The Saints Row series has long been called the wannabe GTA collection with similar themes and gameplay like gang wars and driving around the city looking for trouble. The developers over at Volition have clearly ensured that the two games are not to be confused.
Saints Row has created a unique and outrageous identity over the years through insane storylines, the funniest dialogues, and delivering exactly what the players want. Therefore, we decided to go over this 16-year journey and rank all the games from worst to best!
6. Saints Row: Gat out of Hell
If you missed the obvious pun in the title, Saints Row: Gat out of Hell takes you through Johnny Gat’s journey as he fights and flies through hell to save the Boss from marrying Satan’s daughter.
Despite the cool ring to the name and wacky storyline, Gat out of Hell doesn’t impress much if you’re already familiar with the franchise. Unfortunately, a lot of potential is lost in unexplored storylines. Instead, the whole game is just a bunch of side missions packed together, but maybe a little credit can be given for the fact that the game acknowledges this and shows a cutscene of Johnny sitting in an office, scratching his head on how to progress the story.
The cutscenes and gunplay are fantastic, but that is fleeting as the whole release is too small and ends too quickly. It may be worth its price (some may beg to differ), but it isn’t enough to compete with the other releases.
5. Saints Row (2022)
The latest Saints Row was an attempt to reboot the series and make it more like the first couple of games, but it really didn’t go as planned. The game follows the story of the four friends, Eli, Kevin, Neenah, and our beloved Boss, who start their outlaw gang called The Saints in Santo Ileso and fight with rival gangs for control of the city’s districts. The story is a mix of drama and comedy and the typical Saints Row twist.
The devs tried to make the most of it by adding a huge number of customization options, weird vehicles, and funny-looking weapons like the Pinata Launcher and the Pugnus Sanctus Dei. Still, sadly it’s not all that we expected.
The storyline barely covers the fact that the game is plagued with bugs that include, but are not limited to, never-ending reload animations, events not starting, and the upside-down player. Nevertheless, the game also offers fun side quests, a very inclusive set of customization for your players, and the perfect playground to just drive and have an insane amount of fun.
4. Saints Row
Saints Row, released in 2006, set the foundation for what would become one of the industry’s most popular open-world action-adventure game series. The game introduces the player to the 3rd St. Saints, a gang destined to be wiped off the map. That is unless you pull every dirty trick in the Gangster handbook. Insurance fraud, ripping off pimps, and kicking grandmas in the shin.
Saints Row has some limitations compared to the later titles in the series. The graphics are dated, and the unmatched comedic element of its successors is unfortunately missing. It also offers a relatively small open-world environment to mess around in.
Nevertheless, Saints Row combines well-designed missions that complement the storyline, solid gunslinging, and small details that enrich your experience. Though not the best, it still is a blast to play.
3. Saints Row: The Third
Faced with new foes threatening the legacy of the 3rd St. Saints, the gang takes on the Syndicate, a rival gang in control of Steelport City in Saints Row: The Third.
The game is a huge leap from the prior releases regarding game mechanics and player movements. It also offers tons of character customization options, and you are allowed to concoct all sorts of weird characters.
It’s packed with action. Where else do you get to shoot down the window of a crashing plane, fly through it while killing everyone on your way out the other end, and then freefall and catch your falling friend?
The story progression is where the game takes a hit. Forcing you to carry out side-missions, not taking the time to develop characters, and just bad pacing. Saints Row: The Third is an excellent choice if you’re looking for pure cathartic fun and a decent story.
2. Saints Row IV
Saints Row IV is the result of Volition going all out. It in no way compares to the previous releases. The antagonist is an alien, Zinyak, who invades Earth and traps the president, the Boss, in a simulation reliving a few events from previous Saints Row games. Most of your time is spent in Steelport City.
That’s not the only twist. Developers introduced superpowers this time, like running faster than trains and being able to jump higher. The witty humor and silly remarks are intact, and the characters are even more likable than before.
The game, however, crashes too often, especially in the co-op mode, along with other recurring glitches. Some say Saints Row: The Third is even more enjoyable, but Saints Row: IV is wild and chaotic. You can’t really tell what will happen next, and on top of that, it even has two endings!
1. Saints Row 2
Saints Row 2 is not only the best Saints Row game but also one of the greatest games of all time. The game starts with the player waking up from a five-year coma after the events of Saints Row. The 3rd St. Saints are no more, and the fight for revenge and to reclaim their old authority and territory is on.
The second title is a well-balanced sandbox experience. The storyline is structured so that it doesn’t get too much in the way of the action. It also helps give each player a unique personality and takes the time to deliver hilarious character dialogues at the right moment.
Not only this, the side activities, a hallmark of the Saints Row games, are also given due diligence with opportunities to drench whole neighborhoods with poop and other shenanigans.
Overall, it adopts the best elements of each release and gives a thrilling experience. With its well-crafted storyline, entertaining characters, and diverse range of side activities, it’s no wonder why many consider it to be the best Saints Row game.
Conclusion
Each Saints Row title is an experience on its own. From hell to alien spaceships, Volition left no stone unturned in search of the perfect goofy open-world game. If the story didn’t impress us, the gameplay and humor sure did, which made the last few games tough to rank.
If you haven’t played any of these titles yet, there’s a lot more to these series that we couldn’t add, and the only way to find that out is by playing it yourself!
