6 /10 21

This 2022 reboot strips away the superpowers and alien invasions of previous entries to tell a grounded origin story of the Saints. While it aims to modernize the franchise with a new cast and setting in Santo Ileso, it suffers from a generic open-world structure and technical issues. Readers will find a game that offers mindless fun but lacks the sharp satire and polish of its predecessors.

How to Play Saints Row

You build a criminal empire from scratch, engaging in third-person shooting, driving, and “Criminal Venture” side hustles to conquer districts.

1. Controls – Standard shooter controls with a new “Flow” system for executing special abilities.
2. Progression – Earn XP to unlock perks and cash to buy businesses that generate passive income.
3. Combat/Mechanics – Arcade-style shooting with finisher moves that refill health; very fast-paced.
4. Tips – Prioritize placing Criminal Ventures early to maximize your passive hourly income.

Who Should Play Saints Row

Best for players who just want chaotic, low-stakes open-world fun with a friend in co-op.

• Player 1 – Fans of arcade-style destruction who don’t care about deep storytelling.
• Player 2 – Co-op gamers looking for a campaign they can play entirely with a partner.
• Player 3 – Players who love deep character customization (the “Boss Factory” is excellent).
• Skip if – You are looking for the edgy humor of Saints Row 2 or the polish of GTA V.

Saints Row Platform Performance

Performance varies wildly; current-gen consoles offer multiple modes but still struggle with consistent framerates.

Saints Row System Requirements

Requires a decent modern rig for 1080p/60fps; older cards will struggle with the open world.

Similar Games to Saints Row

Alternatives that offer better humor or more polished chaos.

• Saints Row: The Third Remastered – The peak of the series’ “wacky” era with better humor.
• Watch Dogs 2 – Offers a similar “group of young rebels” vibe but with better writing.
• Just Cause 4 – Superior physics-based destruction and chaos sandbox.
• Sunset Overdrive – Captures the colorful, irreverent tone much better.

Saints Row vs Competitors

How the reboot stacks up against other open-world crime games.

Saints Row Story & World

Set in Santo Ileso, a fictional diverse city in the American Southwest. You play as “The Boss,” forming a new criminal empire with three friends—Neenah, Kevin, and Eli—to pay off student loans and stick it to corporate factions. The tone tries to balance relatable millennial struggles with mass murder, resulting in a narrative that often feels disjointed and “safe” compared to the series’ edgy roots.

Saints Row Multiplayer & Online

Features full campaign co-op, allowing the entire game to be played with a friend.

• Campaign Co-op – Drop-in/drop-out play for two players throughout the story.
• Pranking – A system allowing co-op partners to pull funny pranks on each other.
• No PvP – Strictly a cooperative experience; no competitive deathmatches.
• Cross-Play – Cross-gen only (PS4-PS5), not full cross-platform.

Saints Row DLC & Expansions

The Expansion Pass added three major episodic content drops.

• The Heist & The Hazardous – New story missions and weapons.
• Doc Ketchum’s Murder Circus – A horde-mode style combat gauntlet.
• A Song of Ice & Dust – LARP-themed finale expansion.
• Free Updates – Added the Cheats app and new districts post-launch.

Saints Row Community & Support

Support is winding down following the closure of Volition in 2023.

• Official Forums – Discord is the primary hub for remaining players.
• Reddit (r/SaintsRow) – Heavily divided between fans of the reboot and originals.
• Mod Support – Limited compared to previous entries; no official SDK.
• Updates – Final major patch released in 2023; studio is now closed.