Published Jun 25, 2026, 6:00 PM EDT
Paul Farrelly is a Contributing Writer for Screen Rant’s Gaming section and the founder of GeekGasm.org, a site dedicated to celebrating all things gaming, from triple A blockbusters to weird and wonderful indie hits. Based in Louth, Ireland, Paul has spent years writing about games, pop culture, and tech, turning his lifelong love of gaming into a career that lets him talk (probably too much) about what makes this industry so endlessly fascinating.
He’s previously written and collaborated with several entertainment outlets, including LADbible, gaining a wide perspective on how gaming fits into today’s pop culture conversation. His work blends genuine enthusiasm with thoughtful analysis, exploring how design, storytelling, and community have made gaming one of the most creative mediums around.
When he’s not glued to a controller or keyboard, Paul’s usually spinning vinyl, plotting his next horror marathon, or debating which Resident Evil entry really reigns supreme.
Red Dead Redemption and its sequel are two of the greatest cowboy western fantasy games ever brought to our screens. The tale of John Marston will forever go down in history as one of the best character-driven narratives in gaming. The only thing better than playing an epic western like Red Dead Redemption is doing so for free. Thanks to Rockstar Games, you now have a chance to play as John Marston and a lot more besides.
With pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI now live, there are some added bonuses to handing over your cash early. As long as you pre-order either the Standard edition or Ultimate edition, you get plenty of free bonus goodies. The best of which has to be a month's free subscription to GTA+ which opens up an amazing library of games for you to try out completely free. The perfect chance to explore New Austin if you've never done so before.
Red Dead Redemption is more than 16 years old, but it still holds up as one of the best western games on any platform. It has spawned many games since that mimic its western setting and gameplay mechanics, but few can capture that lightning in the bottle that the original had. The tale of John Marston trying to leave the life of an outlaw behind him in the dying west feels timeless and iconic, and only its sequel managed to improve on Rockstar Games greatness.
As long as you pre-order Grand Theft Auto VI before launch on November 19, 2026, a month's subscription to GTA+ is yours. Do remember to cancel after your free month though if you don't want to be charged. The GTA+ subscription gives you monthly rewards for GTA Online, but it also gives you access to a library of stellar games. Red Dead Redemption is the star of the show, but the library also includes Bully, GTA V, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and L.A. Noir to name but a few.
So, not only are Rockstar Games selling you one of the most anticipated games of the decade, which you can play early if you know how, but you're also getting some in-game bonus goodies and a month's subscription to access a library of classic games. The only downside is that one month might not be enough to fully explore this amazing catalog of games. Red Dead Redemption alone could easily take up a month of your life as you track down Dutch and the old gang for some much-needed retribution.
It's starting to look like November isn't going to be a very productive month for us gamers. It's time to book some time off work, close the curtains and whittle away the hours playing Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto VI. Sure, who needs sleep anyway? Plenty to keep us busy until Red Dead Redemption 3 releases, that's for sure. Any excuse to relive John Marston's adventure one more time.
Systems
Released May 18, 2010
ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
Developer(s) Rockstar San Diego
Engine rockstar advanced game engine
English (US) ·