Released in late 2018,Red Dead Redemption 2was swiftly and loudly crowned as one of the greatest video games of all time. While the game certainly had its detractors, with some even arguing that it wasa step backward from the firstRed Dead Redemption, these sorts of criticisms have largely softened over the years.
But even withRed Dead Redemption 2’s unparalleled legacy and impact, there are still many gamers who have yet to check it out, and even more who haven’t delved back into it since 2018. Although it hasn’t gotten any major updates or (tragically) DLC, it’s still a game that feels considerably different to play today than it did nearly seven years ago, especially as pre-launch expectations have mostly melted away. In other words, if it’s been a while since the last timeRed Dead Redemption 2was booted up, then 2025 might be the year to jump back into it, reliving its incredible story and industry-leading open world.
Red Dead Redemption 2’s gameplay is solid, but even the game’s staunchest supporters will agree that it’s not the main attraction. Rather, the experience hinges on its world-class narrative, which rivals and even surpasses many of the best western books, films, and TV shows. The complex and emotionally devastating story of the Van der Linde Gang is immediately riveting, but it’s arguably best enjoyed on a second or even third playthrough, and not just because players can experiment with different honor-based decisions.
There are a lot of great video game stories, but just like in the realms of literature and film, nuance can be hard to come by in the medium.Red Dead Redemption 2is one such nuanced story, and many of its subtleties are hard to grasp the first time around. Dutch’s myriad microscopic manipulations, Arthur’s complicated desire for Dutch’s approval, and the corruption of Dutch by bad actors like Micah Bell are all among the smaller, but no less important, details that can be difficult to fully understand without knowing how the story ends.
There have no doubt been many gamers who playedRed Dead Redemption 1for the first time following their firstRDR2playthrough. For these individuals, there could be evenmore value in replayingRDR2, as the first game offers new context.
As previously mentioned,Red Dead Redemption 2did suffer some negative feedbackat launch, as hard as that may be to believe in the wake of its success. While no game is perfect, and there are certainly valid criticisms that could be leveled againstRDR2, a lot of the disappointment the game inspired stemmed from how different it is from its predecessor, not to mention AAA games in general. The slower pace of the gameplay and the at-times grueling realism, for example, were looked upon unfavorably by those looking for a more traditional or fast-paced experience.
But playing the game today, the benefits of these creative choices are a bit more obvious; it may be easier for those whofelt frustrated byRDR2at launchto meet the game on its own terms, as it were. Indeed, the at-times meandering pace of the story and lackadaisical movement, shooting, and inventory mechanics enrich the experience, fostering a stronger connection to Arthur and the game world after so many hours. ReplayingRed Dead Redemption 2in 2025, with the dust of its initial release settled, may allow for some to better enjoy the less conventional aspects of its narrative and gameplay.
Red Dead Redemption 2
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America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.
