To say thatGrand Theft Auto 3is a beloved classic would be a bit of an understatement. Even though the game is now twenty years old, its legacy hasn’t faded in the least. Currently, it’s looking incredibly promising thatan official remaster of the 3D-era gamesis about to be formally announced byRockstar.
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But why wait? For such an old game, there are actually a fair amount of mods available to download. Many of these mods seek to remaster the game on modern hardware, making it feel like a more contemporary experience. Although mods aren’t perfect, this collection of add-ons should help tide fans over until a proper remaster hits the shelves.
Updated July 29, 2025 by Mark Hospodar:The GTA modding community suffered a blow recently when alawsuit was filed by Take-Twoagainst the authors of the re3 and reVC projects. These popular mods had reverse-engineered the source codes of their respective games with the aim of making them less of a headache to play on modern hardware.
Take-Two is now claiming copyright infringement, even though a purchased copy of the games was required for the mods to work. The fan-made projects are still listed on GitHub but are now set to read-only. All of this comes in the wake of a purported official remaster of the 3D-era trilogy, whose release date has yet to be specified.
16Mod Loader
Before diving into the modding list proper, it’s worth mentioning a handy tool that should help relieve future headaches. Players can always install mods the old-fashioned way by dropping their contents into the correct data folder. However, it’s easy to make mistakes with this method.
Fans looking to updateGrand Theft Auto 3should seriously consider usingMod Loader. It offers a much simpler way of installing and uninstalling a large number of mods for the game. Nevertheless, it’s still highly recommended to read the instructions for each mod to ensure everything runs properly. Games this old, after all, can sometimes be finicky.
15Widescreen Fix
The first and simplest mod fans should consider installing isWidescreen Fix.Grand Theft Auto 3was released in 2001, several years before 1920 x 1080 resolution became the norm. As such, trying to playGTA 3on a modern PC is frustrating, as the game won’t fill the screen naturally.
The Widescreen Fix mod reworks the aspect ratio to make the game fit comfortably on an HD screen. The HUD and field-of-view are scaled properly as well, so nothing appears stretched. Installing this mod is a good first step toward making the game look better.
14The Essential Fixes
Making sure a game runs properly while keeping bugs to a minimum is essential for any remaster. RunningGrand Theft Auto 3on modern hardware comes with its fair share of headaches in terms of stability and performance. Mods that tackle these issues in a single package are highly recommended.
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The aptly-titledEssential Fixesmod makes playingGTA 3a less cumbersome endeavor. The previously mentioned Widescreen Fix is included in this mod, along with other quality of life improvements such as proper controller support. Just be sure to follow the guide’s instructions for the best experience.
13Silent Patch
Obviously, a game as old asGTA 3isn’t going to get an official update from the developers to fix a bug. The game still has its fair share of problems on PC, especially when attempting to run it on modern hardware. Luckily, fans need not look far for a quality patch. Consider installing either this mod or the previous one regarding bug fixes.
TheSilent Patchfixes plenty of problems. Most importantly, the patch helps eliminate irritations such as mouse sensitivity and pathfinding. In terms of graphics, the Silent Patch allows the game to run smoothly on a higher FPS and contains a more precise frame limiter. Any remastering effort would be remiss if bug fixing isn’t taken into consideration.
12GTA III Refresh
Diehard fans ofGTA 3probably know the game like the back of their hand. After all, the map of Liberty City is pitifully small bycontemporary open-world standards. After a few (hundred) playthroughs, it’s fairly easy to memorize every nook-and-cranny of the city.
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GTA III Refreshis an interesting mod in that it strikes a balance between a remaster and a remake. On the one hand, it updates certain aspects of the game, such as the textures. On the other, it adds brand new material in the form of buildings, vehicles, sounds, and an updated wanted system.
11GTA 3 Natural HD Textures
When discussing a remaster of any sort, graphics tend to be at the forefront of the conversation. Visually, there’s no getting around the fact thatGTA 3is a relic. Mods, of course, can help rectify that problem admirably. Keep in mind, however, that no graphics mod will make this game look absolutely perfect.
In any case, one of the better graphics packs for this game isGTA 3 Natural HD Textures. This mod gives the environment a sharp, clean look while making everything generally easier on the eyes.
10HQ Textures
If the previous mod fails to satisfy,HQ Texturesprovides an excellent alternative. This mod is incredibly comprehensive and one of the more highly rated modifications forGTA 3.
Over 150 files are edited, with the result being much crisper visuals. Other details, like shadows and reflections, become more noticeable as well.
9Real Effects Pack
Texture mods that focus on just one area of the presentation can still have a drastic effect on the visuals. One area in desperate need of improvement is the various particle effects in the game. TheReal Effects Packdoes a great job of modernizing many of these little details.
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The effects that this mod overhauls include reflections, explosions, weather, fire, and smoke, to name a few. Now, all themayhem inherent in aGTA 3playthroughcan look that much prettier with proper HD effects.
8Go Inside Vehicles
The limitations of older open-world titles are easy to spot nowadays. InGTA 3, players can explore the full breadth of Liberty City, but only a small handful of locations have detailed interiors. As such, one of the more unique mods for the game isGo Inside Vehicles.
This mod, though far from mind-blowing, adds some extra immersion to the proceedings by incorporating more interior locations. For instance, fans can now witness the inside of certain vehicles such as the train or subway. It’s a neat mod that enlivens the environment, however slight.
7GTA 3 Director’s Cut
GTA 3 Director’s Cutis yet another respectable all-in-one package that enhances the game’s overall experience. “Enhance” is the operative word here. According to the mod authors, the general feeling of the vanilla game is maintained. No drastic changes are implemented, just natural improvements.
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Several of the mod’s features include upgrades to the character models, pedestrians, and various map tweaks. There are also twenty new car additions. Be sure to read the instructions to this mod carefully, as it requires the installation of other modifications.
