Do I need to play the previous Saints Row Games?

[Swifty]

Now I regret not getting saints row the third from the humble bundle, but none the less do I need to play SR 1, 2 and 3 to play 4, or understand the storyline?

[CrystalMists]

I suggest playing at LEAST Saint row 3.
If you want to understand the story MORE. saints row 2... (more for shaundi and Gat)
Saints Row 1? not so much for the story (except for shaundi...and gat..)

[drew.benton]

I agree with DrunkenMists.

You can get by not playing SR2, but you'd be missing out on what I'd consider to be the best storyline in the series. One word describes the SR2 storyline: memorable. Can't get into why without spoliers, but it's definitly worth playing through.

I never played through SR1 because it wasn't ported to PC, but having played SR2 and SR3, you'd be missing out on the majoirty of the humor and references in SR4 if you didn't. The game would still be fun, but you wouldn't appreciate it nearly as much.

[RedRupture]

nope

[Cutlass Jack]

I'd agree with the above. Saints Row the Third ties pretty closely into this one. 2 is a great game (the first sale game I ever picked up on Steam) but you can probably get by without playing it. And you can definately skip the first.

You'll only miss out on a few in jokes and small plot points if you skip the first two. For example in one, you could only play a male character and had no voice. But you're theoretically playing the same character in #4...who have vocal and gender choices. So they poke fun at that.

Saints the Third introduces most of the characters you'll have in #4 and its almost the same game engine so you wont feel like you're playing a worse game to start there.

Personally I'd reccomend all the games except the first. No need to bother with that.

[Sue Donym]

TBH, while most characters were introduced in 2, or The Third, they do a good job of explaining their past in IV, so if you wouldn't otherwise want to play 2, or The Third, you can skip over them completely. I would recomend The Third for it's over the top gameplay, but compared to IV the story is rather simplistic, and other than a few jokes, not that interesting.

[MadMax665]

You do not *have* to play SR3 to enjoy or understand SR4. It's kinda like Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. You don't have to watch Batman Begins to understand the story of The Dark Knight and you can enjoy the characters, but it certainly helps.

[Tiny]

You dont have to play the previous games to Enjoy This game. I purchased SR the third, and was not a fan of it (Too much like GTA, which im not a fan of) However, the superpower sandbox in this game grabbed my attention and I LOVE this game. First game in a long while that has actualy kept my attention, I am sure there is some lore from the previous games I am missing, but you dont need the lore to play this game.

[oathofmetal]

I recommend playing Saints Row 2. Amazing fun.
I don't recommend playing both Saints Row 3 and 4. If you've played 3, 4 has little to no charm. You've seen everything. Look at a story recap or something, then play 4, or just go with 3.

[Silhoulette]

They almost change the whole setting in every SR game. 2 was pretty much like GTA, but with more fun. 3 was about fun, less realism, more madness. 4 is absolute madness, no realism at all.
Having not played the previous SR games you will only miss some easter eggs, I think. Most of the plot will be understandable.