“Games Vice City” usually refers to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Rockstar Games’ open-world action game set in a fictionalized 1980s Miami. If you mean games to play after it, the closest choices are other Grand Theft Auto titles, especially Vice City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas; several non-GTA games also offer crime stories, open cities, or a strong period setting.
What Is Grand Theft Auto: Vice City?
Released in 2002, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City is the sixth main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series and the second game built around the 3D open-world format established by Grand Theft Auto III. Its fictional Vice City draws heavily on Miami’s popular image in the 1980s. Players explore the city on foot or by vehicle, take on missions, and encounter side activities across a story focused on organized crime.
The protagonist is Tommy Vercetti, a criminal who arrives in Vice City after a drug deal goes wrong. The game’s plot follows his efforts to build power and control criminal operations. Its neon colors, coastal setting, clothing, vehicles, and licensed music help create the period atmosphere. The story and setting are fictional, though they use recognizable crime-film and 1980s pop-culture influences.
Which Vice City Game Should You Play?
There are two distinct games with Vice City in their names, and they are not interchangeable:
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002) is the original game starring Tommy Vercetti.
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006) is a separate prequel set in the same city, with Victor Vance as its protagonist.
Vice City Stories takes place in 1984, two years before the original game’s story. It adds missions and activities of its own, but it was first released for PlayStation Portable and later for PlayStation 2. Availability on current platforms depends on storefront, region, and device; check the official store listing before buying. It is not simply an expanded edition of the 2002 game.
Best Games Similar to Vice City
The best match depends on which part of Vice City matters most to you: its setting, mission structure, crime story, or freedom to explore.
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004) offers a much larger fictional state and a long crime story. It shares the series’ open-world structure, but its setting and tone differ from Vice City’s Miami-inspired design.
- Grand Theft Auto III (2001) is a useful comparison if you want the earlier 3D GTA format. It is set in Liberty City and has a different protagonist and atmosphere.
- Grand Theft Auto IV (2008) and Grand Theft Auto V (2013) provide later, more technically advanced versions of the series’ city exploration and crime missions. Neither is set in Vice City.
- Mafia: Definitive Edition and Mafia III focus on organized-crime narratives in carefully staged settings. They are more mission-led than GTA and do not provide the same kind of unrestricted city sandbox.
- Scarface: The World Is Yours (2006) is a crime game with a Miami connection and a similar broad subject, but it is based on the film Scarface, not on the GTA series.
How the Game Works
Vice City is a third-person action game. Its main missions advance the story, while optional activities and exploration let players spend time away from the central plot. The city contains roads, businesses, neighborhoods, and landmarks, and players can travel using a range of vehicles. The game also includes combat and a wanted system: criminal actions can attract police attention, with the response increasing as the wanted level rises.
Players can approach some missions in different ways, but this is not a modern role-playing game with extensive dialogue choices or a branching story. Its structure is built around completing missions, learning the map, and using vehicles and weapons. The original release is an older game, so its controls, camera, and mission design may feel less flexible than those in newer open-world titles.
Versions, Platforms, and Buying
The original game has appeared on multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and mobile devices, with later releases and collections affecting where it can be purchased. The available edition and its features can vary by platform. A remaster or collection may change graphics or controls without making it a new story game; read the product description to distinguish the 2002 title from Vice City Stories.
Before purchasing, check these details:
- Platform: Confirm that the edition supports your computer, console, or phone.
- Edition: Make sure the store listing names the specific game you want, particularly if you are looking for Vice City Stories.
- Controls and display: Older versions can differ in controller support, resolution, and interface. Consult the platform’s feature list and recent user information.
- Price and availability: There is no single current price across stores, regions, and editions. Check the official storefront for the amount and any included collection content.
Do not assume that buying the original game grants access to every later release or to Vice City Stories. Nor should an unofficial download be treated as an authorized copy: use legitimate stores and observe the platform’s account and licensing terms.
Common Questions and Misconceptions
A frequent confusion is whether “Vice City” is a real place. The game’s Vice City is fictional, though it is strongly modeled on Miami. Another is whether the 2002 game and Vice City Stories are two names for one title. They are separate games with different protagonists and stories, although they share a setting.
It is also easy to mistake a similar crime game for a GTA entry. A game can feature a city, vehicles, and organized crime without belonging to the Grand Theft Auto series. Check the developer, publisher, and official title when searching a store or used-game listing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vice City a game or a place?
In this context, Vice City usually means Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. The city itself is fictional and inspired largely by Miami.
What game comes after GTA Vice City?
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was the next main series release after Vice City. In story chronology, however, Vice City Stories is a prequel set earlier in the same city.
Is Vice City Stories the same as Vice City?
No. They are separate games. The 2002 original stars Tommy Vercetti, while the 2006 prequel stars Victor Vance.
Can you play Vice City on modern consoles?
Possibly, depending on the console, region, and currently available edition or collection. Check the console’s official store because platform availability changes over time.
What is the closest game to Vice City?
Vice City Stories is closest in setting, while other GTA games are closest in overall gameplay. For a different series with a crime-story focus, try a Mafia game.
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