Why You Should Replay Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in 2026

And while 2025 saw some incredible games come out, including the lauded Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong, and innovative surprises like Blue Prince (among many other excellent titles), the year was also filled with its fair share of disappointments. Arguably the most notable of these was Grand Theft Auto 6 getting another delay. Originally announced in 2022 and set for a 2025 launch, GTA 6 is now currently stated to release on November 19, 2026. And given that wait, as 2026 begins, there is a list of excellent reasons for fans to revisit GTA: Vice City before the sixth numbered entry drops.

A Brief History of GTA: Vice City

After GTA 3 changed the gaming landscape in 2001, all eyes were on Rockstar to one-up itself. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City released one year later for PS2, and was later ported to PC in 2003 and Xbox in 2004. Like GTA 3 before it, Vice City faced controversy for its depiction of realistic violence and accusations of “glamorizing crime” that were hot talking points at a time when games were moving into more mature territory. But it also brought Rockstar’s signature style to the forefront, and Vice City was a huge critical and commercial success. Some of its accolade highlights include:

• Breaking records as the fastest-selling game at the time, moving 500,000 copies in 24 hours and 1.4 million in two days.
• Leading the 1st British Academy Games Awards with eight nominations, taking home six.
• Winning the Ultimate Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards.

Why GTA: Vice City Holds Up So Well

While Grand Theft Auto 3 broke ground and set a new bar for open-world design and narrative, Vice City further elevated this formula. It tweaked and refined the established mechanics, and Vice City is often considered the superior title between the two. Based on 1986-era Miami, Florida, Vice City, with its palm trees and neon-lined streets, is a more vibrant and extravagant setting than GTA 3‘s Liberty City. Vice City’s story captured the series’ themes extremely well with many memorable missions and moments. Vice City was the pinnacle of its genre at the time and still holds up incredibly well.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City features a relatable but morally complex main character, who was the first fully voiced one in the franchise. Tommy Vercetti is portrayed by Ray Liotta, well-known for his previous roles in popular crime films, and he delivers a pitch-perfect performance as the protagonist. Liotta was joined by other notable celebrities who rounded out GTA: Vice City‘s cast of memorable and colorful characters that Tommy comes into contact with and undertakes various tasks for:

Particularly interesting is Philip Michael Thomas, as he has a fitting tie-in to the game. Thomas starred as a detective in the 1980s police show Miami Vice, which the game also clearly draws much of its inspiration from. Lance remains one of the most iconic GTA figures alongside Tommy. Their relationship and dynamic as they turn from reluctant partners, to friends, to sworn enemies forms a major crux of the plot. GTA: Vice City‘s story, combined with its trademark gameplay and presentation, make it an enduring classic.

GTA: Trilogy – The Definitive Edition Was a Major Bump in the Road

image via Steam

In 2021, Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, developed by Grove Street Games, was released. The collection bundled together GTA 3, Vice City, and San Andreas. It modernized and improved some QOL features like revamped controls, better mini-map, and mission restarts. However, other parts were noted to be poorly implemented, and the package was marred by performance and graphical issues. Many fans and critics cited them as inferior versions compared to the originals. It took three years and numerous patches to fix some of the most egregious problems and bugs in GTA: The Definitive Edition, like the ugly weather effects. But eventually these were smoothed out, and the experience has been brought up to better standards.

Why a GTA: Vice City Replay in 2026 Makes So Much Sense

GTA 6 likely sits atop the list of 2026’s most anticipated games. And while it is possible that GTA 6 will have another delay, the surrounding hype is unlikely to die down regardless of when it actually launches. Along with the intriguing storyline suspected to center around a Bonny and Clyde-like couple, GTA 6 is returning to Vice City‘s iconic locale. Seeing what the city will look and feel like after 20+ years and in modern-gen graphics is incredibly appealing, and is one of the biggest and most obvious reasons to return to the original, especially now.

GTA 6 will also potentially feature some of Vice City‘s cast. Whether, and to what extent, this turns out to be the case is yet unclear. But GTA: Vice City stands as a complete classic on its own. And as players look forward to what the upcoming title holds in store, there’s no better time than this year for longtime fans (or those who haven’t played it yet) to jump into the original and experience where it all began again or for the first time.