For everyone · 6 min read · updated on Oct 9, 2026

RedM explained: getting started with Western roleplay

What RedM is, what you need to play and how to find a Western RP server that fits you. Plus the basics for server owners: frameworks, license key, txAdmin and getting listed.

Dusty main streets, a packed saloon, a sheriff hunting down a gang – and every single character played by a real person. That's what RedM is all about. This guide covers what RedM actually is, how to get started as a player, and what you should know if you want to run your own Western RP server.

What is RedM?

RedM is a multiplayer modification for Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC. It's built by Cfx.re, the same team behind FiveM for GTA V. With RedM you can play on independent community servers, each with its own rules, scripts and world.

One thing to get straight right away: RedM is not the same thing as Red Dead Online. Red Dead Online is Rockstar's official online mode with its own progression and missions. RedM runs completely separately. Your Red Dead Online character, cash and progress don't carry over to RedM servers – and nothing from RedM carries back.

Most RedM servers are built around roleplay: you play a character who lives, works and interacts with other characters in the Old West. There are also more laid-back servers focused on hunting, survival or just exploring together.

What you need as a player

The requirements are pretty simple:

A legitimate PC copy of Red Dead Redemption 2. Console versions won't work. It doesn't matter whether you bought it on Steam, the Epic Games Store or the Rockstar Games Launcher – it just needs to be installed and running properly.
The RedM client. It's free; download it from the official RedM website. Don't grab it from third-party sites, which often host modified or outdated files.
A microphone. Most RP servers use in-game voice chat. Without a mic, roleplay gets tough fast.
Discord. Almost every server handles rules, whitelist applications and support through Discord.

The first time you launch RedM, it looks for your RDR2 install and downloads a few extra files. That can take a little while. After that you'll land in the main menu with the server browser.

Tip: Launch RDR2 once in single player before using RedM, so your graphics settings and launcher sign-in are already sorted.

How to join a server

There are basically two ways in:

The server browser in the RedM client. Filter by name, language or tags and connect directly.
Direct connect. Many servers hand out a join link or address. In the client, press F8 to open the console and type something like connect address.

The server browser only tells you what's online right now, though – not whether the community is any good. That's what the RedM toplist on GS2THETOP is for: you'll see measured player counts from the last 72 hours and reviews from real players, covering things like atmosphere & RP or beginner-friendliness. Rankings are based purely on player votes from the current month.

Before you connect, take a look at the server rules. Many Western RP servers require a whitelist: you apply with a short character backstory or answer a few questions about the rules. It sounds like a hassle, but it usually makes for a calmer, more serious experience.

Typical Western RP roles

The appeal of RedM is that you're not just riding and shooting – you're living a life in the game world. Common roles include:

Sheriff and deputies: Keep the peace, arrest outlaws, run investigations and often work alongside a judge.
Outlaws and gangs: Stagecoach robberies, bank jobs, cattle rustling – usually with clear rules so it stays fun for everyone involved.
Ranchers and farmers: Raise animals, work the fields, sell your goods. Laid-back RP with plenty of interaction.
Hunters and trappers: The huge map and its wildlife are made for this. Pelts and meat go to traders or craftspeople.
Merchants and craftspeople: General store, blacksmith, saloon owner, tailor. They keep the server's economy moving.
Doctors and undertakers: Key roles on serious servers that kick off a lot of stories.

As a newcomer, you don't need to commit right away. Plenty of players start out as a simple laborer or hunter, get to know the town and its people, and find their role from there.

How it differs from FiveM RP

If you've played FiveM, a lot will feel familiar. Still, RedM plays quite differently:

Area	FiveM (GTA V)	RedM (RDR2)
Setting	Modern big city	Old West, around 1899
Getting around	Cars, bikes, planes	Horses, wagons, trains, on foot
Communication	Phone, radio	Telegrams, letters, meeting in person
Pace	Often fast, lots of chases	Usually slower, more travel and daily life
Economy	Jobs, businesses, car dealing	Crafting, ranching, hunting, trade

The biggest difference is pace. With no phones or fast cars, travel takes longer, messages take time to arrive, and encounters happen more often by chance on the trail. A lot of players love exactly that: the RP feels more personal and less frantic.

The RedM scene is also smaller than the FiveM scene. That means fewer options, but often tighter-knit communities where people get to know each other quickly.

For owners: RedM server basics

If you want to set up your own RedM server, you'll recognize a lot from FiveM. Both use the same server software from Cfx.re.

License key and txAdmin

License key: Just like FiveM, you need a server license key, which you create on the Cfx.re Portal.
Server software: You use the same server artifacts as FiveM. In your config you set the server to run for RDR2 (gamename rdr3).
txAdmin: The web panel for managing your server is included with RedM too. Use it to start the server, manage players, schedule restarts and set up a base install with recipes.

Setup details change from time to time, so always check the current official documentation, which also covers RedM.

Frameworks: VORP and RSG

A framework gives your RP its foundation: characters, inventory, money, jobs and a lot more. Two frameworks are especially common on RedM:

VORP: One of the best-known RedM frameworks, with a large selection of compatible scripts. You'll find the docs at docs.vorp.dev.
RSG: Another widely used framework whose structure is modeled on QBCore from the FiveM world. If you know QBCore, you'll usually find your way around faster.

Which one fits better depends on your team, your scripts and your concept. The key thing: scripts are usually tied to a specific framework. So pick early and try not to switch halfway through.

Tip: Nail down your server concept (region, time period, rules, whitelist or not) before you start collecting scripts.

Listing your server on GS2THETOP

Once your server is running and publicly reachable, you can add it to GS2THETOP here. Just enter your cfx.re join link and the data is pulled from the public server list – it takes about 30 seconds.

With the free gs2thetop script, which works for RedM as well, you verify that you own the server, show live player counts and can reward players in-game automatically when they vote for you. Your server then shows up in the RedM toplist. Since only votes from the current month count, new servers get a fair shot every month.

Wrapping up

RedM is how you experience Red Dead Redemption 2 as a shared Western roleplay – separate from Red Dead Online, with servers for every taste. As a player, all you need is a legit PC copy, the RedM client and a bit of curiosity. As an owner, you benefit from a lot working just like FiveM, but you should choose your framework deliberately. You'll find more articles in our guides section.