Rockstar Games
Everything You Need to Know About Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar’s Western Saga
We tell you in which order to play Rockstar’s Red Dead saga, how many games there are, a
Red Dead is one of the most popular Rockstar Games franchises after Grand Theft Auto. In this article, we will clear up some recurring doubts about Rockstar’s cowboy series, including how many games there are, in what order to play them, or on what platforms they are available, among many other things. Let’s get started:
How many games are there in the Red Dead Redemption series and what platforms are they available on?
With Red Dead Redemption coming to PS4 and Switch in 2023, it doesn’t hurt to catch up on the franchise. There are a total of three Red Dead saga games and one standalone Red Dead Redemption expansion. They were released in this order and are available on the following platforms:
- Red Dead Revolver: PlayStation 2 and Xbox (2004), PlayStation 4 (2016).
- Red Dead Redemption: PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (2010), PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch (2023).
- Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare: PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (2010), PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch (2023).
- Red Dead Redemption 2: PlayStation 4 and Xbox One (2018), Windows and Stadia (2019).
As a side note, Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare was released separately at the time, but was also included in the Red Dead Redemption: Game of the Year Edition and the PS4 and Switch versions.
What is the story of each game in the Red Dead Redemption series?
Here is a brief summary of the storyline for each game in the series:
- Red Dead Revolver: In the mid-to-late 19th century, Red Harlow is one of the most ruthless bounty hunters in the Wild West. His mission is to take revenge on the outlaws who murdered his parents.
- Red Dead Redemption: In 1911, government agents kidnapped the wife and son of former outlaw John Marston. To be reunited with them, he must kill three members of his former gang who have managed to escape justice.
- Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare: In 1911, a zombie epidemic is ravaging the Wild West. John Marston must explore the entire territory to find a cure for his wife and son, who have succumbed to the infection.
- Red Dead Redemption 2: Set in 1899, this game puts us in the shoes of Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde criminal gang, who must carry out all sorts of missions for Dutch, their leader.
In what order should I play the Red Dead Redemption saga?
As always when we write content of this nature, there are two main types of order: start and chronological.
All Red Dead games by release date
- Red Dead Revolver (2004).
- Red Dead Redemption (2010).
- Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare (2023).
- Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018).
All Red Dead games in chronological order
- Red Dead Revolver (mid/late 19th century, between 1840 and 1860, exact date is unclear).
- Red Dead Redemption 2 (1899).
- Red Dead Revolver (1911).
- Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare (takes place before the epilogue).
Do I need to play all the games in the Red Dead Redemption saga to understand the story?
This is a tricky question, because even though the Red Dead franchise consists of only a few games, not all of them are canon. Here’s everything you need to know:
- Red Dead Revolver is not part of the same canon as Red Dead Redemption 1 and 2. There are some references, easter eggs, and even Revolver characters in Redemption 1 multiplayer, but they are not part of the same universe.
- Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare is not canon. It is like a “special Halloween episode” in which a zombie epidemic sweeps across the border between the United States and Mexico. It is recommended that you play it after completing Red Dead Redemption to understand many of the references to the base game and to better appreciate its macabre sense of humor.
- Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to Red Dead Redemption. In retrospect, it has become an almost indispensable game to better understand the motivations of many of the characters in RDR.