It was back in 2010 that the Red Dead franchise truly made a name for itself with the launch of Red Dead Redemption. Marking a brand-new saga in the Rockstar series, following 2004’s Red Dead Revolver, the story followed the iconic protagonist John Marston, a former outlaw, who must provide his services as a hired gun after the kidnapping of his wife and son. As you can expect from any Rockstar title, Red Dead Redemption was met with critical acclaim, and was praised for its characterization, soundtrack, performance, and narrative, and swiftly went on to inspire a sequel (but technically prequel), Red Dead Redemption 2, in 2018.

Now that we are rapidly approaching the 20th anniversary of Red Dead Redemption, many fans are discovering it for the first time. For me, I played Red Dead Redemption 2 first, and went back to play Red Dead Redemption after loving the world Rockstar had created. Luckily, this is easy to do considering that the events of Red Dead Redemption take place after the events of Red Dead Redemption 2.

So, if you are like me, and you fell in love with the world of Red Dead Redemption 2 first, there is a way to play Red Dead Redemption at absolutely no cost. Actually, there are two ways. The first is simple, as the 2010 hit is now free to download courtesy of the PlayStation Plus Extra library. As such, it will save you a whopping $50.

However, if you just so happen to be a fan of Rockstar’s sister series, Grand Theft Auto, there is a way to combine the two. By becoming a GTA+ member, you will be able to access a collection of Rockstar games in the GTA+ game library. This includes Grand Theft Auto Online, Red Dead Redemption, Bully, and more. Much like needing a PlayStation Plus Extra subscription to grab Red Dead Redemption at no extra cost, the same can be said for GTA+, which is also a monthly subscription service for Grand Theft Auto Online. However, if you just so happen to have a PlayStation Plus or GTA+ subscription already, it is worth taking advantage of this offer so that you do not have to pay any additional costs to get your hands on one of the greatest games of all time.

Since originally launching on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 back in 2010, Red Dead Redemption has gained enough popularity to find itself released on modern consoles such as the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and even the Nintendo Switch 2 in recent years. Not only that, but with rumors of a potential Red Dead Redemption 3, this will be the perfect time to catch up on the series ahead of its continuation.

Systems

Released

May 18, 2010

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs

Developer(s)

Rockstar San Diego

Engine

rockstar advanced game engine