The 2022 reboot's linear narrative (Virtuos/Deep Silver)

Lore & Background

In the 2022 reboot, the player steps into the role of a new Boss assembling a crew of misfits in a fictional metropolis that has fallen under the grip of entrenched criminal syndicates. The narrative is structured as a rising campaign: early acts establish the gang's identity and small-scale turf wars, while later acts escalate into full-scale assaults on rival strongholds, vehicle-based sieges, and a final confrontation that tests the cohesion of the entire crew. The tone blends the franchise's signature irreverent humor with a more grounded, character-driven throughline than the earlier entries.

The linear format means every major beat is authored as a sequence—there is no 'go do this side mission' detour. The city serves as a stage for these set pieces rather than a playground for optional content. This gives the story a pace closer to a heist film or a gang epic: each act raises the stakes, introduces new faction leaders, and forces the player to rely on their crew's specific roles. The co-op mode is not an afterthought; the narrative is written so that four players can experience the same scripted events together, with the AI filling in absent teammates.

The 'freedom-to-be-anything' philosophy runs beneath the linear structure. While the story path is fixed, the player's identity—gender, appearance, name, and personal style—is entirely self-determined from the character-creation screen onward. The game never prescribes who the Boss is beyond their role as gang leader, preserving the franchise's long-standing commitment to player self-expression even within a tightly scripted frame.

In Their Own Story

The rain hammers the windshield of a stolen armored truck as the Boss grips the steering wheel, knuckles white. In the passenger seat, a crewmate rips a bandage off a cut on their forearm and grins. Behind them, two more sit in the back, weapons checked, breathing hard. The radio crackles with a rival's voice—taunting, close. The truck lurches over a broken overpass, tires screaming, and the city lights smear into gold streaks. Nobody says a word. They don't need to. They've been through three acts of this, and the next one is the last. The Boss glances back at the crew—four faces, four choices, one road. The engine roars. They drive into the dark, together, and the city burns behind them.

Reader's Guide

The 2022 Saints Row is built around a linear, act-based campaign. You progress through authored sequences—gunfights in narrow streets, vehicle chases through the city, large-scale assaults on rival compound—without the open-world mission board of The Third or IV. Each act introduces new objectives, new faction leaders, and set-piece moments that feel directed rather than sandboxed. The pacing is faster and more cinematic, trading exploration for momentum.

The co-op system is central, not optional. Up to four players can play the full narrative together; if a slot is empty, AI teammates fill in. This means the 'gang' identity is baked into every mission. You are not a lone hero clearing objectives—you are a crew executing a plan, with each member covering a different angle or role. The game's scripting assumes multiple players and rewards coordination.

The freedom-to-be-anything philosophy persists beneath the linear frame. Character creation lets you define the Boss's gender, appearance, and style with no narrative penalty. The story never overrides your identity; it simply places you in the leader's chair. The result is a game that feels like a heist film starring you and your friends, where the script is tight but the faces in the cast are yours to choose.

Did You Know?

• The 2022 reboot was developed by Virtuos, a studio known for porting and service work, marking a significant shift from the series' earlier in-house development at Volition.
• The linear, act-based structure was a deliberate departure from the open-world design of Saints Row: The Third (2011) and Saints Row IV (2013), prioritizing authored set-pieces over sandbox exploration.
• The co-op system supports up to four players in the full narrative campaign, with AI filling empty slots so the story can be played solo or in a full crew.
• The 'freedom-to-be-anything' character-creation philosophy, a hallmark of the franchise since its early entries, was retained in the reboot despite the tighter narrative structure.