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Saints Row has come a long way. From street brawls against rival gangs like the Ronin and the Brotherhood in Stilwater, to being dethroned by the Syndicate and rebuilding in Steelport, to ultimately leading the United States and facing an alien invasion by the Zin, the Third Street Saints have seen it all. Now, they face their most bizarre challenge yet: Hell. This review dives into Saints Row: Gat out of Hell, a standalone expansion that takes the Saints’ signature over-the-top antics to a whole new, fiery level.

Saints Row: Gat out of Hell gameplay

Following the Earth’s destruction in Saints Row IV, the Saints find themselves in a predicament. During a birthday séance for Kinzie Kensington aboard the Saints’ ship, the Boss is suddenly sucked into a portal to Hell. Johnny Gat and Kinzie, after consulting with former Ultor Corporation antagonist Dane Vogel, learn that Satan has kidnapped the Boss to marry his daughter, Jezebel, based on the Boss’s “achievements” as leader of the Saints.

Saints Row: Gat out of Hell Scene

While Gat out of Hell isn’t a full sequel, but rather a standalone expansion, it retains the series’ signature humor and over-the-top action. The writing is sharp, consistently funny, and often surprising. The game leans into the absurdity of its premise, delivering genuinely laugh-out-loud moments without resorting to cheap or vulgar humor. One of the most unexpected and delightful elements is the inclusion of musical numbers, featuring surprisingly well-performed songs that add another layer of absurdity to the already bizarre proceedings.

Saints Row: Gat out of Hell Environment

Hell itself is depicted as a city divided into five interconnected islands, surrounded by lava instead of water. This fiery landscape serves as the playground for the Saints’ continued mayhem. The game introduces seven new weapons based on the Seven Deadly Sins, each with unique and often hilarious properties. From the Armchair-A-Geddon, a sofa equipped with machine guns and grenade launchers (Sloth), to the Gallow’s Dodger, a talking pistol obsessed with bloodlust (Pride), to the Ark of the Covenant, which sucks up souls and uses them as explosives (Wrath), the weapons are as creative and outlandish as ever.

Saints Row: Gat out of Hell flying

The core gameplay loop revolves around causing enough chaos to attract Satan’s attention. While the activities can be repetitive, they are generally enjoyable. The ability to fly, a returning feature from Saints Row IV, is further enhanced with the addition of wings, allowing for exhilarating traversal of the Hellish cityscape. Familiar activities like surviving waves of enemies and the ragdoll-physics-based Torment Fraud (formerly Insurance Fraud) return with some fun twists. Superpowers also make a comeback, with some modifications. Telekinesis is replaced with the ability to summon imps and Titans, while other powers like Blast and Stomp receive minor tweaks.

Saints Row: Gat out of Hell Combat

Unfortunately, Gat out of Hell suffers from its limited scope. The game can be completed in a mere six hours, and while the $20 price tag reflects this, it still feels somewhat lacking in content. The co-op mode, while fun, doesn’t offer enough to keep players engaged for long. Customization options are also significantly reduced, with no garage, limited outfit choices, and no weapon camos. Even the enemy variety is lacking, with only a handful of different enemy types. While the supporting characters initially seem promising, they ultimately lack depth and serve primarily as quest givers.

Saints Row: Gat out of Hell Enemy

Despite its shortcomings, Saints Row: Gat out of Hell is a fun, albeit brief, romp through Hell. The humor, over-the-top action, and unique setting make it a worthwhile experience for fans of the series. However, its limited scope and lack of depth prevent it from reaching the heights of its predecessors.

Saints Row: Gat out of Hell Exploration