Parents' Guide to

Red Dead Redemption

By Chad Sapieha, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Epic but adult Western game is definitely not for kids.

Game PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 2010
Red Dead Redemption Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Red Dead Redemption Game: Screenshot #1
  • Red Dead Redemption Game: Screenshot #2
  • Red Dead Redemption Game: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 102 parent reviews

Steve128685
Steve128685 Adult
August 3, 2021
age 12+

People make too big of deal

It’s a good game and the characters are realy good great story there are two scenes of nudity but can be skipped immediately my 12 year old son loved this game good for Wild West fans

This title has:

Easy to play/use
Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels Adult
July 16, 2021
age 13+

Not as bad as RDR2 or GTA (coming from a parent of a 8 year old, a 13 year old, and a fifteen year old)

No gore. No extreme blood. No sex, very deep and kinda sad story. There's one brief shot of (Male) nudity, but that can be skipped. I think the reviews below gieve the name of the mission, so refer to that for what cutscene to skip. I'd let a 13 year old play this definitely. Very fun. Is a fair amount of language. Main character can be evil or good depending on the PLAYERS actions. Edit: there IS one sex scene that's separate from the brief shot of male nudity. Similar to the aforementioned make nudity, this can be skipped before anything is shown. It'd be a shame for a 13 year old or older to miss out on this. Make sure they skip these scenes, and it's perfectly fine. Edit 2: someone said there was "vigorous movement" and "full frontal nudity" in the sex scene. There's not. If it did, it would say STRONG Sexual Content on the rating, not Sexual Content like it does. And you only see a quick glimpse of the girls breasts, and it IS skippable. Same person said there was "Dismembered body's" no, there ain't. If there was, it would say "blood and gore" and not "blood" it also overexaggerates the brief shot of make nudity. Yes, he is hanging in a barn. However, it can be skipped, and once that cutscenes is skipped, you cant return to it. Other than those two scenes (which i cannot stress enough CAN BE SKIPPED) this game is perfect for a 13 year old.

This title has:

Too much swearing
See all 102 parent reviews

What’s It About?

The decidedly adult-oriented RED DEAD REDEMPTION, developed by the same people who make the Grand Theft Auto games, offers players an extraordinarily large, detailed, and authentic recreation of the Wild West circa 1911. Players take on the role of an ex-outlaw who must hunt down the bandits he once rode with in order to secure the safety of his wife and child, who have been taken hostage by corrupt lawmen. There are countless precursor and side missions for players to lose themselves in along the way, ranging from cattle herding and bronco busting to helping sheriffs round up or eliminate local thieves and murders. Strangers in need of help are everywhere, and there are also some criminal outfits that try to enlist the player's help. An online mode provides the ability to freely roam the game's massive world alone or with friends in the form of a posse. Players can also enter traditional deathmatch-style events.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (102):
Kids say (138):

Few games aspire to the sort of scope achieved by Red Dead Redemption. The world players inhabit is breathtaking in its beauty, mind-boggling in its enormity, and almost incomprehensible in its level of authentic detail. Horses animate just like the real thing, clouds create shadows that roll over the landscape, faux newspapers contain complete articles and ads appropriate to the time and place, and characters chat with one another with marvellously authentic accents and dialects.

The things players can do in the game are even more impressive. Whether it's living off the land by hunting and skinning wild animals, joining an armed posse to go save a homestead, or heading out onto the range to capture and break some wild stallions, there is never a dull moment or a shortage of activities. Adult gamers looking for something meaty, lengthy, and beautiful are in for a treat.

Online interaction: This game supports online play with open voice chat, which means players are free to use harsh language, exchange personal information, and share inappropriate ideas. Common Sense Media does not recommend online play for pre-teens.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the use of violence in this game. Would the game been as fun without the extreme violence, sex, and cussing?

  • Families can also discuss Red Dead Redemption's depiction of women. Many of the female characters in the game are shallow and appear to be little more than harlots, but a few are given legitimate and even liberal personalities.

Game Details

  • Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
  • Available online?: Available online
  • Publisher: Rockstar Games
  • Release date: May 18, 2010
  • Genre: Action/Adventure
  • ESRB rating: M for Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
  • Last updated: August 31, 2016

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