"Saints Row" received generally positive reviews upon release, with many critics favorably comparing it to the "Grand Theft Auto" series. It also did well financially, selling over 1 million copies by the end of 2006. The game's success prompted a sequel, "Saints Row 2", which was released in 2008, and later evolved into the "Saints Row" franchise, consisting of four main games, several expansions, and various related media. The "Saints Row" series has sold over 13 million copies in total, making it one of the best-selling video game franchises of all-time.