Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition
The first 3 hours are a test
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 2 reviews are negative (49%); after 20h it's 1 in 6 (16%).
- Fully opens up by hour 20.
- The opening is criticised more than in 76% of games we track.
- 21% of players who start reach the ending.
- The biggest drop-off is between “Getting Started” (Complete "Big Smoke") and “All Dressed Up for San Fierro” (Complete "The Green Sabre"): from 100% to 44% of starters.
- 81% of owners got the first achievement.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 17,075 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 299 reviews: 28.1h for positive, 9.5h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (81% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
- Started playing 100%
- Getting Started Complete "Big Smoke". 100%
- All Dressed Up for San Fierro Complete "The Green Sabre". Most players quit here 44% −56
- What happens in Las Venturas... Complete "Yay Ka-Boom-Boom". 31% −14
- Liberty City State of Mind Complete the "Saint Mark's Bistro" mission. 24% −7
- The End of the Line Complete "End of the Line". 21% −2
story milestone ending biggest drop-off
Story milestones were labeled by AI from achievement names and descriptions; mistakes are possible.
All achievements (35)
story milestone ending side
- Getting Started Complete "Big Smoke". 100%
- Pay 'n' Spray Use a Pay 'n' Spray with wanted level. 70%
- All Dressed Up for San Fierro Complete "The Green Sabre". 44%
- The American Dream Purchase any house. 39%
- School's Out Fully complete a vehicle school. 35%
- Smooth Moves Perform a perfect dance routine. 32%
- What happens in Las Venturas... Complete "Yay Ka-Boom-Boom". 31%
- Today Was a Good Day Go 24 hours (in game) without breaking the law, being wanted, killing or harming anyone. 29%
- Horror of the Santa Maria Drown. 25%
- Liberty City State of Mind Complete the "Saint Mark's Bistro" mission. 24%
- Original Gangster Reach maximum respect. 24%
- With Extra Dip Buy 8 meals from Cluckin' Bell throughout the game. 23%
- The End of the Line Complete "End of the Line". 21%
- Saviour Complete 12 levels of Paramedic. 18%
- Rescue a Kitten Too? Complete 12 levels of Firefighter. 16%
- What are the Odds Win a race in Inside Track Betting. 14%
- I’ll Have Two Number 9s Reach maximum weight. 14%
- Public Enemy No. 1 Reach 6 wanted stars. 13%
- Swiss Army Strife Max all weapon skills. 13%
- Double or Nothin' Put all your money or the maximum bet on red or black and win. 13%
- What the City Needs Complete 12 levels of Vigilante. 12%
- Bike or Biker Complete BMX or NRG challenge. 12%
- Who Needs Directions? Find Mike Toreno without any of the referenced locations during "Mike Toreno". 12%
- Yes I Speak English Reach 50 fares in Taxi Mode. 12%
- Assassin Stealth kill all enemies in the mission "Madd Dogg's Rhymes". 11%
- Chick Magnet Achieve maximum sex appeal. 11%
- They Can’t Stop All of Us Sneak into the underground base without setting off the alarm above ground during "Black Project". 11%
- Ain’t Nothing But a G Thing Own all gang warfare turfs, properties and have $1,000,000. 10%
- Lucky Spinner Win at least $1,000 in a single spin of the Wheel of Fortune. 9.6%
- Hoopin' it Up Score at least 30 points in the basketball mini-game. 9.5%
- A Legitimate Business Export all three car lists. 9.3%
- Not a Player Go on at least one date with every potential girlfriend. 7.9%
- Remastered Earn 100% completion. 7.3%
- ...Here we go again Start a new game after getting 100% on a save file. 7.0%
- I Ain't No Buster Unlock all achievements. 6.4%