IGN’s retrospective argues that the original Grand Theft Auto remains an important, enjoyable but demanding foundation for the series, despite feeling dated beside the major games released in the late 1990s. Its significance lies in the unusual freedom it gave players to explore, drive, cause chaos and approach objectives in an open world, even before the franchise developed its later narrative-led identity.

The reviewer describes GTA as technically modest, with top-down vehicle and pedestrian sprites over three-dimensional cities, small maps by modern standards and a limited weapon selection. Its arcade-style progression prioritises scores and limited lives rather than story, making it punishing and sometimes awkward to control; nevertheless, its varied vehicles, comic sound effects and influential soundtrack retain much of their appeal nearly 30 years later.