What if Grand Theft Auto took place in Taipei?
You can actually try it now.
A Taiwanese developer has created “Taipei GTA: Go Crazy in Taipei,” a free 3D open-world browser game that turns the streets of Taipei into a playable city.
You can ride a scooter through Ximending, drive around Taipei Main Station, visit Taipei 101, explore city streets, complete missions, and even get chased by the police.
And the best part?
You don’t need to download a game.
Just open your browser and start exploring.
Play Taipei GTA in your browser
The game is currently free to play and supports both Chinese and English interfaces.
What Is Taipei GTA?
Taipei GTA is an independent 3D open-world RPG created by Taiwanese developer aicodewithme.
It takes inspiration from the open-world style of Grand Theft Auto, but the setting is completely different.
Instead of Los Santos, you get Taipei, Taiwan.
The game recreates recognizable parts of the city, including:
- Ximending
- Taipei Main Station
- Taipei 101
- Zhongxiao Fuxing
- Xinyi District
- Longshan Temple
- Taipei Dome
- Shilin Night Market
- Songshan Cultural and Creative Park
- Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
- National Taiwan University
The map uses real Taipei street names, although it is not a 1:1 recreation of the real city. Roads and locations have been adjusted to make the game more fun to explore.
Think of it as a playful “Taipei simulator” with GTA-style freedom.
And Yes, It Is Free
There is no expensive game purchase.
There is no huge installation file.
There is no traditional game client you need to download.
Taipei GTA currently runs directly in a web browser.
You can play it on:
- 💻 PC
- 📱 Smartphone
- 🎮 Controller-supported setups
The developer recommends playing on a computer because the 3D game can be demanding on mobile devices. Smartphone users may also notice more image compression or occasional loading issues.
So… What Can You Actually Do?
This isn’t just a virtual sightseeing tour.
You can actually play.
The game currently includes around 93 missions, along with side activities and collectibles. Public reports also describe hidden content and collectible lucky cats scattered around the map.
You can:
- Walk around the city
- Ride scooters
- Drive cars
- Explore different districts
- Complete missions
- Collect items
- Interact with NPCs
- Visit landmarks
- Trigger police pursuits
And, naturally, you can cause a little chaos.
That’s where the GTA inspiration becomes obvious.
Taipei 101 Is Right There
For anyone who has never visited Taiwan, Taipei 101 is probably the most recognizable landmark in the game.
The skyscraper dominates Taipei’s skyline and was once the world’s tallest building.
In Taipei GTA, you can head toward the Xinyi District and see the landmark inside the game’s 3D world.
It’s one of those moments that makes the concept click:
This isn’t some fictional city inspired by Taipei. It’s trying to make Taipei itself the playground.
The game’s map also includes other recognizable landmarks, giving overseas players a quick virtual tour of the city while they play.
Welcome to Ximending
Another major location is Ximending, one of Taipei’s best-known shopping and entertainment districts.
If you’ve seen photos of Taipei covered in giant signs, stores, restaurants and crowds, there’s a good chance you’re thinking of somewhere like Ximending.
In the game, the area becomes another place to explore by foot, scooter or car.
For Taiwanese players, the fun comes from recognizing familiar streets.
For international players, it works almost like a digital introduction to Taipei.
Taipei Main Station Is Here Too
Taipei Main Station is another major landmark included in the game.
For visitors, the real Taipei Main Station can already feel like a small maze, with trains, metro lines, buses, underground shopping areas and huge numbers of commuters moving through it every day.
The game turns that familiar environment into part of the open-world experience.
And that’s one of the most interesting things about Taipei GTA.
It isn’t simply copying the visual style of GTA.
It’s taking ordinary Taiwanese city life and turning it into game content.
The Most Fun Part? The Taiwanese Details
The game is packed with little details that may seem random to international players.
But for people who know Taiwan, they’re instantly recognizable.
You’ll find things inspired by everyday Taiwanese life, including:
- Scooter-heavy streets
- Taiwanese-style storefronts
- Convenience stores
- Tea eggs
- EasyCard references
- MRT-related details
- Covered sidewalks and arcades
- Chinese signs
- Traffic lights
- Rainy weather
There is even a convenience-store parody called “7-TWELVE.”
Yes, it’s a playful reference to 7-Eleven, one of the most ubiquitous convenience-store chains in Taiwan.
And then there are tea eggs.
If you’re unfamiliar with Taiwan, tea eggs are hard-boiled eggs simmered in a fragrant tea-based broth and spices. They are a classic convenience-store snack.
In Taipei GTA, even something as ordinary as a tea egg becomes part of the game’s Taiwanese personality.
The Traffic Rules Can Actually Fight Back
Driving around Taipei isn’t completely lawless.
The game includes traffic-related mechanics.
Run a red light and you can receive a warning.
Speed past certain areas and you may get caught by a speed camera.
Cause enough trouble and the police can start chasing you.
That means the city isn’t just a collection of buildings.
There are systems reacting to what you do.
And yes, if you start attacking NPCs or causing trouble, the police may come after you.
For anyone who has played GTA, the concept will feel familiar.
For anyone who has actually driven in Taipei, it may feel strangely familiar for completely different reasons.
You Can Ride a Scooter Around Taipei
If there’s one vehicle that instantly makes the game feel Taiwanese, it’s the scooter.
Taiwan is famous for its enormous scooter culture, particularly in dense urban areas.
So instead of spending all your time driving a car, you can jump on a scooter and weave through the virtual streets.
It sounds like a small detail.
It isn’t.
The scooter-heavy traffic is one of the things that makes this feel like Taipei rather than a generic GTA-style city.
There’s Even an MRT Flavor
Taipei’s MRT, or Mass Rapid Transit system, is one of the city’s defining parts of everyday life.
The game includes MRT-related elements as part of its recreation of Taipei.
For international visitors, this is another little detail that helps the virtual city feel different from the fictional American cities normally associated with open-world games.
Who Are the Characters?
The game lets players choose between two main characters.
They are A-Jie and Xiao-Wen, two characters with different backgrounds.
The story follows the experience of a young person living in Taipei, with missions connected to everyday city life and the changing urban environment.
Rather than simply throwing players into a huge map with nothing to do, the game uses missions and character stories to give players reasons to explore.
How Many Missions Are There?
Current public information lists around 93 missions in the game.
The missions include different types of activities, with reports describing main missions, side missions, jobs, racing activities and cultural content.
There are also collectible lucky cats hidden around the map.
So if you enjoy exploring every corner of an open-world game, there is more to do than simply drive around.
One important thing to remember:
The game is still being developed.
Mission counts, locations and features may change as new updates arrive.
Can You Play Taipei GTA on Your Phone?
Yes.
You can open the game through a mobile browser and play without installing a traditional app.
However, there is a catch.
A 3D open-world game running inside a browser can be demanding, especially on smartphones.
Some mobile players may experience:
- Lower image quality
- Longer loading times
- Occasional graphical glitches
- Less comfortable controls
The developer has recommended using a computer for the best experience.
So if you want to explore Taipei for a few minutes on your phone, that’s possible.
If you want to spend a longer session driving around the city, a computer is probably the better choice.
Does Taipei GTA Support English?
Yes.
The game currently provides both Chinese and English interface options, making it easier for international players to explore the game.
That matters because Taipei GTA isn’t only interesting to people who already live in Taiwan.
For someone planning a trip to Taipei, it can be a fun way to get a rough visual introduction to the city.
And for someone who has already visited Taiwan, recognizing places such as Ximending or Taipei 101 can make the experience even more entertaining.
How to Start Playing
Getting into the game is surprisingly simple.
Step 1: Open the game
Visit:
Taipei GTA – Go Crazy in Taipei
Step 2: Wait for the 3D world to load
Because the game runs directly in the browser, the initial loading process can take some time.
Give it a moment.
Step 3: Choose your character
Select the character you want to play.
Step 4: Explore Taipei
Walk around, get on a scooter or find a car.
Then start exploring.
You can follow missions or simply ignore the objectives and wander around the city.
That’s part of the appeal of an open-world game.
Is This Actually GTA?
No.
This is important.
Taipei GTA is not an official Grand Theft Auto game.
It was created independently by Taiwanese developer aicodewithme and is not developed or licensed by Rockstar Games.
The “GTA” comparison comes from the gameplay concept: an open-world city, vehicles, missions, NPCs and police pursuits.
The actual setting, characters and game development are separate.
So think of it as:
GTA-style gameplay + Taipei + Taiwanese culture.
That’s really the idea.
The Developer Spent More Than $10,000 on AI Tokens
One of the strangest parts of the story is how the game was created.
The developer has said that more than US$10,000 in AI token costs went into the project. That’s roughly NT$300,000-plus at the exchange rates cited by Taiwanese media.
Reports say the developer used AI heavily during development, turning what would traditionally require a much larger game-development effort into a highly AI-assisted project.
That’s one reason Taipei GTA has attracted attention beyond gaming circles.
It’s not just a story about a quirky Taipei game.
It’s also an interesting example of how AI is changing the way independent developers can build interactive projects.
Taipei GTA Is Still Growing
The current version should be viewed as a work in progress.
The developer has said the map and content are still being expanded, and new features are expected to continue arriving.
That means the Taipei you see today may not be the same Taipei players see later.
New locations, missions and systems can change the experience over time.
For an indie browser game, that’s part of the fun.
You’re not looking at a finished AAA blockbuster.
You’re watching a virtual version of Taipei grow in real time.
Taipei GTA at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Game | Taipei GTA: Go Crazy in Taipei |
| Developer | aicodewithme |
| Price | Free |
| Platform | Web browser |
| Installation | Not required |
| Mobile | Yes |
| PC | Yes |
| Languages | Chinese / English |
| Missions | Around 93 currently reported |
| Setting | Taipei, Taiwan |
| Major landmarks | Taipei 101, Ximending, Taipei Main Station and more |
| Style | 3D open-world RPG |
| Official GTA game? | No |
Information such as mission counts and available locations may change as development continues.
Why International Players May Find It Interesting
If you’ve never been to Taiwan, Taipei GTA offers something unusual.
You aren’t just playing another fictional city.
You’re moving through a game world filled with things that are strongly connected to everyday life in Taipei.
Scooters.
Convenience stores.
MRT stations.
Chinese signs.
Night markets.
Tea eggs.
Taipei 101.
Ximending.
Even the traffic feels different.
And if you’ve already visited Taipei, the game becomes a completely different experience.
You may suddenly recognize a street corner, a landmark or a familiar type of storefront.
That’s what makes the project so charming.
It takes a city that millions of people know as a real place and turns it into a playground.
Final Takeaway
Taipei GTA is a free browser-based open-world game that lets players explore a stylized version of Taipei without downloading a traditional game.
You can drive, ride scooters, walk through the city, complete missions, collect items, visit famous landmarks and trigger police pursuits.
But the real attraction is the setting.
Instead of another fictional American city, you get Taipei — complete with scooters, night markets, convenience stores, MRT references, Chinese signs and distinctly Taiwanese everyday details.
And because the game is still expanding, the virtual city isn’t finished yet.
If you’ve ever wondered what GTA-style gameplay would look like in Taipei, this is about as close as you can get right now.