Grand Theft Auto III (2001): Story, Gameplay & Review

Introduction

Released in 2001, Grand Theft Auto III changed the direction of the Grand Theft Auto series and helped shape the future of open-world gaming. Developed by DMA Design and published by Rockstar Games, it was the first fully 3D game in the main Grand Theft Auto series. Instead of looking down at a city from above, players could now explore a detailed 3D environment from a third-person perspective.

Set in the fictional Liberty City, a city inspired largely by New York City, the game follows a criminal named Claude. After being betrayed by his girlfriend during a bank robbery, Claude is arrested, but an unexpected attack on a prison transport gives him a chance to escape. He soon becomes involved with criminal organisations, gang leaders and powerful individuals while trying to build his position in the city’s underworld.

Grand Theft Auto III introduced a new level of freedom to the series. Players could complete story missions, steal and drive vehicles, explore different parts of the city, take on side activities, listen to radio stations and interact with the world in many different ways.

With its memorable characters, dark humour, criminal storyline and open-world design, GTA III became one of the most influential video games of its generation. Even today, it remains an important chapter in the history of Rockstar Games and the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

Grand Theft Auto III – Game Details

Grand Theft Auto III Release Date and Platforms

Grand Theft Auto III was first released for the PlayStation 2 in October 2001. The game later arrived on PC and Xbox, allowing more players to experience its 3D version of Liberty City. It was also released on mobile platforms as part of the franchise’s tenth-anniversary celebrations.

Release Dates

Rockstar’s official game page lists October 22, 2001, as the release date, while regional release records list October 23 for North America and October 26 for Europe. These dates reflect differences in how the original release is recorded.

What Is Grand Theft Auto III?

Grand Theft Auto III is an open-world action-adventure game that allows players to explore a large city, complete missions and take part in criminal activities. It introduced a fully 3D version of the traditional GTA experience, giving players more control over how they explored the environment.

Unlike the first two main games, which used a top-down camera, GTA III places the camera behind the player character. This makes driving, walking, fighting and exploring feel very different from the earlier games.

The game combines a structured story with an open world. Players can follow the main missions to unlock new parts of Liberty City, or spend time exploring, collecting weapons, finding vehicles and completing optional activities.

GTA III is particularly important because it established many of the features that became central to later 3D-era Grand Theft Auto games.

Story and Setting of Grand Theft Auto III

The story of Grand Theft Auto III takes place in Liberty City, a fictional American city filled with criminal organisations, corrupt officials, gangs and wealthy business figures. The player follows Claude as he becomes involved in the city’s criminal world after escaping from police custody.

The Bank Robbery and Betrayal

The story begins with a bank robbery involving Claude, his girlfriend Catalina and their criminal partners. After the robbery, Catalina suddenly turns against Claude. She shoots him and leaves him behind while escaping with Miguel and the stolen money.

Claude survives the attack but is arrested by the police. While being transported to prison, the police convoy is attacked by members of the Colombian Cartel. During the chaos, another prisoner is taken away. Claude uses the opportunity to escape with 8-Ball, an explosives expert who becomes one of his first contacts in Liberty City.

Claude Enters the Criminal Underworld

After escaping, Claude begins working for the Leone Mafia family. He completes jobs for different members of the organisation and gradually becomes involved in conflicts between criminal groups.

His early work includes helping Luigi Goterelli, Joey Leone and other members of the Leone family. As Claude proves himself, he earns the attention and trust of Don Salvatore Leone.

However, his relationship with the Mafia eventually becomes complicated. Claude discovers that working for powerful criminals does not mean he can trust them.

The Colombian Cartel and SPANK

One of the major conflicts in the story involves the Colombian Cartel and a new street drug known as SPANK. The Cartel uses the drug trade to build its influence in Liberty City.

Claude is ordered to destroy the Cartel’s floating drug laboratory, which becomes one of the important turning points in his criminal journey. The conflict between the Mafia, the Cartel and other organisations continues to grow as the story progresses.

Maria, Asuka and the Betrayal

Claude’s relationship with Salvatore Leone takes a dangerous turn when Salvatore orders him to dispose of a vehicle. Maria, Salvatore’s wife, warns Claude that the vehicle is part of a trap.

Claude escapes to Staunton Island with Maria and her friend Asuka Kasen, a leading member of the Yakuza. After this, Claude starts working with the Yakuza and becomes involved in new conflicts across the city.

The Final Conflict with Catalina

As Claude continues working for different people, he eventually encounters Catalina again. She is now a major figure in the Colombian Cartel and remains connected to the events that started Claude’s journey.

The final part of the story brings Claude and Catalina face to face once more. Catalina kidnaps Maria and demands a ransom. Claude attempts to rescue her, but Catalina betrays him again and tries to escape.

Claude fights his way through the Cartel’s stronghold, rescues Maria and destroys Catalina’s escape helicopter. The story ends with Claude and Maria leaving together, although the final scene leaves a small mystery about what happens next.

Claude – The Main Character of GTA III

Claude is the main playable character in Grand Theft Auto III. He is a criminal who becomes involved in the dangerous world of Liberty City after being betrayed by Catalina.

One of the most unusual things about Claude is that he does not speak during the game’s story. Unlike many later GTA protagonists, he has no spoken dialogue in GTA III. Instead, the other characters speak to him while the player controls his actions.

His silent nature gives players the freedom to imagine his personality and reactions. It also creates an interesting contrast with the game’s other characters, many of whom talk constantly and have strong personalities.

Claude’s main goal throughout the game is to build his position in Liberty City’s criminal world while dealing with the people who betrayed or tried to use him.

Important Characters in Grand Theft Auto III

Grand Theft Auto III features a large cast of characters from different criminal organisations and backgrounds. Each character gives Claude missions, creates problems or plays an important role in the story.

1. Catalina

Catalina is Claude’s former girlfriend and the person who betrays him during the opening bank robbery. She shoots Claude and escapes with Miguel. Later, she becomes a major figure in the Colombian Cartel and the main antagonist of the story.

2. 8-Ball

8-Ball is an explosives expert who escapes with Claude during the prison transport attack. He introduces Claude to the Leone Mafia and helps him with several important jobs involving explosives.

3. Salvatore Leone

Salvatore Leone is the leader of the Leone Mafia family. He becomes one of Claude’s most powerful employers during the early part of the game. However, his growing suspicion and dangerous decisions eventually turn Claude against him.

4. Maria Latore

Maria is Salvatore Leone’s wife. She warns Claude when she discovers that Salvatore is planning to betray him. She later escapes with Claude to Staunton Island and becomes an important part of the story.

5. Asuka Kasen

Asuka is a powerful member and co-leader of the Yakuza. She becomes one of Claude’s important contacts after he leaves the Leone Mafia. She also has a personal connection to the Yakuza’s conflict with the Colombian Cartel.

6. Kenji Kasen

Kenji is Asuka’s brother and a leading member of the Yakuza. He is involved in the organisation’s activities in Staunton Island and becomes part of a plan that creates further tension between the Yakuza and the Colombian Cartel.

7. Donald Love

Donald Love is a wealthy and influential businessman who hires Claude for a number of unusual and dangerous tasks. His business interests are closely connected to the criminal activities taking place in Liberty City.

8. Ray Machowski

Ray Machowski is a corrupt police inspector who becomes one of Claude’s contacts. He needs Claude’s help with several jobs and eventually asks him to help arrange his escape from the city.

9. Joey Leone

Joey Leone is Salvatore’s son and a member of the Leone Mafia. He gives Claude various missions and introduces him to different people in the criminal underworld.

10. Luigi Goterelli

Luigi runs a club in the Red Light District and is one of Claude’s earliest employers. His missions introduce players to the criminal activities taking place in Portland.

Voice Cast of Grand Theft Auto III

One of the most memorable parts of GTA III is its voice cast. Rockstar brought in several well-known actors and performers to give personality to the characters.

The voice performances help make Liberty City feel like a place filled with different personalities. The characters have their own styles of speaking, attitudes and motivations, which makes the missions more memorable.

Liberty City – The World of GTA III

Liberty City is the main setting of Grand Theft Auto III. It is a fictional city inspired largely by New York City, with different neighbourhoods, roads, bridges, industrial areas, commercial locations and residential streets.

The city is divided into three main islands. Players begin in Portland and unlock the other areas as they progress through the story.

1. Portland

Portland is the first area players explore in GTA III. It has an industrial atmosphere, docks, warehouses, factories and working-class neighbourhoods.

This part of the city is strongly connected to the Leone Mafia, the Triads and other criminal groups. Many early missions take place here, helping players understand the game’s driving, combat and mission systems.

2. Staunton Island

Staunton Island becomes accessible later in the story. It represents the commercial and business side of Liberty City, with office buildings, shopping areas and wealthier neighbourhoods.

The Yakuza has a strong presence here, and several important characters, including Asuka Kasen and Donald Love, become part of Claude’s journey through this area.

3. Shoreside Vale

Shoreside Vale is the final main island that players unlock. It features suburban neighbourhoods, residential areas, an airport and other locations.

The area provides a different atmosphere from Portland and Staunton Island. It also becomes important during the later stages of the story.

Gameplay Features of Grand Theft Auto III

GTA III introduced a number of gameplay features that helped define the modern 3D Grand Theft Auto experience. Players can move freely around the city, use different vehicles, fight enemies, complete missions and take part in optional activities.

1. Open-World Exploration

Players are not forced to follow the main story every moment. They can explore Liberty City, discover different streets, visit shops and locations, find vehicles and search for hidden items.

The city is designed to feel active, with pedestrians walking around, traffic moving through the streets and different events taking place as players explore.

2. Third-Person Gameplay

Unlike the top-down perspective of the earlier GTA games, GTA III uses a third-person camera. Players can see Claude while walking, running, jumping, fighting and driving vehicles.

This change makes the game world feel more immersive and gives players a different way to experience the city.

3. Driving and Vehicle Theft

Vehicles are an important part of GTA III. Players can steal cars from the streets, drive taxis, use emergency vehicles and operate a range of other vehicles.

Different vehicles have different handling and performance. Sports cars are generally faster, while larger vehicles can feel heavier and more difficult to control.

Driving is also an important part of many missions. Players may need to chase enemies, escape from police, transport characters or reach a destination within a time limit.

4. Weapons and Combat

GTA III offers several types of weapons that players can use during missions and free exploration. These include melee weapons, handguns, automatic weapons and explosives.

Some weapons can be purchased from shops, while others can be found around the city or collected from defeated enemies.

The game also introduces drive-by shooting, allowing Claude to attack enemies while sitting in a vehicle. Certain weapons, including the sniper rifle and rocket launcher, offer a first-person aiming view.

5. Police and Wanted Levels

Committing crimes can attract the attention of the police. GTA III uses a wanted-level system represented by stars on the screen.

As the wanted level increases, the police response becomes more aggressive. Players may have to escape from police vehicles, avoid roadblocks and find ways to lose the attention of law enforcement.

At higher wanted levels, the response becomes much more dangerous. This system creates tension during missions and makes free exploration more unpredictable.

6. Health and Body Armour

Claude has a health meter that decreases when he takes damage. Players can collect health pickups to restore health and body armour to reduce incoming damage.

If Claude loses all his health, he is taken to the nearest hospital. Players lose some money and weapons during this process, so staying alive is important during difficult missions.

7. Side Activities

Players can take part in several activities outside the main story. These activities provide extra challenges and rewards.

• Taxi Driver: Pick up passengers and take them to their destinations.
• Vigilante: Use a law-enforcement vehicle to pursue criminals.
• Paramedic: Rescue injured people and transport them to the hospital.
• Firefighter: Use a fire truck to put out fires around the city.

Completing these activities can provide rewards and unlock useful benefits.

Missions and Progression

Missions are the main way to progress through the story of Grand Theft Auto III. Different characters contact Claude and give him jobs, ranging from simple deliveries to dangerous gang conflicts and large criminal operations.

Some missions require players to eliminate targets, while others involve stealing vehicles, transporting people, destroying equipment or escaping from enemies.

As the story progresses, players gain access to new contacts and locations. Completing missions also changes Claude’s relationships with different criminal organisations.

There is no single way to approach every situation. Players can use different vehicles, weapons and routes to complete many objectives.

Gangs and Criminal Organisations in GTA III

Liberty City is controlled by several criminal organisations. These groups have their own territories, interests and rivalries. Claude becomes involved with many of them during the story.

Leone Mafia Family

The Leone family is one of the most powerful Mafia organisations in Liberty City. Salvatore Leone leads the family, and Claude completes several missions for its members during the early part of the game.

Portland Triads

The Triads operate in Portland and are involved in a conflict with the Leone Mafia. Their rivalry becomes an important part of Claude’s early missions.

Colombian Cartel

The Colombian Cartel is a powerful criminal organisation involved in drug production and distribution. Its activities and conflict with other groups play a major role in the main storyline.

Yakuza

The Yakuza is a Japanese criminal organisation led by Asuka and Kenji Kasen. Claude begins working with the group after leaving the Leone Mafia.

Diablos

The Diablos are a street gang operating mainly in Portland. They are involved in the city’s criminal activities and become part of some of Claude’s missions.

Southside Hoods

The Southside Hoods are another major gang in Liberty City. They have their own territory and become involved in the city’s wider gang conflicts.

Yardies

The Yardies are a criminal gang with a presence in the city. Their members and activities contribute to the different conflicts players encounter.

Radio Stations and Soundtrack

Music and radio are important parts of the Grand Theft Auto experience. GTA III includes several radio stations that players can listen to while driving around Liberty City.

The stations feature different types of music, talk shows, advertisements and radio personalities. This variety makes the city feel more alive and gives players something to listen to while travelling between missions.

One of the most memorable stations is Chatterbox FM, a talk-radio station hosted by Lazlow. It features conversations, unusual callers and satirical discussions that add humour to the game’s world.

The radio system was an important part of GTA III’s atmosphere and became a major feature of later games in the franchise.

Graphics and Visual Presentation

For a game released in 2001, Grand Theft Auto III represented a major visual change for the series. Its fully 3D city allowed players to explore streets, buildings, bridges and different neighbourhoods from a third-person perspective.

The game was designed to create the feeling of a living city. Vehicles move through traffic, pedestrians walk along the streets and different locations have their own visual identity.

Modern players may notice limitations in character models, textures, animations and draw distance. However, the scale of the city and the freedom of exploration were major achievements for its time.

Development of Grand Theft Auto III

Grand Theft Auto III was developed by DMA Design, the studio that had created the earlier Grand Theft Auto games. The development team worked closely with Rockstar Games to bring the series into a fully 3D environment.

The project required the developers to rethink many parts of the original GTA formula. They needed to create a large city, build vehicles and characters in 3D, design a third-person camera and make the world feel active while still running on the hardware available at the time.

Moving the Series into 3D

The move to 3D was one of the biggest decisions in the game’s development. The developers wanted to preserve the freedom of the earlier games while allowing players to experience the city from a closer perspective.

The game used the RenderWare engine, which helped the team build the 3D world and its different elements.

Creating Liberty City

The developers designed Liberty City as a fictional American city inspired largely by New York City. Its three islands offer different environments, including industrial districts, commercial areas and residential neighbourhoods.

The team also worked on the city’s vehicles, pedestrians, traffic, buildings and background details to make exploration more interesting.

Story and Character Development

The story was written by Dan Houser, James Worrall and Paul Kurowski. The developers wanted the missions to feel connected to a larger crime story while still giving players the freedom to explore the city.

Claude’s silent nature was also a deliberate creative choice. It allowed players to imagine the character in their own way and created a contrast with the many talkative characters around him.

Postponement and Changes

The game’s release was affected by the September 11 attacks in 2001. The development team made changes to certain references and content before the game was released. These changes were made to avoid elements that could be considered inappropriate in the circumstances.

Grand Theft Auto III Review and Reception

Grand Theft Auto III received widespread critical acclaim after its release. Reviewers praised its open-world design, freedom, missions, soundtrack, voice acting and the way it brought the Grand Theft Auto formula into 3D.

Its PlayStation 2 version received a Metacritic score of 97 out of 100, placing it among the highest-rated games on the platform. The Windows version also received strong reviews.

IGN’s original review score for the PlayStation 2 version was 9.6 out of 10. GameSpot also gave the game a highly positive review, awarding it 9.6 out of 10.

Some reviewers criticised aspects of the controls and combat. However, these issues did not prevent the game from becoming one of the most celebrated releases of its generation.

Sales and Commercial Success

Grand Theft Auto III was not only a critical success but also a major commercial success for Rockstar Games. It became one of the most successful video games of 2001 and helped establish Grand Theft Auto as one of the biggest names in gaming.

The game’s success also showed publishers and developers the commercial potential of large open-world experiences. Its influence could be seen in many games that followed.

Controversies Surrounding GTA III

Like earlier Grand Theft Auto games, GTA III attracted controversy because of its violent content, criminal activities and adult themes. Players can steal vehicles, use weapons, fight rival gangs and take part in other criminal actions.

The game also includes mature language, sexual references and dark humour. These elements contributed to discussions about violence and adult content in video games.

Grand Theft Auto III received a Mature rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) in North America.

Grand Theft Auto III vs Grand Theft Auto 2

Grand Theft Auto III introduced a major change compared with Grand Theft Auto 2. Both games focus on crime, missions, gangs and open-world freedom, but they present these features in very different ways.

The biggest difference is the move from a top-down city to a fully 3D environment. GTA III kept the freedom and criminal gameplay of earlier entries but presented them in a new way.

GTA III and the Beginning of the 3D Universe

Grand Theft Auto III is the first mainline game in the Grand Theft Auto 3D Universe. It introduced a new version of Liberty City and a style of gameplay that would influence the next games in this era.

The 3D Universe continued with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. These games expanded the world, introduced new protagonists and explored different locations and periods.

GTA III also established a foundation for later titles such as Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, which are connected to the same 3D Universe.

Why Grand Theft Auto III Was Important

Grand Theft Auto III was important because it showed how a large open-world action game could work in a fully 3D environment. Players were no longer limited to a top-down view or a small set of fixed routes. They could explore a city, choose how to approach many missions and create their own experiences outside the main storyline.

Its influence can be seen in the design of later Grand Theft Auto games and many other open-world titles. The combination of a detailed city, a crime story, vehicle gameplay, side activities and radio stations became a familiar formula for the genre.

GTA III also helped establish Rockstar Games as a major name in the video game industry. Its success gave the series a new direction and prepared the way for the much larger worlds of Vice City and San Andreas.

Is Grand Theft Auto III Worth Playing Today?

Yes, Grand Theft Auto III is worth playing if you want to understand the history of the Grand Theft Auto series or experience one of the most important open-world games of its time.

The game still offers an interesting crime story, memorable characters, a distinctive city and plenty of activities. Its atmosphere and soundtrack also help it stand apart from many modern games.

However, players who are used to modern open-world games may find some aspects dated. The controls, aiming system, mission structure and visual presentation are simpler than what later GTA games offer.

For newcomers, GTA III is best approached as a classic from 2001 rather than compared directly with modern releases. For longtime fans, it remains an important part of the franchise’s history.

Final Verdict

Grand Theft Auto III (2001) remains one of the most important games in the history of open-world gaming. Its move to a fully 3D environment changed the direction of the Grand Theft Auto franchise and helped influence the design of countless games that followed.

From Claude’s journey through Liberty City to the city’s criminal organisations, memorable characters, missions and radio stations, the game created an experience that was different from anything the series had offered before.

Although some gameplay elements feel dated today, GTA III deserves recognition for what it achieved at the time. It laid the foundation for the 3D Universe and helped turn Grand Theft Auto into one of the most successful video game franchises in the world.

Watch Grand Theft Auto III Gameplay

Watch the Grand Theft Auto III gameplay video below to see its missions, vehicles, characters and the streets of Liberty City in action.

GTA 3 – Full Game Walkthrough in 4K

Frequently Asked Questions About Grand Theft Auto III

1. When was Grand Theft Auto III released?

Grand Theft Auto III was first released for the PlayStation 2 in October 2001. The North American release date is commonly listed as October 23, 2001, while the European release followed on October 26, 2001.

2. Who developed Grand Theft Auto III?

Grand Theft Auto III was developed by DMA Design, the studio that later became known as Rockstar North. Rockstar Games published the game.

3. Who is the main character in GTA III?

The main character is Claude, a criminal who is betrayed by Catalina during a bank robbery. He survives, escapes from police custody and becomes involved in Liberty City’s criminal underworld.

4. Why does Claude not speak in GTA III?

Claude is a silent protagonist and does not have spoken dialogue in GTA III. The developers chose this approach partly to allow players to identify with the character and imagine his personality for themselves.

5. Where does Grand Theft Auto III take place?

GTA III takes place in Liberty City, a fictional city inspired largely by New York City. The game world is divided into three main islands: Portland, Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale.

6. Is GTA III the first 3D GTA game?

Yes. Grand Theft Auto III is the first fully 3D game in the main Grand Theft Auto series. It introduced a third-person camera and a fully explorable 3D city.

7. How many islands are there in GTA III?

There are three main islands in GTA III: Portland, Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale. Players unlock them as they progress through the story.

8. Is Grand Theft Auto III connected to GTA 2?

GTA III is part of the same overall Grand Theft Auto franchise, but it belongs to a different continuity known as the 3D Universe. GTA 2 belongs to the 2D Universe.

9. Which gangs appear in GTA III?

The main criminal groups include the Leone Mafia, Portland Triads, Colombian Cartel, Yakuza, Diablos, Southside Hoods and Yardies.

10. Is GTA III a single-player game?

Yes. The original Grand Theft Auto III is a single-player game. It does not include an official multiplayer mode.

11. Which platforms support Grand Theft Auto III?

GTA III was originally released on PlayStation 2. It later arrived on Windows, Xbox, Mac OS X, iOS, Android and Fire OS.

12. Is Grand Theft Auto III worth playing in 2026?

Yes. It is worth playing for its history, story, characters and open-world design. However, some controls and gameplay systems may feel dated compared with modern games.