Fans may forget that the Red Dead series began as a more linear experience in 2004 with Red Dead Revolver. After that, Rockstar expanded the scope of their Western epic with the release of Red Dead Redemption in 2010. The game now featured an open world to explore, along with a mission structure similar to Grand Theft Auto's.
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Fans liked it, but the next game, Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018, changed everything. There aren’t many Westerns that are open-world experiences akin to either Red Dead Redemption game. However, there is one specific game fans may enjoy, along with similar open-world experiences that represent the joy of freedom in big, open natural environments.
Gun
Before Red Dead There Was…
Gun
- Released
- November 8, 2005
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Neversoft, Beenox, Rebellion Developments
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Shooter
The most obvious comparison to Red Dead Redemption has to be Gun, which is also an open-world Western. It's smaller in scope, with fewer ways to explore, but it features everything one could want in a Western at the time, including cowboys, revolvers, and riding horses.
While the name was silly then and is still silly now, it is a game that is fun to go back to for a more arcade-like open-world experience. Gun did come to the Xbox 360, but it is sadly not backwards compatible on modern Xbox systems. However, it is available on Steam and should work on a Steam Deck for those interested.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Red Dead Medieval Edition
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Released
- February 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Warhorse Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action-Adventure, Open-World
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is like a medieval version of Red Dead Redemption. It can be taken as a simulator in a more realistic, non-fantasy world. Everything players do matters, from getting mud on their clothes to not taking a bath, because NPCs will notice.
Building up a life from squalor to riches is a lengthy endeavor, but it’s an engaging one thanks to well-written characters and a tough combat system that is fun to master. There’s a big open world to explore on foot or on horseback, and everything players do could kill them, making each encounter risky but rewarding.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
An Important, Must-Play Open-World Game
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Released
- November 11, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim does take place in a fantasy world, and it’s hard to believe that fans of Red Dead Redemption would not have also played it. Launching in 2011, Skyrim helped establish the modern open-world genre and is readily available on most modern consoles out there.
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Players can create their character, and after a brief hour-long intro section, they are given the entire world to explore at their leisure, either in first or third-person. There are horses, but it’s more fun to discover castle ruins or crypts on foot. There are sprawling cities to explore, but Red Dead Redemption fans will also appreciate the beauty of Skyrim’s untouched nature as they explore.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
A Link To Freedom
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
Unless players had a Wii U or Switch in 2017, they may have missed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but they likely heard about it. Even though the game is almost a decade old, it still feels fresh thanks to the recent update on Switch 2.
Red Dead Redemption fans owe it to themselves to get one of these three systems to play Breath of the Wild, because it is unlike anything else there, including in the Zelda series, since it is more non-linear than most. The hauntingly empty open-world of Hyrule is dotted with dungeons, enemy camps, and small towns that survivors of a post-apocalyptic calamity set up in an effort to rebuild society, sort of like the great American Frontier.
Ghost Of Tsushima
A Samurai Western
Ghost of Tsushima
- Released
- July 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
Ghost of Tsushima is like a samurai Western, and Red Dead Redemption fans would eat this one up. Taking place on the Japanese island of Tsushima, players will inhabit the role of Jin, a samurai who is trying to quell a Mongolian invasion of his country, which is based on real history.
One of the coolest things in a Western game like Red Dead Redemption is the quickdraw showdowns, and Ghost of Tsushima has similar showdown mechanics but with samurai swords. Also, for a more authentic Japanese cinema feel, players can turn on a black and white filter as they fight and explore this open-world samurai game.
Rise Of The Ronin
Modern Society Catches Up
Rise of the Ronin
- Released
- March 22, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Adventure, Open-World
Rise of the Ronin is another open-world samurai game, and this one may appeal to Red Dead Redemption fans even more than Ghost of Tsushima. This game takes place around the turn of the century, when the Japanese borders were opened up. Western traditions and technology were coming into the country, such as guns, which players can wield on top of an assortment of melee weapons.
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It feels good to switch between a pistol and a katana in combat, and there are even wilder weapons, like a flamethrower, that can be acquired. Both games share thematic points of modern society starting to overtake more traditional ways of living, be it samurai life or the freedom of the Western Frontier.
Assassin's Creed Origins
Walk Like An Egyptian
Assassin's Creed Origins
- Released
- October 27, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Open-World
Assassin's Creed Origins was the first game in the Assassin's Creed series to incorporate RPG elements. Like the name suggests, it also sets up the Assassin's Brotherhood, which would go on for centuries, acting as a sort of prequel to the AC series.
The game takes place in Egypt, where players can travel across sandy dunes and visit small towns and ancient landmarks such as the Pyramids of Giza. The Egyptian sands bear a close resemblance to the dusty plains of the American Frontier in Red Dead Redemption, along with featuring dangerous animals to be wary of.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Back To Mexico
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Released
- June 26, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach takes place on two continents, Mexico and Australia, the former of which was a major location in the first Red Dead Redemption game. The continents feature a lot of rough terrain that is both sandy and mountainous, without a lot of big landmarks in between, making it a challenge for players to navigate the harsh terrain.
That’s because society lives underground in this post-apocalyptic future, where Porters (which is what players assume the role of) are needed to keep networks alive between bunkers. The gameplay loop is simple, but there are exciting cinematic moments throughout, as players can invade bandit camps stealthily or with their guns at the ready.
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