You read that right! The streaming giant just announced that it will be offering the Grand Theft Auto Definitive Edition Trilogy of games to subscribers via its mobile app. This would include Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. These games were originally released for the PlayStation 2 in the years 2001, 2002, and 2004, respectively. You could also play them on PC or Xbox, but nothing beats a PS2 in my opinion.
Certain subtle differences can be found between the original games and the Definitive Edition ones, but even as a lifelong player of these specific titles, I hardly notice. I don't know if they added anything at all, but they removed or changed some little things such as content that may not sit as well in 2023 as it did in 2003.
Last year for Christmas, my brother gifted me a copy of the GTA Definitive Edition trilogy for the Nintendo Switch. I've played it lightly, mostly taking it with me on road trips or wherever I need something to kill a little time. I can only assume the Netflix version will be nearly identical, but I'm curious how playable it will actually be without a controller. I know they offer other games on their app, but most every mobile adaptation of a traditionally controlled video game that I have played is garbage. I guess we'll just have to see, come December 14th when the trilogy will be available on Netflix Games.
If you're considering playing them all but wondering which one to begin with, I'd have to recommend GTA III since it came out first. As you go newer with the games, the maps get bigger, the gameplay and graphics improve, and the stories become more intricate, offering a progressively immersive experience. Starting with GTA III allows you to appreciate the evolution of the series and witness the advancements in early open-world gaming.
If you're thinking about cracking into just one of the three games, I urge you to go with San Andreas. I consider it an absolute masterpiece; it's one of my all-time favorite videogames, without a doubt! I probably could have mastered an instrument or learned a foreign language in less time than what I've dumped into this specific game through my years, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
When I first saw the headline that Netflix was adding Grand Theft Auto, my mind instantly jumped to the conclusion that they must be making film adaptations of the games. Wouldn't that be so cool? I think so, but unfortunately, it isn't much more than a new platform picking up a few old titles. Still, I appreciate the continued revival of these legendary GTA's and the opportunity Netflix is giving its subscribers to feel like they're in the early 2000's again. Whether it's an original player rekindling their love for the games, flooding themselves with the nostalgia, or a new player experiencing the joy of Rockstar Games' finest for the first time, I love to see it!