Once the list of Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars' minigames was revealed, one game in particular came under fire for its potentially dangerous message; Drug Dealer.

No stranger to controversy, developer Rockstar Games caught much criticism from both members of the public as well as members of the gaming press for including Drug Dealer in a game bound for a device that is largely thought of as a children's game system, the Nintendo DS.Unreality Magazine: Rockstar Offers Explanation for Chinatown Wars Drug Dealing Minigame (January 29, 2009)

Much like their response to past objectionable game decisions, Rockstar has taken a stance of not changing anything do to the controversy and it appears that the Drug Dealer minigame is one of the main ways the player will make money during the course of the game.

1. Bridge Pay-Toll
   • As in Grand Theft Auto IV, players must pay money to gain access to bridges within the city. In this minigame, the player must toss money into the toll or risk an instant two-star wanted level and a chase with the police.
2. Car-Jacking
   • Unlike previous Grand Theft Auto games, Chinatown Wars allows the player to disable alarms and utilize tools to gain access to a vehicle instead of just breaking a window and speeding away. The Car-Jacking minigame requires the player to use the touchscreen to unscrew parts of a car's ignition to hot-wire the vehicle, disable the alarm, etc.
   • GameTrailers.com: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Hotwire Gameplay Trailer (Time: 0:46)
3. Dumpster Hunter
   • In Dumpster Hunter, the player will search through discarded bags of trash to find useful items. Using the stylus, the player will manipulate bags of trash in search of new weapons and anything else that might be hidden within the dumpster.
4. Drug Dealer
   • At its heart, Drug Dealer is a game of economy where the player must buy goods (in this case, drugs) for a lower price than they can sell them for elsewhere. Various drugs are available for purchase and reselling such as Ecstasy, Cocaine, and Weed.
5. Molotov Creator
   • After obtaining a bottle, the player can find a gas station and create a Molotov Cocktail. This minigame is timed.
   • GameSpot: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars - Building Bombs (Time: 1:06)
6. Recruit
   • Recruit allows the player to roam the streets in search of new gang members to bolster ranks. Once the player has decided to recruit a member of the public they will tattoo a symbol on the new member to seal the deal.
   • GameSpot: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars - Tattoo Minigame (Time: 1:32)
7. Safe Cracker
   • In order to crack a safe, the player must use the touchscreen to manipulate the safe's dial while listening closely to the sounds of the safe in order to successfully open it.

1. Save Yourself
   • Only occurring once in the game, this minigame requires the player to bust out of a sinking vehicle before drowning.
2. Sniper Rifle Repair
   • At certain points throughout the game, the player will be required to repair his rifle by using tools on the touchscreen, otherwise the gun will not work properly.