GTA 3 strategy guide

Despite being released in 2001, Grand Theft Auto 3 is still played by many to date. This GTA 3 strategy guide will help you understand the game's basic structure and how to complete it to the fullest. Previous GTA games were smaller in size and had a top-down 2D view. However, Grand Theft Auto 3 not only introduced the 3D perspective but also included complex storytelling and engaging gameplay features.

This GTA 3 strategy guide will discuss the following aspects:

Story missions
Side missions
Best vehicles
Trophies and Achievements
100 percent completion checklist

By following these, you should be able to have the best gameplay experience. However, keep in mind that it is going to be a long journey. Nonetheless, if you are ready to dive into the 3D Universe Liberty City, let’s get started with the GTA 3 strategy guide.

Note: Some parts of this GTA 3 strategy guide are subjective and only reflect the writer’s opinions.

GTA 3 strategy guide: An overview of the in-game content

Official screenshot for GTA 3 strategy guide readers (1/8) (Image via Rockstar Games)

Even after over two decades of its initial release, Grand Theft Auto 3’s main storyline holds well and feels decently long. If you play the game non-stop, it will take you around five hours to complete just the main plot. The side activities, collectibles, and unlocking all the trophies and achievements will take more time. Note that it was one of the smallest titles in the entire Grand Theft Auto series.

The following are the number of activities you can do in Grand Theft Auto 3:

50 Story Mission.
17 Payphone Missions.
15 Side Missions.
20 Rampage Missions.
20 Stunt Jumps.
100 Hidden Packages.
29 Achievements and Trophies.
56 Vehicles to drive.

The GTA 3 strategy guide will go over all of them in brief. It is one of the best classic games you can spend time on before Rockstar Games releases its next big title in 2025.

List of all 50 story missions in Grand Theft Auto 3

Official screenshot for GTA 3 strategy guide readers (2/8) (Image via Rockstar Games)

Making a 50-story-long game in 2001 was no joke when most video games were arcade-style with relatively short plots. But, Rockstar Games successfully pulled it off and it is one of the main reasons GTA 3 stood out in the early 2000s. Here are all the missions you can play in the game:

Introduction (Cutscene)
Give Me Liberty
Luigi's Girls
Don't Spank Ma Bitch Up
Drive Misty For Me
Pump-Action Pimp
The Fuzz Ball
Mike Lips Last Lunch
Farewell 'Chunky' Lee Chong
Van Heist
Cipriani's Chauffeur
Dead Skunk in the Trunk
The Getaway
Taking Out the Laundry
The Pick-Up
Salvatore's Called a Meeting
Chaperone
Triads and Tribulations
Blow Fish
Cutting the Grass
Bomb Da Base: Act I
Bomb Da Base: Act II
Last Requests
Sayonara Salvatore
Under Surveillance
Paparazzi Purge
Payday For Ray
Two-Faced Tanner
Kanbu Bust-out
Grand Theft Auto
Deal Steal
Shima
Smack Down
Silence the Sneak
Arms Shortage
Evidence Dash
Gone Fishing
Plaster Blaster
Liberator
Waka-Gashira Wipeout!
A Drop in the Ocean
Grand Theft Aero
Escort Service
Decoy
Love's Disappearance
Marked Man
Bait
Espresso-2-Go!
Ransom
The Exchange (finale)

GTA 3 strategy guide readers should note that Rockstar Games has been following a somewhat non-linear playstyle for ages. This is also present in the 2001 title. Thus, except for the first few and last few missions, you can play the rest without following any particular order. It goes without saying that you will have to progress the plot and unlock the particular mission(s) first to do so.

Some players also prefer speedrunning the game. If you are one of them, you should check out the Grand Theft Auto 3 speedrun guide.

List of all 17 Pay Phone missions in Grand Theft Auto 3

Official screenshot for GTA 3 strategy guide readers (3/8) (Image via Rockstar Games)

The Pay Phone Missions are also a part of the storyline. However, they aren't necessary in terms of the plot. Readers of this GTA 3 strategy guide should look out for the following missions from various Pay Phones on the map:

Turismo
I Scream, You Scream
Trial By Fire
Big'n'Veiny
The Crook
The Thieves
The Wife
Her Lover
Bling-bling Scramble
Uzi Rider
Gangcar Round-up
Kingdom Come
Uzi Money
Toyminator
Rigged to Blow
Bullion Run
Rumble

These 17 missions are given by various characters through Pay Phones situated in Portland, Staunton Island, and Shoreside Vale. Here's a more detailed breakthrough of these missions:

Portland (Given by El Burro and Marty Chonks)

Turismo
I Scream, You Scream
Trial By Fire
Big'n'Veiny
The Crook
The Thieves
The Wife
Her Lover

Staunton Island (Given by King Courtney)

Bling-bling Scramble
Uzi Rider
Gangcar Round-up
Kingdom Come

Shoreside Vale (Given by D-Ice)

Uzi Money
Toyminator
Rigged to Blow
Bullion Run
Rumble

This GTA 3 strategy guide advises you to do these missions as soon as possible while staying on the related island. Liberty City has various gangs, and they become more hostile toward you as the story progresses. Some of the Pay Phone missions are related to these gangs. If you keep them to do after completing the main storyline, you'll have a hard time dealing with the gang members.

List of all 15 side missions in Grand Theft Auto 3

Official screenshot for GTA 3 strategy guide readers (4/8) (Image via Rockstar Games)

Rockstar Game divided the side missions in Grand Theft Auto 3 into four categories. They are as follows:

Four vehicle sub-missions.
Four off-road challenges.
Four RC missions.
Three Import/Export vehicle lists.

The four-vehicle sub-missions and their objectives are as follows:

Firefighter: Extinguish 60 cases of fire in Liberty City.
Paramedic: Reach to the level 12.
Vigilante: Apprehend 60 criminals in Liberty City.
Taxi Driver: Complete 100 taxi fares across Liberty City.

The four off-road challenges and their objectives are as follows:

A Ride in the Park: Drive through 12 checkpoints using the Landstalker in Belleville Park.
Patriot Playground: Drive through 15 checkpoints using the Patriot in the Supa Save! parking lot.
Multistorey Mayhem: Drive through 20 checkpoints using the Stallion in the Newport Multistory Car Park.
Gripped!: Drive through 20 checkpoints using the Patriot in Cedar Grove.

The four RC missions and their objectives are as follows:

Diablo Destruction: Destroy the Diablo Stallion.
Mafia Massacre: Destroy the Mafia Sentinel.
Casino Calamity: Destroy the Yakuza Stinger.
Rumpo Rampage: Destroy the Hoods Rumpo XL.

Official screenshot for GTA 3 strategy guide readers (5/8) (Image via Rockstar Games)

GTA 3 strategy guide readers should note that there are three lists of vehicles for the Import/Export side mission. Two of the lists are available at the Portland Harbor Dock and the remaining one is available at the Shoreside Vale garage. The following are all the vehicles:

Portland Harbor Docks - Emergency vehicles

Fire Truck
Police Car
Ambulance
Rhino
Barracks OL
FBI Car
Enforcer

Portland Harbor Dock - Normal vehicles

Blista
Bobcat
Bus
Coach
Dodo
Flatbed
Linerunner
Moonbeam
Mr. Whoopee
Mule
Patriot
Pony
Rumpo
Securicar
Trashmaster
Yankee

Shoreside Vale garage

Banshee
BF Injection
Cabbie
Cheetah
Esperanto
Idaho
Infernus
Kuruma
Landstalker
Manana
Perennial
Sentinel
Stallion
Stinger
Stretch
Taxi

You can find most of these vehicles in freeroam.

Also read: Grand Theft Auto 3 Definitive Edition trophy guide

List of best vehicles in Grand Theft Auto 3

Official screenshot for GTA 3 strategy guide readers (6/8) (Image via Rockstar Games)

As mentioned, you can find up to 56 vehicles in the game. However, not all of them are equally powerful and worth driving. Therefore, the GTA 3 strategy guide lists some of the best vehicles you can drive in Liberty City:

Infernus - 149.13 mph (240.00 km/h)
Cheetah - 142.92 mph (230.00 km/h)
Stinger - 124.27 mph (200.00 km/h)
Banshee - 124.27 mph (200.00 km/h)
Mafia Sentinel - 124.27 mph (200.00 km/h)
Yakuza Stinger - 124.27 mph (200.00 km/h)
Triad Fish Van - 111.85 mph (180.00 km/h)
Diablo Stallion - 111.85 mph (180.00 km/h)
Cartel Cruiser - 108.74 mph (175.00 km/h)
Kuruma - 111.85 mph (180.00 km/h)
Mr. Wongs - 111.85 mph (180.00 km/h)
Mule - 111.85 mph (180.00 km/h)
Stretch - 111.85 mph (180.00 km/h)
BF Injection - 105.63 mph (170.00 km/h)
Blista - 105.63 mph (170.00 km/h)
Patriot - 105.63 mph (170.00 km/h)
Sentinel - 102.53 mph (165.00 km/h)
Bobcat - 102.53 mph (165.00 km/h)
Police Car - 124.27 mph (200.00 km/h)
Ambulance - 118.06 mph (190.00 km/h)
FBI Car - 118.06 mph (190.00 km/h)
Barracks OL - 111.85 mph (180.00 km/h)
Enforcer - 105.63 mph (170.00 km/h)
Fire Truck - 105.63 mph (170.00 km/h)
Borgnine Taxi - 118.06 mph (190.00 km/h)
Taxi - 111.85 mph (180.00 km/h)
Securicar - 105.63 mph (170.00 km/h)
Ghost Boat - 118.06 mph (190.00 km/h)
Reefer Boat - 118.06 mph (190.00 km/h)
Speeder Boat - 118.06 mph (190.00 km/h)
Predator Boat - 118.06 mph (190.00 km/h)
Dodo Plane - 124.27 mph (200.00 km/h)

Note that the list only contains vehicles that go above the speed of 100 mph.

List of all 29 Trophies and Achievements in Grand Theft Auto 3

Official screenshot for GTA 3 strategy guide readers (7/8) (Image via Rockstar Games)

Rockstar Games included 29 Trophies and Achievements in Grand Theft Auto 3 that you can unlock by fulfilling various conditions. They are as follows:

Bronze Trophies

First Day on the Job: Complete the Luigi's Girls mission.
Hunting Season: Destroy five helicopters.
Disposing of the Evidence: Crush a car at the Harwood Autocrusher and Junkyard.
Repeat Offender: Get caught by the police 20 times.
Street Sweeper: Kill 100 gang members.
If You Ain't Cheatin', You Ain't Tryin': Blow up 2000 cars.
By a Mile: Complete the Turismo Pay Phone mission in under 180 seconds.
Wreckless Driving: Perform a perfect Insane Stunt.
Splish Splash: Extinguish 20 fires during a single Fire Truck side mission.
Going Rogue: Kill 20 criminals during one Vigilante mission.
Dirty Money: Amass a fortune of $1,000,000.

Silver Trophies

Population Control: Kill 1000 people.
Where we're going, we don't need roads: Complete Patriot Playground, A Ride in the Park, Multi-Story Mayhem, and Gripped! missions.
Where To?: Complete 100 taxi fare side missions.
Blood in the Streets: Pass all 20 Rampage side missions.
Pest Control: Deliver all emergency vehicles to the crane at the Portland Harbor Docks.
Play Fetch: Deliver all cars in the Portland Harbor Docks and Shoreside Vale import/export lists.
A Marked Man: Complete the Last Requests mission.
Offshore Delivery: Complete the A Drop in the Ocean mission.
A Gift from the King: Complete the Kingdom Come Pay Phone mission.
Man Toyz: Complete the Diablo Destruction, Mafia Massacre, Casino Calamity, and Rumpo Rampage missions.
Playing Doctor: Reach level 12 in the Paramedic side mission.
Right-hand Man: Earn a criminal rating of 2500.

Gold Trophies

Liberty City Secrets: Collect all 100 hidden packages.
Like a Boss: Earn a criminal rating of 5000 or higher.
Not So Fast: Complete The Exchange mission.
Wheels Up: Complete 20 unique jumps.
Is That All You've Got?: Complete the game to 100 percent.

Platinum Trophy

King of Liberty City: Unlock all the trophies.

For more details about the trophies, you can follow the GTA 3 Platinum trophy guide.

List of activities to complete Grand Theft Auto 3 to 100 percent

Official screenshot for GTA 3 strategy guide readers (8/8) (Image via Rockstar Games)

Completing Grand Theft Auto 3 to the fullest is a milestone achievement in itself. While all the activities were already mentioned above in the GTA 3 strategy guide, here is a compilation of them for your convenience:

Complete 50 story missions.
Complete 17 Pay Phone missions.
Complete four vehicle sub-missions.
Complete four off-road challenges.
Complete four RC missions.
Complete three Import/Export vehicle lists.
Complete 20 Rampage Missions.
Complete 20 Stunt Jumps.
Collect 100 Hidden Packages.

Once you hit this checklist, all your game objectives will be finished. GTA 3 strategy guide readers should note that they can continue playing the game. While there will be no major missions, side activities such as taxi driving, stunt jumps, vehicle Import/Exports, and vehicle sub-missions will still be doable.