The Red Dead Redemption franchise has brought gamers emotional stories that bring the Wild West era into the spotlight. The harshness of the American frontier during this time is wonderfully illustrated throughout Red Dead Redemption, and the series' characters help bring the lawless nature of that world to life even further.
When it comes to the Rockstar roster, Red Dead Redemption and GTA have been the developer's heavy-hitters. While both franchises dive into serious themes, the latter is seen more as the fun-loving series, especially when it comes to a lot of the characters in its cast. Both boast great characters, but Red Dead Redemption is unlikely to ever follow the usual GTA formula.
15 Years Ago, Red Dead Redemption Showed Gamers the Harshness of the Wild West
Red Dead Redemption is now 15 years old, and since then, Rockstar's Wild West story still packs an emotional punch to the gut.
While GTA Stays Focused On Over-the-Top Personalities, Red Dead Redemption May Stick to Nuance
Red Dead Redemption's World is Far More Grounded
Granted, GTA isn't exactly an unrealistic game, but each story feels far more like a Hollywood action movie, while Red Dead Redemption serves as a dramatic period piece. Because the latter's world is more grounded in reality, the acting and the characters' personalities are more subtle in comparison. Red Dead Redemption has its own crazy moments, but the story being told throughout the franchise is a lot more serious in tone overall.
Right now, there are no official plans for Red Dead Redemption 3, but if Rockstar ever announces such a project, the story is likely to continue this energy. Not only would it be important to make the tone of the entire franchise cohesive, but it would also be the best way to keep Red Dead Redemption separate from GTA.
It's unclear who will take on the lead role in a potential Red Dead Redemption 3. Sadie Adler, Charles Smith, or a prequel following Dutch and Hosea are strong possibilities.
With GTA 6 Around the Corner, the Next Red Dead Redemption Needs to Stand Out
- GTA 6 is scheduled to be released on May 26, 2026.
- The game was originally slated for fall 2025, but it was recently delayed.
- GTA 6 will launch for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
The planned launch of GTA 6 next year is going to take up a lot of space in the industry for a while. Even 12 years later, GTA 5 and GTA Online are still hugely successful, so there's no telling just how much longevity GTA 6 will achieve in the years after its release. Once GTA 6 arrives, Red Dead Redemption 3 is hopefully on the schedule next. If that's the case, a third chapter will need to fully embrace its own franchise's identity, so it's clear that it offers something different from its fellow Rockstar series.
The GTA franchise still has plenty of wonderfully crafted characters, but the more focused approach to Red Dead Redemption's cast offers an intimate story that serves as a refreshing contrast to the former's wild antics. However, it's possible that GTA 6 may actually be taking some notes from its Wild West counterpart.
Rockstar has revealed several locations to expect in GTA 6: Vice City, Leonida Keys, Grassrivers, Port Gellhorn, Ambrosia, and Mount Kalaga.
GTA 6 Teases a Deeper Dive Into Relationships
- GTA 6's protagonists are a couple, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos.
GTA 6 is embracing a dual protagonist approach this time around. In GTA 5, Michael, Franklin, and Trevor made for an incredibly entertaining trio, but Lucia and Jason's relationship seems a bit more serious. The Bonnie and Clyde-inspired duo is bound to get into some harrowing situations, and their relationship adds more emotional weight. This is an exciting change for the franchise, but it hopefully isn't too similar to Red Dead Redemption's character approach, so the two franchises can continue to feel distinct.
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
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.
