Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 19,309 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Game Cover
Minor graphical scars left from its painful transformation into a PC game do nothing to dull San Andreas inner beauty. The best of the series, and already a contender for game of the year.
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In Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, players navigate the fictional state of San Andreas across three cities, completing missions for various criminal organizations. The game features role-playing elements, allowing players to customize their character's appearance and abilities, and a rich 1990s-inspired soundtrack. The open-world design encourages exploration and mission-based gameplay, with a story centered on gang violence and corruption.

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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 19,309 reviews
story1,179 positive mentions
stability269 negative mentions
  • story3,224 mentions

    The story of "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" is widely praised for its depth and engaging narrative, following protagonist Carl "CJ" Johnson as he navigates themes of family, betrayal, and gang warfare in a richly detailed open world. Players appreciate the variety of missions, memorable characters, and the blend of humor and drama that keeps the gameplay fresh and entertaining, despite some frustrations with difficult missions and bugs in the PC version. Overall, the game is considered a classic, with many reviewers highlighting it as the best story in the GTA series.

    • “The story is engaging and well-written, with memorable characters such as CJ, Big Smoke, and Officer Tenpenny, all brought to life by fantastic voice acting performances.”
    • “The narrative delves into themes of family, loyalty, and the gritty realities of gang life, delivering a compelling and memorable storyline that keeps players invested throughout.”
    • “The story is a masterpiece worthy of an Oscar, the voice actors are world-class (especially Samuel L. Jackson) and the climax is both satisfying and nostalgic.”
    • “I loved this game but sadly, I never really got to finish it since one of the cheat codes made some missions impossible to complete, effectively corrupting my save file.”
    • “The flying in this game is terrible, the map is cluttered, the story has some points that make zero sense, and some of it seems forced to drive the plot forward.”
    • “The story is extremely long and sometimes repetitive; I like games with good stories, but everything has a limit.”
  • graphics921 mentions

    The graphics of "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 2004 release, yet many players appreciate the nostalgic charm and artistic style that still resonate today. While some criticize the remastered versions for failing to enhance the visuals adequately, others highlight the potential for improvement through mods, which can significantly enhance the graphical experience. Overall, despite the outdated graphics, the game's engaging story and gameplay continue to overshadow visual shortcomings, making it a beloved classic in the series.

    • “The single best entry in the series as a whole, even graphically speaking, the stylization perfectly balances a cartoony and a realistic look simultaneously.”
    • “While the visuals may show their age by today's standards, the art direction and attention to detail in the environment remain impressive.”
    • “The graphics and sound design in San Andreas are also impressive, especially considering the game's age.”
    • “Horrendous graphical remaster that makes San Andreas look worse than it did in 2004 on the PS2.”
    • “The graphics look like they belong in a PlayStation 2 game, and that's because they do.”
    • “The graphics are dated but the overall experience is absolutely great nonetheless.”
  • music818 mentions

    The music in "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" is widely praised for its iconic and diverse soundtrack, which captures the essence of the 90s with a mix of hip-hop, rock, and reggae. However, many players express disappointment over the removal of 18 songs due to licensing issues in the Steam version, which has led to calls for downgrading to restore the original experience. Despite these setbacks, the game's music remains a significant highlight, contributing to its nostalgic appeal and immersive atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack alone is a journey through time, accompanying you as you embark on unforgettable adventures.”
    • “19 years later, I still hold the belief that GTA: San Andreas has the best soundtrack to ever be put in a game.”
    • “The game's soundtrack is also top-notch, with a wide variety of music from various genres and eras, perfectly capturing the vibe of the 90s.”
    • “The music is also terrible compared to the other games.”
    • “They have removed a lot of the legacy radio songs in the steam version.”
    • “The recent patch destroyed everything, game saves, resolution options, forced 4:3 screen, and less music content.”
  • gameplay760 mentions

    The gameplay of "GTA: San Andreas" is widely regarded as both fun and innovative for its time, featuring a vast open world filled with diverse activities, RPG elements, and unique mechanics that have not been replicated in later titles. While some players note that the gameplay feels dated and can become repetitive, the engaging story, memorable characters, and extensive customization options keep many returning to the game. Overall, despite its age, the gameplay remains enjoyable and is often praised for its depth and variety.

    • “The gameplay in GTA: San Andreas is highly enjoyable and addictive.”
    • “It's a smorgasbord of gameplay features that you won't find in other GTA titles, and it's a blast to explore them all.”
    • “With its huge and detailed open-world, engaging story, fantastic gameplay, and entertaining side missions, GTA: San Andreas is a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike.”
    • “The gameplay is such trash it's unplayable.”
    • “Gameplay has aged badly, but the game is still fun.”
    • “The gameplay itself is very clunky.”
  • stability284 mentions

    The stability of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users reporting frequent crashes, glitches, and bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players have managed to enjoy the game with frame limiters or mods, the general consensus is that the Steam version is particularly problematic, often rendering missions unplayable and causing frustrating technical issues. Overall, the game's stability issues detract from its nostalgic value and enjoyment, leading many to recommend alternative versions or significant troubleshooting efforts.

    • “I'm happy to say this game is so awesome and runs great on my PC.”
    • “There are no glitches in gameplay, and I can play forever without a crash, and I run the bare minimum requirements for this game.”
    • “Runs great on my PC, and it has a good story.”
    • “It's bad that Rockstar removed this from the store with no suitable replacement, but the game itself in its current state is just bugged, everything from glitches to controls not working. They did not even take the time to properly port this game to PC.”
    • “The game on Steam has too many bugs and glitches in comparison to the normal disk version of the game.”
    • “The Steam version is garbage, bugs, crashes, glitches everywhere. I recommend that you pirate the game.”
  • humor226 mentions

    The humor in "GTA: San Andreas" is widely praised for its charm, wit, and satirical edge, with players highlighting the memorable characters, hilarious dialogue, and absurd situations that arise throughout the game. Many reviews reflect on the nostalgic and often politically incorrect humor that resonates with players, making it a standout experience filled with laugh-out-loud moments. The game's ability to blend serious themes with comedic elements, alongside its engaging missions and entertaining radio stations, contributes to its status as a beloved classic in the gaming community.

    • “This game is so funny, simple and full of personality and charm.”
    • “The humor in this game is excellent.”
    • “The characters are hilarious, the story and gameplay are just overall amazing!”
  • optimization89 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users reporting significant performance issues, especially on newer systems. While some players have managed to run the game smoothly with tweaks and mods, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized for PC, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences marred by bugs, stuttering, and control issues. Despite its classic status and engaging content, the lack of proper optimization detracts from the enjoyment for many players.

    • “This game can be run smoothly on Windows 10.”
    • “It's a very good game for its price and also can run smoothly on any laptop.”
    • “Well optimized and runs smooth on less powerful and older hardware.”
    • “Laggy and poor optimization.”
    • “The game's optimization is abysmal and one of the reasons I refunded the trilogy.”
    • “Egregiously optimized for PC; you can have a high chance of starting a new game and the game just being frozen whilst attempting to load in.”
  • grinding72 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding certain tasks and missions tedious and repetitive, particularly those involving skill upgrades and territory control. While some enjoy the variety of side activities, others feel that the grinding can detract from the overall experience, making it feel like a chore rather than fun gameplay. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable moments, the grinding elements can be a significant drawback for many players.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I myself like grinding and leveling up in games, but in San Andreas it's just painfully boring. Going to the gym to spam two buttons repeatedly for a minute isn't exactly fun; even GTA V does this better.”
    • “The only thing redeemable about this tedious mess is memes.”
    • “If you fail a mission, to try again you must make it all the way back in the world to the starting point, which can lead to awkward and tedious situations since some missions can take you pretty far away from where you began.”
  • replayability71 mentions

    The reviews highlight that the game, particularly "GTA: San Andreas," boasts exceptional replayability, often described as "infinitely replayable" due to its extensive content, modding community, and nostalgic appeal. Players appreciate the long campaign, numerous side missions, and the ability to experience different outcomes based on choices, which significantly enhance the game's replay value. Despite some technical issues, the overall consensus is that the game remains engaging and enjoyable, making it a classic with lasting replay potential.

    • “GTA: San Andreas has plenty of replay value, with a long campaign that can take upwards of 40 hours to complete, as well as numerous side missions and activities to keep you busy.”
    • “Regardless if you mod the game or play it as it is, I still highly recommend it as the possibility and replayability of this game is near limitless.”
    • “Endless replay value, solid storyline, and impressive sandboxing, perfect for those occasions when you just want to kill time by blowing up cars and rioting in the streets.”
    • “None of these games are playable without downloading third-party patches from the community.”
    • “I swear this game has so much entertainment value, but not a whole lot of replay value.”
    • “Love the game but needs a down-grader to run properly and mods also then work better making the game more playable on newer hardware.”
  • atmosphere71 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and nostalgic representation of 90s California, particularly through its vibrant settings in Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas. Reviewers highlight the engaging world-building, memorable characters, and a soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, creating a lively and dynamic environment that players find hard to replicate in modern titles. Despite some technical issues, the game's unique atmosphere and freedom of exploration contribute significantly to its lasting appeal and status as a classic.

    • “The atmosphere of the game is incredible, you tackle 90s Los Angeles and rural California, complete with appropriate social commentary on the Rodney King riots of the time.”
    • “The tone, story, open-world exploration, and fun activities to do in the cities of Los Santos, Las Venturas, and San Fierro create memorable moments for gamers, making the atmosphere inside the game alive instead of repetitive and lifeless.”
    • “The atmosphere they build around Los Santos is impeccable.”
    • “The tone, story, open-world exploration, and fun activities to do in the cities of Los Santos, Las Venturas, and San Fierro are creating memorable moments for gamers, making the atmosphere inside the game alive instead of repetitive and lifeless cities for most open-world games.”
    • “Rockstar has decided to gimp the soundtrack by removing several important songs that contributed to the atmosphere while roaming open world.”
  • emotional21 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game resonates deeply with players, evoking nostalgia and a sense of connection to their childhood experiences. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to blend humor with poignant storytelling, leading to moments of laughter and tears. Overall, it is described as a heartwarming journey that captures the complexities of life and relationships within its sandbox world.

    • “Like most people, I grew up with this game and to find out that all your hard work from over a decade ago, your childhood, your San Andreas that you remember like the back of your hand is gone made me feel like a part of me died.”
    • “San Andreas did make me laugh... and it also made me cry.”
    • “GTA San Andreas is an emotional gaming experience... you honestly feel that you are there with Big Smoke ordering those number 9s.”
  • monetization19 mentions

    The monetization model of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many players expressing disappointment in Rockstar's shift from quality to profit-driven practices. While some appreciate the absence of ads and in-app purchases, the overall sentiment reflects frustration over the perceived laziness and lack of care in the remaster, which many feel tarnishes the legacy of the original game.

    • “Rare to see a game without in-app purchases.”
    • “The game generally received positive reviews, with critics praising its combat mechanics and the immersive open world but criticizing its simplistic endgame and monetization model.”
    • “This shameless cash grab was so bad it put me off Rockstar Games period, now I'm not even looking forward to GTA 6.”
    • “This is symbolic of how far Rockstar has fallen from grace; this corporate cash grab is an insult to the hard work and dedication the team used to have for developing a sincerely good experience.”
    • “Rockstar did a good job dumping on this masterpiece with their sloppy, cash grab mobile release and related update for the PC version.”
  • character development15 mentions

    Character development in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its depth and quality as a standout feature. Players appreciate the immersive storytelling and well-crafted character arcs, often comparing it favorably to newer titles in the franchise. Overall, the character design and development contribute significantly to the game's lasting appeal and enjoyment.

    • “The story line is brilliant, the character development enjoyable, the gameplay and missions well thought through.”
    • “Aside from being completely immersive and just pure fun, the character development and design was great.”
    • “This game brings so much to the table with character development, environment, story, and the godly soundtrack, making it one of the best voice-acted games ever.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I was disappointed with the character arcs; they felt rushed and underdeveloped throughout the game.”
    • “While the game has potential, the character development is inconsistent and leaves many storylines unresolved.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

92% average critic score

Buy Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Play time

75hMedian play time
757hAverage play time
30hMain story
76hCompletionist
10-185hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 31 analyzed playthroughs

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