Red Dead Redemption Nintendo Switch edition is finally here, and it’s a release that feels like both a gift and a reminder. Ported by Double Eleven Studios with support from Rebellion North, this version mirrors the PS4 release, bundling in the full story campaign and Undead Nightmare expansion. Multiplayer is absent, but the fact that you can now take one of Rockstar’s best games on the go is worth celebrating.
The game runs at 1080p docked, and on paper, that matches the PS4 build. Compared to the old Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, the Nintendo Switch Red Dead Redemption looks sharper, with distant details and fences no longer flickering like static. Still, the FXAA anti-aliasing solution looks rougher than the PS4’s FSR2 or even the old 360’s MSAA. In handheld mode, especially on a Switch OLED, the softer image is less noticeable, and honestly, this is how I’d recommend most people play.
A New Way to Approach the Classic Tale
Content-wise, the port is solid. You get the full story of John Marston hunting down his former gang, plus the excellent Undead Nightmare campaign. For anyone who missed out back when Red Dead Redemption was console-exclusive, this is your best chance to play the aftermath of RDR2 and see what Arthur’s sacrifice really meant for the Marston family. It’s not a full remaster, textures, LODs, and even foliage pop-in are nearly identical to the 2010 release, but the Switch handles it well enough that you can still enjoy one of Rockstar’s best stories.
Red Dead Redemption on the Switch gives players the aftermath of Arthur Morgan’s sacrifice in RDR2. Government agents force John Marston to track down his former gang, which takes him across New Austin, Mexico, and beyond. The way his old allies greet and treat him often feels strange compared to how RDR2 ended. Dutch, Javier, and Bill seem more dismissive or one-dimensional here, which doesn’t perfectly align with the deeper arcs established in the prequel.
That said, the story also answers lingering questions. You see how John ultimately chooses the same path as Arthur, sacrificing himself so Abigail and Jack can live free. While the continuity may not be flawless, it does tie the saga together and makes revisiting these characters on Nintendo Switch for RDR 2 fans the best way to bridge the two games. The writing still shines, especially in quieter moments on the ranch or when dealing with John’s complicated relationships.
Is the Red Dead Redemption Nintendo Switch Port Playable?
Performance hovers around 30fps, and for the most part, it’s consistent. I noticed dips into the high-20s when the screen got crowded, big shootouts at farms or the saloon in Armadillo, but nothing game-breaking. The frame pacing stutters occasionally, though less often than I feared. The day-night cycle, weather, and lighting hold up shockingly well, while vegetation looks flat. Reflections and water, on the other hand, look great. Sound design is also just as good as I remember, from the creak of leather saddles to the eerie howls at night.
As for gameplay, aim assist works well when fighting from cover, but I struggled with horse controls. Sprinting while riding took me a while to master. On top of that, building barricades or testing chaos at places like McFarlane’s Ranch shows how limited the old AI can be. Sometimes, NPCs just phase through obstacles, other times they detour clumsily. It’s fun experimenting, but the limitations are pretty obvious.
Free roam chaos is still where the game shines. I spent an evening hogtying townsfolk at Thieves’ Landing, only to realize the AI quickly frees itself after a dozen captures. Moving my experiments outdoors, I built a blockade at McFarlane’s bridge and watched travelers awkwardly try to navigate around it. It’s janky, but it’s also hilarious and reminds you of just how alive the world feels, even 14 years later.
Should You Play it?
Where does this leave us? Red Dead Redemption on the Switch is both faithful and flawed. I wish Rockstar had gone for a full remaster, but I can’t deny how great it feels to finally play this game handheld. For new players who couldn’t access the original, it’s still a must-try. Personally, I never got to play the original as a kid, and this was my only way of accessing John’s story. For Rockstar fans, it’s a nostalgic trip that exposes Rockstar’s habit of reselling old content for full price.
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