Revisiting the 2001 Open-World Pioneer That Changed GTA Forever

In a new retrospective series leading up to GTA 6, critic Luke Reilly begins by replaying Grand Theft Auto III. He finds that while its targeting and mission restarts feel dated, the game's seamless blend of driving, action, and exploration in a 3D world was a groundbreaking achievement. The piece argues that GTA III laid the blueprint for modern open-world games despite its rough edges.