Grand Theft Auto III vs Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Grand Theft Auto III drops players into a gritty, 3‑D Liberty City where every street corner teems with opportunity and danger. As a hired gun, you navigate a branching storyline filled with betrayal, heists, and relentless police pursuit. The game blends driving, shooting, and exploration in a seamless sandbox, offering endless side missions, vehicle customization, and a living city that reacts to your actions. Its groundbreaking freedom set the standard for modern open‑world titles.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories is an action‑adventure set in a 1998 Liberty City, serving as a prequel to GTA III. Players control Toni Cipriani, a Leone family member returning from exile to reclaim his place in the criminal underworld. The game offers an open‑world sandbox with mission‑driven progression, side activities, and both single‑player and multiplayer modes, delivering the series' signature blend of crime, comedy, and chaos.
- Groundbreaking open‑world design
- Rich, atmospheric soundtrack
- Varied mission types and activities
- Strong narrative and memorable characters
- Rich, detailed open world set in 1998 Liberty City
- Compelling prequel storyline with memorable characters
- Varied side activities and vehicle options
- Both single‑player and multiplayer experiences
- Outdated graphics by modern standards
- Occasional frame‑rate drops on older hardware
- Limited multiplayer options (single‑player only)
- Graphics dated compared to modern releases
- Controls can feel clunky on some platforms
- Limited online features compared to newer GTA titles
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Grand Theft Auto III
View all →
Experience the gritty streets of Liberty City in an epic open‑world crime saga
Alternatives to Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
View all →
Dive into 1984 Vice City as Vic Vance, battling crime and family drama in an open‑world adventure.
Experience the gritty streets of Liberty City in an epic open‑world crime saga
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataGTA III offers a higher‑rated, classic single‑player experience at $19.99, while Liberty City Stories provides a cheaper ($9.99) prequel with both single‑player and multiplayer but lower critical acclaim.
Key differences
- •Multiplayer: GTA III is single‑player only; Liberty City Stories includes multiplayer modes.
- •Price: GTA III costs $19.99; Liberty City Stories costs $9.99.
- •Critical reception: GTA III has a 95/100 score versus 84/100 for Liberty City Stories.
- •Release era and graphics: GTA III (2001) generally has more polished graphics than the 2005 prequel, which is noted as dated.
- •Story focus: GTA III follows a new protagonist in a 2001 setting; Liberty City Stories is a 1998 prequel starring Toni Cipriani.
Gameplay & fun factor
GTA III’s varied mission types and strong narrative received a 95 critic score, indicating higher overall fun.
Platform availability
Both are paid one‑time titles; specific platform lists not provided, so availability appears comparable.
Price & value
Liberty City Stories costs half as much ($9.99 vs $19.99) while still offering single‑player and multiplayer.
Multiplayer / co‑op
Liberty City Stories includes multiplayer modes; GTA III is single‑player only.
Content & replayability
GTA III’s open world, diverse missions, and radio stations provide broader replay value per higher critic score.
Difficulty & accessibility
No specific difficulty or accessibility data provided for either game.
Graphics & performance
GTA III is noted as having outdated graphics but still superior to the more dated visuals of Liberty City Stories.
Choose Grand Theft Auto III if…
Players who prioritize story depth, higher critical acclaim, and single‑player focus.
Choose Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories if…
Buyers seeking lower cost and multiplayer options, even with older graphics.
Common questions
Which game is cheaper?
Liberty City Stories costs $9.99, while GTA III costs $19.99.
Do either of these support multiplayer?
Only Liberty City Stories includes multiplayer; GTA III is single‑player only.
Which title has better reviews?
GTA III has a critic score of 95/100, compared to 84/100 for Liberty City Stories.