Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

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.

91%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

stability, optimization

89% User Score Based on 27,119 reviews

Critic Score 94%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $49.99

Buy NowGet on Steam Buy NowGet on Play Store Buy NowGet on Apple Store

About

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a single player and multiplayer open world shooter game. It was developed by TransGaming Inc. and was released on January 3, 2008. It received very positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas screenshot

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 27,119 reviews

story1.5k positive mentions

stability349 negative mentions

The game features a deep narrative filled with memorable characters, political intrigue, and emotional moments, making it one of the most engaging stories in the Grand Theft Auto series.
Players appreciate the vast open world, diverse gameplay mechanics, and the ability to mix humor with serious themes, creating a vibrant atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
The character development is highly praised for its depth and emotional engagement, allowing players to connect with the protagonist and the extensive cast of NPCs.

The game suffers from significant performance issues, including bugs, crashes, and poor optimization, particularly on modern systems, which can disrupt gameplay.
Many players criticize the dated graphics and clunky controls, which detract from the overall experience and make some gameplay mechanics feel primitive.
The monetization aspect and removal of original content have led to disappointment among fans, with some labeling the remaster a 'cash grab' that lacks the quality expected from the franchise.

story
4,310 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The story of "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" is widely praised for its depth, engaging characters, and memorable plot twists, following protagonist Carl "CJ" Johnson as he navigates the complexities of gang life, family loyalty, and personal redemption in a richly detailed open world. Players appreciate the game's blend of humor and serious themes, with over 100 missions that offer a variety of gameplay experiences, although some missions are noted for their difficulty and frustrating mechanics. Despite its age, the narrative remains compelling, making it a standout entry in the GTA series.
- “The story of Carl Johnson is engaging and perfectly blends action, humor, and drama.”
- “The narrative is filled with memorable characters, political intrigue, betrayal, and emotional moments, making the story one of the most engaging in the entire Grand Theft Auto series.”
- “With its unforgettable characters, deep storyline, and total freedom to explore, this classic is a must-play for anyone who calls themselves a gamer.”
- “The story doesn't make much sense and seems to be put together out of unrelated and disconnected parts.”
- “The game is buggy and some missions are impossible to complete.”
- “The story is packed, there's like 90 missions, and it's deep too; it's a contrast to GTA: Vice City, showing first how drug empires form, then in San Andreas, it shows the reality of it, tearing families apart, ruining people, all that.”
graphics
1,188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
60%
15%
The graphics of "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" are widely regarded as outdated, reflecting its 2004 release, with many players noting that they do not hold up to modern standards. Despite this, the game's nostalgic charm and engaging gameplay often overshadow the visual shortcomings, with some players recommending mods to enhance the graphics. Overall, while the visuals may not impress by today's criteria, the game's rich content and memorable story continue to resonate with fans.
- “Even though San Andreas is a product of its time, with graphics that now show their age, the game still has a timeless quality.”
- “The graphics, though dated by today's standards, carry a unique aesthetic that adds to the game's identity.”
- “While modern gamers might be drawn to the high-definition graphics of the remastered version, there's an undeniable charm to the original's visuals.”
- “The graphics are honestly so pretty and have such a Southern California vibe to it that pair perfectly with the hardware limitations of the time, for example, the fog.”
- “The graphics are dated but I mean the game did come out in 2005, I think so it's ok that they are dated, but there are also mods you can download that make it look better.”
- “The graphics are weak, and the gameplay is primitive.”
music
1,131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The music in "GTA: San Andreas" is widely praised for its iconic and diverse soundtrack, featuring a mix of hip-hop, rock, country, and dance music that perfectly complements the game's 1990s setting. Players appreciate the nostalgic value of the radio stations, which not only enhance the immersive experience but also introduce them to new music. However, many reviews express disappointment over the removal of several tracks due to licensing issues in the updated Steam version, which has led to a diminished experience for some players who fondly remember the original soundtrack.
- “The soundtrack in San Andreas is legendary, featuring a diverse collection of music spanning genres like hip-hop, rock, country, and electronic music, all of which perfectly complement the different areas of the game.”
- “From cruising through the streets of Los Santos with Snoop Dogg's 'Gin and Juice' playing in the background to the rock anthems in San Fierro, the music perfectly complements the setting, creating an immersive experience that transports players back in time.”
- “The game's vibrant and colorful setting, with its 90s-inspired soundtrack and iconic locales such as Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas, all add to the nostalgia factor.”
- “The recent patch destroyed everything, game saves, resolution options, forced 4:3 screen, and less music content.”
- “Rockstar has decided to gimp the soundtrack by removing several important songs that contributed to the atmosphere while roaming open world.”
- “With the last patch rockstar removed a lot of songs from the soundtrack and a lot of widescreen formats are not working anymore.”
gameplay
1,097 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
55%
5%
The gameplay of "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" is widely praised for its expansive open-world design, diverse mechanics, and engaging mission variety, offering players a mix of driving, shooting, and RPG elements. While some mechanics feel dated and can be clunky, the overall experience remains enjoyable and nostalgic, with many players appreciating the depth and freedom it provides. Despite its age, the game continues to captivate audiences with its rich narrative and extensive gameplay options, making it a classic in the series.
- “The gameplay in San Andreas is a mix of driving, shooting, exploration, and, of course, chaos.”
- “The driving mechanics are some of the best in the series, with a wide range of vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, boats, planes, and even bicycles, each offering a different experience.”
- “The gameplay is endlessly entertaining, with a mix of driving, shooting, and exploration that keeps players engaged for hours on end.”
- “The gameplay mechanics aged like milk.”
- “I have never seen a game that has had worse performance, worse gameplay, worse polish, and worse feel.”
- “The gameplay is such trash it's unplayable.”
stability
369 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The stability of the game has been a significant concern among users, with many reporting that the Steam version is plagued by numerous bugs, crashes, and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. While some players have found success running the game smoothly on modern systems, others have experienced frequent freezes and issues that require extensive troubleshooting or modding to resolve. Overall, the game's stability remains inconsistent, with many recommending caution when purchasing the Steam version due to its problematic performance.
- “I'm happy to say this game is so awesome and runs great on my PC.”
- “Runs well, little to no glitches, and no crashes.”
- “There are no glitches in gameplay, and I can play forever without a crash, and I run the bare minimum requirements for this game.”
- “Freezes and crashes after 40 minutes of playing, doesn't save any progress from the session, even when I save in the house before the crash.”
- “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 is full of bugs, and it freezes, freezing your PC so you lost all the progress if you don't save every mission.”
humor
310 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "GTA: San Andreas" is widely praised for its sharp dialogue, memorable characters, and a blend of dark comedy and absurdity that resonates with players. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to mix humor with serious themes, creating a vibrant atmosphere filled with hilarious moments, iconic quotes, and entertaining side missions. Despite some criticisms of dated elements, the game's comedic charm and engaging storytelling continue to make it a beloved classic.
- “The game’s ability to mix humor with gritty realism, offer endless replayability, and provide players with a world full of opportunities to cause mayhem or follow the story at their own pace makes San Andreas an unforgettable experience.”
- “The characters in San Andreas are a hilarious mix of stereotypes, over-the-top personalities, and dialogue that will make you chuckle, cringe, and sometimes wonder if you’ve accidentally stepped into a B-movie.”
- “The dialogue is sharp and filled with character, and the various radio stations and talk shows add an extra layer of humor and atmosphere to the game.”
atmosphere
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
49%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and vibrant design, capturing the essence of 1990s culture through distinct cities, a diverse soundtrack, and engaging storytelling. Players appreciate the unique moods of each city, the humor interwoven with serious themes, and the dynamic environments that enhance the overall experience. Despite some graphical limitations, the game's rich atmosphere and nostalgic elements continue to resonate with fans, making it a timeless classic in open-world gaming.
- “The freedom to explore and experiment is staggering, and the game’s mix of humor, drama, and iconic soundtrack creates a vibrant atmosphere that still feels fresh.”
- “The game features three distinct cities, each with its own unique atmosphere and character, providing a rich and immersive environment to explore.”
- “With its immersive atmosphere, memorable characters, and boundless freedom, it's no wonder that this timeless classic continues to capture the hearts and imaginations of gamers even after nearly two decades.”
- “I am no longer interested in buying this new version of GTA San Andreas DE; it is not definitive, it censored a small amount of content, removed the atmosphere of the original game, broke character rigging, broke a good amount of the physics, and removed songs that made the original great.”
- “The classic atmosphere and colors (such as that famous orange filter in Los Santos) were significantly changed for both the Xbox and PC versions.”
- “Rockstar has decided to gimp the soundtrack by removing several important songs that contributed to the atmosphere while roaming the open world.”
optimization
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
41%
31%
The optimization of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on PC has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, including glitches, stuttering, and poor resolution settings. While the game can run smoothly on modern systems with some tweaks and mods, it is often criticized for its lack of proper optimization out of the box, particularly for newer hardware and operating systems. Overall, despite its classic status and engaging gameplay, the game's technical shortcomings detract from the experience for many users.
- “Please note that if you own this original Steam version of the game, I strongly recommend downgrading the game to 1.0 for better graphics and performance.”
- “It's pretty fun afterwards once you fully complete the game; you can do mods and stuff with your money. The story is amazing and it's pretty well optimized for old PCs and laptops since I'm a laptop gamer. This runs well 10/10; the only time frames will drop is during those left-right-down-up dance things.”
- “Well optimized and runs smooth on less powerful and older hardware.”
- “This game has terrible optimization; it's stuck on 4:3 resolution, widescreen fixes don't help, and I can't even use my mouse for anything. My character looks like he was made by pastels, and when he runs, it looks like he's glitching through the game.”
- “The game is totally unoptimized for new computers and operating systems. Performance-wise, it has issues, especially on newer systems; it can be pretty janky to fiddle with the files because the settings in this game are not good to say the least.”
- “Honestly, for such a legendary game, it really sucks, and not for the conventional reasons like the story or gameplay, but the fact that the optimization is awful on the Steam version. I even remember that a pirate version that ran on an older computer worked better than this one.”
replayability
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The replayability of "GTA: San Andreas" is widely praised, with many players highlighting its vast open world, numerous side activities, and the ability to customize gameplay through mods. Reviewers note that the game offers a rich experience with a long campaign, multiple endings, and engaging RPG-like elements, making it infinitely replayable even years after its release. Overall, it stands out among other titles in the series for its depth and variety, ensuring players return to it frequently for new experiences.
- “The game’s ability to mix humor with gritty realism, offer endless replayability, and provide players with a world full of opportunities to cause mayhem or follow the story at their own pace makes San Andreas an unforgettable experience.”
- “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.”
- “None of these games are playable without downloading third-party patches from the community.”
- “Now I would say infinitely replayable if it wasn't for the few annoying missions.”
- “I swear this game has so much entertainment value, but not a whole lot of replay value.”
grinding
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
40%
57%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly due to mission resets and the lack of autosave features. While some enjoy the variety of side activities and leveling up, others feel that the grinding mechanics, such as skill improvement and territory control, can be frustrating and detract from the overall experience. Overall, players suggest that significant time investment is required to achieve 100% completion, often leading to a sense of burnout.
- “It's satisfying to do and not too grindy.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The map is sprawling and once all of your progress gets reset for the first time, you kind of lose steam on grinding for anything.”
- “Great game, but the exclusion of autosave paired with this port's habit of crashing has led to me losing over an hour of hood wars and weapon skill grinding just because I forgot to save before going on a date.”
- “I myself like grinding and leveling up in games, but in San Andreas it's just painfully boring. I'm sorry, but going to the gym to spam two buttons repeatedly for a minute isn't exactly fun; even GTA V does this better.”
monetization
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
7%
86%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to the presence of microtransactions and a perceived lack of effort in the remastering process. Players express frustration over the reliance on third-party services and the removal of original versions, which they feel undermines the gaming experience. Overall, the sentiment reflects disappointment in the game's monetization strategies, contrasting sharply with the nostalgia and quality expected from the franchise.
- “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.”
- “Unfortunately, this Steam release does not appear to be the method to do so despite all its convenience, and with Rockstar rolling in the dough at the time of this review with GTA V Online still thriving with microtransactions despite being 8 years old, it does not make business sense for them to bother with fixing this San Andreas rerelease and re-licensing all the expired-rights songs.”
- “Rare to see a game without in-app purchases.”
- “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.”
- “I'm glad I bought this masterpiece for a few bucks instead of spending $60 on a lazy cash grab filled with bugs.”
emotional
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deep narrative filled with memorable characters, political intrigue, and moments of betrayal that resonate with players on a personal level. Many reviewers express nostalgia and a strong connection to the story, particularly the journey of Carl "CJ" Johnson, which evokes a range of emotions from laughter to tears. Despite some criticisms of gameplay mechanics, the overall experience is described as an emotional rollercoaster that leaves a lasting impact.
- “The narrative is filled with memorable characters, political intrigue, betrayal, and emotional moments, making the story one of the most engaging in the entire Grand Theft Auto series.”
- “Following the journey of Carl 'CJ' Johnson as he navigates the dangerous underworld of San Andreas is an emotional rollercoaster.”
- “The story weaves together elements of family, loyalty, and the pursuit of power, delivering a gripping and emotionally resonant experience.”
- “Boring story, clunky controls, but you can spray paint people.”
- “GTA: SA follows a super generic storyline, where you are a gangster who rises to the top.”
character development
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
36%
14%
Character development in the game is highly praised for its depth and emotional engagement, allowing players to connect with the protagonist, CJ, and the extensive cast of NPCs. Reviewers highlight the successful integration of RPG elements, customization options, and a well-crafted storyline that enhances the overall experience. The character design and development are considered exceptional, contributing to the game's lasting appeal even years after its release.
- “This is indeed a remarkable example of how a game in the action genre can be enriched with RPG elements, such as character development, customization, and a deep storyline.”
- “The character development in the original game is more nuanced and engaging, drawing players into CJ's journey on a deeper emotional level.”
- “The character development was fascinating - you either started to love or hate a specific character during your story progress.”
- “And there is a lot of character development, just how it should be.”

Skip Critic Reviews

94%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews

Skip Game Offers

Buy Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

56h Median play time

763h Average play time

30h Main story

77h Completionist

17-343h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 45 analyzed playthroughs

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

81%10kreviews

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

2008

Open World Shooter

83%10kreviews

Grand Theft Auto III

2008

Open World Shooter

+10

79%42kreviews

Grand Theft Auto IV

2008

Open World Shooter

73%10kreviews

Bully

2006

Open World Action Adventure

66%5.6kreviews

GTA: Liberty City Stories

2015

Action Adventure

More games like Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a open world shooter game.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is available on PlayStation 4, iPhone, Windows, PC and others.

The main story can be completed in around 30 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 77 hours to finish. On average players spend around 763 hours playing Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was released on January 3, 2008.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was developed by TransGaming Inc..

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has received very positive reviews from players and very positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto IV, Bully, GTA: Liberty City Stories and others.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Platforms

GTA: San Andreas review