Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to the first Red Dead Redemption, set years earlier. If you have only played one of them, here is how they compare.
Key takeaways
- RDR2 is a prequel set in 1899 with an epilogue in 1907.
- RDR2 follows Arthur Morgan; the first game follows John Marston.
- The map is bigger in RDR2, with five states.
- Red Dead Redemption has been re-released on several platforms; Windows came on October 29, 2024.
Story and heroes
RDR2 follows Arthur Morgan in 1899, with an epilogue in 1907 that follows John Marston. The first game follows John Marston. RDR2 has one main protagonist for the main story, while the first game focuses on John.
The map
RDR2's map is bigger. Its five states include New Austin, with Armadillo and Tumbleweed, which return from the first game in the epilogue. In RDR2, Blackwater is still under construction, and Armadillo is a ghost town because of cholera.
Gameplay differences
- First-person option in RDR2.
- Arthur can swim, while John cannot in the first game.
- Body-part targeting, horse bonding and weight and temperature systems in RDR2.
- A bounty system with Marshals and bounty hunters.
Where to play in 2026
Red Dead Redemption re-released on several platforms: Switch and PS4 in August 2023, Windows on October 29, 2024, and Android, iOS, PS5, Xbox Series and Switch 2 on December 2, 2025. A physical PS5 version came on May 4, 2026. The original sold 25 million copies by December 2024.
RDR2 milestones
RDR2 earned $725 million in its first three days, shipped 17 million copies in 13 days, and has sold more than 87 million copies as of Take-Two's quarter ending June 2026. Metacritic: 97 on consoles and 93 on PC.
Red Dead Online
In July 2022, Rockstar said Red Dead Online would get no more major updates, with smaller content only. A monthly update, including a Halloween event, runs from October 6 to November 2, 2026, according to GTABase.
What about next-gen versions?
Claims about a next-gen or Enhanced version of RDR2 are rumors. We found no announcement from Rockstar.
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Which one to play first?
Many fans suggest playing in release order, because the first game gives the epilogue more weight. Others like to start with the newer game and its larger world. Both are fine. The story of RDR2 stands on its own.
Playing together
If you want to play with others, RedM lets communities run roleplay servers for RDR2 on PC. Start with our RedM guide.
