Summary

• RDR2 is the ultimate cowboy simulator thanks to its many immersive details, such as dynamic dirt on characters and stamina affected by food intake.
• The world of RDR2 feels lived in with NPCs interacting, detailed environments, and weather systems making it come alive.
• RDR3 will have big shoes to fill and may struggle to surpass the immersive details of its predecessor, so its best bet may be trying to match RDR2 but with improved graphics to enhance the little touches.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a modern classic. Between the RDR and Grand Theft Auto franchises, Rockstar Games has developed a reputation for delivering unique and high-quality experiences for gamers. Grand Theft Auto 5 was initially released two console generations ago and is still very popular, and after almost six years, Red Dead Redemption 2 has remained one of the most immersive open worlds ever created. The attention of Rockstar fans is currently directed at Grand Theft Auto 6, perhaps the most anticipated game of all time, but Red Dead Redemption 3 will probably follow a few years afterward, and it may have a hard time one-upping its predecessor.

2010's Red Dead Redemption took the formula established in Grand Theft Auto 4 and adapted it to a Wild West setting. Players were tasked with completing quests around a growing open world in order to help John Marston win back his family's freedom. In a time when open-world games were becoming the norm, the title stood out because of the size and quality of its world, one that still holds up in the Red Dead Redemption remaster. While RDR's open world is still a treat to explore, like the worlds of GTA 4 and later GTA 5, the sequel does a lot to set itself apart from previous Rockstar games, including its love for small details.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is the Ultimate Cowboy Simulator

Red Dead Redemption 2 is, without a doubt, Rockstar Games' most ambitious release to date, and years later, it still stands out as one of the most immersive games around. The immersiveness of RDR 2 is the result of its thousands of highly detailed elements. Arthur and his horse dynamically get dirty as the player traverses the world, and Arthur's hair and beard also grow progressively, requiring the player to shave and get haircuts. The player character's stamina is impacted by how well-fed he is, punishing players who don't invest time in gathering and preparing proper food. If malnourished, Arthur will aim poorly, have less stamina, and get hurt faster.

Red Dead Redemption 2's World Feels Lived In

On top of Arthur and his horse requiring care, the world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is also packed with tremendous detail. Almost every NPC can be interacted with, and the environments themselves are often breathtaking. NPCs in saloons actually eat the food on their plates piece by piece, and lootable objects in the world are often fully rendered and placed inside drawers and cabinets that must be opened. Dynamic weather systems and immaculately rendered animals make the world feel alive. The small details in Red Dead Redemption 2 combine to create one of the most lived-in feeling worlds the gaming medium has ever seen, and it's hard to imagine how a follow-up could meaningfully do much better.

Red Dead Redemption 3 Has Big Shoes to Fill

The Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer makes it seem like it will be the most visually sophisticated game of all time, and doubtlessly, Rockstar will build Red Dead Redemption 3 on the foundations laid by this new game. RDR 3 will almost certainly boast a graphical update, but it's hard to imagine the simulator-style mechanics and small details becoming that much more immersive. If the interweaving web of systems at the heart of Red Dead Redemption 2 became more intricate and realistic in its successor, they might actually run the risk of bogging down the experience rather than enhancing it.

Outside of enhancements to NPC AI and graphical presentation, it is hard to imagine that Red Dead Redemption 3's innovations will make it feel substantially more immersive than its predecessor unless Rockstar sacrifices RDR 2's balance of playability and realism. The incredible detail of Red Dead Redemption 2 is still industry-leading, and it is one of the best Rockstar games as a result. The studio's output will continue to grow and evolve, but it's extremely unlikely that its attention to small details will meaningfully expand beyond what was achieved in RDR 2. Although it is unlikely to feature more elaborate mechanics, and will likely just aim to match its predecessor, the eventual release of Red Dead Redemption 3 years from now is still something for fans to look forward to.