GTA in 1980s Miami starring Tommy Vercetti. Neon and synth-pop atmosphere masterfully rendered, iconic soundtrack. Xbox version slightly graphically improved. One of video gaming's great classics in its best console version.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player18+
Description
Freshly released mobster Tommy Vercetti settles in Vice City in 1986 to build his criminal empire in this Miami-inspired metropolis. Published by Rockstar Games, released in 2003 in the United States and Europe. Open world across two islands with over 70 missions, a meticulously crafted 1980s aesthetic, dozens of vehicles, an iconic radio soundtrack, and a sharp satirical tone.
Grand Theft Auto - Vice City review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
MAX
Story
★★★★★
"Masterful"
Pink neon, palm trees and setting sun: Vice City resurrects the imaginary of the 80s with a vibrant pastel nostalgia. The care for atmosphere and the stylistic coherence turn the city into a character in its own right. This visual identity, colourful and iconic, remains one of the most striking in video games.
Plunged into the 1980s, the licensed selection brings Michael Jackson, A Flock of Seagulls and a thousand hits back to life across radio stations that became cult. Each station resurrects a whole decade with jubilant accuracy. This iconic soundtrack, inseparable from the game, remains one of the most beloved in the medium's history.
Set loose in a neon-soaked 1980s Miami, an ambitious crook builds his empire through betrayals and bold strokes. An unabashed homage to gangster cinema, the tale overflows with colourful characters and cult lines. Its retro flair and biting irony have lost none of their flavour.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Cruising a neon-lit city behind the wheel, stringing together missions, shootouts and property deals offers a sandbox of heady freedom, carried by an action loop that still works. The arcade driving and the variety of chases sustain instant gratification. The aiming and certain missions betray their era, but the open world's momentum stays irresistible.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
A dive into a fantasy 1980s Miami, bathed in neon, pastels and a cult soundtrack: the atmosphere alone delivers an immediate pleasure. Cruising the city in a convertible, climbing the criminal ladder and blowing it all up keeps you hooked without let-up. Stylish, funny and terribly endearing, an open world whose atmosphere remains unmatched.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Walking through a neon 1980s city while building your criminal empire mission after mission weaves a rise whose soundtrack and atmosphere grab you immediately. Buying businesses, unlocking weapons and hideouts, constantly renews the urge to push on. The driving and gunplay have aged, but this stylish setting and this freedom of play keep a tenacious pull.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Building Tommy Vercetti's criminal empire across 1986 Vice City keeps you busy with over 70 missions and two islands to roam by car, boat or helicopter. The neon look and iconic radio soundtrack make you want to linger long after the final mission, hunting scattered hideouts and challenges. That parodic charm and finely crafted 1980s mood explain why players still dive back in with delight.
An Xbox port of Rockstar's 1980s neon, a crime journey bathed in synthwave through a fantasized Miami, a beloved peak of the trilogy. Distributed in good volume, its collecting interest lies in this status as a pop icon rather than scarcity, the Japanese pressing being markedly rarer and hunted by completists. A prime piece for fans of crime sandboxes and retro aesthetics.
A questionable morality
Climbing the criminal ladder here means borrowing every vehicle without asking, running shady errands and sowing cheerful chaos across an entire city left at your mercy. The game wraps it all in a sharp satire, which never stops the player from stringing together crimes with a delighted grin, perfectly at home in the role of the thug.
Is Grand Theft Auto - Vice City still worth playing in 2026?
This Xbox conversion of Rockstar's 2002 hit drops the player into a fantasised 1980s Miami carried by a legendary licensed soundtrack and by Ray Liotta's voice. The urban density and the freedom of action set a school and remain surprisingly effective today. The staging, the mafia comedy and the radio stations still stand as a peak of pop writing in the medium. Controls, especially shooting, have aged a fair bit and some missions slip into frustration. Recommended today for fans of auteur open worlds and for anyone nostalgic about neon drenched 1980s pop culture aesthetics.
