Red Dead Online

About Red Dead Online

Red Dead Online is a multiplayer shooter game. It was developed by Rockstar Games and was released on December 1, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

Step into the vibrant, ever-evolving world of Red Dead Online and experience life across frontier America.Forge your own path as you battle lawmen, outlaw gangs and ferocious wild animals to build a life on the American frontier. Build a camp, ride solo or form a posse and explore everything from the snowy mountains in the North to the swamps of the South, from remote outposts to busy farms and bu…

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Reviews

82%Audience ScoreBased on 26,075 reviews

story829 positive mentions

grinding698 negative mentions

story
3,568 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23% positive mentions, 71% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions
The story aspect of "Red Dead Online" has received mixed feedback from players. While many praise the engaging narrative and character development found in the single-player "Red Dead Redemption 2," they express disappointment with the online version's limited story missions and lack of depth. Players often find the online missions repetitive and grindy, with insufficient rewards, leading to frustration. Additionally, the online experience is marred by technical issues, such as frequent disconnections and bugs that disrupt gameplay, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the story elements. Overall, while the story mode is highly regarded, the online component is seen as lacking in comparison, prompting many to recommend playing the single-player version instead.
- “The story in Red Dead Redemption 2 is epic and engrossing.”
- “The story mode is rich and all the characters are memorable.”
- “Red Dead Redemption 2 redefines the very essence of gaming, transporting you to an evocative world that feels alive with its stunning attention to detail and immersive storytelling.”
- “The online story mode is unfinished and the online game lacks content.”
- “The story missions require you to go through matchmaking to get other players to join in (because you can't do them on your own anymore) and just seem like pretty generic "go here, kill some people, go somewhere else" missions which are apparently supposed to have a story tacked onto them, but it just wasn't interesting enough for me to pay attention to.”
- “The missions are super buggy though.”
graphics
1,051 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66% positive mentions, 32% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many users praising their stunning realism, breathtaking landscapes, and intricate details that enhance immersion. However, some players have reported issues with performance, including crashes and lag, particularly on lower-end systems, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these technical challenges, the visual quality remains a standout feature, often described as among the best in gaming.
- “The graphics are mind-blowing.”
- “The graphics are a testament to the craft of the developers, painting landscapes that are as breathtaking as they are hauntingly beautiful.”
- “The graphics are stunning and the gameplay is on point.”
- “Game feels sluggish, graphics feel outdated and even with everything set to ultra don't look anything like the screenshots.”
- “Very RAM intensive; I have 32 GB of RAM and yet whenever I boot up the game or play for an extended amount of time, it crashes saying that 'you have no memory.' I have it at the lowest graphics and yet it still runs poorly.”
- “The game is reasonably old at this point and my graphics card was high-end when it was released, which was after the game was, and turning the settings up to max at 1080p just flat out caused it to crash.”
gameplay
867 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33% positive mentions, 57% neutral mentions, 10% negative mentions
The gameplay in Red Dead Online is generally praised for its immersive mechanics, stunning graphics, and engaging activities, particularly when played with friends. However, many players express frustration over frequent bugs, crashes, and the prevalence of cheaters, which significantly detract from the overall experience. While the core gameplay mechanics are solid, the grind for content and the lack of updates have led to a repetitive and sometimes tedious experience for many players.
- “The gameplay is smooth and immersive.”
- “The core gameplay mechanics, inherited from Red Dead Redemption 2, are still there.”
- “The gameplay, the gunplay, doing missions, running moonshine, gangs vs gangs... it's got it all.”
- “The game crashes all the time; my friends and I purchased it together to play in a group, and during 5 hours of gameplay, we managed to complete one mission without anyone crashing.”
- “The game has so much potential, but Rockstar doesn't care about it anymore. It's glitchy and riddled with cheaters, and basic mechanics don't work well, like the long hair glitch that hasn't been fixed in 3 years.”
- “This game is full of bugs and glitches that prevent any actual gameplay.”
grinding
747 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1% positive mentions, 6% neutral mentions, 93% negative mentions
The grinding aspect of Red Dead Online is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest significant hours to earn in-game currency and unlock content. Many players express frustration over the slow progression and the necessity of grinding for gold bars, which can feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game. While some find the grinding experience rewarding when playing with friends, the overall sentiment leans towards it being a major drawback, with numerous reviews suggesting that players will need "a second life" to fully engage with the game's grindy mechanics.
- “The grind is a lie, and the time you enjoy grinding is not grinding, it's called playing the game.”
- “Also it's not that grindy, it looks at first sight but with time you will see it's not that much.”
- “The game is a lot of fun, takes some farming but hey if there was no farming we had nothing to do there lol unless you like to go around and kill NPCs to get all the lawmen after you, or PvP with other players, plus open world events.”
- “The grinding in this game is unreal.”
- “Riddled with hackers, missions consistently bug out, extensive grinding for little reward.”
- “You will either pay real money or long hours grinding boring tasks to earn miniscule amounts of gold bars just to unlock the cool and fun activities that rockstar have proudly advertised.”
stability
339 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 98% negative mentions
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with players reporting frequent crashes, numerous bugs, and persistent glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users express frustration over the lack of updates and support from the developers, leading to an overall experience that feels abandoned and unplayable at times. While some find enjoyment in the game despite these issues, the overwhelming consensus is that the game's stability is severely lacking, making it difficult to recommend.
- “Conclusion: it's a very fun game to play, really interesting and runs great.”
- “Brilliant game, looks amazing and runs great.”
- “Beautiful graphics, runs great if not streaming and super fun.”
- “This game has good potential; it has really good graphics, but overall it is really buggy and has a lot of hackers. The game crashes a lot as well.”
- “The game is absolutely buggy; the roles aren't even working, you get a black screen half the time, and when trying to do basic things, it black screens. It's not worth buying unless you play on console because the online is buggy and there are so many modders.”
- “The game is abandoned by developers, and the glitches make it nearly unplayable. Rockstar has completely abandoned this game a couple of years ago, and today it is overrun by glitches, cheaters, and a myriad of server problems.”
humor
214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 1% negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a major draw, particularly when playing with friends, leading to countless hilarious moments stemming from chaotic physics, unexpected NPC interactions, and the antics of modders. While some players find the constant presence of hackers and glitches frustrating, many still appreciate the comedic value these elements bring to the gameplay, making for memorable and entertaining experiences. Overall, the game's humor is described as a mix of slapstick and situational comedy, contributing to its fun and engaging atmosphere.
- “The humor in this game is great too.”
- “What an amazing game! My friends and I have the best time playing it and laughing all night.”
- “If you play with your buddies, you will come out of every session with a stomach ache and sore cheeks because of laughing.”
- “This game is an unfunny joke.”
- “After all that, I must say that if this is the end of RDO, I had some fun. It wasn't that bad earlier, but the new content is just an unfunny joke.”
monetization
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6% positive mentions, 61% neutral mentions, 33% negative mentions
The monetization in Red Dead Online has been widely criticized as excessively focused on microtransactions, leading many players to label it a "cash grab." Users express frustration over the slow progression system that heavily incentivizes spending real money for in-game currency, making the experience feel grindy and unfulfilling. Overall, the aggressive monetization tactics detract from the enjoyment of the game, with many recommending players stick to the single-player experience instead.
- “There is a lot of grinding for gold and cash, but there are also in-game purchases available.”
- “Play how you want; microtransactions are optional and not required for the best gear.”
- “Yes, there are microtransactions, but the game isn't centered around them.”
- “They started prioritizing monetization over enhancing the core experience.”
- “The game as-is is just a platform to buy some microtransactions on so you can do the relatively interesting stuff like being a bounty hunter or finding collectibles.”
- “The monetization is out of control via their gold bar system, which is secondary to the in-game currency.”
optimization
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29% positive mentions, 39% neutral mentions, 32% negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, random crashes, and poor server stability, particularly in the online mode. While some users with high-end PCs experience decent performance, others with mid-tier or lower systems struggle to run the game effectively, often encountering memory errors and low frame rates. Overall, the game's optimization is considered lacking, with calls for better support and updates from the developers to address these persistent issues.
- “The graphics are pretty amazing even running this game completely in Wine using a RTX 4070 Ti, NVIDIA 535 drivers on Pop!_OS using the Xandmod mainline kernel. Great performance; I honestly can't tell the difference between Windows 11 and Linux.”
- “Lots of fun to be had if you are just starting out; there's plenty of content for new players and the game is very well optimized.”
- “Good job Rockstar, smooth playing and also good optimization.”
- “An unoptimized and abandoned game.”
- “RDR2 is poorly optimized on PC and your monster rig won't run it for crap unless you read up on it beforehand.”
- “Had to reinstall Steam just so I could make sure everyone knows just how poorly optimized this game is and Rockstar should be deeply ashamed of putting this trash on the market.”
music
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40% positive mentions, 56% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its immersive quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players enjoying the original soundtrack that captures the wild west atmosphere. However, some users have reported negative experiences due to disruptive players blasting music and hacking, which detracts from the enjoyment. Overall, while the soundtrack is often highlighted as a strong point, the online environment can sometimes undermine its impact.
- “The music, artwork, gameplay, and attention to detail create a truly immersive experience.”
- “The game features an original soundtrack that perfectly captures the mood and atmosphere of the wild west.”
- “The graphics and audio in the game are top-notch, with stunning visuals and an excellent original soundtrack.”
- “Hacks, not loading, loud music, terrible experience, don't buy this game on PC.”
- “Imagine being on defensive mode but still getting grief and random explosions while someone plays music in the background while laughing their ass off because they got you.”
- “No, I'm not joking; so long story short my house was on fire and I didn't realize because the music in this game is so loud.”
atmosphere
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72% positive mentions, 24% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive environments, and authentic western feel, creating a living frontier that captivates players. Many reviewers highlight the attention to detail in the landscapes and wildlife, which enhance the overall experience, making it a must-play for fans of the genre. However, some players note that issues like bugs and the presence of hackers can detract from the otherwise beautiful and atmospheric gameplay.
- “From the stunning visuals and breathtaking landscapes to the authentic western atmosphere, this game will immerse you in a world unlike any other.”
- “The atmosphere of late 1800s Americana is amazingly well done.”
- “Absolutely beautiful environments and atmosphere, best of the best.”
- “Without the wildlife, this game is completely dead, devoid of the atmosphere that made it so appealing to begin with.”
- “You run too fast, taking away from the atmosphere; hand-to-hand combat is very broken, there is very little to do (mainly missions), and the game is very crashy, buggy, and hacky.”
- “It's tragic because it would've been nice to enjoy the old wild west and have some fun; I was even willing to forgive the cash-grabbiness and overlook the ridiculous gold/money/extra currencies grind to experience the atmosphere of the game's time period.”
emotional
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98% positive mentions, -5% neutral mentions, 7% negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players expressing deep connections to the characters and story, often describing it as a heart-wrenching journey that evokes a range of feelings from joy to sadness. The immersive storytelling and realistic graphics enhance the emotional experience, making it resonate long after gameplay. However, some players also express frustration with the online mode, which detracts from the overall emotional engagement.
- “This game made me so emotional when I finished the story.”
- “Red Dead Redemption 2 is more than a game; it's an emotional odyssey that resonates long after the credits roll.”
- “I felt connected with the characters and this game was an emotional rollercoaster.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters felt shallow and unengaging, making it hard to connect with their struggles.”
- “I expected a gripping narrative, but the emotional moments fell flat and lacked the impact I was hoping for.”
- “The attempts at emotional storytelling felt forced and contrived, leaving me more frustrated than moved.”
replayability
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31% positive mentions, 61% neutral mentions, 8% negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many users noting it as "infinitely replayable" due to its engaging campaign and multiplayer experiences. However, some players express frustration over the lack of new content and updates, which can limit the replay value over time. Despite these concerns, the game remains a favorite for its fun mechanics and community-driven atmosphere.
- “Timeless classic .. never loses its replayable value.”
- “Very good infinite replayability to me might not be for all but overall best game I've played in a while not only is the campaign breathtaking and full of emotion the online experience is great too!”
- “Overall, very fun and extremely replayable.”
- “The game itself is a lot of fun, the issue is with the content and overall replayability.”
- “I hate how Rockstar just ignores this game and keeps giving GTA 5 attention. Unlike RDO, you only receive double XP and cash rewards, nerfing gold rewards. The economy of the game doesn't make sense at all.”
- “Red Dead Online's gameplay, for new players, consists of a limited number of campaign missions (which are playable with friends & replayable after you've completed them) and 'stranger missions' which offer a little RDO$ and some gold.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50% positive mentions, 20% neutral mentions, 30% negative mentions
Character development is highlighted as a standout feature in several games, particularly in the single-player modes, where players appreciate the depth and intricacy of the storytelling, as seen in titles like Red Dead Redemption 2. While the single-player experiences offer rich character arcs and engaging narratives, the online modes often lack this depth, focusing more on action and less on character growth. Overall, players express a desire for more interconnected character development in multiplayer settings, akin to what is found in well-crafted story modes.
- “With its meticulous attention to detail, deep character development, and vast open world to explore, Red Dead Redemption 2 is nothing short of a masterpiece.”
- “The story is beautifully made, along with the character development.”
- “The single-player version offered an unparalleled storytelling, gaming experience, character development, and so on.”
- “In some games, there is character development.”
- “All of these are extremely fun, but are very, very short, and have much room for development; whether it is character development or linking them together, they all seem to play separately, even though we could totally see them being intertwined, much like in the story mode of RDR2.”
- “However, the online part turned the experience into purely shoot-em-up while seeming to lack the depth, skills (e.g. stealth is meaningless), or any town/business/gang management as well as character development.”