A Wild West Playground with a Tarnished Soul

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Red Dead Online is a game that has long lived in the shadow of its illustrious single-player counterpart. It's a sprawling, open-world Wild West playground that could have been a diamond in the rough, but it feels more like an abandoned frontier town left to decay.

Gameplay (★★★☆☆): When you saddle up and ride into the vast expanses of Red Dead Online, you can't help but be captivated by its potential. The core gameplay mechanics, inherited from Red Dead Redemption 2, are still there. The gunfights are gritty, the world is beautifully detailed, and the promise of forging your own cowboy legacy is enticing. It's this promise that keeps players coming back despite the game's issues.

Abandoned by Rockstar (★★☆☆☆): The most frustrating aspect of Red Dead Online is the feeling that Rockstar has left it to fend for itself in the lawless wilderness. Updates are sporadic, and it's clear that the studio's focus has shifted to other endeavors. This abandonment is felt through the lack of meaningful content updates and the absence of quality-of-life improvements that players have been clamoring for.

Neglected and Cheater's Paradise (★☆☆☆☆): It's not just the neglect; Red Dead Online is also plagued by rampant cheating. Hackers run amok, ruining the experience for everyone else. Rockstar's response to this issue has been lackluster at best, leaving legitimate players feeling powerless and frustrated.

In conclusion, Red Dead Online is a game with untapped potential, still riding the coattails of its single-player predecessor. It's a Wild West playground that desperately needs some love and attention from its creators. While the core gameplay can provide moments of enjoyment, the neglect from Rockstar and the unchecked cheaters tarnish what could have been a true gem of an online experience. Saddle up with caution, for this frontier is wild and unforgiving in more ways than one.