As a franchise,Red Dead Redemptionis a little inconsistent. Most people who have playedMass Effect, Dragon Age, or any other number of video game franchises can usually trace a direct connection and way they’ve played the entire thing, but notRed Dead. For example, PC players finally got to check outRed Dead Redemption 2,but the first game is not available on PC. Many didn’t even expectRed Dead Redemption’s sequel to beRDR2because technicallythe first game isRed Dead Revolver, but even that game matters little to the overarching franchise as it currently stands.
Yet, anyone familiar enough with it will likely listthreeRed Deadgames:Revolver, Redemption,andRedemption 2.The problem is that this still ignores a part of the franchise:Red Dead Redemption: Gunslingers. In fact, it stands to reason that even many hardcore fans are likely unaware that this game ever existed.
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With the rise of Facebook and social media, there was a time when franchise developers madesocial media games. Several franchises made social media spin-offs, but most of those are no longer accessible. That’s where RedDead Redemption: Gunslingersfalls.
Prior to the release ofRed Dead Redemptionin 2010, Rockstar Games made and publishedRed Dead Redemption: Gunslingersas a free Facebook game. It lasted for about two years until Facebook changes saw Rockstar end the game.Red Dead Redemption: Gunslingerswas a multiplayer dueling RPG where players faced each other to gain XP and achievements. The outcome of these duels was randomly calculated based on player class, skill points, and a few other unseen variables, highlighting the social nature ofgunslinging in thisRed Dead Redemptiongame.
XP in Duels was determined by the comparison of levels by the winning character to the lower level character, although players could also form or join a posse. This meant everyone in theRed Deadpossewould get XP whenever anyone won a duel. Accumulated skill points could increase a player’s attack, dodge, health, or stamina stat. These duels would cost players 20 stamina, but they could also participate in shootouts—which didn’t cost stamina but the outcome wasn’t modified by a player’s stats either.
There were three classes forRed Dead Redemption: Gunslingerscharacters—Outlaw, Fast Hands, and Sharpshooter.
Overall, it was a small entry in the franchise from an era where Facebook pushed games much more than it does today. It may have been small and it may have been forgotten, but it speaks to the cultural relevance of the franchise at that time and helps show how much it has ballooned in recent years, from small franchise to a genre-defining one inRed Dead Redemption 2.
Red Dead Redemption 2is available for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
