Saints Row: The Third (2011): runs on Windows 11, Mac, Linux, Steam Deck?

Windows 11✓ with 2 fixes
Steam Deck✓ Playable
Mac✕ no Mac version
Linux✓ native

Gamicality score 89 / 100

Playability today ★★★★★ 4.5

Runs today4 / 5
Design today4.5 / 5
See the checks

Steam user reviews Overwhelmingly Positive

68,600 reviews96% positive
Steam store page

Get it on Steam Get it on GOGDRM-free

Released: 2011
Developer: Volition
Genre: Action
Best version today: A 2020 remaster with new visuals exists, but players are split because it brings its own technical problems and a brighter look, so the original remains a fair choice for those who prefer its style.
Time to beat: About 15.5 hours for the main story HowLongToBeat
Runs on: Windows, Linux, Steam Deck
Last checked: October 31, 2026

Does Saints Row: The Third run on Windows 11, Apple Silicon Macs, Linux and Steam Deck?

Windows 11	✓Runs with a fix. See the steps below. Source
Mac (Apple Silicon)	✕No Mac version is sold.
Linux	✓Native Linux version. Source
Steam Deck	✓Playable, as rated by Valve. May need some setup. Source

Played it lately? Press Works for me or Doesn’t work on your platform, so the next player knows. One click, no account. How we check where it runs

How to get Saints Row: The Third running today

What you need

Optional SR3 No Agora patchStops the DirectX 11 version from trying to reach the shut-down My Steelport service, which causes stutter. No mod manager is needed.
Optional Ultimate ASI LoaderLoads the No Agora patch's .asi file.
Optional 3DmigotoForces the refresh rate when the DirectX 11 version picks the lowest one.

Steps

Open a step for the full walkthrough.

To stop stutter caused by the shut-down My Steelport service on the DirectX 11 version, install the SR3 No Agora patch with the Ultimate ASI Loader.
1. Download the latest Ultimate ASI Loader and the patch zip, sr3-dx11_no_agora.zip, from the No Agora releases page.
2. In Steam, right-click Saints Row: The Third > Manage > Browse local files. This is the folder with SaintsRowTheThird_DX11.exe.
3. Rename dinput8.dll from the ASI Loader to d3d11.dll and place it in the game folder.
4. Extract the patch zip and copy the .asi file into the game folder.
5. Start the DirectX 11 version as usual. The patch applies itself at startup.
6. To uninstall, delete d3d11.dll and the .asi file from the game folder.
7. For the DirectX 9 version, or instead of the patch, open Notepad as administrator, open C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts, add the line 127.0.0.1 sr3.hydra.agoragames.com and save.
If the DirectX 11 version runs at the wrong refresh rate, use 3Dmigoto and set the desired refresh_rate in its d3dx.ini, or start the DirectX 9 executable instead.
1. Download the latest 3Dmigoto zip from the 3Dmigoto releases page.
2. Open the zip and go into the x32 folder.
3. Copy its contents into the game folder (In Steam, right-click the game > Manage > Browse local files).
4. Open d3dx.ini in the game folder and change hunting=1 to hunting=0.
5. Change ;refresh_rate=60 to the rate you want, without the semicolon, for example refresh_rate=120. Save the file.
6. 3Dmigoto also uses a d3d11.dll, so it cannot sit next to the ASI Loader's d3d11.dll. If you need both fixes, use the hosts file method for the stutter.
7. To avoid the problem entirely, start SaintsRowTheThird.exe, the DirectX 9 version, instead.

Synopsis

An over-the-top open-world crime game from Volition in which the Saints, now celebrity gangsters, are thrown into the rival city of Steelport. Players drive, shoot and carry out absurd missions and side activities to take over the city, with a fully customizable boss and a co-op mode.

What people say

Critics in 2011 loved its humor and chaotic action and saw it as a bold, silly alternative to Grand Theft Auto, though some mentioned weak AI, rough graphics and launch issues. Players today still enjoy the absurd missions, the variety of side activities and co-op. Common complaints are flat, dated gunplay, repetitive fetch-and-kill missions and side activities that feel forced. Many also report crashes, stutter and launch trouble on newer systems, partly caused by its shut-down online service.

Playability today

The average of two parts, each from 1 to 5. Tap a check to see why. How it works

Runs today

4 / 5

✓Sold or given away today by an official source
✗Needs fan patches to run well on Windows 11
✓Single-player works without an internet connection
GOG sells a DRM-free version that plays offline (GOG).
✗Some content no longer works (servers, DLC, unlocks)
Some content is gone: the My Steelport service shut down in 2018, taking community-created characters with it (PCGamingWiki).
✓Supports modern resolutions and widescreen
Native widescreen and modern resolutions (PCGamingWiki).
✓Full controller support or remappable controls
Controller support (PCGamingWiki).
✓Steam Deck Verified or Playable
✓No intrusive DRM or required third-party launcher account
✓No pay-to-win or pushy microtransactions
✓No known game-breaking bugs in the current version
PCGamingWiki lists no unresolved issues (PCGamingWiki).

From the Steam store, Valve’s Steam Deck rating and the sources under each check. Checks not confirmed yet don’t count.

Design today

4.5 / 5

✓Controls feel natural on a modern controller or mouse and keyboard
Mouse and keyboard and controller both work, and PCGamingWiki lists full controller support. In the Steam version a DirectInput pad blocks an XInput pad, and unplugging it crashes the game. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
✓Menus, text and interface are clear on today's screens
Menus and the HUD are simple and readable, and the launcher offers DirectX 9 and 11 modes. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
✓Saving is fair: free saves or frequent checkpoints, little lost progress
There are 23 manual save slots plus an autosave, and Steam Cloud syncs them, so little progress is lost. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.
✓It teaches itself: no guide needed to make progress
The open-world structure is familiar and objectives are shown on the map, so no guide is needed. Source: en.wikipedia.org.
✗Pacing drags: grind, filler or forced backtracking
Eurogamer found the missions and activities quickly predictable and repetitive, and the optional activities generic. Source: en.wikipedia.org.
✓Camera and movement never fight the player
The third-person camera follows the player and vehicles without trouble. Frame rate caps in cutscenes are the only issue. Source: pcgamingwiki.com.