Beginner’s Guide to GTA: Chinatown Wars — Money, Missions and Police Chases

Jumping into GTA: Chinatown Wars for the first time? The top-down view and trading system can feel unfamiliar, even for longtime Grand Theft Auto fans. This quick guide covers the habits that make the early hours smoother.

1. Treat Dealing Like a Side Business

Check your PDA often. Dealers message you when prices spike or crash. Buy in bulk where goods are cheap, store them in safehouses, and sell when you receive a high offer. Keep an eye on the neighborhood heat: dealing in a hot area raises the risk of a police response.

2. Ram Police Cars to Shake Your Wanted Level

Unlike many GTA entries, this game rewards aggression during chases. Each star requires you to disable a set number of police cars by crashing them out. Pick a sturdy vehicle, take wide corners and let pursuers slam into walls.

3. Unlock Safehouses Early

Safehouses save your progress, store weapons and hold your drug stash. Buying them early reduces backtracking and gives you multiple bases across Liberty City.

4. Use Ammu-Nation Online and Your Weapon Wheel

Order weapons through the in-game shop and keep a balanced loadout: a melee weapon, a pistol, an SMG and something explosive for vehicle missions.

5. Don’t Skip Side Activities

Rampages, taxi jobs, ambulance missions and hidden security cameras all add rewards and completion percentage. They also teach you the city layout, which makes main missions far easier.

Master these basics and Liberty City becomes a playground instead of a maze.