Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 95 | 33 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 95 | 2 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 87 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 93 | 617 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 94% | 88 | 240 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 88.6, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 26,595 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 300 reviews sampled · 685 total reviews in window · weighted 247.5 up / 16.5 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (94)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 100
“The first goddamned good action Western that gaming has seen.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Red Dead Redemption takes the whole genre of Western style games and redefines it in a way that no other game has done.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“From the beautifully crafted and finely detailed setting, to the intriguing characters that reside within, this game is definitely one that needs to be experienced.”
read full review ↗ - 97
“Rockstar's latest feels like an actual location rather than a movie set, and it's compelling, cohesive, at once familiar and yet imbued with a sense of slack-jawed wonderment. It's also absolutely unmissable.”
read full review ↗ - 97
“You really can't afford to miss this one! It has set a new standard for sandbox games.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“In the end, Red Dead Redemption is going to please a lot of gamers who are simply starved for a new world to explore and the Wild West, even though the game takes place at the end of that era, is ripe for the taking.”
read full review ↗ - 96
“I just ran out of words to describe this open-world gameplay, being completely alive and realistic without ever getting boring. There's so much you can do, embedded in nearly perfect graphics and an overwhelming sound, plus you'll get a story with really great characters. Wow.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Red Dead Redemption is by no means a perfect game, Western or otherwise. The middle segment of the plot feels tacked on, and you won't encounter many interesting characters. Many of the missions aren't very exciting, and there are a few glitches here and there concerning both the audible and visual aspects of the game. Even with all of that going against it, the game remains engaging, especially when you're not on a story-based mission.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“The Western genre has been won. Fans of the Western genre will feel as if they've died and gone to heaven and open-world gamers will be treated to an experience unlike any they've had before.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Rockstar's skill in creating a believable, functioning world with a distinct, coherent and consistent atmosphere is peerless. The broad-brush vision is masterful.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“This is an outstanding game that tells a great story with memorable and occasionally laugh-out-loud-funny characters. Think about great moments that you remember from spaghetti Western movies, put them all into one 20- to 40-hour epic feature, and picture yourself in the starring role. Now you have some idea of what's waiting for you in Red Dead Redemption.”
read full review ↗ - 99
“Superior storytelling, audio and graphics all come together to create one of the most enjoyable games in years.”
read full review ↗
The A.V. Club
GameWatcher
ZTGD
Worth Playing
The Escapist
Eurogamer
GameSpot…and 82 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.