The GTA series from Rockstar Games has thrilled players worldwide with its vast, open-world adventures and gripping narratives. From its early days to the latest releases, GTA redefines open-world gaming. With GTA 6 on the horizon, excitement is mounting for what’s next. As we await more details on GTA 6, let’s explore the GTA mobile games. These titles bring the excitement of GTA to your fingertips. We’ve ranked them from least to best, diving into Rockstar’s portable legacy as we look forward to the future.
6. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Starting our list, the first game is Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. This game brought a unique flavour to the GTA series with its top-down perspective, which was a nod to the original Grand Theft Auto games. It stood out for its engaging storyline set in Liberty City, focusing on the trials and tribulations of Huang Lee. The game’s distinctive art style, coupled with the touch-screen functionalities on some platforms, offered a fresh gameplay experience. However, despite its innovative approach, it falls to the last place on our list. This is mainly because it couldn’t quite capture the immersive open-world experience that other titles in the series offered, given its platform limitations and different visual approach.
Moreover, Chinatown Wars introduced several gameplay elements tailored for handheld devices. These included drug dealing mini-games and various touch-screen interactions, which added depth to the game’s mechanics. While these features were well-received and added to the game’s uniqueness, they weren’t enough to push Chinatown Wars higher up the ranking. The game was a critical success and was praised for its ambitious adaptation of the GTA formula to portable devices. Yet, when compared to its more fleshed-out and visually stunning counterparts, Chinatown Wars takes a back seat, securing its place as the sixth-ranked GTA mobile game.
5. Grand Theft Auto III
Moving up to number five, we have Grand Theft Auto III. This game is often credited with revolutionising the open-world genre, introducing players to the sprawling urban landscape of Liberty City. It was a groundbreaking release at the time, bringing an unprecedented level of freedom to game design. Players could explore a vast city, engage in myriad activities, and embark on a gritty narrative. Its transition to mobile platforms was an ambitious move, aiming to deliver the full console experience on-the-go. However, it lands at this spot because, despite its historical significance, the mobile version faces challenges. These include somewhat clunky controls and dated graphics that can detract from the immersive experience it aims to provide.
Furthermore, Grand Theft Auto III’s mobile version does a commendable job of retaining the essence of what made the game a classic. The story of Claude’s silent quest for revenge remains engaging, and the freedom to explore Liberty City is still appealing. Yet, the limitations of mobile hardware at the time of its release meant that certain aspects, like the control scheme, could feel awkward. This has a noticeable impact on gameplay, especially during high-speed chases and shootouts. So, while it’s a pioneering game that paved the way for future open-world titles, these factors place it at number five on our list.
4. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories grabs the fourth spot. Originally designed for handheld consoles, its transition to mobile brought Liberty City’s chaotic world right into the palms of players. The game serves as a prequel to Grand Theft Auto III, enriching the series’ lore and offering insights into the city’s criminal underworld. Liberty City Stories stood out for its polished narrative and the introduction of motorcycles, a feature that added a new layer to exploration and travel. Despite being a scaled-down version of Liberty City, the game still offered a substantial open-world experience. Yet, it sits at fourth because, while it enhanced the mobile gaming landscape with its depth and storytelling, it couldn’t match the scope and scale of its successors.
The mobile version of Liberty City Stories was praised for its optimised controls and improved visuals compared to earlier mobile GTA titles. These enhancements made navigating through the city and engaging in missions more enjoyable. However, the game’s performance could vary across devices, with some players experiencing technical issues. Additionally, compared to other titles higher up on this list, Liberty City Stories, while impressive, doesn’t offer as much content or as vast an open world. It marks a significant step in the right direction for mobile GTA games but doesn’t quite reach the pinnacle of what the series has achieved on mobile platforms.
3. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
At number three, we find Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. This game transports players to the vibrant, neon-lit streets of Vice City, heavily inspired by 1980s Miami. It was celebrated for its compelling narrative, memorable characters, and its depiction of the era’s excesses. The mobile version managed to faithfully recreate the experience, bringing the game’s iconic soundtrack, voice acting, and storyline to a portable format. Vice City’s stylistic choices and atmosphere are unmatched, contributing to its iconic status. However, it occupies the third spot because, while its narrative and aesthetic are exceptional, it faces stiff competition from more technically advanced titles in the series.
The transition to mobile platforms was handled with care, ensuring that the game’s driving mechanics, shooting, and overall gameplay felt intuitive on touch screens. The addition of customizable controls was a welcome feature, allowing players to tailor the interface to their preferences. Despite these strengths, Vice City on mobile can occasionally suffer from the limitations of the hardware, with some players noting framerate issues and control imprecision. These minor setbacks don’t detract from the overall quality of the game, but do place it just shy of the top two spots in our ranking. And recently, the definitive edition of Vice City has also been launched separately.
2. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Securing the second spot is Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. This title is often hailed as one of the best in the series, thanks to its expansive open world, compelling storyline, and depth of content. San Andreas introduced players to three distinct cities and vast rural areas, setting a new benchmark for the scale of open-world games. The game’s protagonist, CJ, embarks on a journey that takes him across the state of San Andreas, diving into themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the quest for power. The mobile version of San Andreas is a technical marvel, successfully bringing this massive world to smaller screens without compromising on content or gameplay.
The optimization for mobile devices included revamped graphics and controls, making the game more accessible and enjoyable for a wide audience. Moreover, the addition of cloud save functionality allowed players to seamlessly transition between devices, enhancing the mobile gaming experience. Despite these advancements, San Andreas narrowly misses the top spot. This is primarily because, while it offers an unparalleled open-world experience, the top-ranked game provides a more refined and comprehensive package that includes multiple titles, offering even greater value and variety.
1. Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition takes the top spot as the best GTA mobile game experience available. This collection brings together three iconic games: GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas, all upgraded with enhanced graphics and smoother controls for mobile devices. What’s more, players can now find this definitive collection on Netflix. However, it’s important to note that to dive into these remastered classics, you’ll need an active Netflix subscription. This unique access method adds value and convenience, allowing fans to stream their favourite GTA titles without the need for hefty downloads or storage space on their devices.
The Trilogy stands out by offering a comprehensive GTA experience in one package. The improvements in this edition are not just cosmetic; they also include better gameplay mechanics, making it easier and more enjoyable to play on touch screens. Each game retains its unique charm and storyline but now feels fresh and more accessible for today’s audience. This combination of classic GTA storytelling and modern gaming technology secures The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition’s place at the pinnacle of GTA mobile gaming.
So, do you agree with our ranking of GTA mobile games? Let us know in the comment section below!
