Why Red Dead Redemption 2 Isn’t the Great Sequel Everyone Says it is
Red Dead Redemption 2 is universally celebrated as a crowning achievement in gaming, a title that sets the bar for narrative depth and open-world immersion. Yet, beneath the mountain of perfect review scores and awards, a nuanced conversation is taking place among its most dedicated players. A segment of the fanbase is voicing criticisms that challenge the game’s untouchable status, arguing that its pursuit of perfection came with significant trade-offs.
The most common critique centers on the game’s unwavering commitment to realism, which some players feel comes at the cost of smooth functionality and replayability. Actions like looting, skinning animals, and even traversing camp are intentionally slow and deliberate. While immersive on a first playthrough, this pace can become tedious when revisiting the game. As one fan noted, the original Red Dead Redemption often feels like it has “higher replayability since it’s not tedious like RDR2.”
This design philosophy extends to mission structure. The game’s strict adherence to narrative scripts can sometimes clash with player agency, making certain missions feel like interactive cutscenes rather than dynamic adventures. Critics argue that the original game offered a more liberated, if less cinematic, experience in its moment-to-moment gameplay.
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Another hotly debated topic is the constant demand for single-player story DLC. While many fans dream of exploring the Blackwater Massacre or Sadie Adler’s later years, a contingent believes the game is a complete work that needs no expansion. “Not every art needs a DLC or sequel,” argued one player, suggesting that the mystery of events like Blackwater is more powerful than any concrete depiction could be. The ambiguity, they say, fuels the story’s tragedy and the player’s imagination.
Character moments also come under scrutiny. While the core gang is deeply developed, some fans find the earlier missions with characters like Bonnie MacFarlane in the original game to have a more compelling, natural charm, despite simpler objectives.
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These critiques do not diminish Red Dead Redemption 2’s monumental achievements in storytelling, world-building, and technical artistry. Instead, they highlight that even a near-perfect game involves design choices that resonate differently with players. The very fact that this debate continues years later is a testament to the game’s complexity and the passionate community it fostered—a community comfortable enough to admire its brilliance while honestly discussing its imperfections.