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- RDR1 and RDR2 both have great stories which can be played in any order.
- However, the better option would be to follow the chronological order because of the character development and backstory introduced in RDR2.
- The only downside to playing RDR2 before RDR1 is the sudden difference in game mechanics, which may leave a bitter taste in some players’ mouths.
In the early days, storytelling was not an essential part of a video game’s success. Decades later, however, the storytelling element is one of the bases for a game’s success, and developers are putting more and more effort into producing original and well-written storylines.
However, very few of the development companies can compete with Rockstar when it comes to telling stories in their games, especially in the Red Dead Redemption franchise.
Chronological Order Makes More Sense
There’s no doubt that the Red Dead franchise contains probably the greatest storyline ever created in video games. Both games contain masterpiece stories that can be understood and enjoyed as a prequel and sequel combo or as separate stories as well.
However, as we know, Red Dead Redemption 2 is actually the prequel, and Red Dead Redemption 1 is the sequel. I believe they should be played in chronological order instead of in the release order.
The reason for this is obvious, but let me elaborate on it further. RDR1 starts with John as the protagonist, who is trying to find the members of his former gang. A majority of the characters that appear later in the game are introduced in RDR2.
They are not just introduced as side characters, but each of their presences is felt in the game, and the character development is done well in the prequel.
The Character Development Done In RDR2 Can Make Things More Interesting
If you play RDR1 first, you will have an element of mystery about these side characters. You will wonder about their backstory and how they ended up in this situation, which is an interesting thing in itself.
But if you have already played RDR2 and then hopped on to RDR1, the emotions you carry with you regarding the game’s story provide a much different playthrough experience. You get curious about where the sequel can take you as the ending in RDR2 already felt like the end of the world.
Moreover, in my playthrough, I experienced a slight lack of elaboration on the backstory of the characters in RDR1. Not that the storytelling wasn’t good enough or anything, but it gave us a decent idea about what had happened and why things turned the way they did.
But in some way, it doesn’t trigger your emotions as you haven’t actually seen or played that part of the story. But if you have played it first, you observe the story in a much more enjoyable way.
The Downside Of Playing RDR2 Before RDR1
The only downside of playing RDR1 before RDR2 is that everything gets downgraded as you make the transition between the two games. Don’t get me wrong, RDR1’s gameplay is great, but obviously, it can’t compete with its sequel, which came eight years later.
The difference in the graphics is huge. The game mechanics differ, too, and the game content, like side activities, also has differences in quality and quantity.
In short, if you are someone whose expectations get high very easily and or can’t enjoy old games with old graphics and animations, this may not be a very enjoyable playthrough for you in terms of gameplay. The story setup will still pay off, though, as it makes the storyline much better.
So, if you haven’t played any of the Red Dead Redemption games and are planning to give them a go, or have already played them and are willing to visit the Wild West one more time, this is the best order to play in.
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News Reporter
Abdullah is an avid gamer who primarily plays single-player titles. If you can’t find him anywhere, he’ll probably be at his desk playing The Witcher 3 for the millionth time. When he isn’t playing games, he’s either reading or writing about them.
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