Red Dead Redemption
92PurrfectSadkitty Score
94KitSuperintelligent review
92Critics8 critic reviews
89Players2,561 ratings
A modern-day Western epic, Red Dead Redemption takes John Marston, a relic from the fast-closing time of the gunslinger, through an open world filled with wildlife, mini-games, and shootouts. Marston sets out to hunt down his old gang mates for the government, who have taken away his family. Along his journey, he meets many characters emblematic of the Wild West, heroism, and the new civilization.
Kit's verdict · 9.4/10
A melancholy, gorgeous western with one of gaming's great endings.Kit · Sadkitty Games
Loved
- John Marston is a superb lead
- Landscapes and music create real atmosphere
- Dead Eye makes gunfights feel like a movie
Not so much
- Mexico chapter drags in places
- Lots of slow ride-and-talk missions
Play it if anyone who loves westerns or slow-burn stories with a big emotional payoff.
Skip it if players who want constant action and get bored on long horse rides.
Cheats & codes
No cheat codes
Red Dead Redemption doesn't have cheat codes. The tips and secrets below are the next best thing.
Tips
Play it better
- Dead Eye is your best weapon; tag multiple targets while time is slowed, then let John fire them all off at once.
- Bring bounty targets in alive with the lasso for a much bigger reward.
- Buy a horse deed as soon as you can afford a good one; speed and stamina make a big difference.
- Set up camp anywhere in the wild to save, change outfits and fast travel.
- Skin every animal you kill and sell the pelts and meat at stores for steady money early on.
- Shoot enemies' weapons or legs to disarm or slow them when you want them alive.
Secrets & unlockables
Hidden in plain sight
Tap a secret to reveal it.
Did you know?
Trivia
- It's a spiritual sequel to Red Dead Revolver, a game Rockstar picked up after Capcom published it in 2004.
- John Marston was played by Rob Wiethoff, who returned for Red Dead Redemption 2.
- The soundtrack by Bill Elm and Woody Jackson was built around a strict tempo and key so music could shift seamlessly in play.
- It finally reached PC in 2024, 14 years after launch.
Member reviews
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