GTA: Vice City – Definitive icon
GTA: Vice City – Definitive Edition on iOS: A Faithful, Flawed Port of a Classic

by Rockstar Games

4.5
IOSAction Games
A solid choice for returning fans and curious newcomers, this app brings the full, sun-drenched open-world chaos of the 2002 classic to modern iPhones and iPads. The experience is bolstered by a full graphical overhaul and touch-optimized controls, though some design concessions and a premium price tag are notable factors.

Detailed Review

Rockstar Games’ definitive edition of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City attempts to transplant the complete, iconic 1980s-inspired crime saga onto iOS devices. This is not a stripped-down mobile spin-off but a direct port of the remastered console version, positioning itself as a premium offering in a mobile market saturated with free-to-play titles. The app promises the original game’s expansive story, soundtrack, and sandbox, now reworked for touchscreens and modern hardware. Core functionality centers on delivering the complete Vice City experience. The app includes the full narrative campaign following Tommy Vercetti, all side missions, and the freedom to explore the entire city from the outset. Key technical improvements over the original mobile port include a significantly enhanced visual presentation with higher-resolution textures, improved lighting and water effects, and updated character models. The control scheme has been redesigned for touch, featuring a customizable virtual thumbstick and context-sensitive buttons for actions like shooting and driving. Support for physical controllers is also included, which many users find preferable for extended play sessions. In real-world usage, the game succeeds in its primary goal: making Vice City genuinely playable on a phone. The visual upgrade is immediately apparent, with the neon-soaked streets and pastel-colored buildings looking sharper than ever on high-resolution Retina displays. However, the touch controls, while serviceable, can feel imprecise during high-stakes shootouts or fast-paced driving. This occasionally leads to frustrating moments that were less prevalent with a physical controller. Performance is generally stable on recent devices, though some older hardware may experience frame rate dips in dense traffic. User feedback, as seen in app store reviews, highlights several consistent trends. Positive reviews frequently praise the nostalgia factor and the quality of the graphical remaster. One common request, however, is for cloud save functionality. As noted by several players, the lack of sync between devices means progress is locked to a single iPhone or iPad, which is a significant limitation for users who upgrade devices or play across multiple Apple products. The premium upfront cost is another frequent point of discussion, though many reviewers conclude the content justifies the price. Ultimately, GTA: Vice City – Definitive Edition stands as a competent and largely faithful mobile adaptation. Its greatest strength is the preservation of a landmark game’s content and atmosphere in a portable format. The main compromises stem from the inherent challenges of translating a complex console game to a touch interface and the omission of expected modern features like cloud saves. For dedicated fans seeking to relive the experience or newcomers willing to adapt to its controls, it delivers substantial value. For more casual players, the control scheme and price may present considerable hurdles.

Key Features

  • The complete original game includes all story missions, side quests, and the full open-world map to explore freely at your own pace.
  • Enhanced graphics feature rebuilt lighting, higher-resolution textures, and improved draw distances for a more detailed Vice City.
  • Customizable touch controls offer a redesigned interface with a movable thumbstick and button layout that can be adjusted for comfort.
  • Controller support allows for seamless gameplay with compatible MFI or Bluetooth gamepads, improving precision for driving and combat.
  • Faithful 80s soundtrack and audio design retains the iconic music stations and voice acting that defined the original release.

Why Users Love It

Full console experience in your pocket
Major visual upgrade over original

Perfect for: Perfect for longtime fans of the franchise seeking portable nostalgia and new players curious about a seminal open-world game.

Screenshots

GTA: Vice City – Definitive screenshot 1GTA: Vice City – Definitive screenshot 2GTA: Vice City – Definitive screenshot 3

Ranking History

Track GTA: Vice City – Definitive's performance in Action Games over the last 30 days

Top 5
Top 10
Top 15
Below 15

Current Rank

#10

Best Rank

#9

All-time high

Average Rank

#14

30-day average

User Reviews

girla rule
Jul 4, 2025

I love this game but it’s so expensive but it’s still worth and I played it and it’s so realistic I love this game plz make gta liberty city stories definitive edition it would be fun to play that to if ya made it but still I love gta vice city definition edition I still play ya games and it’s so cool to play it The coolest game ever I love this game but it’s so expensive but it’s still worth and I played it and it’s so realistic I love this game plz make gta liberty city stories definitive edition it would be fun to play that to if ya made it but still I love gta vice city definition edition I still play ya games and it’s so cool to play it

Conner July
Mar 28, 2025

I love this game, I loved it from the start, I’m not gonna share everything cuz rockstar would patch it Amazing I love this game, I loved it from the start, I’m not gonna share everything cuz rockstar would patch it

Dillydabs
Jan 25, 2024

Enjoying the game so far, nice to have Vice city on the go. So far so good Enjoying the game so far, nice to have Vice city on the go.

iPhoneuser99Tech
Dec 21, 2023

Very good. I love it and graphics are amazing. I just wish there were a way to cloud save so that I can play on all of my devices without starting over. Needs cloud save Very good. I love it and graphics are amazing. I just wish there were a way to cloud save so that I can play on all of my devices without starting over.

Federal Burea Of Investigation
Sep 18, 2024

Please add cloud save like on 10th anniversary ones so can have the data on new devices transfer your progress… GTA Vice City Definitive Edition Mobile Cloud Save Feature Please add cloud save like on 10th anniversary ones so can have the data on new devices transfer your progress…

App Details

Developer

Rockstar Games

Platform

ios

Rating

4.5

Last Updated

12/6/2025