Saints Row is the first new game in the popular franchise since the release of Saints Row IV in 2013. Fans have been waiting for years for a proper follow-up to the successful fourth game. After nearly a decade, Saints Row developer Volition announced Saints Row at Gamescom in 2021. The new game will act as a reboot for the series as Volition tries to tone down some of the more wacky aspects that the games had become known for. Unlike Saints Row IV’s all-out mayhem, Volition hopes to strike a tone closer to Saints Row 2. Naturally, with any reboot, fans have questions. Questions like, do I need to play past installments of Saints Row before the reboot?
Do I need to play past installments of Saints Row before the reboot?
In short, no. Gamers don’t need to play any of the previous installments in the Saints Row series prior to playing the new reboot. With the new game, Volition is starting from scratch with new characters and a whole new city. The studio also wanted to make this new game a more toned down version of what it has released in the past, namely with Saints Row 3 and 4.
It’s still certainly worth checking out the original games in the series, though. They hold up well and are fun experiences, even if the stories won’t connect with the upcoming reboot.