Saints Row’s 2022 reboot was, well, a flop. It didn’t have the fun or the charm of the classic games in the series, and while the world was waiting for GTA 6, it should’ve been the lightning-in-a-bottle moment to reignite the love for the dormant Saints. While it didn’t work out, Saints Row: The Third Remastered is still a classic, and you should buy it while you wait for the Grand Theft Auto 6 release date to roll around, especially when it’s under $5.
Before GTA V took the world by storm, Saints Row: The Third blew my mind. It had the same “running a gang” vibe that the Grand Theft Auto games delivered, but with a focus on adding a zany, whimsical charm to what should’ve been serious. You play as a custom character known as The Boss, who lands in Steelport and is forced to deal with the Syndicate and three of its divisions, taking over the city in the Saints’ name.
Comparing it to the iconic GTA series is a bit unfair in some ways. While they’re both open-world games focused on committing crimes, and both are fairly satirical, Saints Row: The Third removes the delicate balance that GTA strives for in favor of going absolutely bonkers in many cases. The opening has the Saints starring in a movie about themselves, for example. It’s not exactly on the nose so much as it is punching you square in the face.
However, that makes it unique and distinct enough that you won’t get burnt out while waiting for Grand Theft Auto VI. The third-person action leans more toward the outlandish than the realistic, yet the narrative still focuses on more serious themes, making the entire game feel like its own thing. It’s not as bombastic as the fourth entry, with world-ending threats and superpowers, but it’s still fun without being overly cringe.
The remastered version of the game is essentially a visual upgrade, alongside better lighting and environments, while also packaging in all of the DLC—that’s three expansions and multiple DLC packs, basically. It’s the perfect way to play the game, and as the first game I ever bought DLC for, it’s well worth playing the entire experience.
If you’re looking to give Saints Row a shot (and don’t worry, you don’t need to play the other games to enjoy it), you can grab a Steam key for Saints Row: The Third Remastered for just $3.99 / £3.49 at Fanatical, giving you the opportunity to take over Steelport at a fraction of the price. Specifically, 90% less than the listed price, so boom.
Of course, it doesn’t have a bazillion-dollar budget like Grand Theft Auto VI does, but you can also basically drive a VTOL that functionally destroys anything in your path, so it has its own benefits.
Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. This story was created in collaboration with Fanatical’s deals team.