Red Dead Redemption marked a new era for Rockstar as a developer. Before the open-world western epic made its way to gamers, Rockstar had made a name for itself with hits like Grand Theft Auto, Midnight Club, Bully, and the notoriously controversial Manhunt. Red Dead Revolver was also part of this Rockstar era, and it was a good approach to the western genre at the time. Red Dead Redemption was something completely its own, though. Where Red Dead Revolver was a fun arcade shooter, Red Dead Redemption was a deeply rich experience that raised the bar not only for Rockstar, but the industry as a whole.
Instead of another arcade shooter, Red Dead Redemption was an open-world game, taking Rockstar’s successful formula with GTA and Bully and bringing it to the quickly ending Wild West era in 1911. Open-world games have been around for a long time, but the past decade has been filled with an influx of this approach to developing in-game worlds. Red Dead Redemption turns 16 this year, and many games still struggle to boast the same magic that this one still manages to have in spades. There really aren’t many games like Red Dead Redemption around, and it’s wild to see just how well it still holds up over a decade later.
The Case Against Red Dead Redemption 3
The gaming community at large has clamored for more Red Dead Redemption, but it might be best to let the series rest, at least for a while.
After 16 Years, Red Dead Redemption Still Manages to Excel at What Modern Open-World Games Often Struggle to Do
The same could be said about Red Dead Redemption 2, too, but its predecessor is still better in many ways, and that’s truly impressive. Comparing games to Red Dead Redemption 2 has become commonplace for a lot of gamers, but we should really be looking back at Red Dead Redemption when it comes to an open-world game that’s nearly perfectly balanced. Red Dead Redemption paved the way for the prequel to be what it is known as today.
Balance the critic averages
Balance the critic averages
Easy (6)Medium (8)Hard (10)
Red Dead Redemption Uses Its Open World to Tell a Deeper Story
There are some critiques about Red Dead Redemption‘s often-barren landscape, but the emptiness is the point. The lonely environment reflects the quickly approaching end of the age of outlaws. John Marston is a dying breed, and his surroundings reflect that. Desolation may lead many to think that the world is boring, but that’s far from the case. John Marston comes across plenty of unique NPC encounters on his travels, and the variety of side quests does a great job at avoiding being repetitive. Whether it’s cheating in gambling or hunting animals, Red Dead Redemption makes every activity feel like it’s essential to the experience.
Red Dead Redemption Realizes That Bigger Doesn’t Always Mean Better
Red Dead Redemption‘s map size is by no means small, and everything feels intentional. On the other hand, size can sometimes lead to other struggles. This is the biggest problem I’ve had with so many open-world games of the past decade. There seems to be this emphasis on making things larger and more impressive, but such an approach also makes it harder to make every corner of that world actually interesting. Bethesda’s Starfield is probably one of the most notorious examples of this. Claims that the game has a boring world have plagued it since launch. Now that Starfield is coming to the PS5, a fresh audience can offer feedback, but the space adventure really failed to meet expectations when it first came out.
Crimson Desert is the Newest Game to Find Itself in This Debate
The discourse surrounding Crimson Desert has been fascinating. Pearl Abyss’ long-awaited single-player fantasy game has been hailed as an open-world marvel while also facing criticism claiming its world is lifeless and boring. The verdict is heavily split, and one of the main reasons some find the game boring is because of just how expansive the world is. Crimson Desert‘s map size is not for the faint of heart. Some think its approach to open-world gameplay is one of the best in a long time, but there are seemingly just as many people who think Crimson Desert is packed with mostly filler instead of true substance.
Red Dead Redemption Works So Well, Because Every Piece is Working Together
With Red Dead Redemption‘s story, every action, story arc, and piece of scenery feels like a carefully-placed puzzle piece that helps tie everything into one cohesive package. Rockstar’s approach to the world breathes life into John Marston’s story in a way that makes being distracted by side quests and exploration meaningful instead of just something to add more hours to gameplay.
There Have Been Plenty of Fantastic Open-World Games Since, But Red Dead Redemption Still Reigns Supreme
Don’t get me wrong, some of the best open-world games in the industry have been released since Red Dead Redemption. There’s just something about this game that stands apart from the others. It perfectly balances expansive exploration with a tight narrative, and that’s far easier said than done. A lot of open-world game stories overstay their welcome, even the great ones.
Some of the Best Open-World Games to Come Out Since Red Dead Redemption
- The Witcher 3
- Cyberpunk 2077
- GTA 5
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- Ghost of Tsushima and Yotei
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Red Dead Redemption simply never feels like too much, and it also avoids feeling like too little. It’s the blueprint for what a satisfying open-world game should be, and I don’t know if Rockstar is going to fully recapture that magic again. With GTA 6‘s release date coming up, the hype is hitting new heights. Not only will this probably be Rockstar’s biggest launch ever, but the game’s map is expected to be the developer’s largest. Since it’s Rockstar, there’s a good chance that immersion will still be the main focus over the “bigger is better” mindset. Such a larger-scale world makes it difficult to have Red Dead Redemption‘s special harmony, though.
Rockstar’s approach to the world breathes life into John Marston’s story in a way that makes being distracted by side quests and exploration meaningful instead of just something to add more hours to gameplay.
I hope I’m proven wrong. The balance between GTA 6‘s story and world still has the potential to be a landmark moment in the same way that Red Dead Redemption was. It’s going to be thrilling to see what Rockstar has waiting for players with GTA 6. Until then, Red Dead Redemption will continue to stand on its own as an experience that gives players a sense of freedom without being daunting while also telling a tight and beautiful story that ends on a perfect note.
- Released
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May 18, 2010
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
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Rockstar San Diego
