Niko Bellic, Johnny Klebitz and Luis Lopez all have one thing in common - they live in the worst city in America. Liberty City worships money and status, and is heaven for those who have them and a living nightmare for those who don't.
Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition is widely regarded as one of the best GTA games, celebrated for its compelling story, memorable characters, and engaging gunplay. Despite its age, the core game and its expansions hold up well, offering a rich experience. However, the PC port is notoriously problematic, plagued by poor optimization, bugs on modern hardware, and frustrating mandatory Rockstar Games Launcher integration.
Pros
It features one of the best stories, characters, and gunplay in the GTA series.
The game's core experience and graphics hold up well despite its age.
Driving mechanics are often preferred over those in GTA V.
The Complete Edition includes excellent story expansions: The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony.
Modding communities can enhance the sandbox experience and help address some technical issues.
Cons
The PC port is poorly optimized, leading to significant FPS drops, stuttering, and bugs on modern hardware, especially Windows 11.
Mandatory Rockstar Games Launcher integration is frequently problematic, causing login issues and preventing access to the game.
Multiplayer functionality is no longer available despite being advertised.
The final mission can be unplayable without manually capping the FPS to 60.
Some players find the driving mechanics challenging or a 'nightmare'.
Notable Mentions
The game reportedly runs fine on Steam Deck despite PC port issues.
Players on newer systems may need to use tools like DXVK to improve performance.
The Liberty's Legacy Mod Menu is recommended for an enhanced sandbox experience.
Confidence: 85%
Based on the 50 most relevant reviewsGenerated on Feb 18, 2026
