Many gamers are excited to jump back into the critically-acclaimed worlds of the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition with the benefits of modern game design and hardware. However, not all gamers can agree on what order the trilogy should be played in, as some argue that the big feature variations between each game may unintentionally detract from the overall experience.

For the unfamiliar, to enjoy the Grand Theft Auto franchise in chronological order, players will need to start with Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, then move on to GTA: San Andreas, and finally end with Grand Theft Auto 3. With that being said, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City has several mechanics not seen in Grand Theft Auto 3, such as the ability to pilot planes and helicopters. Likewise, Grand Theft Auto San Andreas has bicycles, gang warfare, and swimming, all things that were lacking in the first two installments.

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These mechanical divides are the crux that started a sprawling debate online, which has led many fans to reevaluate what order to play the games. While certain characters and locations make appearances in other installments, the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition games are not direct sequels, nor are they narratively linked. This means that, in theory, players should enjoy each game no matter the sequence. But for a majority, the gameplay deviations are just too much.

Tell from GTA

In terms of release, Grand Theft Auto 3 would be the first title to launch on November 11. Considered by reviewers to be one of the greatest video games ever made, the most popular reply to the original post explains that GTA veterans need to experience the 2001 entry in the Grand Theft Auto series first for nostalgia alone. After all, this was the first GTA a lot of fans played due to it being the first in the franchise to introduce an open-world with three-dimensional geometry.

However, it seems fans cannot get enough of crime lord Tommy Vercetti plus his Scarface-influenced setting and soundtrack. GTA: Vice City takes place in the mid-eighties, and oozes more stylish charm than pretty much any game in the series outside of possibly San Andreas, with some arguing that the smaller scale of the environment makes it a much more manageable affair than the others. In terms of release date, this should be the second game to tackle. Although, it's clear some are skipping the dreary streets of Liberty City in favor of sandy beaches, beetle-wing supercars, and Hawaiian shirts.

The last yet newest game in terms of original release, the story of San Andreas is filled with many iconic missions. From gut-wrenching betrayals to gut-busting subplots, Grand Theft Auto San Andreas follows former gangster Carl "CJ" Johnson, who is drawn back into a life of crime after the death of his mother. While the story is one of the main reasons to dive back into Grove Street, the advanced gameplay features like character customization and gang warfare truly separate this instalment from the previous titles, with it being the sole reason some are buying the trilogy.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - Definitive Edition releases November 11, 2021, on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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