Saints Row IV vs Saints Row: The Third
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Saints Row IV shifts the franchise's focus from rival street gangs to an interstellar war after the leader of the Third Street Saints is elected President of the United States. Following an invasion by the alien empire known as the Zin, the protagonist and their crew find themselves trapped inside a bizarre computer simulation of Steelport. Inside this virtual sandbox, the player is granted extraordinary superpowers and futuristic weaponry to bend the simulation to their will. Combining open-world sandbox gameplay with sci-fi comedy and chaotic co-op action, the game delivers an over-the-top adventure to free humanity from alien captivity.
Saints Row: The Third drops players into Steelport, a sprawling city where the Saints gang reigns supreme. With a tongue‑in‑cheek story and endless customization, you can wreak havoc in style. The game blends high‑octane shooting, wild vehicle races, and absurd super‑powers, offering both solo mayhem and chaotic multiplayer fun for up to four players.
- Hilarious storyline and dialogue
- Incredibly fun superpowers that change traversal
- Extensive character customization options
- Entertaining co-op multiplayer mode
- Massive, varied open world
- Robust co‑op and multiplayer options
- Extensive character and vehicle customization
- Humorous, self‑aware storytelling
- Simulation setting can feel visually repetitive
- Some missions rely heavily on side-activity recycling
- Vehicle driving becomes obsolete once superpowers are unlocked
- Occasional performance dips on older hardware
- Some side activities feel repetitive
- Tone may not suit players seeking serious narratives
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataSaints Row IV offers super‑powered, comedy‑driven chaos at a lower price, while Saints Row: The Third provides a larger, vehicle‑centric open world at a higher cost.
Key differences
- •Superpowers vs. vehicle focus: IV lets you fly and use telekinesis; The Third emphasizes cars, races, and stunts.
- •Price: IV costs $19.99, The Third costs $59.99.
- •World size and activity variety: The Third has a bigger city with more districts and hidden secrets.
- •Co‑op style: IV supports drop‑in/out single‑player‑focused powers; The Third’s co‑op scales mission difficulty and includes competitive modes.
- •Release era: IV (2013) has newer humor and mechanics, while The Third (2011) is an earlier entry with more traditional sandbox features.
Gameplay & fun factor
IV’s superpowers create unique traversal and combat, highlighted as “incredibly fun” in pros.
Platform availability
Both are listed as paid one‑time games with no platform specifics; availability assumed equal.
Price & value
IV costs $19.99 versus $59.99 for The Third, offering more value per dollar.
Multiplayer / co‑op
The Third includes competitive modes (deathmatch, capture‑the‑flag) and scaling co‑op, whereas IV offers only drop‑in/out co‑op.
Content & replayability
The Third’s larger city, more districts, vehicle races, and property system provide broader replay loops.
Difficulty & accessibility
IV’s superpowers simplify traversal and combat, reducing reliance on vehicle driving which can be a barrier.
Graphics & performance
The Third notes occasional performance dips on older hardware, but no such issue is mentioned for IV; overall graphics not compared.
Choose Saints Row IV if…
Players who want cheap, super‑powered chaos and casual co‑op.
Choose Saints Row: The Third if…
Players who crave a bigger sandbox, vehicle gameplay, and competitive multiplayer.
Common questions
Which game is cheaper?
Saints Row IV costs $19.99; Saints Row: The Third costs $59.99.
Do both games support co‑op?
Yes. IV offers drop‑in/out co‑op; The Third offers co‑op missions that scale difficulty and competitive multiplayer.
Is vehicle driving important in IV?
Vehicle driving becomes largely obsolete once IV’s superpowers are unlocked, per the cons.