Recommended Free Tools
Grand Theft Auto IV earned exceptional reviews, led by praise for its believable Liberty City, strong writing and memorable characters. Metacritic’s page inspected lists a 98 critic score from 86 reviews, while GameSpot lists a score of 10. Those figures capture the game’s strong 2008 reception, not a guarantee that every player—or every modern platform—will have the same experience.
How did critics review Grand Theft Auto IV?
The critical consensus was exceptionally positive. Metacritic’s currently displayed listing records a 98 critic score from 86 reviews; its user score is 8.4 from 6,985 ratings. GameSpot lists a score of 10. These are page snapshots and the rating totals can change. Metacritic’s score and user ratings are aggregator figures, not a population-wide measure of player satisfaction. Metacritic’s Grand Theft Auto IV page and GameSpot’s game listing provide the cited score records.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Grand Theft Auto IV | $15.37 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3) | $14.94 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Grand Theft Auto IV & Episodes from Liberty City: The Complete Edition | $299.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City - Playstation 3 | $26.00 | Buy on Amazon |
The scores were not the only common thread. Critics repeatedly singled out the world, script and cast. One excerpt in Metacritic’s critic listing, from Official Xbox Magazine UK in May 2008, reads: “It’s got a world you believe in, a cast you care about and a script stuffed with brilliant moments… Utterly stunning in every resepct.” The displayed spelling is preserved here. Metacritic’s critic review excerpts show both that enthusiasm and the range of published reactions.
What did reviewers praise?
Liberty City as a convincing setting
Reviewers’ praise often centered on Liberty City feeling like a coherent, detailed place rather than a simple backdrop. Rockstar’s launch announcement also emphasized the city and an immersive narrative, though that is the publisher’s own promotional characterization, not an independent review. Take-Two’s April 29, 2008 launch announcement identifies the game’s setting and quotes Rockstar founder Sam Houser describing the release as “an amazing interactive entertainment experience.”
#1 Best Overall
- Carry on the Grand Theft Auto tradition playing through the single player campaign as Niko Bellic
- Get cars and other modes of transportation anyway you can
- Interact with various colorful characters who give you various missions to engage in
- Engage in multiplayer challenges ranging from cover matches to shoot-outs, System Specification: Windows Vista SP 1 / Windows XP SP 3, Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8GHz, AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4GHz, 1.5GB, 256MB Nvidia
- Game Rated 'M' due to Intense Violence, Blood, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Partial Nudity, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Story, script and characters
The premise follows Niko Bellic, who arrives from Europe hoping to escape his past, while his cousin Roman hopes to find fortune in Liberty City. Metacritic’s summary and critic excerpts alike point to the narrative, script and characters as central strengths. That is a useful guide to what made the game resonate with reviewers, but it does not mean every player will value those qualities equally.
Is Grand Theft Auto IV still worth playing?
For someone interested in a story-driven open-world game, the review record makes a strong case: critics valued the setting and writing, and those are the qualities most consistently highlighted in the available excerpts. Whether it is a good choice for you depends on your preferred platform and what you expect from a current release. The review records cited here establish historical reception; they do not establish present-day performance, compatibility, online-service status or store availability.
Rank #2
- Improved combat system - Now you can use cover and also a target lock system, which allows you to take out targets with greater ease and accuracy. Plus, you can engage in some hand-to-hand combat if you can't get your hands on a piece quick enough.
- Free time - In between missions you can take advantage of "me" time. There are gentleman's clubs, comedy clubs, bowling alleys, and bars, which all house unique activities.
- Take a break from the storyline - A variety of side missions allow you to help run a car service, "borrow" cop cars, assassinate targets, help solve problems for those on the street, or take to the air with stunt jumps that are scattered all over the city.
- Control your own fate - Throughout the game choice moments will arrive causing you to make a decision that will affect relationships and money
The game launched on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on April 29, 2008; Metacritic and GameSpot also list a PC version. Before choosing a copy, confirm that it matches the system you intend to use and check current compatibility and availability with the relevant platform or seller. Those details are not verified by the historical review pages.
Do the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC versions differ?
A review excerpt on Metacritic says the PS3 version had a slight visual edge, while the Xbox 360 version offered Achievements and later downloadable episodes. Treat that as a review-era comparison, not a definitive technical ranking for current hardware or editions. The cited material does not establish present-day compatibility or availability for any version, so check those details for the specific system and copy before buying.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRank #3
- Includes: Grand Theft Auto IV and episodes: The Lost and the Damned & The Ballad of Gay Tony
Metacritic and GameSpot list PC alongside the console versions, but the cited records do not provide a current PC compatibility assessment. They also do not establish current access to the game or its related expansions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What content should players expect?
GameSpot lists Mature content descriptors for blood, intense violence, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content, and drug and alcohol use. GameSpot’s listing is the cited source for those descriptors.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Brings the interweaving Grand Theft Auto IV stories of Niko Bellic (main game), Johnny Klebitz (The Lost and Damned) and Luis Lopez (The Ballad of Gay Tony) to an explosive conclusion.
- Contains The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony, on one disc. These were originally digital content releases for GTAIV that were unavailable to PS3 players.
- Both games are standalone releases that do not require the original Grand Theft Auto IV game, or an Internet connection for their single player campaigns. (multiplayer modes are online)
- Complete your Grand Theft Auto IV experience with powerful new weapons, vehicles, music, features and new mission types.
- Each episode contains both a single player campaign as well as a variety of online multiplayer modes specific to the storyline of each.
Sources and score context
- Metacritic: score totals, user ratings and game summary
- Metacritic: critic review excerpts
- GameSpot: score, platforms and content descriptors
- Take-Two: April 29, 2008 launch announcement
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
