Red Dead Universes

“	You play Undead Nightmare as John, and it is an entirely stand-alone game that runs separately from Red Dead Redemption's main story and not part of any Red Dead Redemption canon, if such a thing exists. Red Dead Revolver is also its own universe, but the world of Red Dead Redemption was always meant to be a world in which the myths and realities of the American frontier collide.	„
	— Dan Houser during a Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare Q&A for GameSpot.

The Red Dead Universes are a collection of three alternate parallel dimensions and realities created by Rockstar San Diego (formerly known as Angel Studios) for each type of narrative created for the Red Dead series.

The series is divided into three self-contained universes, unofficially dubbed the "Revolver Universe", "Redemption Universe" and the "Undead Nightmare Universe", with the latter being an alternative horror version of the Redemption Universe.

Description

The Red Dead series unfolds across three distinct fictional universes, unofficially termed the Revolver Universe, Redemption Universe, and Undead Nightmare Universe — each named after the primary narrative that originated it.

These universes are intentionally separate, ensuring no overlap in storylines. While locations and historical figures (such as military generals, presidents, gunslingers, and outlaws) appear across the universes, they are reimagined without direct continuity from one universe to another.

Characters and locations from Revolver are occasionally referenced in Redemption as myths and legends, with in-universe figures responding to these tales with varied skepticism, questioning whether the events or characters ever truly existed. This respectful nod to the series' roots honors Revolver as folklore within the broader world of Red Dead.

The Universes

Revolver Universe

The Revolver Universe refers to the original Red Dead title, Red Dead Revolver, created by Angel Studios before Rockstar Games acquired the studio in 2002. Rockstar initially intended to follow the continuity established in Red Dead Revolver through a loosely connected sequel, which began development around 2005.

The game's visual style shifted from a supernatural American Western to a Spaghetti Western, enabling developers to include more stylized violence and exaggerated characters. The lead character appears to draw inspiration from several Western film protagonists, especially Clint Eastwood's iconic "Man With No Name." To capture an authentic Western feel, the game replicates a "grainy film" effect and features actual tracks from classic Spaghetti Western soundtracks.

Red Dead Revolver remains the only title set in this universe, as the franchise was eventually rebooted to explore new narratives and themes within an open-world Western setting.

Redemption Universe

The Redemption Universe refers to the second and current Red Dead universe, created by Rockstar San Diego. This universe follows the new continuity established by the original Red Dead Redemption. Each major title in this universe is set further back in the Redemption timeline, offering an in-depth exploration of the American frontier’s decline and the impact of modernization on its characters.

Unlike the Revolver Universe or the Undead Nightmare Universe, the Redemption Universe is defined by its grounded storytelling, overly detailed open-world environments, and a focus on the moral complexity of its characters. Central themes include the clash between an old world and the inevitable changes brought by a new one; the moral choices of good and evil; the inescapability of one's past, which always catches up to the protagonists; and finally, the theme of self-destruction, embodied by the character of Dutch van der Linde.

So far, it includes two games—Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2—in addition to the series' multiplayer title, Red Dead Online.

Undead Nightmare Universe

The Undead Nightmare Universe (also called "Undead Nightmare’s Alternative Timeline") is the third Red Dead universe, introduced by Rockstar San Diego with the 2010 Undead Nightmare DLC for Red Dead Redemption. This universe presents an alternate scenario where a zombie apocalypse overtakes the familiar Western setting.

In this expansion, Rockstar achieved its long-standing goal of creating a zombie game, choosing to introduce the undead to an established world rather than developing a new intellectual property. The team saw parallels between the Western and Zombie-horror genres, both of which share a similar cinematic heritage. To illustrate their vision, Rockstar compared Undead Nightmare to a 1970s film set, where Red Dead Redemption felt like a "serious, revisionist Western" by day, while Undead Nightmare reimagined the same world as a "wildly intense horror movie" by night, using the same cast and setting.

The Undead Nightmare Universe exists independently from the main Red Dead Redemption continuity and is not meant to be interpreted as a literal nightmare of John Marston.

Common Misinterpretation

Rockstar San Diego and Rockstar Games

In the Red Dead series, each of the three universes features a storyline entirely written and developed by Rockstar San Diego (originally established as Angel Studios in 1984), a video game developer based in Carlsbad, California.

Now operating under the Rockstar label, Rockstar San Diego is known for creating both the Red Dead and Midnight Club franchises. While no explicit connections exist between the two series, both feature notable references to North American and Californian culture.

The Red Dead universes appear to be exclusive to Rockstar San Diego, as they contain many contradictions when compared to other open-world titles published by Rockstar Games, such as Grand Theft Auto (developed by DMA Design/Rockstar North) and Manhunt, which have separate continuities.

Characterization

While the Revolver Universe is mainly inspired by the myths and iconic images of the Old West, the Redemption Universe is Rockstar San Diego's realistic interpretation of the closing years of the Old West between the periods of 1898 and 1914 in a more serious tone with references to real-life conflicts and various other events.

Both the Redemption Universe and Grand Theft Auto's HD Universe parody their own versions of real-life brands and locations. Unlike the GTA series, none of the brands from the Redemption Universe are named after dark humor or sexual innuendo jokes.

Similarity of Events

Following the series' reboot to a more realistic world, the events depicted in Revolver are treated as folklore by characters in the Redemption series. These stories are always shared by storytellers at random campsites throughout the game world, adding a mythic layer to the original game's events.

In the Redemption Universe, there are several nods to events from Revolver. These references serve as fan service for players, acknowledging the earlier game while portraying these events as separate, unrelated occurrences within the Redemption canon.

For example, major events like the Brimstone Quickdraw Competition from the Revolver Universe are referenced in the Redemption Universe as having occurred in the 1880s. While these competitions are not the same—they arise from different circumstances, involve different characters, and have different outcomes—they are designed to evoke the original event as a nod to Revolver.

Other similar events include references to a jade mask of Aztec origin and a coded Aztec message about an ancient Aztec goddess found in Blackwater. These are separate from the events seen in Undead Nightmare, though they offer subtle nods to the DLC.

Major Storyline Differences

Revolver-to-Redemption Reboots

• All references to Red Dead Revolver characters and storylines exemplify Rockstar Games' approach of reimagining three-dimensional characters as "mythical figures from a bygone era" following the series' reboot with Red Dead Redemption in 2010 — a technique similarly applied in the Grand Theft Auto franchise.
  • The return of characters like Red Harlow, Jack Swift, Annie Stoakes, and Shadow Wolf through campfire stories, along with the dialogue between Jack and John in "John Marston and Son", serves as a clear double-meaning. It references the end of the Red Dead Revolver canon while at the same time portraying these characters as entirely different entities in the Redemption Universe—figures who may or may not have truly existed.
  • Mentions of Grove Street Families in the HD Universe are similar to Red Dead Revolver lore and characters being treated as folklore and legends in the Red Dead Redemption universe.
• In Red Dead Redemption, there is a gang hideout called Twin Rocks, nearly identical to the one in Revolver. However, Rockstar Games clarified in a Q&A that the Twin Rocks hideout in Redemption is simply "based on the second level in Revolver."
  • The Twin Rocks in Redemption is larger and includes more detailed shacks, with added furniture items and paintings in the interiors. Conversely, the river and surrounding trees from the original Revolver map are absent in this continuity.
• The slightly more intact appearance of Two Crows in Red Dead Redemption 2, along with its geographic features, resembles Broken Creek from Red Dead Revolver, the childhood home of protagonist Red Harlow. Like Twin Rocks, this location is also inspired by a level in Revolver.
  • According to the newspapers, a gang known as the Two Crows Boys once operated in the area. However, they were all either killed or arrested by Marshal Leigh Johnson in a shootout.
• The characters who make cameo appearances in Red Dead Redemption: Multiplayer appear to have been altered slightly to fit with the Redemption Universe’s more serious tone and realistic world-building.
  • Red Harlow's Redemption model closely resembles his original appearance in Revolver, with similar overall attributes but slight adjustments and a greater level of detail to match Redemption's graphical upgrades. His long-sleeved shirt has a bluer shade, his hat appears smaller with a few added holes, and his facial features are more reflective of Native American heritage.
  • In Revolver, Buffalo Soldier is identified as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, though the specific regiment he serves in is never clarified. In contrast, his character model in Redemption states that he is a Sergeant from Easy Troop, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, indicated by the crossed cavalry sabers on his cap (two on the top, with an 'E' on the bottom).
• The real world Mississippi River and State of Louisiana are referenced several times throughout the Red Dead series. Louisiana is implied to be Natalie Kelley's home state in the Revolver Universe.
  • With the release of Red Dead Redemption 2 confirming the Lannahechee River being located in the State of Lemoyne in this universe, confirms the case of a retcon, with all previous mentions to the Mississippi River since Red Dead Redemption being retconned as Lannahechee mentions.

Redemption-to-Undead Nightmare Reboots

• In the introductory cutscene of the DLC, John Marston is seen riding a wagon toward Beecher's Hope alone. When he enters the house, Abigail mentions that she thought Uncle was still with him, working in the fields, to which John replies, "He went into town a few hours ago, after we busted that hammer working out in the meadow." However, this event never occurs during the original "home period" of Red Dead Redemption.
  • The main universe counterpart of this mission would be "A Continual Feast".
• Uncle dies during Edgar Ross' attack on the farm; he was never shot in the head by John Marston as depicted in the beginning of the DLC.
  • His grave is missing from the resting spot atop the hill.
• Professor MacDougal claims to have left his bag with Nastas, but when he goes to retrieve it, he finds out Nastas has been infected with the virus. This is anachronistic to the original timeline, as Nastas died from a gunshot to the head at Bearclaw Camp.
  • Another canon event that is overlooked, is MacDougal's departure from West Elizabeth during "The Prodigal Son Returns (To Yale)". Newspaper articles indicate that MacDougal was only residing in Blackwater for a period of six months, with his stay concluding in said mission; he never returned to West Elizabeth afterward.
• Nigel West Dickens decided to flee New Austin and West Elizabeth to evade further repercussions for selling his elixir, as he was finally apprehended by a patrolman in "Bear One Another's Burdens". Inexplicably, Dickens has returned to New Austin and is now temporarily stationed at Fort Mercer.
• Seth has enslaved an undead Moses, and when John encounters them both, he is surprised to see Moses alive. The line "You remember Moses, John?" along with John's reaction suggests that, in this timeline, Moses was murdered by John after they broke him out of jail.
  • Although he may have been infected while alive, as Moses appears at the beginning of the Undead Nightmare debut trailer, where he is seen digging up a grave in Coot's Chapel. While doing so, a Bruiser charges at him and devours him.
• Landon Ricketts now resides in Casa Madrugada, completely disregarding his return to the U.S. three years before the Epilogue begins in 1914.
• Ayauhtéotl claims that Abraham Reyes led a crusade to find the ancient Aztec mask after hearing a rumor about its power, which inspired him to believe he could use it to conquer Mexico. In Red Dead Redemption, after the mission "An Appointed Time", Reyes tells Marston that he plans to lead an army of rebels to the Capital, with hopes of overthrowing Ignacio Sanchez and become the new President of Mexico. Subsequent issues of The Blackwater Ledger confirm that this indeed came to pass.
• Dan Houser, former Vice President of Rockstar Games and creative writer, stated that the story of Undead Nightmare takes place during the "home-period" of the main story, which Rockstar imagines lasted several months. However, when "On a Pale Horse" begins, a subtitle indicates that a few months have passed since the outbreak, and we now see that John Marston is dead. In the main universe, though, the period in which John is rebuilding his ranch lasts only a few days or a week at most.
  • John Marston was buried by his wife and son with a flask of water he allegedly cherished. This flask is the bottle of holy water given to him by Mother Superior Calderón, which could explain why John was able to retain his humanity while being under the influence of the curse.
  • In "The Last Enemy That Shall Be Destroyed", John Marston dies wearing his regular Rancher Outfit. However, when a zombified Marston emerges from his grave, he is seen wearing a damaged version of the Elegant Suit instead.
  • If you examine John's head while he's wearing the Undead Cowboy Outfit, you'll notice what appears to be a bullet hole above his right eye. Perhaps this instant death by a gunshot to the head was a backhanded "thank you" for stopping the undead outbreak.
    • The bullet wound suggests a change in the events surrounding John's death, as in the main universe, his head was the only part of his body not hit by Ross' firing squad. Additionally, not only is he wearing a different outfit, but the outfit itself shows no bullet holes.
  • A 1914 newspaper reveals that Seth made a fortune after discovering treasure in the Tall Trees region. However, in "On a Pale Horse", Seth is seen in Mexico, stealing the Aztec mask to restart the curse all over again.
• Side-mission characters, such as Alma Horlick and Jimmy Saint, are implied to have died prior to the events seen in the Undead Nightmare timeline.
  • In Undead Nightmare, Alma's grave indicates that she died in 1911. This suggests that Alma may have already been deceased when John Marston first encounters her, which would explain why she claims she can't leave the church but mysteriously vanishes after her husband's grave is discovered.
  • Jimmy Saint is a naïve journalist from the American East Coast, writing for a magazine based in New York City. Upon meeting him, John Marston rescues him from various gang hideouts, beginning at Benedict Point and ending at Tesoro Azul. After being saved for the final time, Jimmy expresses regret for coming to New Austin and decides to pursue other ventures, never to be seen again. However, in Undead Nightmare, Jimmy returns as one of the undead in Tumbleweed’s cemetery. His gravestone reveals that he died in 1911 from a gunshot and bears the inscription: "A humorist who rarely had the last laugh."
• D.S. MacKenna is an early pioneer of professional filmmaking, with aspirations of starting an emerging film industry in New Austin. John Marston can encounter this Stranger in both timelines, though the Undead Nightmare Universe erases the open-ended conclusion given to MacKenna's story in the Redemption Universe.
  • MacKenna can initially be found in the backroom of the cinema in Armadillo, posed in dramatic contemplation on the bed. He promises a reward to Marston if he can bring him the deed to a ranch just south of Armadillo by beating its owner in a game of Liar's Dice in Thieves' Landing, as well as retrieve his lead actor, Silas Spatchcock, who has convinced himself that the gunslinger role he plays is real. MacKenna worries that Spatchcock is going to get himself killed. After completing Marston's side of the quest, the player encounters MacKenna at the Pacific Union Railroad Camp once they gain access to West Elizabeth, where he sits by a fire carving a piece of wood. When Marston asks him what happened to his film studio dreams, MacKenna explains that he lost everything he invested after filming was delayed by weather and Spatchcock ran off with the cameraman to Canada. After Marston wishes him good luck once again, MacKenna replies, "It'll take more than luck to stop me!"
  • MacKenna can be found in Plainview after Marston saves the camp from the undead. He sees the undead apocalypse as the perfect opportunity to create a blockbuster film, claiming it will be aimed at "the lowest common denominator." He has already tied up one zombie as an actor and asks Marston to capture a Retcher to assist him in his misguided attempt to make a film about the undead. However, after MacKenna releases the two zombies "to act," he is quickly devoured.