← Blog · Guide · August 19, 2026

10 GTA: Vice City Tips Every New (or Returning) Player Should Know

Whether it's your first visit or your first in twenty years, Vice City doesn't explain itself much. These tips make the opening hours far smoother — all of them work in the free browser version.

1. Buy the Ocean View save early

Your first safehouse is free, but save often — Vice City has no autosave. In the browser port your saves also sync via cloud save keys.

2. Body armor is everywhere — use it

There's free armor behind the first safehouse block and at most Ammu-Nations. Never start a mission without it.

3. Grab the Katana and chainsaw early

Melee weapons trivialize early street fights and never run out of ammo.

4. The taxi trick for failed missions

Failed a mission far from the start point? Hail a taxi — after failing a mission you can often ride back to the mission marker for pocket change instead of driving across the map.

5. Do the asset properties as soon as they unlock

The printworks, taxi company and film studio generate daily income. Money problems vanish by mid-game if you buy early.

6. PCJ-600 is the best vehicle in the game

Fast, nimble, fits alleys — most street races and Vigilante runs are easier on two wheels. Just don't get shot off it.

7. "Demolition Man" and "The Driver": lower the difficulty yourself

The two most-failed missions in the game. For Demolition Man, take out the guards with the helicopter's rotors before placing bombs. For The Driver, bump Hilary into a wall on the first corner — it's a race, not a fair one.

8. Wanted level rising? Find a Pay 'n' Spray

$100 clears up to two stars. There's one just north of the first safehouse.

9. Rampages and packages pay early

Every 10 hidden packages unlocks a weapon at your safehouse; rampages pay cash for chaos you were causing anyway.

10. Save the cheats for after the credits

Tempting as our cheat code list is, some cheats permanently mark your save. Beat the story clean, then spawn the tank.