busted, you lose everything you have. I understand trying to focus on realism but that was what made the original version more fun was you didn’t lose all of your weapons and this version doesn’t resume exactly where you were when you exited the game. To me that just seems like the fun was taken out and this version was solely for just doing missions and then immediately being done with it. If I had another thing to suggest, it would be to make the Empire State Building (Bedford point tower) look more like it does in real life or in GTA IV and add the statue of happiness but that’s just my opinion. Great improvements of graphics overall.

dazenez
Mar 13, 2024

Can we have a higher resolution level Make the game have better resolution and some problems Can we have a higher resolution level

Rock__dude
Dec 25, 2023

It is an absolute dream to be able to play a game like this on an iphone. Back in the day, You needed a whole Playstation 2 and plugged into the wall to enjoy a game like this!! Rockstar should continue to release more games onto iphone! Big market of people on here as well as consoles!! More Video games like this should be released onto Iphone It is an absolute dream to be able to play a game like this on an iphone. Back in the day, You needed a whole Playstation 2 and plugged into the wall to enjoy a game like this!! Rockstar should continue to release more games onto iphone! Big market of people on here as well as consoles!!

App Details

Developer

Rockstar Games

Platform

ios

Rating

4.9

Last Updated

9/7/2025