Red Dead Redemption 2 is the prequelSet 12 years before this game, in 1899. Most players start there.
Open the RDR2 page →
the short version
The Story, No Spoilers
It is 1911 and the frontier is closing. John Marston is a former outlaw who has tried to leave that life behind. The Bureau of Investigation takes his family and tells him how to get them back: find the men he used to ride with and bring them in, or kill them.
The jobA hunt across three regions
John works his way through New Austin, into Mexico, and back to the United States, one former gang member at a time. Each region has its own politics, its own trouble and its own way of using you.
The toneQuiet, then sudden
Long rides, small favours for strangers, and then a gunfight. It is the series that taught Rockstar how to make riding across nothing feel like a story.
Spoiler noteThe ending is famous
People still talk about how it ends, so we leave it out. If you have played Red Dead Redemption 2, you already know why this man matters.
who you meet
The Main Characters
Voice actors as credited; several of these people appear again, younger, in Red Dead Redemption 2.
The leadJohn Marston (Rob Wiethoff)
A former Van der Linde gang member trying to stay alive and keep his family together. Rob Wiethoff’s performance won an Interactive Achievement Award.
The BureauEdgar Ross and Archer Fordham
Jim Bentley plays Ross and David Wilson Barnes plays Fordham. They are the federal agents who put John on the road.
The targetBill Williamson (Steve J. Palmer)
A former gang member and the first name on John’s list.
The old gangDutch van der Linde (Benjamin Byron Davis)
The gang’s leader, and the reason the others are where they are. Red Dead Redemption 2 shows how he got there.
The familyAbigail, Jack and Uncle
Sophia Marzocchi, Josh Blaylock and Spider Madison. The people John is doing all of this for, or at least the ones he can still reach.
MexicoAbraham Reyes and Colonel Allende
Josh Segarra plays the rebel leader Reyes and Gary Carlos Cervantes plays the governor, Colonel Agustín Allende. Both sides want John’s gun.
three regions
The World
A fictional American Southwest and a fictional Mexican state, built as one continuous map.
RegionNew Austin
Desert, rock and small towns. This is where John’s search begins, and it is the same region Red Dead Redemption 2 only touches near its end.
RegionNuevo Paraíso
The Mexican state, in the middle of a revolution. Different weather, different law, and a very different set of people asking for favours.
RegionWest Elizabeth
Greener country, early industry and a railroad that is changing everything. It is also where the game’s long ending plays out.
no longer stuck on PS3 and 360
Where to Play It
For years the only way to play was a PS3 or Xbox 360. It is now on almost everything.
- MAY 18, 2010PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (May 21 in Europe and other PAL regions).
- AUG 17, 2023Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, ported by Double Eleven. Reaction was mixed: no visual upgrades, no multiplayer, and a $49.99 price.
- OCT 29, 2024PC. Rockstar promised native 4K, ultrawide support and DLSS upscaling.
- DEC 2, 2025PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, iOS and Android, plus a Netflix mobile version. Rockstar listed 60 FPS and HDR on PS5 and Series X|S, with resolution up to 4K, and 60 FPS on Switch 2. Owners of the PS4, Switch or digital Xbox One version could upgrade for free.
Check Rockstar’s page for the current price and for which version includes Undead Nightmare, as that changes by store.
the question everyone asks
Play It Before Red Dead Redemption 2?
Our viewEither order works
Red Dead Redemption 2 tells you everything it needs to. Playing the first game afterwards makes the prequel hit harder, because you already know where these people end up.
If you want the full effectPlay this one first
You meet the older John and the gang’s fallout before you see how it started. Expect an older game: simpler systems, fewer animals, and a much smaller camp.
NextRed Dead Redemption 2
The 1899 prequel with Arthur Morgan, the honor system and a far larger world. Open the RDR2 page →
official images
Red Dead Redemption Screenshots
The ten publisher screenshots from the game’s PC release. Tap one for the full-size version.
Images: Rockstar Games, via the Red Dead Redemption Steam page. Red Dead Redemption and related marks are trademarks of Take-Two Interactive / Rockstar Games, used on an independent fan site.
quick answers
Red Dead Redemption FAQ
When is Red Dead Redemption set?
1911, twelve years after the events of Red Dead Redemption 2 (1899).
Who made it?
Rockstar San Diego, with additional work from other Rockstar studios. Rockstar published it.
Is it on PC?
Yes. It came to PC on October 29, 2024.
Is Undead Nightmare part of the story?
No. It is a separate, non-canon zombie campaign set on the same map.
Is it related to Red Dead Revolver?
Same series, different story. Red Dead Revolver (2004) came first, and Red Dead Redemption is the second game in the series.
Does this have anything to do with GTA 6?
Only through Rockstar. We cover both because the studio built its open worlds the same way, and many readers of this site play both.
Sources: Rockstar Games: Red Dead Redemption · Wikipedia: Red Dead Redemption · Game Informer: next-gen and mobile announcement. This is an independent fan page and is not affiliated with Rockstar Games.
