grand theft auto iii
A highly acclaimed and revolutionary GTA title which catapulted the series into mainstream success for it's near unlimited freedom gameplay and story at it's time.
The game is set in Liberty City, loosely based on New York City with other aspects of American cities, and has three islands: Portland, Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale. Each loosely based on Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island.
Plot
The protagonist, Claude, was betrayed by his lover, Catalina who also appears in Rockstar's other biggest hit game Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, and works his way up from zero to get his revenge. Starting from working with the mafia, Leone Crime Family, to the yakuzas led by Asuka and having a final confrontation with the Colombian Cartel's leader, Catalina.
Chronologically, GTA III is the latest one and sequels after it are played before them with different themes going for each of them. GTA III is also a seperate timeline from it's predecessors along with it's sequels.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
3 years before the events of GTA III happen, Liberty City Stories revolves around Antonio "Toni" Cipriani who is a member of the Leones and wiped out all other rival mafias, effectively making the Leones the only mafia left on the city. He is also another person which hired Claude to do work for him.
Chronologically, Liberty City Stories is the second latest in the series, behind GTA III.
Timeline
1984-86 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (and Stories)
1992 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
1998-2001 Grand Theft Auto III (and Liberty City Stories)