ORIGINAL GAME PREVIEW / GAME OPENS ON CREATOR'S SITE
ACTION / SINGLE PLAYER
GTA III (browser port)
Grand Theft Auto III, the 2001 original, in a browser tab: Liberty City's three islands, the radio and the missions. Nothing to install.
GTA in your browser: GTA III and Vice City, which to play, and GTA VI's date →
OUR TAKE / EDITORIAL
Why it's on the wall
Where the 3D GTA began: rainy Liberty City, the radio and the Mafia jobs, a click away in a tab. The Vice City port's big brother, and a little lighter to load.
Written by Neon Gamewall. An opinion, not a player rating.
GAME BRIEF
What's the game?
A browser build of Grand Theft Auto III running on re3, the community's reverse-engineered version of the game's code (the engine's functions are named regta3), with the game's data streamed from Quenq, the site that hosts it. Its setup screen has PLAY GAME, a Save Manager (upload .b save files from the PC or PS2 game, or download backups) and a Mod Manager that installs mods from GameModding.com and GTAinside. Press PLAY GAME, wait for CLICK ANYWHERE TO START, and the original menu appears with its comic-book art. We chose Start Game, Start New Game, and the opening cutscene played down to the police convoy that takes Claude away. Quenq says all three districts, Portland, Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale, the radio stations and the missions are there.
BEFORE YOU PLAY
What to expect
Unofficial and for grown-ups: GTA III was made by DMA Design (now Rockstar North) and published by Rockstar Games (Take-Two Interactive), and it is rated M for violence, crime and language. Take-Two has had browser copies of these games taken down before (DOS Zone removed its Vice City after a DMCA request), so this one could disappear too. Quenq's page carries ads and a Disqus comment thread around the game frame. Since October 24 those ads include big blue 'Play: With Windows Extension' and 'Download' boxes above the game that install browser extensions: skip them. The game's own PLAY GAME button is inside the dark frame. About 116 MB downloaded before CLICK ANYWHERE TO START in our test and about 155 MB by the opening cutscene, with more as you drive. Quenq says it works on phones with touch controls (landscape and fullscreen work best) and with Xbox and PlayStation controllers; we played it in Chrome on a computer. No account. No AI build claim.
Controls: The PC game's keyboard and mouse controls, which you can change in the game's Options; Enter selects in the menus. Quenq says touch controls appear on phones and Xbox and PlayStation controllers work; we have not tested either.
QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK
Common questions
Can you play GTA 3 in a browser?
Yes. Quenq hosts a browser build of the full 2001 game at quenq.com/apps/iii-online, running on the reverse-engineered re3 code. Press PLAY GAME, wait for the download (about 116 MB in our test), click to start and choose Start New Game. Nothing to install and no account. It is unofficial, not a release from Rockstar.
Is it the full game?
Quenq says Portland, Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale, the radio stations and the missions are all there. We started a new game and the opening cutscene played. The Save Manager takes .b save files from the PC or PS2 game and lets you download backups.
How big is the download?
About 116 MB before the CLICK ANYWHERE TO START screen and about 155 MB by the opening cutscene, measured in Chrome; more of Liberty City streams in as you drive.
Can I add mods?
Yes: the Mod Manager on the setup screen uploads mods, lists what is installed and uninstalls them, and links GameModding.com and GTAinside for files. We have not installed one.
Is it official?
No. Rockstar and Take-Two did not make or license it, and Take-Two has had browser copies of these games taken down before. We link to the copy Quenq hosts; we do not host it.
SOURCE & CREDIT
Meet the maker
The game's AI build is not independently verified. Visit the creator's game page for current details.
Made this game? Grab the Listed badge and see what we send you ↗
KEEP PLAYING
