The Case for Playing the Series Out-of-Order

The Red Dead Redemption franchise has remained one of gaming’s most revered for the better part of two decades, and it’s not hard to see why. The clever, grounded, mature stories of the duology have captivated audiences around the world, weaving tales of betrayal, love, and friendship that just about anyone—cowpoke or not—can relate to on some level. But not every gamer has had the chance to check out these historic video games yet, and considering that Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel, such prospective players may be wondering which Red Dead they should play first.

Unsurprisingly, many series’ fans would answer this question by arguing in favor of playing the games in the order of their release. After all, this is how most fans experienced the Van der Linde Gang’s story, and it is, in a sense, the most “pure” way to engage with the franchise. But those who have yet to experience either entry are in a unique position, capable of absorbing Rockstar’s western epic in chronological order, without the context of Red Dead Redemption influencing their interpretations of Red Dead Redemption 2. In other words, there’s an argument to be made in favor of playing Red Dead Redemption 2 first.

Should You Play the Red Dead Redemption Games In Order?

Playing Red Dead Redemption 2 First Could Make for a Less Predictable, Higher-Stakes Story

The first Red Dead Redemption begins roughly 12 years after the finale of Red Dead Redemption 2, and follows John Marston on a journey that sees him crossing paths with a number of characters from his past. As one might expect, this narrative premise involves the reintroduction of several key characters from Red Dead Redemption 2, giving a glimpse into how their lives have changed. Indeed, one of the best parts about playing Red Dead Redemption 2 after Red Dead Redemption is getting to see how these characters, and the Van der Linde Gang as a unit, used to be.

But by that same token, there’s value in seeing these characters and organizations before the climactic events of Red Dead Redemption 2. The most obvious benefit to playing Red Dead Redemption 2 without prior knowledge of Red Dead Redemption is the lack of predictability: while Red Dead Redemption isn’t that explicit about the events of RDR2, the game gives enough information to form a general idea of the prequel’s ultimate outcome. Thus, by playing Red Dead Redemption 2 first, players could enjoy a less predictable, more tense narrative, as there would be a sense that anything could happen.

The virtue of Red Dead Redemption 2’s narrative being unpredictable doesn’t just come down to shock value or the immediate impact of certain twists. The Red Dead series is built around the moral ambiguity of turn-of-the-century America, and by lacking knowledge of the series’ future, players can engage with these themes more organically, without the preconceived notions introduced by the first Red Dead Redemption.

Playing the Red Dead Redemption games in reverse order does admittedly come with a fairly large caveat: there’s a massive gulf between the games’ mechanics and visuals. Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most realistic games ever made, with stunning graphics, a detailed and diverse open world, and polished controls, while Red Dead Redemption 1 is far more archaic by comparison. It can be jarring to go from the high-fidelity, contemporary Red Dead 2 to the 360-era Red Dead 1. But as long as newcomers are aware of these discrepancies, they could very well have a better experience by playing RDR2 first.