Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Payback 2
Contender
Core Identity
DeveloperRockstar GamesGameloft SEVladislav IvanchukGameloftApex Designs Games LLPPoxel StudiosAxesInMotion S.L.MUHAMMAD PARWANA
CategoryGamesActionGamesGamesGamesGamesGamesGames
PlatformiOS, AndroidAndroidiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, Android
Store Metrics
Rating4.7 / 54.4 / 54.6 / 54.7 / 54.7 / 54.3 / 54.4 / 55.0 / 5
Ratings Count112,2346,857,77081,581101,84853,3353,96870,5372
PriceUSD6.99FreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree
Release DateDec 12, 2013Jun 19, 2013May 13, 2017Mar 29, 2017Nov 2, 2012Jul 25, 2022Jan 29, 2015Apr 21, 2017
Last UpdatedMay 29, 2025Apr 16, 2026Apr 29, 2026Mar 17, 2026Aug 13, 2025Mar 10, 2026Apr 25, 2026Apr 27, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentmixedpositivemixedmixedpositivepositivepositive-
Score45/10075/10055/10065/10076/10085/10075/100-
Praises
  • Nostalgic gameplay loop provides high entertainment value for long-term fans of the franchise
  • Open world exploration and high quality graphics drive long term player retention
  • Open-world exploration and vehicle customization mechanics provide high engagement for casual players
  • Open world exploration and vehicle variety provide a compelling experience similar to console titles
  • Engaging Gameplay & Fun Factor
  • Offline Accessibility
  • Open world sandbox gameplay provides high replayability for players seeking casual entertainment
  • Nostalgic gameplay loop provides long-term entertainment value for returning players
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Complaints
  • Frequent application crashes during loading screens or mission sequences disrupt the play experience
  • Excessive advertisement frequency remains a significant friction point for many players
  • Aggressive ad frequency interrupts core gameplay loops and degrades the user experience
  • Frequent application crashes and stability issues disrupt gameplay following the latest update
  • Excessive Advertisements
  • Multiplayer Lag & Hackers
  • Persistent bugs and visual glitches in multiplayer mode degrade the experience after updates
  • Excessive advertisement frequency disrupts the flow of gameplay sessions
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Requests
  • Implementation of advanced graphics settings to improve performance on older hardware
  • First person camera view for driving to increase immersion during vehicle segments
  • Implementation of more free-to-earn currency options to reduce reliance on real-money purchases
  • Offline play mode requested to allow for uninterrupted gaming without data dependency
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  • Release of the third character to complete the long-awaited story content
  • Expanded environmental variety including snow, rain, and desert maps for exploration
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Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Brand authority sustains organic install velocity
  • High-fidelity assets maintain premium market position
  • High-fidelity open-world map sustains long-term player retention
  • Narrative-driven mission structure provides a polished single-player experience
  • Gameloft brand heritage offers superior production value in animations
  • 200-player concurrent map capacity drives social network effects
  • Clan-based seasons create recurring retention loops
  • District capture mechanics increase session frequency
  • Turf Wars GvG loop creates a unique retention mechanism
  • Mansion customization provides a high-value resource sink for IAP
  • Massive install base with 2.2M+ reviews
  • Unique Custom Event Creator for replayability
  • Strong offline gameplay support
  • Ragdoll physics engine drives organic content sharing
  • Offline-first design captures low-connectivity market segments
  • Humorous tone differentiates from serious racing titles
  • Physics-based core loop sustains 500M+ installs
  • Multi-chapter career progression increases DAU/MAU ratio
  • Offline-first design captures travel-based play segments
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Weaknesses
  • Frequent crashes during mission transitions
  • No manual save management
  • Lack of cheat code support
  • Excessive ad frequency remains a top-cited friction point
  • Performance lag on older hardware limits the addressable market
  • High cost of premium items creates progression barriers
  • Aggressive ad frequency reported as top churn driver
  • Visual quality discrepancy between store assets and gameplay
  • Restrictive economy for non-paying players
  • Frequent application crashes post-update
  • Excessive ad frequency during menu navigation
  • Account synchronization failures preventing progress access
  • Aggressive ad frequency causing high churn risk
  • Multiplayer security issues (hackers)
  • Slow update cadence for new assets/features
  • Lack of cloud-save causes progress loss
  • Unresponsive gyroscope controls post-update
  • Absence of multiplayer moderation tools
  • Ad-frequency disrupts session flow
  • Technical performance regressions post-update
  • Inconsistent vehicle handling on high-performance models
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Pricingpaidfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfreemiumfree
MomentumZombie-ActiveMaintenanceMaintenanceMaintenanceActiveIntense
Update Cadence1 versions-5 versions, 5 majors/6mo, ~4d avg2 versions, ~7d avg5 versions, ~149d avg5 versions, 5 majors/6mo, ~43d avg5 versions, 4 majors/6mo, ~20d avg3 versions

Compare Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

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