Rockstar Games. (2001). Grand Theft Auto III [Video game]. Rockstar North.

Grand Theft Auto III is a 2001 action-adventure game developed by DMA Design (now Rockstar North) and published by Rockstar Games. Set in the fictional Liberty City, the game follows a silent protagonist, Claude, who seeks revenge against his ex-girlfriend Catalina after she betrays him during a heist. The story unfolds as Claude becomes entangled in the city's criminal underworld.

The game is played from a third-person perspective in an open-world environment that provides players with significant freedom. Players can complete missions, which are structured sequences of objectives advancing the narrative, or explore the city freely. Liberty City comprises three boroughs unlocked progressively as the story unfolds. The game features a variety of activities, from combat to driving numerous vehicles, and players can interact with a wide arsenal of weapons.

One of the revolutionary aspects of Grand Theft Auto III is its open-world design, which allows players to deviate from missions to engage in side activities like vigilante missions or taxi driving. This flexibility, combined with dynamic AI for pedestrians and vehicles, contributes to a living, breathing city environment. The game employs a wanted system, where law enforcement responds to player actions with increasing severity, depending on the level of wanted stars accrued.

The game was groundbreaking for its 3D graphics and cinematic storytelling, setting a new standard for open-world games. It received critical acclaim for its innovative gameplay and immersive world but also faced controversy for its depiction of violence and mature themes. Despite this, Grand Theft Auto III was a commercial success and is credited with popularizing the open-world genre, influencing countless games that followed.