5 reasons to play GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition in 2025

Rockstar Games released GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition, remasters of Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City, and San Andreas, in November 2021. These titles came out originally in 2001, 2002, and 2004, respectively, and are among the most iconic video games ever made. Their remasters, on the other hand, had very poor reception, initially, due to various issues.

Thankfully, many of them have been fixed, improving the overall experience to a good extent. That said, for anyone still on the fence, here are five reasons to play GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition in 2025.

Note - This article is subjective and only reflects the writer's opinions.

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Here are five reasons why you might want to play GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition in 2025

1) Three distinct and enjoyable games

The three titles' protagonists (Images via Rockstar Games)

As mentioned previously, Definitive Edition encompasses remasters of Grand Theft Auto 3, Vice City, and San Andreas. Although the three take place in the same universe, and even have some characters making appearances in more than one title, they have their own distinct atmosphere.

Grand Theft Auto 3 is set in the dark and gritty environment of Liberty City in 2001, Vice City is a nostalgia trip back to the vibrant 1980s, and San Andreas takes one on a journey across three major cities in the 1990s. All three are very enjoyable due to their fun missions, interesting characters, as well as engrossing storylines.

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2) Modern visual effects

GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition is perfect for those who want to experience these classic Grand Theft Auto titles, but don't find the early 2000s graphics impressive. The remasters, though not as realistic as Red Dead Redemption 2 or even Grand Theft Auto 5, still have elements of modern visual effects.

In addition, Rockstar has added a feature called "Classic Lighting" that brings the original vibe of these titles when enabled. Hence, one can get the best of both worlds by playing the Definitive Edition in 2025.

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3) Most issues have now been fixed

Rockstar Games' November 2024 GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition patch fixed a lot of issues the three remasters were suffering from for a long time. These included problems related to character model posture, animations, map fog, as well as rain effects, to name a few.

While the titles may not be 100% clear of all problems, the current status is a lot better than it was around launch, and players should be able to enjoy them without much trouble. Even those who had given up on it earlier should give Definitive Edition another chance in 2025.

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4) Easily accessible

GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition is available on multiple platforms, which makes it accessible to a wide audience. These not only include PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, but Last-Gen consoles, that is PS4 and Xbox One, too.

The three remasters are even available on portable platforms, such as Nintendo Switch and Android/iOS devices. In fact, active Netflix subscribers can access Definitive Edition titles on Android and iOS devices for free. So, one doesn't even need to spend much in order to play them.

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5) There is still time in Grand Theft Auto 6's arrival

Grand Theft Auto 6 is set for a launch later this year (Image via Rockstar Games)

GTA 6 will release in 2025, but as of this writing, there seemingly are still many months left before its arrival, as per the announced release window. So, long-term fans have an opportunity to experience these classic titles once again before the series' next chapter comes out.

Furthermore, those who have never played a Grand Theft Auto game, but are waiting for GTA 6, can also check them out to understand how much the series has evolved over the years.

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Also check: 5 biggest issues fixed in GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition (PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC)