This article contains spoilers for Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2.
The Red Dead Redemption franchise has continued to be one of the most praised action-adventure titles in the industry. Despite not having many entries in its series, the impact that Red Dead Redemption has had on the industry is unmistakable. The latest chapter, RDR2, brought forth a gripping and emotional prequel that still maintains its status as one of the best narratives in gaming.
Seven years after RDR2, one of the biggest questions among fans is what the third chapter will hold in store. RDR2 being a prequel was a compelling twist, and it's highly possible that Rockstar could repeat this formula again. If RDR3 happens to be a prequel, too, putting Dutch Van der Linde in the starring role would be a pretty clear choice.
Why Red Dead Redemption 2 Fans Should Check Out Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is making waves in the RPG genre, and its similarities to RDR2 should entice fans of the Rockstar title to check it out.
Red Dead Redemption Bringing Dutch Into the Spotlight Has Plenty of Exciting Gameplay and Story Potential
Dutch's Early Days as an Outlaw
The obvious benefit of RDR3 following Dutch is that it would give players a full-blown look at the genesis of the iconic Van der Linde gang. From meeting Hosea at a campsite on the way to Chicago to discovering Arthur Morgan as a teenage orphan, getting to see the early pieces of the story fall into place would be both thrilling and bittersweet.
While RDR2 showcased Dutch's descent into madness and RDR1 detailed his eventual demise, RDR3 could reveal a far more optimistic side of the character. Dutch had no way to know that he would inevitably succumb to the growing pressure of the quickly changing world around him. Younger and more idealistic in his ambitions for outlaw-living freedom, a younger version of Dutch could be the perfect ingredient to add an even deeper narrative gut-punch to the already emotional franchise.
There are theories that Dutch's eventual mental collapse was partially caused by the head injury he sustained in the trolley crash during "Urban Pleasures."
A Dutch Prequel Could Explore New Gameplay Mechanics
- Persuasion/charisma checks
- Dialogue trees
- An NPC management system
The heart of Dutch's personality lies in his silver-tongued ways with people. In order to lead an outlaw gang, one has to have a persuasive attitude, but Dutch may not have always been so charming. A fun extra level of challenge could be to task players with honing these persuasion skills as the story progresses. Dutch is an incredibly complex character, and actively helping him become the leader that RDR2 showcased could prove quite rewarding.
This could also pave the way for more in-depth dialogue mechanics. RDR2 has a rudimentary version of this type of NPC interaction, but Dutch would be the perfect character to explore a more detailed take on dialogue options. Also, since a prequel would potentially follow Dutch and Hosea as they worked to form the Van der Linde gang, such a story would open the doors to an NPC management system. Assigning new recruits and managing them during missions may add a deeper layer of immersion.
A younger version of Dutch could be the perfect ingredient to add an even deeper narrative gut-punch to the already emotional franchise.
GTA 6's Delay Means RDR3 May Be Much Further Away Than Hoped For
- Rockstar recently announced that GTA 6 has been delayed a full year, to May 26, 2026.
- RDR3 has yet to actually be confirmed by Rockstar.
Since RDR3 isn't even actually confirmed, there's no telling when Rockstar will get around to announcing another chapter, if at all. It's quite possible that the Red Dead Redemption franchise has run its course, but there's hopefully room for one final story. Once GTA 6 finally launches, a lot of eyes will be set on the future of Red Dead Redemption. The continuation of the series remains to be seen, but Dutch Van der Linde could be the key to making a new chapter feel fresh.
Red Dead Redemption 2
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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
