Saints Row: The Third

An interesting story, varied and over-the-top gameplay, and entertaining weapons helps drive the sandbox genre to new heights.

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In Saints Row: The Third, players lead the Third Street Saints gang in a wild and chaotic adventure through the city of Steelport. With over-the-top action, customizable characters, and a variety of weapons and vehicles, the game offers a unique and humorous take on the open-world genre. The Saints must fight against rival gangs, corrupt officials, and a mysterious organization known as The Syndicate.

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Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 18,385 reviews

story1,476 positive mentions

stability263 negative mentions

story
4,382 mentions
34 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story of "Saints Row: The Third" is characterized by its over-the-top humor and absurdity, often prioritizing entertainment over depth. Players engage in a series of ludicrous missions that blend action and comedy, such as skydiving into a penthouse or driving a tiger around town, while the narrative serves as a loose framework for the chaos. While some players appreciate the lighthearted approach and memorable characters, others feel the story lacks the emotional weight and coherence found in previous installments, particularly "Saints Row 2." Overall, the game is seen as a fun, chaotic experience that doesn't take itself too seriously, making it enjoyable for those seeking a humorous and action-packed adventure.
- “The storyline is both entertaining and self-aware, packed with memorable characters and hilarious dialogue.”
- “The game perfectly walks the line between ridiculous shenanigans, a good story, and genuinely fun gameplay.”
- “The story is a humorous and over-the-top tale of a criminal gang's quest for power and domination.”
- “If you came to it as a fan of the first two games, then the story is a bit shallow or less emotional once you get past the first act.”
- “The story feels incomplete and unpolished with a lot of filler missions.”
- “The story is really just an excuse to jump from one mission to the next.”
humor
2,204 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Saints Row: The Third" is widely praised for its outrageous, over-the-top antics and absurdity, often drawing comparisons to a comedic version of the Grand Theft Auto series. Players appreciate the game's self-aware, irreverent humor, which includes crude jokes, memorable characters, and hilarious dialogue that keeps the experience entertaining and engaging. While some find the humor juvenile or repetitive, many agree that it adds a unique charm and fun factor, making it a standout title in the open-world genre.
- “Saints Row: The Third is a standout entry in the open-world action-adventure genre, delivering a perfect blend of humor, chaos, and engaging gameplay that keeps players coming back for more.”
- “The storyline is both entertaining and self-aware, packed with memorable characters and hilarious dialogue.”
- “What truly sets Saints Row 3 apart is its humor.”
- “The comedy is not funny at all, aged like milk, even cringe at times.”
- “On a serious note though, this game was unfunny and meh at best, unfunny and boring at worst.”
- “It tries to focus on humor, unfortunately it's horribly unfunny.”
gameplay
1,240 mentions
46 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Saints Row: The Third" is characterized by its chaotic and over-the-top mechanics, offering a blend of humor and action that keeps players engaged. While some reviews note issues with driving mechanics and repetitive missions, the overall experience is praised for its fun, accessibility, and variety of activities, making it a standout in the open-world genre. The game successfully combines absurdity with solid gameplay mechanics, providing a unique and entertaining experience reminiscent of the GTA series but with a distinct comedic twist.
- “Saints Row: The Third is a standout entry in the open-world action-adventure genre, delivering a perfect blend of humor, chaos, and engaging gameplay that keeps players coming back for more.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are accessible and engaging.”
- “The absurdity of certain missions—such as parachuting into a rival gang’s territory while dressed as a mascot—keeps the gameplay fresh and entertaining.”
- “The gameplay sucks, and by sucks, I mean sucks: the cars feel like toys, the gunplay is lame, and the protagonist feels like a bag of potatoes.”
- “The gameplay is just horrendous, having waves of enemies storm you while you shoot at them with no thought or effort put into it gets boring very fast.”
- “Gameplay-wise, the game has a 'classic 3rd person action game' feel, with easy controls, and many variations, allowing you to shoot, hit, or even engage in 'quicktime' events with your enemy.”
graphics
850 mentions
46 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Saints Row: The Third" are generally regarded as decent for its release period in 2011, with many players appreciating the colorful, cartoony art style that enhances the game's humorous tone. While some reviews note that the graphics can appear dated compared to modern standards, they still hold up well and contribute positively to the overall experience, especially when played on higher settings. However, players have reported occasional graphical glitches and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems, which can detract from the gameplay experience.
- “Visually, Saints Row: The Third holds up well with its colorful art style and well-designed environments.”
- “The game's presentation is top-notch, with stylish visuals and a well-curated soundtrack that perfectly complements the on-screen madness.”
- “The graphics are stunning for a game of this age and would still be considered decent by today's standards.”
- “Terrible graphics, lousy gameplay, stupid camera position. A load of crap; how people are raving about this POS is beyond me.”
- “The graphics are outdated at the time of writing this, but it's still a lovely game full of fun colors.”
- “The graphics lack a bit, but then this game did come out back in 2010-2011.”
music
509 mentions
51 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in "Saints Row: The Third" has received widespread acclaim for its diverse and well-curated soundtrack, featuring a mix of popular licensed tracks and original compositions that enhance the game's energetic and humorous tone. Players appreciate the inclusion of well-known artists like Kanye West and Bonnie Tyler, with many noting how the music perfectly complements the over-the-top gameplay and memorable missions. However, some users expressed disappointment with the limited selection compared to previous entries in the series, wishing for more variety and the ability to import personal music. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant highlight of the game, contributing to its fun and chaotic atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack of 'Saints Row: The Third' is perfectly tailored to its gameplay, featuring a mix of popular songs and original tracks that enhance the game’s energetic and outrageous tone.”
- “The music is great, the humor is immature but it still holds up and makes me laugh even as an adult, the story isn't bad but not great either; I appreciated the humor and wackiness of it.”
- “The soundtrack is a major highlight, and significant missions use specific songs to amazing effect.”
- “The only thing that I do not like is the radio soundtrack.”
- “One minor complaint I have with the music though is that the selection of the songs was kind of limited, as opposed to GTA stations for example, so you had a lot of repetition.”
- “Many, including myself, were relatively disappointed by the game's music department.”
stability
276 mentions
4 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and various glitches that can disrupt gameplay. While some players find the bugs amusing and part of the game's charm, others describe the experience as frustrating and unplayable at times, particularly in co-op mode. Overall, the game is seen as a fun experience despite its numerous technical issues, with many recommending it only if players are willing to tolerate the instability.
- “It runs great on Windows 10 with a GTX 980 and Ryzen 2 2700, which is nice, but it's essentially a console port as far as gameplay goes, so being stuck with a keyboard and mouse on it is a dealbreaker for me.”
- “Awesome game with a very strong sense of humor and sarcasm, surprisingly no glitches, and smooth gameplay. If you like gangs, tons of missions, and a nice and funny storyline, you should get this game.”
- “Its not perfect - I still have experienced the occasional crash but for the most part the game runs great.”
- “Barely playable, freezes every few seconds if you are online on Steam, vehicle sounds are broken, random crashes during normal gameplay.”
- “This game is a buggy mess that's painful to play and the main storyline is broken.”
- “Game freezes for a few seconds after about every ten seconds or so, sounds move forward without issue.”
optimization
147 mentions
29 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, lag, and crashes, particularly on PC. While some users noted that the game runs well on older hardware or with specific settings adjustments, the overall consensus is that it is poorly optimized for modern systems, leading to frustration among players. Despite these issues, some still find the gameplay enjoyable, suggesting that the fun factor can outweigh the technical shortcomings.
- “Good optimization, good gameplay, good story; in any way, better than my expectation of how choppy the game would be, but no, it runs quite well for me.”
- “It's cheesy, it's raunchy, it's good looking, it controls perfectly, and it's damn well optimized.”
- “The optimization is excellent and can run on pretty decent hardware with the graphics options cranked.”
- “It is unoptimized.”
- “My main gripe with the game is that it is poorly optimized for PC.”
- “The PC version is a buggy, unoptimized mess.”
replayability
130 mentions
37 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its high replay value due to varied voice options, engaging side activities, and the ability to experience different story paths. However, some reviews highlight a lack of replayable missions and endgame content, leading to a perception of limited replayability after initial playthroughs. Overall, while the game offers fun and absurd experiences that encourage multiple playthroughs, opinions vary on its long-term replay potential.
- “The replayability is fairly high, as there is always something different to do.”
- “The city of Steelport is a nice-sized playground with tons of fun activities and areas to take over, giving this game longevity and replayability.”
- “Great game overall with average story quality, but it is totally a replayable game.”
- “Did this game remove replayable missions and cutscene viewers?”
- “This means that there is little to no replayability to one of the only things worth doing other than the story.”
- “However, once you reach the end-game, there is almost no replay value unless you start a new game as there are no enemies left to kill.”
grinding
86 mentions
2 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
74 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it can be excessively tedious, especially for completionists aiming for 100%. While some appreciate the humor and chaotic fun that can make grinding feel less burdensome, others find the repetitive missions and side activities to be a significant drawback, often requiring a considerable time investment to progress. Overall, players suggest that while grinding is present, it varies in intensity and enjoyment depending on individual play styles and objectives.
- “Grinding is only for leaderboards or ranks.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I had to replay roughly three out of every ten missions because some character got stuck or an event didn't trigger at all, which makes the already repetitive and boring missions even more tedious.”
- “The gameplay itself is such an incredibly tedious grind of nonstop violence that somehow is not even a little bit fun.”
emotional
59 mentions
93 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players finding it lacking depth compared to earlier titles like Saints Row 2, while others appreciate its blend of humor and occasional heartfelt moments. Many reviews highlight a disconnect between the comedic tone and emotional storytelling, leading to moments that feel forced or inconsistent. Overall, while the game offers fun and engaging experiences, it may not deliver the emotional weight that some players expect.
- “The character development allows you to get emotionally attached to the characters.”
- “I cried when Johnny died, but I knew his spirit lived inside me (the character).”
- “The story is good but it's all over the place; it goes from comedic to emotional then back to comedic then emotional again.”
- “Boring story that makes no sense; at the very start, you raid an army warehouse taking on the entire army core, while the next moment you have to buy street weapons and jump in front of cars to make money off insurance.”
- “Boring story, boring world, boring driving, boring enemies.”
- “A bunch of awfully stupid, short, boring story DLCs and costumes that must be free.”
atmosphere
32 mentions
38 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Saints Row: The Third is characterized by its vibrant, whimsical, and often absurd tone, setting it apart from more serious titles like Grand Theft Auto. Players appreciate the game's colorful graphics, engaging sound design, and humorous elements that create a lighthearted experience, making it feel like a playful spoof of pop culture and gang culture. While some may find the atmosphere lacking in depth compared to traditional narratives, it is celebrated for its entertaining and immersive environment that encourages chaotic fun.
- “Game's atmosphere is on top with a beautiful color scheme of day and night, and the town's artwork adds to it.”
- “After the first and second, the third sets the bar of all open map games to a new high with its do-anything style and hilarious atmosphere; this game has always, in my opinion, been above GTA for fun gameplay.”
- “The atmosphere reminds me of what it would be like if Bernie became president.”
- “While Steelport is dead, I love the atmosphere at times.”
- “The rate of absurd immaturity isn't necessarily negative; it creates that light and amusing atmosphere that I've come to expect of Saints Row.”
character development
29 mentions
45 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the emotional attachment fostered by the growth of main characters like Shaundi and the player character, while others criticize the overall lack of depth and nuance in the story. Many players appreciate the character design and customization options, which allow for diverse and engaging character creation, but feel that the narrative fails to provide meaningful development for most characters. Overall, while there are standout moments of character progression, many reviewers note that the game prioritizes action and humor over a cohesive story.
- “You can clearly see the character development in main characters such as Shaundi and even the boss (you) in the way they act and react to things.”
- “This is a great game with excellent radio stations, an immersive world, and fantastic character development.”
- “Great antagonists and a good sense of progression and character development with proper last acts that resolved everything going on in the games.”
- “There's really no buildup or character development, except the people in the gang close to you.”
- “The same could be said about the character development, or rather lack thereof, as I never felt attached to my companions during the game. By the end, when you have a choice to save one, it feels more like a chore.”
- “The story is basic and the character development nonexistent, but that doesn't matter because you spend the game mowing down mascots, rescuing people from a sinking boat, being chased through the streets by enemies, and generally causing havoc.”
monetization
14 mentions
21 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
71 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and ads during gameplay, which allows for a more immersive experience. However, some criticize the presence of promotional content and in-game advertisements that feel intrusive and detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these concerns, many players still recommend the game for its engaging story and gameplay.
- “Play to unlock items; nothing is locked behind microtransactions, just like a game should be.”
- “There are no annoying microtransactions, so I give this game a 10 out of 10.”
- “No ads, no promotions.”
- “Ads on the title screen, gameplay, and writing is cringe.”
- “But some of them are just a cash grab trash.”
- “Not only are they doing ads for their own energy drinks, but even the cops who are chasing you during the tutorial mission aren't just trying to arrest you, but also get your autograph.”