Grand Theft Auto III includes built-in cheat codes that grant weapons, restore health and armor, change your wanted level, alter the weather, and affect vehicles or pedestrians. On PC, type the codes during normal gameplay without pausing. This guide covers both the original PC release and Grand Theft Auto III – The Definitive Edition, with compatibility notes for codes that differ between versions.
To activate a GTA 3 cheat on PC, type its code directly on your keyboard during normal gameplay, without pausing the game. Codes are not case-sensitive, and you do not need to press Enter. A confirmation message should appear when a code is recognized, except when using the Increased Gore cheat.
Create a separate save file before using cheats and avoid saving after activating effects that alter pedestrian behavior. Some cheats cannot be safely reversed, and using them can prevent achievements from unlocking in Grand Theft Auto III – The Definitive Edition.
The tables below list every standard GTA 3 cheat available on PC and show whether it works in the original release, Grand Theft Auto III – The Definitive Edition, or both. The original PC version has 23 cheat effects. The Definitive Edition adds Big Head Mode but does not support the classic Invisible Cars or Increased Gore cheats.
| Effect | PC Code | Availability and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Full Health | GESUNDHEIT | Both versions. Restores Claude's health. If he is inside a vehicle, it restores that vehicle's health and, for cars, resets engine damage; visible body damage may remain. |
| Full Armor | TURTOISE or TORTOISE | Both versions. Use TURTOISE in the original PC v1.0 release. Use TORTOISE in v1.1, later classic releases and The Definitive Edition. |
| Get All Weapons | GUNSGUNSGUNS | Both versions. Re-enter the full code to receive additional ammunition. |
| Get $250,000 | IFIWEREARICHMAN | Both versions. Adds $250,000 every time the code is entered. |
| Raise Wanted Level | MOREPOLICEPLEASE | Both versions. Adds two wanted stars, up to the maximum currently available through story progress. |
| Clear Wanted Level | NOPOLICEPLEASE | Both versions. Resets the wanted level to zero. |
| Change Character Model | ILIKEDRESSINGUP | Both versions. Changes Claude into a random character model. Re-enter the code to select another random model. |
| Big Head Mode | EXPANDDOME | The Definitive Edition only. Gives Claude and other characters oversized heads. |
| Effect | PC Code | Availability and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spawn a Rhino Tank | GIVEUSATANK | Both versions. Spawns a Rhino tank near Claude. |
| Destroy All Vehicles | BANGBANGBANG | Both versions. Destroys most active vehicles, including Claude's vehicle if he is inside one. The police helicopter and NPC-controlled Dodo are unaffected. |
| Flying Cars | CHITTYCHITTYBB | Both versions. Allows vehicles to take off after gaining enough speed. Re-enter the code to disable the effect. In the original release, Unique Stunt Jumps do not register while this effect is active. |
| Improved Vehicle Handling | CORNERSLIKEMAD | Both versions. Improves vehicle grip and handling; re-enter the code to toggle it off. In versions that retain the vehicle-jump input, press the horn control while the vehicle is touching the ground to jump. In the original release, Unique Stunt Jumps do not register while this effect is active. |
| Invisible Cars | ANICESETOFWHEELS | Original PC release only. Vehicle bodies disappear, leaving their wheels visible. Re-enter the code to disable it. It does not work in The Definitive Edition. |
| Effect | PC Code | Availability and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrian Riot | ITSALLGOINGMAAAD | Both versions. Pedestrians fight one another and may also attack Claude. Reload a clean save to remove the effect safely. |
| Pedestrians Attack Claude | NOBODYLIKESME | Both versions. Pedestrians become hostile toward Claude. Reload a clean save to remove the effect safely. |
| Pedestrians Carry Weapons | WEAPONSFORALL | Both versions. Pedestrians may spawn carrying weapons. Re-enter the same code to stop arming newly spawned pedestrians; reload a clean save to reset the world completely. |
| Effect | PC Code | Availability and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clear / Sunny Weather | SKINCANCERFORME | Both versions. Immediately changes the weather to clear and sunny. |
| Cloudy Weather | ILIKESCOTLAND | Both versions. Immediately changes the weather to cloudy. |
| Rainy Weather | ILOVESCOTLAND | Both versions. Immediately changes the weather to rainy. |
| Foggy Weather | PEASOUP | Both versions. Immediately changes the weather to foggy. |
| Faster In-Game Clock | MADWEATHER | Both versions. Accelerates the in-game clock and weather cycle. Re-enter the code to disable the effect. |
| Faster Gameplay | TIMEFLIESWHENYOU | Both versions. Speeds up character, vehicle and world movement. Repeated uses increase the effect up to 4x. |
| Slower Gameplay | BOOOOORING | Both versions. Slows down character, vehicle and world movement. Repeated uses increase the effect down to 0.25x. |
| Increased Gore and Dismemberment | NASTYLIMBSCHEAT | Original PC release only. Silently toggles the classic "nasty limbs" flag. In uncensored PC builds, gore and dismemberment may already be enabled, so the code may produce no visible change. |
No. GTA 3 does not have built-in cheats for invincibility, infinite health, unlimited ammunition or unlimited money. You can repeatedly enter GESUNDHEIT to restore health, GUNSGUNSGUNS to obtain more ammunition and IFIWEREARICHMAN to add another $250,000.
Two classic cheat effects are unavailable in The Definitive Edition: Invisible Cars (ANICESETOFWHEELS) and Increased Gore (NASTYLIMBSCHEAT). The original v1.0 armor spelling TURTOISE is also not recognized; use TORTOISE instead. MADWEATHER does work in the remaster. The Definitive Edition also adds the exclusive EXPANDDOME Big Head Mode cheat.
Some cheats can be disabled by entering the same code again. However, pedestrian riot and hostility effects cannot be safely reversed. Reload the clean save created before activating them.
