Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition vs Grand Theft Auto III
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition is an open-world action-adventure game that follows the story of Niko Bellic, a war veteran who comes to the United States in search of a better life. The game features a vast open world, engaging storyline, and improved gameplay mechanics.
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.
- Engaging storyline with well-developed characters
- Improved gameplay mechanics and graphics
- Large and detailed open world to explore
- Variety of multiplayer modes and co-op missions
- Groundbreaking open‑world design
- Rich, atmospheric soundtrack
- Varied mission types and activities
- Strong narrative and memorable characters
- Mature themes and content may not be suitable for all players
- Some players may find the game's satire and social commentary to be off-putting
- Steep system requirements may make the game difficult to run on lower-end hardware
- Outdated graphics by modern standards
- Occasional frame‑rate drops on older hardware
- Limited multiplayer options (single‑player only)
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Alternatives to Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition
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Grand Theft Auto V is a vast open world game set in Los Santos, a sprawling sun-soaked metropolis struggling to stay afloat in an era of eco
Alternatives to Grand Theft Auto III
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Experience the gritty streets of Liberty City in an epic open‑world crime saga
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataGTA IV: Complete Edition is the higher-rated, feature-rich modern choice with multiplayer, while GTA III is a cheaper, single-player historical milestone with outdated graphics.
Key differences
- •GTA IV: Complete Edition features both PvP and co-op multiplayer, whereas GTA III is strictly single-player.
- •GTA IV costs $29.99 with a critic score of 98/100, while GTA III costs $19.99 with a critic score of 95/100.
- •GTA IV includes a new physics engine, advanced AI, and improved graphics, whereas GTA III has outdated graphics by modern standards.
- •GTA IV's release date is 2010-10-26 (Complete Edition), whereas GTA III released earlier on 2001-10-22.
Gameplay & fun factor
GTA IV offers a new physics engine, advanced AI, choice-driven outcomes, and day-night cycles compared to GTA III's classic sandbox design.
Platform availability
GTA IV is on PlayStation 3, PC, and Xbox 360; platform details for GTA III are not specified in the facts.
Price & value
GTA III is cheaper with an MSRP of $19.99, while GTA IV: Complete Edition has an MSRP of $29.99.
Multiplayer / co-op
GTA IV supports both PvP and co-op multiplayer modes, whereas GTA III has limited multiplayer options as a single-player only game.
Content & replayability
GTA IV features a rich storyline with choice-impacted outcomes and co-op missions, alongside a large detailed world.
Difficulty & accessibility
GTA IV lists steep system requirements for lower-end hardware and mature content cons, while GTA III mentions occasional frame-rate drops.
Graphics & performance
GTA IV features improved graphics and gameplay mechanics, whereas GTA III suffers from outdated graphics and occasional frame-rate drops.
Choose Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition if…
Gamers wanting higher critic scores, advanced physics, modern graphics, and multiplayer features.
Choose Grand Theft Auto III if…
Budget-conscious players looking for a classic, single-player open-world experience at a lower price.
Common questions
Which game is cheaper?
Grand Theft Auto III is cheaper with an MSRP of $19.99 compared to Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition at $29.99.
Does either game support multiplayer?
GTA IV: Complete Edition supports both PvP and co-op multiplayer, while GTA III is single-player only.
What are the critic scores for each game?
Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition has a critic score of 98/100, and Grand Theft Auto III has a critic score of 95/100.