GTA San Andreas reviews
What critics scored it, platform by platform, with a one line summary of each review and a link to read it in full.
Original release
Definitive Edition
Scores for The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition (all three games).
Reviews by outlet
- 9.6/10
GameSpot Original · PS2 · Oct 25, 2004
Argued it may be the best game in the series, praising its variety, writing and voice cast, with an unstable frame rate and weak gang AI as the main flaws.
Read the review - 9/10
Eurogamer Original · PS2 · Oct 29, 2004
Admired the sheer scale and story focus, but found the countryside stretch padded and missed a way to retry failed missions.
Read the review - 9/10
GameSpot Original · PC · Jun 7, 2005
Saw the PC version as potentially the best looking, held back by audio glitches on some systems and moments where mouse input stopped responding.
Read the review - 9.2/10
GameSpot Original · Xbox · Jun 7, 2005
Liked the sharp controls and analog trigger driving, while noting some blurry visuals and load times barely faster than on PS2.
Read the review - 94/100
PC Gamer Original · PC · Jun 30, 2014
Called it the best game in the series, with only minor graphical rough edges left over from the move to PC.
Read the review - 7.8/10
IGN Original · Xbox 360 (2014 HD re-release) · Oct 31, 2014
Welcomed the sharper textures, Achievements and new checkpoints, but found frame rate dips and a disappointing interface.
Read the review - 2/5
VGC Definitive Edition · Switch · Nov 12, 2021
Advised against the Switch version because of poor performance, a low resolution and long load times.
Read the review - 3/5
VGC Definitive Edition · PS5 · Nov 13, 2021
Found it a decent way to play the three games thanks to steady performance and new lighting, but disliked the odd character redesigns.
Read the review - 5/10
IGN Definitive Edition · PS5 · Nov 17, 2021
Treated the three games as classics but the remaster as a letdown, with mixed visuals, uneven performance, missing content and many bugs.
Read the review - 4/10
GameSpot Definitive Edition · PC / PS5 · Nov 18, 2021
Called it a careless remaster that seems built on the old mobile ports, with unappealing new character models and serious bugs; only the small gameplay fixes helped.
Read the review - Unscored
Polygon Definitive Edition · PS5 · Nov 22, 2021
Felt the games still play as they always did, but the new art and lighting lose the look of the originals, and asked what a remaster should really change.
Read the review
Awards
- Golden Joystick Awards 2005: Ultimate Game of the Year source
- Golden Joystick Awards 2005: PlayStation 2 Game of the Year source
- Golden Joystick Awards 2005: Best Game Soundtrack of 2005 source
- Golden Joystick Awards 2005: Hero of 2005 (CJ) source
- Golden Joystick Awards 2005: Villain of 2005 (Officer Tenpenny) source
