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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

Review · Action · PSP · PlayStation 2

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

Reviewed: 01 May 2026

PSP · PlayStation 2

Rockstar North · 2006

Ludograph rating

B

Good

61 /100

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories is an open-world action game that enhances spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination, with significant mature content.

06010030BenefitLow riskB 44 · R 0
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

44

Risk (RIS)

0

Daily limit

Age guidance

17+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.56
B2Social-emotional
0.03
B3Motor
0.75

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories offers an expansive open-world experience, fostering spatial awareness, hand-eye coordination, and reaction time through its core gameplay of driving, shooting, and mission completion. Players engage in strategic and critical thinking to navigate the criminal underworld and build their empire.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.00
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

The game contains significant mature content, including high levels of violence, sexual themes, strong language, and substance references, earning its M rating. Due to the conversion to PS3, multiplayer and social features are absent, mitigating social risks like stranger interaction or competitive toxicity. However, the narrative often involves morally questionable actions.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
1.00
R4.2Sexual Content
1.00
R4.3Language
1.00
R4.4Substance References
1.00
R4.5Fear / Horror
0.33

Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.

Regulatory design checks · DSAAssessed: meets criteria·GDPR-KAssessed: meets criteria·ODDSAssessed: meets criteria

  • DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
  • GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.: Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
  • ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.

These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.

Parents ask…

Is Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories a rating of 61/100, recommended for ages 17 and up. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

What age is Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 17+ for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories?

We don't publish a daily session budget for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories: its design-risk score sits in our highest band, where limiting time alone doesn't address the risks. For children we suggest choosing an alternative instead.

What are the main risks of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories?

The game contains significant mature content, including high levels of violence, sexual themes, strong language, and substance references, earning its M rating. Due to the conversion to PS3, multiplayer and social features are absent, mitigating social risks like stranger interaction or competitive toxicity. However, the narrative often involves morally questionable actions.