Summary
- Red Dead Redemption 3 could explore a time period set after the events of the first game, potentially following Jack Marston and his experiences in World War 1.
- Another possibility for Red Dead Redemption 3 is to delve further into the past and focus on the early years of Dutch and Hosea, providing more context to the Van der Linde gang's origins.
- Alternatively, the game could revisit the time period of Red Dead Revolver, offering a comprehensive glimpse into the true Wild West and featuring classic characters like Red Harlow.
With fans hoping for a Red Dead Redemption 3, the question of what time period the game could take place in is a looming one. The past two releases for the series did well to explore the end of the Wild West, finding sensible timeframes to capture a classic outlaw feel while showcasing how industrial modernity was slowly taking control of the frontier.
Both of these games take place over the course of roughly 20 years, yet Red Dead Redemption 3 would likely have to look farther afield for the time period of its own story. Above all else, it is important that Red Dead 3 maintains the same themes as its predecessors, and so there are only a few distinct timeframes that the game could realistically explore without losing the winning framework of the wider IP.
The Possible Timeframes of Red Dead Redemption 3
With Red Dead Redemption 2 smartly deciding to take place prior to the events of the first game, one of the obvious choices for RDR3 would be to go forward in time. This potential time period would be very limited in capturing the same gameplay as the rest of the franchise, but there is still clear narrative room for Rockstar to work with.
As the events of Red Dead Redemption end in 1914, a third entry to the series could easily take off from this time period to further the series' overall story. A 1914-set Red Dead 3 could follow Jack Marston with players already taking control of him in the epilogue of 2010's RDR. The start of this setting could still focus on the final days of the Wild West, with Jack eventually fighting in World War 1 around 1917.
Upon returning from war, Jack could find his past way of life completely unsustainable, having to adapt to a rapidly industrializing world and the new form that crime takes within it. While this would sadly do away with things like horse riding and Wild West shootouts in that traditional sense, it would tell an impactful tale that logically carries forward the themes of change that RDR and RDR2 explored so well.
Of course, Red Dead Redemption 3 could just as easily be set even further in the past, with this option having a lot more wiggle room for potential narratives. An obvious plot for RDR3 could see the game explore the life of Dutch and Hosea as younger men, formulating the Van der Linde gang and even taking a young Arthur Morgan under their wing. This would add even more context to the gang's saga, which was heavily detailed in the first two games, but it would also be difficult to give a story such as this the same stakes and impact as past Red Dead titles.
Beyond this, Red Dead 3 could take the franchise back to the time period of Red Dead Revolver, with the franchise's launching title taking place in 1880. With the scale and detail of modern RDR games, this time period in RDR3 would provide the most comprehensive glimpse into the true Wild West that the series has ever seen, and could involve classic characters from Revolver such as Red Harlow.
While Red Dead Redemption and its prequel were smartly tied together by a shared narrative, the franchise has backed itself into a corner in terms of what it can explore next while matching the same expectations. Red Dead Redemption 3 will most likely go further into the 20th century or take the IP into the heart of the Old West, with each time period bringing with it its own high risks and rewards.