Back to Los Santos. GTA: San Andreas turns 21 – a legend that never ages

On October 26, 2025, the iconic game turned 21 years old. Released in 2004 on PlayStation 2, the title became more than just another installment in the series, but a true symbol of an era and one of the most influential games in the history of the industry.

Rockstar Games succeeded in creating something more than just a crime action game: San Andreas set new standards for the genre with its expansive open world, three fully-fledged metropolises, diverse vehicles, and deep character customization. The '90s vibe, soundtrack, and story of Carl Johnson returning to Los Santos after the death of his mother turned the action game into a cultural phenomenon, and its lines have become internet quotable and meme-worthy.

Even two decades later, the game remains vibrant—thousands of fans still play the original, remasters, or mods, and missions like "Drive-Thru" and "Wrong Side of the Tracks" evoke nostalgia and discussion. For many, San Andreas isn't just a memory of the past, but a reminder of a time when games first demonstrated how vast and real a virtual world could be.

Twenty-one years after its release, Los Santos still draws players back, even if only for a couple of hours—to hear the radio narration again and feel the spirit of those 1990s.