Complete available employers
Before starting a decisive main-story mission, finish the side contacts on that island.
Story progress can remove an employer. Work left now may never be available again.
Missions: Grand Theft Auto III
Some jobs can be lost when another strand advances. Employer order therefore matters more than in newer GTA games.
GTA III missions do not come from a list. Employers are spread across the islands, some jobs start at public telephones, and the game never shows what remains unfinished.
This has an unpleasant consequence the game does not explain: **some missions can be missed.** Main-story progress can remove an employer you have not visited. That was common in 2001 but surprises players accustomed to newer games.
Order therefore matters more than driving skill. The approach below protects a run and explains the mission types that most often cause trouble.
A safe approach
Use several save slots
A save before a turning point protects the run from lost missions or a mod error.
Saving at a safehouse is free. There is no reason to keep only one save.
Watch for hostile gangs
After certain story events, gangs begin attacking; service missions and collecting become harder afterwards.
This commonly prolongs a 100% run. Collect the packages before relationships deteriorate.
Telephones are not decoration
Some missions start at public telephones rather than a map icon.
Ignoring them shortens the story but loses content and completion percentage.
Difficult job types
Timed drives
Learn the route first and choose a stable car, not merely the highest top speed.
Liberty City has many tight bends. A fast car crashes into them; a heavier one may get through.
Escorts and protection
Remove threats before the target moves and do not block the escape route with your vehicle.
Protected characters behave poorly and walk into gunfire, so plan for it.
Cartel missions
The enemies' powerful weapons destroy vehicles quickly; use distance and cover.
The Cartel has the best weapons in the game. Close-range firefights usually end badly.
Deliveries using another car
Damage to the mission vehicle often causes failure, sometimes only when you reach the employer.
This is the game's most common avoidable failure. Drive much more slowly than seems necessary.
Espresso-2-Go and similar jobs
Map-wide tasks with short time limits test local knowledge more than driving skill.
It helps to leave them until all three islands are open.
When a mission cannot be completed
Check whether it is missable
A missing employer usually means you advanced the main story before reaching them.
The only solution is an older save, hence the need for several slots.
Do not alter main.scm
Mods that change the game script can break a run midway through.
Do not change major mods or the game version during a 100% run.
Compare the statistics
The game keeps detailed counters, which reveal a missing item faster than guesswork.
The overall percentage does not identify what is missing; the individual counters do.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the main questions about this topic
Can missions be missed in GTA III?
Yes. Main-story progress can remove an employer you have not visited, and they cannot be restored. Complete available side contacts before decisive missions and keep several saves.
How many missions are in GTA III?
The exact number depends on whether public telephone jobs, service missions and side activities are included. The in-game statistics are more useful than one total, especially because some content can be missed permanently.
Why does my mission keep failing when I deliver the car?
Usually because the vehicle is damaged. Many missions require the car to be in suitable condition, but only reveal this at the employer. Drive much more carefully than usual.
Why is a gang suddenly shooting at me?
Some story events permanently worsen relations with a faction. It is a consequence of progress, not a bug, so collecting and service missions are best completed earlier.
How do I find what is missing for completion?
Check the individual counters in the game statistics. The overall percentage does not identify the missing requirement, but the separate lines do.