20 Games To Play While You Wait For Saints Row

When Saints Row was born, its goal was simple: to be a GTA clone. But the funny thing is, as time went on…it became much more than that. But, if you want something beyond that first game there are others out there that might just scratch that itch. Here we have a list of games centered around crime whether it’s being the criminal or busting them in the act.

#20 Lego City Undercover

…yeah, we know. Look if there was something on the FAR end of the spectrum from Saints Row? It’d be LEGO. Saints Row is unapologetic in how it acts and spews profanities. LEGO…is only unapologetic in terms of how comedic it tries to be (See: the Star Wars saga they have going).

But, in the case of Lego City Undercover, there are some crossovers and parallels. In this case, Lego City Undercover gives you a nice big open-world to enjoy, as well as depth of character and fun to be had here.

Plus, you can play with a friend and enjoy all the LEGO adventures you want. It’s not a perfect match with Saints Row…but sometimes you do just want to have fun…without all the R-rated content. And LEGO games give you that.

#19 The Saboteur

Saints Row was about a group trying to take what they felt was theirs. But in The Saboteur, you’re one man trying to take back what was lost from the people, and get some revenge at the same time. You’ll play as a former mechanics in Sean Devlin during the occupation of France in World War II.

The Germans are everywhere, and one of them killed your best friend. The goal now is to get back at them and literally help lead the French rebellion against them so you can get to the one who took your friend from you.

This unique take on WWII will have you exploring and causing havoc in Paris in an open-world setting. So see what you can do to the Germans and take your revenge.

#18 Cyberpunk 2077

We’d like to put Cyberpunk 2077 higher up on this list…but if you don’t have a cutting-edge PC or one of the next-gen consoles (and even then…) you can’t play this game at full power and thus…it’s not really worth playing.

Don’t get us wrong, when it does work (as one of us here on the site can attest to) the game is great. You’re put into Night City, a place where everything is both business and chaos and you’re trying to burn the city down with Keanu Reeves giving you instructions. Why? Because he’s Keanu Reeves and he’s breathtaking.

The real fun of this game (and not unlike Saints Row in certain ways) is that you have different loads of abilities and skills you can upgrade to let YOU be the person (or cyborg) you want to be. So get going Samurai, you have a city to burn.

#17 Sunset Overdrive

At first, you might not see the connection between Sunset Overdrive and Saints Row. But then you will recall that especially with the last two entries…Saints Row got REALLY nuts, and Sunset Overdrive was nuts from the moment we saw its legendary/infamous opening reveal trailer.

Not the least of which is because you’re going to be an individual “trapped” in a city where an energy drink has transformed much of the population into monsters. And you get to…well, kill them all in a variety of wacky and over the top ways.

Yep, just like Saints Row.

So jump, fly, grind, and blast your way through this game and see just how crazy you can make things. It won’t be that hard to see how far you can take it, trust us.

#16 The Godfather

The Godfather and its sequel (we don’t talk about the third movie) are two of the most important movies ever made. And for reasons that are still not quite known, in 2006 they decided to make a video game out of it.

It wasn’t as bad as other adaptations…but it wasn’t as grand as other games on this list…so it gets this ranking.

What’s more, you’re actually playing as a non-canon character via Aldo Trapani. You’re brought into the Corleone family and must work your way up the ranks to both prove your work, and get revenge on those who killed your father.

See events from the movie unfold via Aldo’s eyes and see if by the end…you can be the head of the family.

#15 Crackdown Franchise

This one honestly hurt. Because if things had gone like they were SUPPOSED to, the Crackdown Franchise would’ve easily been in the top five, and would’ve been a lovely parallel to the Saints Row franchise.

But despite a killer first game, the promise of two great sequels…it never became what it needed to be. The first game was truly a breath of fresh air. Giving you freedom to become your own special agent with powers, abilities (and a really cool car) and giving you the ability to do destruction on a wide scale.

The sequel…honestly toned everything down, and no one was sure why. Then, with the third game, that title got put into limbo so many times and even changed developers to the point where when it came out…it looked outdated at launch.

The potential was always there…but unlike Saints Row…it never got to embrace it fully.

#14 L.A. Noire

For the record! We’re not putting this game so low because of quality, it was actually a title far ahead of its time. Rather, we’re putting this on the bottom half of the list because…Saints Row was about gangsters…and this is about a detective. Someone the Saints would do…uh…untoward things to.

Still, L.A. Noire is a remarkable title, and truly embraces the notion of being a detective and using your skills to try and solve a set of murders in Los Angeles at a time when crime was high and virtually untouchable.

You’ll take on each mystery with fresh eyes and a clear head. Track down clues, investigate suspects, and learn the truth, even if that truth…might just break the entire city…

#13 Judgment

A spinoff of a certain series we’ll talk about later, Judgment is all about Takayuki Yagami, a former lawyer who went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows due to a single case where a miracle and a betrayal happened within moments of one another.

Now a private investigator, a serial murder case brings him back into the fold as the justice system is starting to crumble, and he must find the proof to not just solve the current case, but prove once and for all what happened in the case that ruined his life.

You’ll have to walk the very thin line of justice and criminal to get what you need to solve everything. Can you do it? There’s only one way to find out…

#12 Far Cry 6

Far Cry 6 is honestly another title where it’s curious why we’re comparing it to Saints Row. After all, in this game, you’re trying to stop a dictator of a foreign country and end their evil reign. Whereas the Saints would be the ones you’d control to try and take over a country…which they actually did once, just saying.

In truth though, the Far Cry franchise as a whole is one that has embraced the open-world style in a way that the Saints would do themselves. You’ll be taking on many adventures and missions in order to complete your goal of leading the rebellion to victory.

Plus, like Saints Row, you’ll have a variety of weapons to mow down your enemies and make very important things go boom.

#11 Just Cause 4

Just Cause 4 is indeed a perfect parallel in some ways to Saints Row because it’s very clear that the developers just wanted to keep cranking up the insanity to 11 and beyond without a care about plot and whether it all makes sense. Hint: it rarely does, but no one cares because it’s honestly mostly fun to play.

You play as Rico Rodriguez, who gets drawn into a rebellion against a rogue military organization, and now with your special wingsuit, grappling hook, and more at your disposal, you’ll have to fly around the large world map, complete missions, blow up enemy encampments, and more in order to save the day!

Well…save it in your own way that is. You’ll see what we mean once you get in and witness the insanity for yourself

#10 Mad Max

The realm of Mad Max has been shown beautifully in movies (WITNESS ME!) but in the Mad Max game, you’ll finally get to live the insanity of the “fury road” yourself. Because you will indeed get to play as Max, who is on a mission to find the place where he might actually get some piece.

But in this barren wasteland where the living are ravenous and want everything for themselves, that won’t be easy. You’ll need to outfit your car in order to have intense vehicle battles and ensure you can outrace and outlast everyone who gets in your path.

You’ll live by your car or die by it, so make sure you’re ready to put the pedal to the metal.

#9 Watch Dogs 2

Everyone remembers what Watch Dogs promised to be in that E3 reveal and demo, but it never really lived up to that potential. However, with Watch Dogs 2, it did take a more Saints Row kind of feel. You play as Marcus Holloway, who is a hacker in San Francisco who joins the infamous hacker group Dedsec in order to take down a group that is using technology to spy on people.

The game lets you hack just about anything electronic, and then use a variety of programs, RC vehicles and so on in order to complete missions, screw with those in power, and get even better abilities and gear.

Plus, you’ll be able to work with friends in order to do things better, faster, and with much more insanity in mind.

#8 Bully

Bully is a title that many are surprised never got a sequel, and much like a certain OTHER Rockstar Games series, is mired in controversy, but in this case…it’s not that deserved.

In fact, it matches up with Saints Row perfectly as it’s about taking things to levels you didn’t expect, and doing things in a very juvenile way just because you can. You’ll play as Jimmy Hopkins, who has just been enrolled in Bullsworth Academy. Now, you have to navigate the hierarchy of the social classes and try to come out on top.

Do it your way, and reap the rewards of it all. What kind of student will you be? Jump in and find out…then wait for the sequel that’s likely never to come. Just saying!

#7 Payday 2

As most “evil groups” will tell you, no mission is a success unless you get the reward at the end. Payday 2 very much lives up to that premise, as you’ll take the role of four different criminals and play with others to go on a crime spree of legendary proportions within Washington DC.

At first, this may sound basic, but between the main game and the DLC you’ll have a variety of missions and tasks you can do, and your CRIMENET connections will ensure that you always have something to do and an epic Payday to get.

This game is very much about getting the job done and doing it in a way to ensure your payday. So work together, don’t get caught, and when the job is done…get ready for the next one.

#6 Mafia Franchise

For as far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a Goodfella…

Sorry, had to pay respect for the fallen. But the irony of that line is that the Mafia Franchise is very much a set of games about you becoming a “made man” in a world where crime was just as powerful as the law, and even more powerful than it.

Across the three games your goal will be simple: to make your own criminal empire. It won’t be easy, and there are going to be MANY obstacles in your way. But if you make it through? You’ll be the ones calling the shots.

#5 Red Dead Redemption 2

Now, on most other lists, Red Dead Redemption 2 would be much higher. After all, it’s Red Dead Redemption 2. But remember, this is about games that are like Saints Row, and while Red Dead does have certain similarities, other games have it beat on the comparison meter.

Still, this game puts you in a gang of your own via a group of outlaws in the final days of the “wild west”. With each heist and robbery you do, you get closer and closer to your end, and that means loyalties will be tested.

Even without that drama though, Red Dead Redemption 2 has a lot to offer. Including an expansive open world full of quests and sidequests to do. So put on your cowboy hat and see why everyone loves this game so much.

#4 Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs is sadly a franchise that should’ve been much bigger than it was because of how quality it was. And yet, it never really got the chance. But! You can fix that in your own way by playing it now.

In the game, you play as an undercover cop in Hong Kong, and his mission is to take down the deadly Triads from within. The problem is that to ensure you get in deep enough, you have to basically become one of them, and do whatever it takes to not blow your cover.

This means that the line between good and evil, justice and criminality are going to be very blurred. So explore this vast Hong Kong recreation, and see just how far you’ll go to prove how good a cop you are, or how good a criminal you can be.

#3 Yakuza Franchise

Some of you might be surprised at this, but in truth, the Yakuza franchise is very much like the early Saints Row games in that they take a very serious look at the gang life, and the consequences and choices that can change everything within.

Because not unlike Saints Row, you are part of the Japanese syndicate known as the Yakuza. Where loyalty is everything, failure is punishable in brutal ways, and betrayal is met with death.

Throughout the series you’ll play as various characters who must navigate this brutal underworld and prove yourself to those in charge over and over again. Fight for your life, help expand the syndicate, and show why you were made for this life.

#2 Grand Theft Auto Franchise

Is it REALLY a surprise that this is so high up on the list? Think about it, Saints Row was made to parody/clone the GTA franchise, which at the time had just hit its peak with Grand Theft Auto San Andreas.

And while Saints Row went in certain other directions with its tone and vision, GTA absolutely stayed the course and went in the direction they thought suited them. Dark, violent, and controversial…sometimes exceedingly so.

We’ll give them credit, naturally, between San Andreas, IV, V and GTA Online, they’ve made some of the best games of their generation and beyond. That’s why GTA 6 is so highly-anticipated. Because many will wonder what the Rockstar team will come up with next.

#1 The OTHER Saints Row Games

Surprise! If you actually remember the intro, we did only reference the FIRST Saints Row game, now let’s talk about the other 3 (not including the upcoming reboot of course).

You see, the first Saints Row was a test run, and its sequel pushed things, but then with Saints Row The Third? It took a leap no one was expecting. It found its groove in just being freaking insane and wowed so many people that it got Game of the Year nominees. And while SR4 wasn’t as good, it embraced the insanity further with superpowers and DLC that were just…nuts.

And with the reboot coming and potentially starting a new legacy for the franchise, it’s only fair that you play what came before to embrace what’s coming soon.