Game · in order
Red Dead Redemption Games in Order
All three Red Dead games in release order plus a chronological timeline. The twist: 2018's Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel set in 1899, before the 2010 original's 1911 story.
Red Dead Redemption Games in Order — complete list
Check off what you've finished — it saves automatically · See all your lists → ·
Why this order?
Red Dead Redemption is one of the rare game series where the smartest way to play and the order the games came out point in opposite directions. There are only three entries, but the timeline genuinely matters, so this page splits them into two views: release order and chronological (story) order.
Release order is the default and the one most veterans recommend you respect for the canon trilogy. Red Dead Revolver arrived in 2004 as a stylized, arcade-flavored Western that Rockstar inherited and reworked; it shares a tone and a few nods but tells a separate story. Red Dead Redemption followed in 2010, making John Marston a household name, and Red Dead Redemption 2 landed in 2018 as the studio's sprawling open-world high point. Playing in this order mirrors how the world's scope and storytelling ambition expanded over fourteen years.
Chronological order flips the two main games. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel set in 1899, following Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang during the dying days of the outlaw era; the original Red Dead Redemption picks up in 1911 with an older John Marston hunting down former gang members. So the in-world timeline runs RDR2, then RDR1 — the reverse of release. Red Dead Revolver sits loosely apart and isn't part of that connected arc.
Here is the gotcha most newcomers hit: many people now start with RDR2 because it's the bigger, prettier, more accessible entry, and it works beautifully as an entry point. But finishing RDR2 first can soften the emotional gut-punch of RDR1's ending, since you'll already know these characters' fates. If you want maximum impact, play release order. If you want the story to unfold linearly, play chronological. Either way, Rockstar fans coming from Grand Theft Auto will recognize the open-world DNA immediately.
Timeline 2004–2018
Every entry plotted by release year — see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
How many Red Dead Redemption games are there?
Three: Red Dead Revolver (2004), Red Dead Redemption (2010), and Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018). Only the latter two form the connected mainline story; Revolver is a loosely-related standalone.
What order should I watch Red Dead Redemption in?
For games, play in release order — Revolver (2004), RDR (2010), then RDR2 (2018) — for the strongest payoff. For the in-story timeline, play RDR2 (set in 1899) before RDR1 (set in 1911).
Is Red Dead Redemption 2 a prequel or a sequel?
It's a prequel. Despite the '2', RDR2's story takes place in 1899, twelve years before the 2010 original, following Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang.
Should I play RDR2 before RDR1?
You can, and many newcomers do because RDR2 is bigger and more polished. But playing release order first preserves the emotional impact of RDR1's ending, which RDR2 partly spoils.
Do I need to play Red Dead Revolver first?
No. Red Dead Revolver (2004) is a standalone arcade-style Western with a separate story. It's optional and not required to understand the main RDR and RDR2 narratives.
Is there a Red Dead Redemption 3?
As of early 2026, Rockstar has not announced Red Dead Redemption 3. The studio's focus has been on Grand Theft Auto VI, so a third entry remains unconfirmed.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
← Browse all orders