JustWatch
Advertisement
This is Grand Theft Auto the way you love it: all of the innovation, charm and thrills from its past installations neatly tied together in a creative package worthy of any DS owner.
91
Chinatown Wars is what I expected -- it takes an understandable few steps back from GTA4, but also takes a couple forward (a touch screen can do that). It's a well-honed "core" GTA on the handheld, not merely a one-to-one clone of its console parents.
A seriously good, fat-free but surprisingly deep GTA experience - that you can play on the toilet.
9
F4ll3n_Ech0
Una de las mejores entregas portátiles de GTA, con ideas frescas y una jugabilidad sorprendentemente profunda. Gameplay innovador. Sistema de drogas estratégico. Gran adaptación portátil. Estilo visual único. Misiones dinámicas. Puntos débiles: Historia menos profunda. Vista cenital no para todos. Limitaciones de portátil
10
DarkMythHunter
**Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars – 9.7/10** A bold return to the series’ top-down roots with a modern twist. Set in Liberty City, it combines fast-paced missions with stylized visuals and addictive side activities like drug trading. The touchscreen mechanics feel innovative, and the story is sharp and engaging. Despite its smaller scale, it delivers a deep, polished GTA experience packed with personality.
10
mrmxxn
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

Released On: 
Mar 17, 2009
Metascore
must-play
93
User score
7.4
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Advertisement
Metascore
93
100% Positive
85 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
100
GameDaily
Whether you get end up drug dealing, causing mayhem, taxiing city passengers around or simply completing the missions, it's likely that your only moment of disappointment will come when you realize how dangerously close you are to finishing the game -- at which point you should note that there are an additional set of missions to be unlocked by tracking down two (very well) hidden Golden Lions after the main storyline ends.
100
G4 TV
It’s a great comfort to know that Rockstar Games not only makes great games, but understands what makes them great. Chinatown Wars is the culmination of years of work as well as the spirit of ingenuity to bring one of the biggest series to the smallest screen. Nothing in the game feels half done or forced. If anything, the game feels like a development team having fun with a concept.
User score
7.4
63% Positive
323 Ratings
25% Mixed
127 Ratings
12% Negative
64 Ratings
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
Mar 30, 2026
10
DarkMythHunter
**Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars – 9.7/10** A bold return to the series’ top-down roots with a modern twist. Set in Liberty City, it combines fast-paced missions with stylized visuals and addictive side activities like drug trading. The touchscreen mechanics feel innovative, and the story is sharp and engaging. Despite its smaller scale, it delivers a deep, polished GTA experience packed with personality.
Mar 26, 2026
10
mrmxxn
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
95
Gamervision
Rockstar has done a downright amazing job of bringing one of gaming’s most ambitious, innovative and expansive franchises to a handheld console that seems like it simply shouldn’t be able to handle it. It looks great, plays great, and feels every bit like a fitting entry in the series.
93
Multiplayer.it
Chinatown Wars is not a poor man's GTA by any means; on the contrary, it's a lesson about how to use the DS hardware in the best way possible, and sometimes it even shows how the series can evolve with the future home consoles episodes.
91
1UP
Chinatown Wars is what I expected -- it takes an understandable few steps back from GTA4, but also takes a couple forward (a touch screen can do that). It's a well-honed "core" GTA on the handheld, not merely a one-to-one clone of its console parents.
90
SpazioGames
This time there’s no place for Pokemons, babysitting or Japanese lessons: this is an adult-only party, a mature gangster story that dwells deep in the Nintendo DS unique features. Politically incorrect, violent, embarrassing, ingenious. It’s an accomplished GTA, a new Rockstar masterpiece, an absolute must have.
80
Modojo
Unless you despise GTA, Chinatown Wars is an essential purchase. Rockstar did an excellent job transferring the mayhem to the DS, and we suggest you run out and buy a copy ASAP.
See All 85 Critic Reviews
Mar 23, 2025
10
goKu_max
Bon jeu, bon moment, bonne adaptation. Bon gameplay, bonne histoire. Jeu fun.
Dec 16, 2023
7
didi333333
Ce gta est pas mal et les mouvements sont biens réaliste tout de même quelques bugs sont à réglé
Jan 7, 2020
7
Maui_Fizz
I'll give this game a 7.5. The story increases twists gradually as you progress. The gameplay is better than any sandbox game in such a portable console like ds. The missions are unique. It also has some flaws. The complexity of the game increases.
Sep 22, 2011
6
JoseRochaPT
For Fans it must be amazing, but it is not much if I look at it as a new videogame. Low graphs, weak story, just a copy of the Game Boy GTA. Not bad to play on the Metro/Bus.
Nov 22, 2021
0
Rzno157
GTA Chinatown Wars e esattamente come dice il nome sembra fatto made in China il gioco prodotto scadente con la visuale dal alto brutta e comandi orrendi.
See All 514 User Reviews
Advertisement
SummaryGrand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is an entirely original entry into the critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto series, and brings a new level of interactivity to its sprawling open environments. With the use of the DS touch screen, players navigate their way through the streets as they uncover the truth behind an epic tale of crime and co... Read More
Rated Mfor Mature
  • DS
  • PSP
  • iOS (iPhone/iPad)
Mar 17, 2009
  • Rockstar Leeds
Advertisement
Advertisement
Related Content: ijumpman | fishie fishie | lucha libre aaa heroes del ring | disgaea 4 a promise unforgotten medic | disgaea 4 a promise unforgotten pirohiko ichimonji | four in a row 2010 | zombie square | super sniper hd | the will of dr frankenstein | chuck e cheeseand39s party games alley roller