Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

 PC
User Score
8.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 4324 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3,871 out of 4324
  2. Mixed: 324 out of 4324
  3. Negative: 129 out of 4324
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  1. xZippy
    Jan 12, 2013
    7
    I've played the game since it came out and here I am deciding to finally review it in 2013. Though the PC version gets a 7 from me, the PS2 version gets a 9. What's not to love about San Andreas? You get all types of missions and side-missions, a huge world to explore, a very good story and downright excellent characters. As a bonus, you also get the RPG elements that spice up the gameplayI've played the game since it came out and here I am deciding to finally review it in 2013. Though the PC version gets a 7 from me, the PS2 version gets a 9. What's not to love about San Andreas? You get all types of missions and side-missions, a huge world to explore, a very good story and downright excellent characters. As a bonus, you also get the RPG elements that spice up the gameplay and really help you out in the long run, such as having longer periods of running/swimming, weapon dual-wielding and building up an NPC gang that can follow you wherever. It's a gamer's wet dream. Alright, now onto the downsides. The PC port is pretty bad. I'm not complaining about graphics being improved or anything for the PC, but Rockstar always gets lazy when it comes to PC ports. Look at GTA IV for example. The in-game settings don't stay the same every time you launch the game. You have to disable/enable the "Frame Limiter" option just to get certain game elements to work - and things like that usually make me quit playing a game outright and forever, but this game redeems that with the tons of positives. Apart from the PC issues, you're gonna come across those moments where a mission is insanely too hard or the AI doesn't work the way it should and it screws you in the end somehow. These are the same things you encounter in the previous games like Vice City and GTA III. Do these things break the game entirely? Not really. But can these things frustrate you greatly? Yes, very much so. Overall, if you're an old time gamer or a person just becoming a gamer, play this game. Just do it. Oh, and guess what? This game has two multiplayer mods known as San Andreas Multiplayer and Multi Theft Auto where up to 100 players can play on the same world. Be sure to play that too. Yes, both of those multiplayers are still being played.… Expand
  2. Simolius
    Jul 1, 2013
    7
    No other GTA game can beat GTA San Andreas! It has the most replayability, provides the most fun (jet packs!!!) and you can do much more than just drive from mission to mission. There are a bunch of side activities and other fun stuff you can just mess around with. Meanwhile, other (and more recent) GTA games are busy with serious stories and serious characters and realism and BORING!!!No other GTA game can beat GTA San Andreas! It has the most replayability, provides the most fun (jet packs!!!) and you can do much more than just drive from mission to mission. There are a bunch of side activities and other fun stuff you can just mess around with. Meanwhile, other (and more recent) GTA games are busy with serious stories and serious characters and realism and BORING!!! The graphics aren't great and I find the PC controls to be a bit weird but the fun is still there! 7/10.… Expand
  3. UntoldAv3nGer
    May 18, 2013
    5
    Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, considered to be the best Grand Theft Auto game ever by many people, disappointed me completely. First of all, the first cut scenes were good until the "Drive By" scene came up. It was hilarious, in a bad sort of way. I got on the bike and noticed how bad the controls were for PC. Like seriously, it seems like Rockstar looked at the PC port and said "Let'sGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas, considered to be the best Grand Theft Auto game ever by many people, disappointed me completely. First of all, the first cut scenes were good until the "Drive By" scene came up. It was hilarious, in a bad sort of way. I got on the bike and noticed how bad the controls were for PC. Like seriously, it seems like Rockstar looked at the PC port and said "Let's put Inverted steering with a mouse, and whatever because PC gamers are fancy. The graphics are what you would expect from a 2005 game. "The gameplay is more important than the graphics" is certainly true...... but the graphics are so bad they'll take away from the experience. Overall, if you're looking at reviews and deciding whether to buy the game or not, please don't make the mistake I made. Other games such as Sleeping Dogs are way better.… Expand
  4. grandtheftbat
    May 27, 2014
    7
    Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a great game. Even still in 2014 with IV and V out. But the game is filled with game breaking glitches, poor aiming, poor graphics/character models (even though that the game is 10 years old) and lots of features that are unfortunately useless.
  5. Kaneelschep
    Apr 24, 2006
    6
    Got the pc version. The controls absolutely suck big time. How could they think of it.. steering with the mouse? yeah sure.. it just makes you hit shit when firing or braking with it. flying a modell airplane is just not done. driving a motorbike is so frustrating with all the shit that you can and will hit. all it gives me is hartproblems. especially missions were you have to shoot guys Got the pc version. The controls absolutely suck big time. How could they think of it.. steering with the mouse? yeah sure.. it just makes you hit shit when firing or braking with it. flying a modell airplane is just not done. driving a motorbike is so frustrating with all the shit that you can and will hit. all it gives me is hartproblems. especially missions were you have to shoot guys off bikes. I empty guns on then and nothing happens. and smash into everything. Every time I want to give it another chance but I end up almost smashing my keyboard shouting I will never play it again. Do love the hugeness of it. and really want to play it. though I will probably not anymore out of frustration. such a let down after vice city wich I loved.… Expand
  6. Czar
    Jun 13, 2005
    5
    Camera control is really hard and frustrating. Cannot save where ever. Illogical events. You hit a guy walking with his mate and the mate doesn't even notice. The enemy fires at me and then the cops arrest me rather than the guy doing the shooting. Heaps of work has gone into this game but I really don't like it.
  7. SgtSausage
    Jul 10, 2005
    5
    I've sampled this game on PC. While overall it is indeed fun, it does suffer from the hasty control adaptations that seem to be common in PC games adapted from the game console environment. Those purchasing the PC version should be aware that control adaptions to a keyboard and mouse input environment fall short in this case. Severe shortcomings may greatly hinder progress when I've sampled this game on PC. While overall it is indeed fun, it does suffer from the hasty control adaptations that seem to be common in PC games adapted from the game console environment. Those purchasing the PC version should be aware that control adaptions to a keyboard and mouse input environment fall short in this case. Severe shortcomings may greatly hinder progress when controlling some vehicles in certain missions. Unless money is no object, I suggest purchasing the game at a deep discount if possible, or you may net feel you had gotten your money's worth.… Expand
  8. GiancarloB.
    Sep 26, 2005
    7
    OK game. could have been beter and theres nothing really else to say. the story lacked a baic plot but it makes up in the great fun driving around the city blowing things up theme.
  9. CaptainH.
    Aug 14, 2005
    5
    Such a let down!
  10. Pamela&Lynn
    Oct 23, 2006
    5
    I like the GTA series. I've passed the game on PS2 and PC.I've had no problems on PS2 but on computer there has been a slight sound problem. My sound won't play while raining.I've tried everything but nuttin' worked.I bought a new hardware and installed a new windows... I can't seem to fix the problem.
  11. AnonymousMC
    Jul 28, 2007
    6
    Graphics are not the best but with such a large city you just have to cut down on certain things.
    The storyline is pretty cool and fun.
    It starts pretty easy and fun but some missions that comes later was horribly hard.
    So unless you are a hardcore gamer on GTA then you are gonna need a trainer in those upcoming missions.
    Otherwise it has gameplay variety which is great.
  12. Pepelinojosefo
    Apr 14, 2013
    7
    Este juego capaz no sea mejor que su antecesor Grand Theft Auto Vice City (por lo menos para mi), pero posee mas libertad que los juegos anteriores, una buena historia (aunque tiene bastantes misiones innecesarias) y los personajes tienen un excelente voice acting. Los gráficos para la época no eran tal vez la gran cosa, pero la gran cantidad de contenido que tiene este juego esEste juego capaz no sea mejor que su antecesor Grand Theft Auto Vice City (por lo menos para mi), pero posee mas libertad que los juegos anteriores, una buena historia (aunque tiene bastantes misiones innecesarias) y los personajes tienen un excelente voice acting. Los gráficos para la época no eran tal vez la gran cosa, pero la gran cantidad de contenido que tiene este juego es impresionante, lo que cuesta de tiempo completarlo al 100% es bastante, aunque el sonido no esta tan bien desarrollado que digamos, los disparos parecen pedos por alguna razón, pero no importa, el juego lo recomiendo bastante y se divertirán mucho con esta entrega.… Expand
  13. lukechristiansc
    Apr 4, 2014
    6
    yes the graphics need alot of work but i kinda like it . expects no good strippers in the game . play Gta 4 instead peace
    Grade B+
    ......................................................................
  14. Farts
    Mar 23, 2015
    7
    If you like GTA, it is worth the investment. I use to love GTA games when I was younger. Now though, I am more of a dark souls genre addict. If you are looking for a super easy game that takes little tact do it up. It is classic GTA, not much more to say about it.
  15. danield80
    Jul 11, 2020
    7
    Grand Theft Auto San Andreas has a huge open world, tuns of side activities, rpg elements. It's one of the biggest game of its time. There are so many opportunities you'd be unable to find in another games. The main things in the game are done worse than in Vice City. The game is unnecessarily long. It seems like the developers put more effort in the size of the game than what makes theGrand Theft Auto San Andreas has a huge open world, tuns of side activities, rpg elements. It's one of the biggest game of its time. There are so many opportunities you'd be unable to find in another games. The main things in the game are done worse than in Vice City. The game is unnecessarily long. It seems like the developers put more effort in the size of the game than what makes the game a game.
    The graphics are bad for a 2004. MGS3 or H-L2 have a lot better ones. The biggest and also the weakest entry in the series.    … Expand
  16. ProffHarun17
    Jan 11, 2023
    5
    It's good game but i don't like it's atmosphere and graphics. Also campaign is too hard.
  17. ChristianH.
    May 9, 2009
    7
    The good parts of SA are the most of the missions, the excellent world, the great animations (not counting the extremely ugly graphics), the soundtrack and the voice actors which are making this game favourable, if there weren't many aspects that prevent this game to be one of the greatest of all time. These aspects are: The graphics are riddiculously and unbelievably ugly, for 2005, The good parts of SA are the most of the missions, the excellent world, the great animations (not counting the extremely ugly graphics), the soundtrack and the voice actors which are making this game favourable, if there weren't many aspects that prevent this game to be one of the greatest of all time. These aspects are: The graphics are riddiculously and unbelievably ugly, for 2005, and the graphics are soo dorky awkward programmed that it WILL stutter even today on an extremely decent machine where I get on everything turned up max. 50 FPS (without Frame Limiting). This states that it was a very rushed PS2-to-PC conversion. IF done well, this could have been prevented. Next are the vehicles. While I do like the driving behaviour of some vehicles, most vehicles drive so awkward and unresponsive that I would almost threw one keyboard/gamepad after each other against my wall since the controls are so poorly executed that sometimes you get, combined with terrible collision detection, you hit the very very near edge of a stone and will get flipped over, ruining everything. Same goes for the flying controls which I think most people agree, are completely a pain in the ass. At the flying school missions, after days of getting nothing right, I quit the game there and never got any further than that in the game because of the controls. Also the game consists of many components (dining, training, RPG-system) which on the first look looks impressive, but being in the game for some 10,20 hours they appear poorly executed and could aswell be left out without the player missing anything. Someone was not thinking completely to the end here, especially the RPG-system which feels unnecessary as it is in the game, Rockstar didn't even try to implement it well. As for the conclusion this is very close a good game, but many aspects where ruined and all partially ruined aspects add up to the point that prevents the game from being one of the best games of all time. But the extremely great animations combined with the brilliant voice actors and the great soundtrack make me to some point ignore the game's flaws as stated above.… Expand
  18. ScottT.
    Jun 7, 2005
    7
    Though the game is great so far. I have already found that the game crashes my system. When it happens the system reboots itself. I bought the game today and it has crashed the pc twice now.
  19. GogiV.
    Jul 31, 2006
    7
    Some guys here are saying that ATMOSPHERE was better in Vice City than in SA. It's because Vice City is placed in the 80s. That's the only reason. 80s music has catchy melodies, which make people relaxed, there is 80s feel everywhere in VC. SA is hybrid. Mixure of new age and transition from the 80s to 90s.
  20. ShaneK.
    Jan 28, 2006
    5
    The game is fun, but its impossible to control the aircraft, so you cant beat the game.
  21. PukenD.
    Jun 21, 2005
    5
    Controls suck bigtime. Graphics not quite PC standards. I give it a 10 in frustration.
  22. dandalis
    Jan 19, 2020
    5
    San Andreas is arguably the best game ever made, imho, and unsuprisingly, possibly my favorite game of all time, on the PlayStation 2 that is, where its easily a sublime 10/10 experience. But god damn the PC version is a mess.

    Missing effects like road reflections, frame rate can become dodgy even in 2020, the colorfulness of PS2 version has been lost in translation, some of the    San Andreas is arguably the best game ever made, imho, and unsuprisingly, possibly my favorite game of all time, on the PlayStation 2 that is, where its easily a sublime 10/10 experience. But god damn the PC version is a mess.

    Missing effects like road reflections, frame rate can become dodgy even in 2020, the colorfulness of PS2 version has been lost in translation, some of the mechanics like swimming, diving are almost broken, mouse isnt even working and requires you to furiously pause/unpause the game multiple times in order for it to work and list goes on.

    Now i know, MODS EXIST, but im not feeling like going out of my way to look for user created fixes, in SA's case you need quite a few of them and they require 3rd party crap installed in order to work, so i can have a working damn product. Im not lazy, im just sick of this crap, with developers like R* not being able to see a bit down the road, while other developers of mid 00's did the effort. Its not even like my PC is uber modern, it still runs Windows 7, having such lazy port with just 4 years in between release of the PC version and W7 is just sad. Many people call GTA 4 the worst optimized R* game, well, let me tell you, San Andreas had it in the bag all along.

    Now the reason why im giving it an average score and not a 0/10 is because the game still can be playable and fun, its just that the crappy aspects of the port always creep their way in and do their best to ruin it.

    At its best, and by that i mean on PlayStation 2, San Andreas is a stellar game, with an awesome open world, really fun story and missions, cool characters, my man CJ and so much stuff to do, but on PC, it can, it will, be a pain out of the box.    … Expand
  23. djtomee86
    Apr 2, 2023
    5
    To be totally honest, this was the one episode from the old-school 3D GTA series, which I disliked the most because of its annoying missions...
  24. allwititnowsuck
    Feb 9, 2019
    7
    This game aged horribly, i'm not saying it's not playable as now,it is, definitely worth playing a lot more than any other game made by Rockstar recently, because it's actualy entertaining and doesn't have forced realism for sake of appealing to normies,still the game is far away from being flawless.
    Storyline is bit cliche but it's not as painfuly boring like GTA V or generic and    This game aged horribly, i'm not saying it's not playable as now,it is, definitely worth playing a lot more than any other game made by Rockstar recently, because it's actualy entertaining and doesn't have forced realism for sake of appealing to normies,still the game is far away from being flawless.
    Storyline is bit cliche but it's not as painfuly boring like GTA V or generic and redundant like RDR 1.5.
    Graphicaly the only good looking things in the game are vehicles and some buildings, character models and pretty much rest of the environment looks dated and dull, weather effects looks decent, not great but decent.
    Soundtrack is ok, unfortunately they cut out many music-tracks due to copyright-bs!
    Gameplay is good, the game HAS gang wars and some activities that actually affect your game, giving you some bonus stuff, money ect.Not just some garbage looking car with some greenlights on it. And suprise,suprise! The game isn't easy beyond belief.
    Car physics is ok, they actually drive like a different cars, cars ARE destructible and actually take damage, unlike GTA V non existent physics and nearly impossible to destroy or damage cars.
    The game has big modding community, mods are really creative, and also really fun!
    For about 10 minutes...
    But unlike GTA V, the game isn't hostile towards people with mods.
    6,5/10
    Far from being the best game ever made, it's definitely better than GTA V and RDR 1.5, but this isn't really saying much.    … Expand
  25. Zeratex
    Feb 11, 2019
    5
    Game is fine but is so overrated, like the story and characters are pretty average, the world is not a big improvement from its prequels, in fact i like Vice city more.

    Suffers from the usual rockstar gameplay which is the same with few improvements and additions in each title, its fine cause its a sand box but after vice city you dont feel amazed that much.

    5/10
  26. oscarartudo
    Oct 13, 2019
    5
    graficos:
    muy malos
    malos decente✔ buenos muy buenos historia: muy mala mala decente genial✔ muy genial jugabilidad: muy mala mala decente✔ buena muy buena opinion final: un juego sobrevalorado que tiene misiones de relleno y tiene fanboy que viven de la nostagia y creen que es un juego prefecto solo este chingado juego esta vivo por la nostagia aun asi me gusto    graficos:
    muy malos
    malos
    decente✔
    buenos
    muy buenos

    historia:
    muy mala
    mala
    decente
    genial✔
    muy genial

    jugabilidad:
    muy mala
    mala
    decente✔
    buena
    muy buena

    opinion final: un juego sobrevalorado que tiene misiones de relleno y tiene fanboy que viven de la nostagia y creen que es un juego prefecto solo este chingado juego esta vivo por la nostagia aun asi me gusto mucho cuanto era pequeño    … Expand
  27. Alex_Bro
    Nov 2, 2019
    6
    Grand Theft Auto San Andreas игра моего детства но какую её добавили в Steam и в Рокстар лаунчер я сожилею что купил в Steam, это хреновое отношение к покупателям.
    Только из-за того что игра плохая в этиз сервисах даю 6/10 а так игра на 8/10.
  28. Descole
    Apr 6, 2020
    7
    Its unfortunately my least favorite gta but its not even bad. Its pretty much ok, nothing more nothing less
  29. vova22379
    Dec 18, 2021
    6
    ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
  30. 360xbox360
    Jan 20, 2021
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Это игра шедевр потянет почти каждый ведропк… Expand
  31. GODvaria
    Feb 1, 2021
    7
    Сюжетка тащит,обновленные катсцены плюс кастомизация,отдельное 10 из 10 радио волны.Но особо не цепляла в отличии от предыдущих серий.
  32. wraiththinx
    Aug 9, 2021
    5
    controls is very very bad and lots of mistakes
    for that reason the game is not played and this rockstar doesn't care
  33. kndr
    May 20, 2021
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Story starts good and becomes boring right after you first leave los santos. They feel like busywork and fillers. It is just toooo long. Last return to LS missions are cool though. Villains are cool and memorable. Wish game gave us an option to spare one of them.

    Gameplay is dated terribly. Guns feel like toy guns and sounds are trash. Gun recoil is also trash. You start from beginning if you die(same as other 3D and 2D gta's)physics suck ass. Wanted level system is really bad and not improved. Map is not that good. It feels too empty and generic.

    But I also had fun with cheats. Which is one of the things that is not dated. You can combine cheats and do crazy sh1t. Flying cars, rocketman, riot cheat etc. It is so much fun. Going to gym and exercise or going to fast food restaurant and being fat. There are different dialogues for different body types. Clothing options(I just wish that changing cutscene didn't take hours)and customizing cars. There is also gang wars. Some gang wars are hard to provoke because some areas are too small. Many different vehicles and things to do.

    I like sa but I also don't like sa.    … Expand
  34. KTheSlayer
    Jun 18, 2021
    5
    The setting is too depressing. The game aged poorly. The gameplay is rough, never enjoyed the game
  35. Aceitasaporra
    Mar 14, 2022
    7
    Por que sempre faço download dessa desgraça todo ano??? Todo dia a Mixmods tá lançando mods muito foda para esse jogo, e vem a merda da Tec Cu e fala "aiiiin MODDERS APELAUN", GTA SA é muito bom, SAMP e MTA só melhora a experiência do jogo. O problema é que GTA SA original de PC é uma bosta porque fecha depois de um tempo jogando.
  36. Jackie_Jackson
    May 26, 2022
    5
    Счетаю что это сильно переоценённый продукт в общем охладите своё оценивание ради Христа
  37. nastyjes
    Jan 10, 2023
    6
    The most overrated game in the trilogy .
  38. Suprizer
    May 18, 2023
    5
    Usually when i write a review on story games i review the story aspect not the graphics gameplay etc. Because when this game was being made there was great games with great stories they can't put a blame on poor story writing on 2000s game technology. A weird revange story with twists that took a good while to finish and made me question many times ''was this mission a necessity ?'' IUsually when i write a review on story games i review the story aspect not the graphics gameplay etc. Because when this game was being made there was great games with great stories they can't put a blame on poor story writing on 2000s game technology. A weird revange story with twists that took a good while to finish and made me question many times ''was this mission a necessity ?'' I normally would give 3 or 4 but for my childhoods sake its a solid 5.… Expand
  39. DonTheGamer
    Jun 22, 2023
    7
    GTA San Andreas takes players on a retro crime-filled journey, packed with ambitious features and an expansive world. While it boasts an impressive scope and memorable moments, it falls short in certain areas, leaving room for improvement within the iconic franchise.
  40. zarvx
    Jul 20, 2023
    5
    the only good thing about this game is cj, plot is messy, gameplay was okay.

Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best PC Game of 2005
1
#1 Most Discussed PC Game of 2005
1
#1 Most Shared PC Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 47 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 45 out of 47
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 47
  3. Negative: 0 out of 47
  1. Next Level Gaming
    98
    Kudos to Rockstar for actually including gamepad support for the PC!!
    Read full review
  2. PGNx Media
    97
    It will surely take up hundreds of hours to even the most casual of gamers.
    Read full review
  3. ActionTrip
    94
    It is the perfect crime game.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »