RDR1 or RDR2 First: Which Order Should You Play?
Either game works as a starting point. RDR2 comes first in the timeline in 1899. RDR1 released first and takes place in 1911.
- Chronological order
- RDR2 → RDR1
- Release order
- RDR1 → RDR2
- RDR2 opens in
- 1899
- RDR1 is set in
- 1911
- Confirmed
- Unconfirmed
What these labels mean
- Confirmed
Confirmed means the information comes from its owner: the studio, publisher, manufacturer or platform (Rockstar, Take-Two, Sony, Elgato, YouTube…).
- Unconfirmed
Unconfirmed is everything else: media reports, leaks, estimates, community reconstructions and our own deductions. A rumor remains unconfirmed even when many outlets repeat it.
You can start with either game.
Chronological order: RDR2 → RDR1
Release order: RDR1 → RDR2
Red Dead Redemption 2 begins in 1899.
Red Dead Redemption takes place in 1911.
If you want events in chronological order, start with RDR2.
If you want to experience the games in the order Rockstar released them, start with RDR1.
Both work.
Quick answer
| If you want… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Chronological story order | RDR2 |
| Release order | RDR1 |
| The more modern game first | RDR2 |
| RDR2 to work as the prequel it originally was | RDR1 |
| To play only RDR2 | You can start there |
Chronological order: RDR2, then RDR1
RDR2 begins in 1899.
RDR1 takes place in 1911.
Twelve years separate the start of the two games.
This order starts with Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang, then continues with John Marston.
You learn events in the order they happen inside the world.
You also reach RDR1 knowing much more about several characters.
Release order: RDR1, then RDR2
Red Dead Redemption released in 2010.
Red Dead Redemption 2 followed in 2018.
In this order, RDR2 works as the prequel Rockstar originally released it as.
You see one story first.
Then you go back and learn where many of its characters, relationships and problems came from.
Some RDR2 scenes carry more weight when you already know RDR1.
RDR2 shows you the causes first. RDR1 shows you the consequences first.
Does RDR1 spoil RDR2?
A little.
RDR1 takes place twelve years later, so it tells you where some characters and the wider West stand by 1911.
There is no need to say more than that.
Start with RDR2 and that future remains hidden.
Start with RDR1 and many references in RDR2 already have context.
Do I need RDR1 to understand RDR2?
No.
RDR2 introduces its own characters, gang, conflicts and world from the beginning.
You can follow its main story without playing the first game.
What if RDR1 feels too old?
That is less of a problem now.
Since December 2025, Red Dead Redemption has versions for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2.
On PS5 and Xbox Series it runs at 60 FPS, with HDR and resolutions up to 4K.
RDR2 still runs the PS4 Pro version through backward compatibility on PS5 at 30 FPS. The full breakdown is in RDR2 at 60 FPS on PS5 and PS5 Pro.
| Game | Version PS5 runs | FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Red Dead Redemption | PS5 | 60 |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | PS4 Pro via backward compatibility | 30 |
If you plan to play RDR2 on a handheld, also check the Steam Deck settings before choosing a frame-rate cap.
So which one should you play first?
For chronological order:
RDR2 → RDR1
For Rockstar’s release order:
RDR1 → RDR2
There is no need to make the choice more complicated.
Both orders work. What changes is what you know when you reach the second game.
What remains unconfirmed
Rockstar still has not announced a PS5 or Xbox Series version of RDR2.
Reports about an enhanced 60 FPS version also remain unconfirmed. We track them in RDR2 at 60 FPS on PS5 and PS5 Pro.
That does not change the story order, although it may matter if performance affects your choice.
Frequently asked questions
Does RDR2 take place before RDR1?
Yes. RDR2 begins in 1899 and RDR1 takes place in 1911.
Do I have to play RDR1 before RDR2?
No.
RDR2 works on its own.
What is the chronological order?
RDR2, then RDR1.
What is the release order?
RDR1, then RDR2.
Does RDR1 spoil RDR2?
It gives you a broad idea of where some characters and the world end up years later.
Does RDR1 run at 60 FPS on PS5?
Yes.
Does RDR2 run at 60 FPS on PS5?
No. As of October 5, 2026, it remains capped at 30 FPS.
More Red Dead Redemption 2 guides
RDR2 at 60 FPS on PS5 and PS5 Pro
Sources
Rockstar Games — Red Dead Redemption.
PlayStation Store — Red Dead Redemption 2.
Rockstar Games — current Red Dead Redemption versions.
Last verified: October 5, 2026.