Even seven years later, Red Dead Redemption 2 is still praised for its realistic open world. Between fishing, hunting, dynamic NPCs, and the beauty of simply traveling from point A to point B, Red Dead Redemption 2 is partially defined by its incredibly detailed world. Such a rich world combined with a compelling story continues to keep RDR2 on the list of the best games of the 21st century.
Beyond the main objectives, there are plenty of Challenges that players can complete in order to gain rewards. RDR2 features 90 Challenges in total spread across nine categories, with one of them being Gambler Challenges. These ten Gambler Challenges feature several games that Arthur has to win, and Blackjack is one of the most frustrating of all. Right now, there has yet to be any announcement for a third Red Dead Redemption game, but if another chapter eventually gets made, Blackjack hopefully gets a big overhaul.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Just Proved It's Time For Rockstar to Pull the Trigger on a Bold Idea
The Red Dead Redemption franchise hasn't been afraid to play around with wild ideas, and it's time for Rockstar to fully dive in.
After Red Dead Redemption 2, the Next Game in the Franchise Needs to Rework How Blackjack is Played
Some of RDR2's Most Notorious Challenges
- In addition to Blackjack, Gambler Challenges also feature Poker, Five Finger Fillet, and Dominoes.
- RDR2's Gambler category features three Blackjack-focused Challenges.
Not only can finding places to play Blackjack take a while, but the process itself is incredibly time-consuming. Unlike other mini-games in this category, RDR2 doesn't allow players to skip through the NPCs' bets, which can be an agonizing experience. On top of that, it's mostly pure luck that's involved, making it a real headache for those who are completionists. Gambler Rank 8, the most notorious of the Blackjack mini-games, requires Arthur to win three Blackjack hands with three hits or more. Trying to complete this Challenge with a mini-game that is powered by an RNG and good luck can sometimes take hours, or even days, to finally accomplish. RDR2 is well-known for putting players through an emotional journey, but the Blackjack Challenges can make fans emotional for a completely different reason.
RDR2's other Challenge categories include Bandit, Herbalist, Sharpshooter, Explorer, Horseman, Survivalist, Master Hunter, and Weapons Expert.
RDR3 Needs to Either Drop Blackjack Altogether or Refine the Mini-Game
If RDR3 ever gets made, there are bound to be plenty of new features and concepts, but a lot of RDR2 features are likely to be part of the world, too. Considering how beneficial Challenges can be for rewards and upgrading Arthur Morgan, it would be surprising if RDR3 didn't have its own set of Challenges.
One of the clearest ways Blackjack could be improved is to allow players to skip through the NPCs' animations. It can really make playing Blackjack a major pain, but it's also possible that Rockstar simply wanted to make these specific challenges grueling on purpose. The amount of content in RDR2 is fantastic, but the Blackjack Challenges have proven to be some of the most frustrating moments in the game.
RDR2 is well-known for putting players through an emotional journey, but the Blackjack Challenges can make fans emotional for a completely different reason.
Red Dead Redemption 3 is Hopefully More Than Wishful Thinking
Unfortunately, it will probably be a while before RDR3 is announced, if at all. Rockstar has been hard at work on GTA 6, and with the time it took between it and GTA 5, the gap between RDR2 and RDR3 is bound to be just as long, or even longer.
GTA 6 is currently slated to launch on May 26, 2026, but this could potentially change.
However, at this point, there are hopefully at least plans for Rockstar to make RDR3. It's possible that RDR3 could be in its early conception stages, but only time will tell. Until then, Red Dead Online's fresh content can keep fans of the western series busy for a little while longer.
Red Dead Redemption 2
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 95 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
- Released
- October 26, 2018
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Engine
- RAGE
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- N/A
WHERE TO PLAY
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.
