Saints Row: The Third Remastered

An unexpectedly thorough remaster with noticeable upgrades to lighting, textures, anti-aliasing, population density, and an unlockable framerate. The over-the-top combat, eclectic licensed soundtrack, and chaotic fun hold up well, and it bundles all the original DLC. Downsides include badly mismatched lip-syncing on the reworked character models, bland gun audio, and the dated repetitiveness and open-world jank of a 2011 game, but fans will find it the better way to play.

A faithful remaster of the 2011 open-world crime game, bundling all three DLC add-ons with sharper draw distance, textures, and lighting. The over-the-top action set pieces and arcade-style movement, shooting, and driving still hold up, and the customization and voice acting remain highlights, though missions grow repetitive and lean heavily on on-rails shooting galleries. Since the remaster adds little beyond minor visual polish, it is mainly worth it for newcomers who have never played it.

A worthwhile updated version of a beloved 2011 sandbox, with redone cars and weapons, better lighting, and improved draw distance that make it a good way to experience the game. Its strength is refusing to take itself seriously: huge variety, great licensed music, fun chaotic driving, and a surprisingly satisfying progression system. The third-person shooting feels loose and some jokes miss, and cutscenes suffer rough screen tearing, but it stays an over-the-top, memorable romp.