Parents' Guide to

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

By Marc Saltzman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Violent, open-world, do-anything mature adventure.

Game Windows, Xbox 2004
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 43 parent reviews

reteryies
reteryies Parent of 15-year-old
August 30, 2022
age 2+

dumbas rockstar

was good until you dumbasses added flying

This title has:

Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
ieiwue T.
ieiwue T. Parent of 6-year-old
April 27, 2023
age 2+

ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE!

THE KIDS MUST PLAY THE HOOD CLASSICS! DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE SWEARING FOR YOUR KIDS! THEY NEED TO PLAY THIS MASTERPIECE AND GET INTO THE GAME! GTA SAN ANDREAS ALL THE WAY!

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Easy to play/use
See all 43 parent reviews

What’s It About?

In GRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS, players must run, gun, and drive through a bustling city to perform missions such as knocking off a mob boss or preventing a truckload of ammunition from reaching its destination. Gamers play as Carl \"CJ\" Johnson, a young man who returns to the slums to avenge his mother's murder with the help of his old gang. New gameplay features to the Grand Theft Autoseries require players to perfect certain skills over time, such as hand-to-hand combat and driving. You must also earn \"respect\" with each mission; the more you gain, the more likely gang members will help you on missions.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (43):
Kids say (110):

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas boasts an exceptional soundtrack, a well-written story line and a slew of plot twists and other surprises. The dialogue between CJ and his crew is raw but convincing, and some big-name celebrities contribute their vocal talent, including James Woods and George Clinton.

Without question, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas isn't for kids because of its graphic violence, sex, and coarse language, but mature fans of this 32 million-unit-selling franchise who want to know if this sequel lives up to its hype, the answer is a resounding yes. Few video games pull off everything successfully, but San Andreas does so in spades. Indeed, this mature-rated game may be deemed offensive for its depiction of life as a "gangbanger," but if taken for what it is -- an interactive action-adventure for adult gamers -- you won't find a title that's more difficult to put down.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the presence of adult content in video games. How do you feel when you are doing things that are clearly illegal or immoral? The game is a way to experience criminal life without societal consequences -- is it the "forbidden fruit" aspect that draws so many people to it?

  • Why do you think this game is so popular?

  • How do you think violent media affects you?

Game Details

  • Platforms: Windows, Xbox
  • Available online?: Not available online
  • Publisher: Rockstar Games
  • Release date: November 2, 2004
  • Genre: Action/Adventure
  • ESRB rating: M for Blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, strong sexual content, use of drugs
  • Last updated: November 4, 2015

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