Red Dead Redemption follows former outlaw John Marston as he is coerced into hunting down his old gang across a sprawling, sun-scorched depiction of the American frontier. Its open world blends horseback travel, gunfights, and a large cast of memorable characters with a story about violence and the cost of trying to leave it behind.

Beyond the main story, the world is filled with side activities like hunting, bounty hunting, gambling and duels. Its writing and setting made it one of the defining open-world westerns.