Summary
In the wake of the massively successfulRed Dead Redemption 2, gaming audiences are on the edge of their seats for information about another entry in the franchise. There’s no shortage offun ideas regarding whatRDR3could look like, but Rockstar itself has been notably tight-lipped about the matter. The developer may discussRDR3sometime afterGTA 6launches, but for now, fans are in the dark.
One of the biggest challenges facing Rockstar when it comes toRed Dead Redemption 3is its narrative premise. Again, fans have speculated at length about what character could helm the next game, with Charles Smith and Sadie Adler being among audiences' favorites for the role. If these characters, or someone like Hosea ifRDR3is another prequel, took over as protagonist, it would come with some notable pros and cons. Of course, the pros are that they are beloved and well-written characters with interesting stories to tell, but a game with one of them in the leading spot could stray too far from whatRed Dead Redemptionis about.
IfRed Dead Redemption 3were to be another prequel, as some have suggested, then it runs the risk of retreading old ground and lessening the impact of both its story and the story ofRDR2.This is because players already know what is going to happen and, to some extent, know what has happened already, as much ofRDR2focuses on the Van der Linde Gang reflecting on their shared past.Sure, it would be nice to see familiar faces like Arthur or see how John and Abigail first fell in love, but this would be fan service more than strong, self-contained storytelling and not a route Rockstar is likely to take.
Alternatively,Red Dead Redemption 3could take place after the first game andeither follow Jack Marstonor a member ofRDR2’s supporting cast, like Sadie or Charles. However, this poses some issues as well since it would be set in the mid-1910s at the earliest—a time period that is at odds with the Wild West culture. If the sequel followed Sadie or Charles after the events ofRed Dead Redemption 2, then the series could start to feel like an anthology, losing the sense of cohesion thatRed Dead Redemption 1and2have.
For the longest time,Red Dead Revolverhas felt like an awkward precursor to the more mainstream and critically acclaimedRed Dead Redemptiongames. It’s not exactly clear where the game falls in theRed Dead Redemptiontimelineor if it’s even canon; many fans have speculated thatRevolveris meant to be a legend within theRed Dead Redemptionuniverse rather than an actual series of events. Leaning into this interpretation could yield great results for Rockstar.
Rockstar could craft a unique narrative forRed Dead Revolver 2while also building on the foundations of the first game!
With theRed Deadseries in a bit of a bind with regard to its setting, maybe some spin-off title set in the ‘Red Dead Revolveruniverse’ would make the most sense. Rockstar could essentially do the inverse of what it did withRed Dead Redemption: make a newRed Dead Revolvertitle a spiritual successor to theRed Dead Redemptiongames.
Leveraging the notion ofRevolverexisting in its own canon, Rockstar could make a completely unique and separate story that isn’t tied to the events of the previous two games.Red Dead Revolver 2could build upon the narrative and gameplay foundations of the firstRed Dead Revolver, free to experiment with different characters, plots, and mechanics, as it would only be tangentially connected toRed Dead Redemption.
Red Dead Redemption 2
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.
