Saints Row IV

Volition it seems has made a new standard in over the top…no really I don’t think you understand… they went over the top before. Now they had to raise the bar in standards as well, just so they could go over the top of that.

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In Saints Row IV Re-Elected, play as the President of the United States, leading the Saints to save the world after an alien invasion. This open-world game features 25 DLC packs, including superpowers, strange weapons, and two story expansions. Fight to free humanity in a bizarre Steelport simulation.

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Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 22,984 reviews

story1,767 positive mentions

stability614 negative mentions

story
6,044 mentions
29 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story of "Saints Row IV" is characterized by its over-the-top, absurd humor and a plot that parodies various sci-fi tropes, particularly drawing inspiration from "The Matrix." While many players find the narrative entertaining and filled with pop culture references, it is often criticized for being shallow and repetitive, with a significant portion of missions feeling like busywork rather than engaging storytelling. Overall, the game is seen as a fun, chaotic experience that prioritizes gameplay and humor over a serious narrative, making it enjoyable for those looking for lighthearted action rather than a deep story.
- “The story is engaging and keeps you invested from start to finish, with plenty of twists and turns along the way.”
- “The combination of such a unique story and its action fighting and superhero skills makes the game great.”
- “The story is a tongue-in-cheek satire that gleefully embraces pop culture references, video game tropes, and outrageous humor.”
- “This is probably the most nonsensical story I've ever seen; it sucks and doesn't make a lick of sense.”
- “The story is filled with ridiculous moments, absurd weapons, and over-the-top characters that will keep you entertained throughout the game.”
- “The story is a mishmash of action, jokes, and self-references, and the overall gameplay lacks depth and complexity.”
humor
2,823 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Saints Row IV" is a defining feature, characterized by its absurdity, irreverence, and self-awareness. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend over-the-top action with clever, often juvenile jokes, pop culture references, and satirical commentary, making it a hilarious experience that keeps them engaged. While some find the humor repetitive or juvenile, many agree that it successfully delivers a fun and entertaining narrative that stands out in the open-world genre.
- “The game has some amazing humor at times; some of the humor might be the kind I'd laugh at when I was a teenager, but some of it still makes me laugh.”
- “Expect the absurd, the hilarious, and the outrageously fun as you navigate this zany open world, where saving Earth means embracing every bit of its gloriously ridiculous charm.”
- “It's a hilarious, open-world romp that doesn't take itself seriously for a second.”
- “Would've been better if it wasn't for the unfunny and just straight-up annoying 'mature jokes'—barely anything actually about aliens.”
- “Regardless, Saints Row 4 kept beating the dead horse and thus the unfunny jokes had no end.”
- “This is a low-effort waste of time cash grab with some of the most vacuous and unfunny dialogue ever.”
gameplay
1,992 mentions
42 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Saints Row IV" is characterized by its over-the-top mechanics and the introduction of superpowers, which significantly alter the traditional gameplay experience. While many players appreciate the humor and chaotic fun, some criticize the repetitiveness of missions and the obsolescence of vehicles due to the superpowers. Overall, the game offers a mix of enjoyable, albeit sometimes shallow, gameplay that prioritizes absurdity and entertainment over depth and realism, making it a hit for fans of the series but potentially less appealing for those seeking a more serious narrative or gameplay challenge.
- “The gameplay is a blast too.”
- “The open-world setting allows for endless opportunities for mayhem and chaos, and the superpowers add a whole new level of fun to the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is fun and more fresh than the last game, but with super power the cars are less than useless.”
- “A third-party launcher is required, the latest updates frequently crash, and the overall gameplay is your typical, gimmicky Saints Row.”
- “Repetitive gameplay mechanics: despite introducing superpowers, which initially add a fresh dynamic to the gameplay, 'Saints Row IV' suffers from repetitive mission design.”
- “The gameplay itself is mediocre, nothing special, and with this installment, you get superpowers because now you're in a virtual reality and the president of the United States.”
graphics
850 mentions
37 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Saints Row IV" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they appear dated compared to modern standards, often likening them to those of its predecessor, "Saints Row: The Third." While some appreciate the vibrant art style and colorful environments, others criticize the lack of significant graphical improvements and the presence of technical issues, such as bugs and performance drops, even on capable hardware. Overall, the visuals are considered adequate for the game's fun and chaotic gameplay, but they do not stand out in today's gaming landscape.
- “The graphics are stunning, with a vibrant and colorful world that truly feels alive.”
- “The graphics and sound design of Saints Row IV are impressive, with vibrant colors and detailed environments.”
- “Visually, the game holds up well, especially for its time, with colorful environments and a vibrant art style that captures the chaos of the Saints Row universe.”
- “Underwhelming graphics and technical issues: for a game released in the modern gaming era, 'Saints Row IV' features graphics that many players consider outdated.”
- “Graphics look a bit outdated for a 2013 game. This came out around the same time as GTA V & Tomb Raider (2013), but some of the textures look like they were modeled way back in the early 2000s, especially the mech suit and power armor in the finale. You can see the heavy compression even on ultra settings.”
- “The graphics are outdated. It's not even funny anymore.”
music
704 mentions
45 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in "Saints Row IV" has received widespread praise for its diverse and engaging soundtrack, featuring a mix of licensed tracks and original compositions that enhance the game's over-the-top atmosphere. Players appreciate the ability to listen to music outside of vehicles, which adds to the immersive experience, although some feel the selection could be more extensive and varied compared to previous titles. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, effectively complementing the game's humor and chaotic gameplay.
- “The soundtrack is also top-notch, with a great mix of licensed music and original tracks.”
- “The music selection is top-notch with even more songs on every radio station and an even wider selection of stations.”
- “The soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal, with everything from classical music to dubstep to power ballads.”
- “The game has decent sound design, though many of the songs on the radio are mediocre and a far cry from Rockstar's GTA.”
- “During missions, there are sometimes predefined background music, but most of the time there is no background music – you are supposed to switch on a radio station for that.”
- “The radio has limited music tracks; it has no hard rock and heavy metal songs, so I just put that Aerosmith song on loop.”
stability
633 mentions
3 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The stability of Saints Row IV has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various game-breaking glitches, particularly in co-op mode. Many users have expressed frustration over the game's inability to run smoothly on modern hardware, often requiring hard resets to recover from freezes. While some players have managed to enjoy the game despite these issues, the overwhelming consensus is that the game's stability problems significantly detract from the overall experience, making it difficult to recommend without caution.
- “Never froze on my PC and runs great!”
- “So far it runs great on my gaming rig at 1440p ultra preset. I am getting 100+ fps and it runs smooth.”
- “Technically, the game runs great with a smooth framerate.”
- “I bought this for the nostalgia, but the amount of bugs and crashes destroyed it for me. I don't recommend buying it unless you want to spend hours troubleshooting.”
- “The game is riddled with glitches, from audio and visual bugs to game-breaking crashes.”
- “It's unplayable due to how much it crashes and freezes.”
optimization
195 mentions
24 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
28 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users reporting severe performance issues such as stuttering, crashing, and audio glitches, particularly on modern hardware. Despite some players managing to achieve smoother gameplay through various tweaks, the general consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, especially compared to its predecessor, leading to frustration among users. Overall, the game's performance is considered unstable and unplayable for many, making it difficult to recommend.
- “It was fun, after a few settings it also runs smoothly on WQHD.”
- “Graphics are nice and performance is quite good (I ran it with my integrated GPU for a few days and still got 60 FPS in low quality, so it's a 10/10 optimization).”
- “A highly recommendable game, I was very excited for this game when I pre-ordered and I was not disappointed at all, this game is very optimized and offers some very new fun features compared to the old Saints Row: The Third.”
- “The performance, which worked fine before, is glitchy, with broken physics, audio that stops working every few minutes, and generally poor performance with absolutely no clear reason as to why any sort of 'remaster' was warranted.”
- “I've updated all my drivers, optimized, and even tweaked in-game settings, but nothing seems to work.”
- “This downgrade brought instability and crashing that was never there, incompatibility with old saves, and many new bugs, including performance issues.”
grinding
164 mentions
2 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
85 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing it as tedious, repetitive, and requiring an excessive time commitment. While some side activities can be enjoyable, they often feel like chores that artificially inflate gameplay time, leading to frustration and a sense of monotony. Overall, players suggest that the grind detracts from the fun, making it a significant drawback in the gaming experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “The open world aspect is tedious, grindy and artificially bloats gameplay time.”
- “Side quests are tedious and extremely repetitive; the game became a chore just trying to do all main side quests and main quests with the end goal of being able to uninstall the game.”
- “It's repetitive, tedious, boring, and feels like a massive rip off.”
replayability
128 mentions
35 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its humor, diverse activities, and customization options that enhance replay value. However, some critics point out a lack of mission replayability and a linear story, leading to diminished interest after initial playthroughs. Overall, while some find it endlessly entertaining and highly replayable, others feel it lacks the depth and variety seen in previous titles in the series.
- “Its blend of superpowers, outrageous missions, and clever writing make it a standout title that is both endlessly entertaining and highly replayable.”
- “From additional missions and costumes to new weapons and vehicles, the wealth of included content extends the lifespan and replayability of the game, ensuring that players can continue their chaotic adventures in Steelport.”
- “The game is hilarious in every way and 100% replayable.”
- “The game was okay, but just that - for me, it had little to no replay value, and even in co-op it wasn't extremely fun.”
- “My only complaint about the game is that the replayability is low.”
- “Trust me, once you're done with the story, there is no replayable content.”
emotional
75 mentions
88 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed responses, with some players finding genuine moments of nostalgia and heartfelt connections among characters, while others criticize the lack of depth and meaningful character development. Many reviews highlight the game's humor and over-the-top antics, which can overshadow emotional storytelling, leading to a perception of it as a fun but ultimately shallow experience. Overall, while there are touching moments and a sense of empowerment, the game is not primarily focused on delivering a deep emotional narrative.
- “The game has excellent car customization, a touching story that is full of references and awesomeness.”
- “For fans of the Saints Row series, that have been following it since game 1, this game is also sort of interesting, because despite all the ridiculousness, there is a really heartfelt attempt by the writers to tie everything in the series together and to give closure to fans on some of the stuff from past games.”
- “But let me tell you this: I got unexpectedly emotional throughout the game, imagining how it would be if I had played the previous entries in the series.”
- “While the superpowers are definitely a neat mechanic in the game, it gets overshadowed by the rather boring story of alien enslavement.”
- “Its the 3rd one just with aliens and a boring story that makes no sense; it was meant to be DLC, what do you expect?”
- “Pretty boring story, repetitive gameplay, boring and pretty bad graphics, and disappointing multiplayer.”
atmosphere
52 mentions
38 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its vibrant, neon-lit environments and humorous tone, while others find it dated or lacking depth. Many reviews highlight a shift from the chaotic, gang-centric atmosphere of earlier titles to a darker, simulation-based experience, which can feel empty or less engaging. Overall, the game's atmosphere is characterized by a blend of humor, sci-fi elements, and a sense of freedom, though opinions vary on its effectiveness and appeal.
- “The atmosphere of the game is excellent.”
- “The neon-lit atmosphere and gorgeous cityscape is great.”
- “This game has such a nice atmosphere and comes so close to this feeling.”
- “I find the game atmosphere too dark most of the time, which made it hard to appreciate Steelport.”
- “There is no epic story and atmosphere (that Volition is capable of creating, as Freespace 2 has shown), there is no exciting gameplay, there is no living world, there is no humor, no style, no visuals, no engaging multiplayer, nothing at all.”
- “The world is very static: no atmosphere like in GTA, no interaction with areas, buildings (apart from shops) or basically anything else that makes a city a city.”
character development
30 mentions
40 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players noting a lack of depth and emotional engagement compared to previous entries in the series, while others highlight surprising moments of character growth and humor. Many appreciate the character design and customization options, but feel that the overall narrative could benefit from a stronger focus on character arcs. Despite its over-the-top nature, some players found the character development to be a standout feature, particularly in specific missions that blend humor with deeper storytelling.
- “A stronger emphasis on character development could enhance the emotional investment players have in the story.”
- “Rampant nonsensical fun with surprisingly good character development and a hell of a musical score.”
- “One thing I was really surprised with was that everyone gets actual character development.”
- “The game sacrifices any meaningful character development or emotional depth for cheap laughs and shock value.”
- “While it has its repetitive moments and could benefit from deeper character development, it remains a solid entry in the Saints Row series that provides hours of entertainment.”
- “I was a little disappointed to not have a little more character development going on.”
monetization
15 mentions
13 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The monetization strategies in several games, including Borderlands and the Bioshock remasters, have drawn criticism for being perceived as cash grabs, often involving forced use of specific launchers and broken mods. Players express frustration over the prevalence of microtransactions and low-effort DLCs, particularly in titles like Saints Row, which are seen as lacking in quality and rushed to market for profit. Overall, many reviews highlight a trend of prioritizing revenue over player experience, leading to dissatisfaction among fans.
- “No microtransactions, no DRM Denuvo using up RAM, and no online internet connection required for singleplayer (as there is co-op).”
- “SR4's buyable DLCs vs GTA5's microtransactions.”
- “It's a damn shame I loved Saints Row 2 & 3, but this was put out without proper debugging for an easy cash grab!”
- “This is a low-effort waste of time cash grab with some of the most vacuous and unfunny dialogue ever.”
- “Get it for a sale and you'll have a good time with it, but as a huge fan of the Saints Row franchise, I felt like this one was rushed out, repetitive, and had all the hallmarks of a studio cash grab.”