Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition

The gameplay may be dated in some aspects, but the story is what really holds it all together. The sentiments it leaves still holds true now.

Might be my favorite open world game of all time, but I leave a bad review because this PC port is horrendous. I've spent more time fighting with different mods trying to get this game to function properly and have a fresh experience, but it is ridiculously buggy. Crashing, poor fps, changing commandlines, rockstar launcher, choppy cutscenes, screen tearing, it's almost like they don't want you to play it. The vanilla game with no mods is playable, but it will be frustrating.
Rockstar is known for neglecting their old titles, and this may be the worst offense. Now don't get me wrong, when you get the game to work with the mods it's a super good time. But you'll still run into problems eventually. Good luck.

My favorite GTA game. Unfortunately the game is unplayable on PC due to the Rockstar Games Launcher. Im so sick of this DRM bullcrap. I will never buy another Rockstar game on PC because of it.

its a good game, but you shouldnt have to make an account for an entirely different platform just to play something you bought, and only be able to launch it from said platform

It's a remastered edition of GTA 4, if you have the machine power for it, it can look beautiful, especially as old as this game is. I would recommend checking your system capabilities before downloading. It would be cool if RS did the same for the Ballad of Gay Tony and Lost & Damned.

I'd only recommend you to play this great game's horrendous PC port with mods that (Thankfully) fix the port to what it should've been in the first place.
Installation process is not difficult and you don't need to downgrade, guides/tutorials exist on Youtube n' such.
Other than that this is one of the best GTA games on this franchise and in my view better than GTA5 Story-wise (Since GTA4 Online is mostly unplayable/dead).
However as previously mentioned this is an awful port to pc with a lot of small details missing from the console versions and bugs here and there occasionally, And while the game is mostly playable it shows its most ugliest head in the final mission where you will suffer and have to resort to Lowering your FPS via Task manager (It is that bad).

I unfortunately never grew up playing GTA 4, I always used to play GTA 5 a shit ton but sadly never got around to playing GTA 4 until late last year on PS3 and now again this year on PC. While I'll always have a soft spot for GTA 5 I can understand why so many fans love this game more despite it's flaws, it's such a charming yet dark game in the series.

Sadly the port for PC is dogshit, as much as Rockstar are incredible game developers they absolutely suck when it comes to porting/fixing their games for some weird reason. Luckily the best way to fix it is by using GranAlan-84's 'Grand Theft Auto IV: CE - The Improved Classic' mod that helps fix the bugs and glitches within the game and restore missing content like the songs that were cut due to expired music licenses. Other than this issue this is a game worth playing even if it's only once just to experience the story, it's worth every minute of your time :D

Edit: Also I think it's worth mentioning a fix I found for the "Taxi bug" and/or the bug where every car that spawns is similar to the one your driving, I've seen people on here asking around on how to fix it so I thought I'd include it in my review. After you install the Improved Classic mod by GranAlan-84 (which includes the fusion fix that you'll need for this bug fix) if you go and open the INI of fusion fix, then find the line:

[BudgetedIV]
VehicleBudget =

And enter a number value in there, I went and used 120000000 which most people seem fine with (although if you can you could also change it to 144000000 but I haven't tested it myself so I just recommend inputting 120000000 just incase) and then boom it should be fixed. I haven't experienced any issues thankfully but I have heard that your game could start to crash when you're on the bridge with a lot of cars (although this could probably be countered by reducing the amount of cars spawning in the in-game settings) or when you try to enter the mission "snow storm" from Elizabetha so I recommend proceeding with caution, if you can't progress the game any further at some point around this time then maybe trying putting the number value back to 0 and see if it fixes. I hope this helps :)

Great game that I cannot recommend anyone buy on PC because it is IMPOSSIBLE to finish without mods. I made it to the final mission and one of the last actions you take is tied to your FPS. It's genuinely impossible above about 30 FPS and there is no way to cap FPS in the game. It's genuinely a scam to have a game available for sale that is so obviously broken AT THE LAST MOMENTS OF THE GAME. I've invested 60 hours and can't get the actual ending. Insane that Steam allows the game to be sold in this state.

Will be remembered as one of the worst ports in history, even with all the mods in the world it's still only just barely playable, truly pathetic on Rockstar's part.

The fact it forces you to use the social club launcher is really annoying when the email associated with the account is a 12+ year old defunct university e-mail address that doesn't exist anymore.

🔥100 Hours. 100% Completion. Every Achievement Unlocked

still a fun game, but you can't beat it. there is a glitch making the last mission unbeatable, which almost made me give it a thumbs down.

good game. There is some issues where you have to turn your rendering down to hit 30fps to not freeze on loading screens.

this game was so much better before they added the rockstar game launcher, its almost unplayable. I understand its on a player to player basis and does not adhere to everyone who buys and plays the game but rockstar likes to make things extremely complicated when it should be as simple as you bought the game so go play it. Instead they want you to go through extra hoops and hurdles. I dont have access to my old social club acc from YEARS ago yet they insist I link the steam acc regardless. FYI my email account was disabled due to inactivity of me not being able to sign in. So, why am i typing all of this? I asked rockstar for help and im waiting for a response. Gaming used to be simple, it meant something. Now, its a status icon, forget having fun when you can support mega triple a gaming companies to help them make more money and piss on the lower class of gamers, when it should be inclusive. Gaming is for everybody, just buy the game disc on a game console and forget this whole process please...

I beat GTA4 on Xbox 360 but I never got around to playing the highly acclaimed DLC. When I seen the entire package on sale I had no choice but to buy it. Even at full price the amount of content you get is well worth the price of admission and well.... It's Grand Theft Auto & Rockstar, this game is goated. GTA 4 still holds up and does many things better than GTA 5. I haven't played Gay Tony yet but lost & the damned is fantastic. It's basically sons of anarchy in GTA. The way they are connecting the lost and the damned to the regular game is absolutely brilliant. I am not going to spoil anything but this game is fantastic. If you have been living under a rock for the last 20 years and have never played GTA 4 do yourself a favor and buy this masterpiece.

Amazing game, but a terrible port. Definitely get FusionFix if you plan on playing this.

Pc port is so bad I can't even play the game, it's a great game but the port ain't porting

Same feelings now, same feelings back then. You come to this every now and then and it's still feel fresh. Infinite replayability. This game doesn't get old!

This game is unplayable for me because I created a Rockstar Account on an email that has since been deleted. I contacted Rockstar and they asked me for a bunch of information I cannot find because I do not have access to the deleted email. Now I cannot even launch the game because it says I need to log into an account I cannot verify and I cannot even switch it to a new profile because it is linked to my steam account. Seems like a really terrible system.

It has louncher that is already bad at its own
It constantly updates via steam (but latest update to the game was in 2020)
Il rather play it on youtube then buy

my childhood game...a shame on the pc port, very unstable, very buggy and even some missions poorly thought

We are all aware about GTA 4's excellence. The physics in this game even make some people prefer it to GTA 5. I wouldn't suggest the game though, for anybody who use a mouse and keyboard. Despite all troubleshooting, the mouse isn't working for some reason.

This game is so much better than GTA 5 in many ways, the story, the graphics, the fighting physics where one punch doesn't kill somebody and it's just much more interesting, final comment: Roman is funny

10/10 would recommend

Ta gra jest o wiele lepsza od GTA 5 pod wieloma względami, fabuła, grafika, fizyka walki, gdzie jedno jebnięcie nikogo nie zabija i jest po prostu o wiele ciekawsza, komentarz końcowy: Roman jest zajebisty

Poleciłbym 10/10

GTA 5 has a lot *more* of everything, but GTA 4 does almost everything it does *better* than GTA 5. I understand that GTA 5, a game about excess, has done this on purpose, but for my money GTA 4 tells much more intimate and interesting stories, and offers an experience that sticks with you much longer than what GTA 5 provides. Play them back to back and see which one you remember more easily. Do any side characters from GTA 5 stick in your head as well as Brucie, or Roman, or Manny? Do you remember a choice from GTA 5 that's as interesting as choosing between Playboy X and Dwayne? I played GTA 5's storyline before starting GTA 4, and I've already forgotten most of 5's characters, because they're all just drops in an ocean of side activities and shallow minigames. I didn't expect to like GTA 4 so much more than 5, but it ended up surprising me with its quality and depth. It's definitely worth your time.

Great to play again, the best GTA. The story and gameplay is less cartoonish than the other ones and more like a HBO drama. It has aged well and doesn't feel dated despite being 17 years old and feels far more innovative than GTA V which felt like a step back in many ways. A great timeport back to 2008 and the tv shows and ads are funnier than anything made in the last 10 years in the real world.

Love the nostalgia, story and driving physics 10/10

Rockstar launcher update lost my save game. I can barely launch the game now. Terrible...

First of all it was extremely hard to finish this game. I give around 6.8/10, The characters empty and stupid, a lot of bugs, graphics also as snail, worse even compare to GTA:SA original. Pros are interesting physic and mechanics of destroying but overall this game is pain in the ass. Though underrated due to a lot things to do and open world etc.

No matter how old this game, they still give you a awesome shit. The stories is great unlike the another GTA 3D universe, in my opinion this game have more realistic story line and graphics than another GTA Series

Incredible game, just need to mod a few things here and there on this version to get the true definitive experience.

Great bowling simulator with a pretty unique side story about Serbian gangsters in liberty city. I was honestly surprised how little bowling there was since it was clearly the main selling point, but all the shooting and driving side content was cool too.

9.8/10 simply because 200 pigeons is a lot. What else is there to say? Rock solid game and game-play fun that makes you question the year it was released.

Good game but the optimization for the PC port is very bad. Many glitches make the game unplayable. The aiming is weird, the running is weird.

You need Rockstart Games launcher which has error failed to initialize and game promts "Please reinstall or contact support". Internet full of guides how to fix this issue however it's pure random and none of 6+ solutions worked for me. Waste of time and money while outdated launcher is still required

I am no longer able to play any rockstar games on my steam thanks to Rockstarsupport refusing to remove the linking of my old hacked rockstar account.
Thanks Rockstar, very cool.

Despite being one of my favorite games due to my experience playing it on consoles, I cannot recommend it. Unfortunately, this port is riddled with issues: from visual glitches and gameplay bugs to poor performance that completely ruins the experience.

Playing this game on PC without mods is pure torture. The community has worked hard to create mods that attempt to fix Rockstar’s disastrous port, yet more than a decade later, they still sell this product for $20 without addressing its major flaws. It is unacceptable that a game of this caliber still relies on external modifications to function properly.

Requires Rockstar Launcher to start the game. Seems silly, but whatever.

Turns out though I made a dumb decision back in 2017 or so & set up my Rockstar account with my college email that I no longer have access to.

I was just going to make a new account, but apparently it's linked to your steam account & it's an extremely huge hassle to sort out.

Now I can't play any Rockstar games on my Steam Deck. Absolutely absurd stuff. Thanks Rockstar. Y'all make wonderful games, but god you're anti-consumer.

One of the BEST GTA game made by Rockstar but its left for dead with unfixed bugs and poor optimization. Also the driving is harder than GTA 5 which can be a good and bad thing depending on how invested you want to be in this game (But motorcycles are absolute dogsh*t to drive). Despite this though I definitely recommend this game as it is cheap and provide a lot of content.

TLDR buy full price recommendation, classic game from the "Games made for gamers era"

I don't know where this one fits into "the best GTA game," but its one of my favorites. I played all the original ones back in the day, but they were all out already and I learned about them from word of mouth and magazines (remember those?). GTA IV was the first GTA game I pre-ordered and played on release day. Granted, it was on PS3, which was weird being a PC gamer. Still had a great time.
I like this for a variety of reasons, but mainly because its a nice mix of old and new. It has many of the features of V. The map design is a cross between Vice City and GTA III. Its pretty big, but not GTA V or San Andreas big. Atleast, it doesn't feel like it. Makes the game more compact and less empty feeling. Plus, the driving system forces you to slow down or you will spin out.
The story is more interesting imo and the main protagonist isn't a complete POS (one of my biggest gripes about V). To be clear, they're all criminals, but there is nuance here. It feels like Niko is doing his best with a bad situation. The whole underdog angle, whereas in V it just seems like they tried to amp up the bad as much as possible. Franklin is ok, but Michael and Trevor not. To this day I've never finished V, one day I will I guess.
Regardless, play GTA IV now. It holds up remarkably well in 2025, works well on current hardware and has minimal jank. Its connected to Social Club, but I guess you can't escape that nowadays. Difficulty is not too bad and there aren't that many "impossible" missions. The extras are great as well, they put a lot of effort into the TV channels, Ricky Gervais!!
Lightyears better than 99% of whats out today. Enjoy!

Still better than GTA 5. This opinion is coming after playing gta 5 first and then going back to 4. But rockstar social club login is a pain having to start up the app everytime when I want to play the game. I completed the game DLC included in the hours mentioned above.

GRAPHICS
🔲 You forget what reality is
🔲 Beautiful
✅ Good
🔲 Decent
🔲 Bad
🔲 Terrible
🔲 Don’t look at it

GAMEPLAY
🔲 Very good
✅ Good
🔲 It's just gameplay
🔲 Meh
🔲 Watch paint dry instead
🔲 Just don't

AUDIO
🔲 Eargasm
🔲 Very good
✅ Good
🔲 Not too bad
🔲 Bad
🔲 I'm now deaf

AUDIENCE
🔲 Kids
✅ Teens
✅ Adults
🔲 Grandma

PC REQUIREMENTS
🔲 Check if you can run paint
🔲 Potato
✅ Decent
🔲 Fast
🔲 Rich boi
🔲 Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

GAME SIZE
🔲 Floppy Disk
🔲 Old Fashioned
✅ Workable
🔲 Big
🔲 Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
🔲 You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
🔲 You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

DIFFICULTY
🔲 Just press 'W'
🔲 Easy
✅ Easy to learn / Hard to master
🔲 Significant brain usage
🔲 Difficult
🔲 Dark Souls

GRIND
🔲 Nothing to grind
🔲 Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
✅ Isn't necessary to progress
🔲 Average grind level
🔲 Too much grind
🔲 You'll need a second life for grinding

STORY
🔲 No Story
🔲 Some lore
🔲 Average
✅ Good
🔲 Lovely
🔲 It'll replace your life

GAME TIME
🔲 Long enough for a cup of coffee
🔲 Short
🔲 Average
✅ Long
🔲 To infinity and beyond

PRICE
🔲 It's free!
🔲 Worth the price
✅ Better if it's on sale
🔲 If u have some spare money left
🔲 Not recommended
🔲 You could also just burn your money

BUGS
🔲 Never heard of
✅ Minor bugs
🔲 Can get annoying
🔲 ARK: Survival Evolved
🔲 The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

? / 10
🔲 1
🔲 2
🔲 3
🔲 4
🔲 5
🔲 6
🔲 7
✅ 8
🔲 9
🔲 10

Very good game!

"Grand Theft Auto IV" even saying the name out loud carries aura, This 7th gen masterpiece is still the 3rd highest rated game of all time and rightly so as it was a technical marvel when it first released back in 2008 using Rockstar's brand new graphics engine RAGE (Rockstar Advanced Game Engine) Upgraded from it's debut 2 years prior with "Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis", The Euphoria Ragdoll physics are still even to this day impressive and fun to mess around with, The world feels super alive and detailed, Liberty City based off the real life New York City (with heavy influence from the 80s visual film "Koyaanisqatsi") feels super close to the real thing and is even quite faithful to the original GTAIII version on the city.

The story takes a much more serious and dark tone this time round which focuses on a Serbian war-vet named Niko Bellic as he immigrates to Liberty City in search of the "American Dream", The 2 expansions included in The Complete Edition are "The Lost And Dammed" and "The Balled Of Gay Tony" with TLAD focusing on a biker gang with themes of brotherhood and betrayal with TBoGT focusing of a night club owner named Tony Prince and his apprentice Luis as they find various ways to pay off the money they owe to many parties in Liberty City.

Sadly the Multiplayer is not included in this version but there are workarounds if you still own the physical disc or if you downgrade the current steam version to 1.7 or lower then the Multiplayer can again be accessed.

For me, Grand Theft Auto IV is a masterpiece.
because:
- The Atmosphere
- The Gameplay
- The Physics
- The Story
- The Characters
- The Map
- The AI and Pedestrians
- The Attention to Details
- The Activities
- Has Single-Player DLC

This game is probably one of the most overlooked GTA titles. When people think of GTA, they often first recall GTA: San Andreas, GTA: Vice City, GTA V, or sometimes GTA III. However, this game deserves more recognition, it’s arguably the darkest entry in the franchise, featuring deep lore and a compelling story.

One of its standout features is its impressive physics, which were quite advanced for a 2008 release (and still holding up to this day). However, we cannot avoid the elephant in the room: the game's performance is abysmal.

When I first played it in 2010, I assumed my computer was just too weak to handle it. But years later, I realized that it was simply a poorly optimized game. Even today, Rockstar has never acknowledged these performance problems, likely because it's the PC version, and they seem to care less about their PC releases. The game has been completely abandoned, with no improvement patches, and every update they did push seemed to make it run even worse.

Fortunately, there are now plenty of workarounds available online to improve performance. But it’s frustrating that the community has had to step in where the developers failed.

Overall, it's a great game, but poorly managed by Rockstar.

Not only is the game poorly optimized for pc its full of bugs and unpolished gameplay, such game breaking bug that the game is unbeatble without mods yet it is still sold by rockstar. Shame

This is my personal favourite GTA game of the HD era. It has a dark yet satirical storyline that touches on the criminal underworld of modern day Liberty City. The city feels alive and authentic. Though the driving in this game can take some getting used to. If you have not played this game yet, I would definitely give this a try.

Too many game breaking bugs, forced full screen, even the final mission is bugged.

it was a game ahead of its time better than gta v especcialy the story mode

its quite alot of effort getting it running well with mods but once you're done its worth it

Great game, impressively bad port. I don't understand why PC players keep giving positive votes to Rockstar's hot garbage. If you have to go into the files and fix it yourself, its a bad port. Full stop. They've had 5 years to fix the issues, but they won't take one day to do so because they don't care.