A colossal, super-immersive open-world RPG, complete with a cinematic storyline that rivals the most epic movie titles of all time, Red Dead Redemption 2 is smash hit action-adventure video game. Rockstar Games developed and published the title, which is the third entry in the Red Dead series and is the prequel to the game Red Dead Redemption.
Set in 1899, the story follows Arthur Morgan, an outlaw and a member of the Van der Linde gang.
If you’re a fan of this action-packed, highly engaging, super-thrilling game and you’re looking for other titles that offer a similar experience, then you’re in luck, because there are plenty of options to choose from. Below, you’ll find an overview of some of the top titles that are similar to Red Dead Redemption 2.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Game Features
 Release Date: | October 26, 2018 |
 Developer: | Rockstar Studios |
 Publisher: | Rockstar Studios |
 Platforms: | PlayStation 4 Xbox One Windows Stadia |
 Genre: | Action-adventure |
 Setting: | Wild West |
 Game Modes: | Single-player, multiplayer |
1. Red Dead Redemption 1
If you’re looking for a game that’s similar to Red Dead Redemption 2, it stands to reason that the first game in the series would is a great choice. This title, which was also developed and published by Rockstar Games, takes place in 1911, and stars the former outlaw John Marston.
Adversaries kidnap the Marston family and your goal is to hunt the enemies and save your loved ones. You’ll need to decide whether you want to be merciful or brutal in your attempt to take down the bad guys.
The game takes you on a huge journey that spans across numerous towns, farms, ranches, deserts, and other quintessential Wild West locations. Missions are completed on linear scenarios or you can choose to explore the open world in order to complete side activities and quests.
One of the side activities involves taming wild horses, and examples of other events include hunting, gambling, gathering herbs to use for crafting. As RDR2, there is an honor system, and the balance of that system determines how the NPCs will respond to you.
The key mechanic in Red Dead Redemption 1 is gunslinging. You will be able to target specific body parts in order to do lethal damage. Alternatively, can opt to take cover, disguise yourself, and sneak around. However you plan to proceed, you’ll play in the first- or third-person perspective with a wide selection of firearms at your disposal. You also have a special skill that will allow you to slowdown time so that you can improve your aim.
In addition to an honor system, Red Dead Redemption 1 also features a crime system. This system was inspired by the systems featured in GTA games. When you engage in criminal activity, a witness will head to the police station to alert the police of your crimes; however, you can choose to either bribe or kill the witness before you’re ratted on. It’s important to know that once the police are alerted and are aware of your actions, a bounty will be placed on your head and you will be hunted for a period of time.
2. Gun
Next up on our list of games that are similar to Red Dead Redemption 2 is Gun. This action-adventure RPG game was developed by Neversoft and was published by Activision. The title was released in November of 2005 on Windows (on the GoG Store only). Though it’s an older game, the story, style, settings, and characters are very reminiscent of Red Dead Redemption 2 because, as mentioned, it’s an action-adventure RPG title, and it has an open-world Wild West scenario. If you like westerns and you enjoy RPGs, then you’re definitely going to want to check out Gun.
In this game, you’ll play as the main character, Colton White. Colton is a renegade who is seeking vengeance. His story is an epic adventure that is full of brutality and lawlessness, yet you can’t help but feel bad for the guy. As you make your way across the map, you will need to complete numerous main quests and side quests, as well as explorations, puzzles, and mini-games.
You can hunt animals, such as buffalos and wild horses, as well. You will also be able to mine, play the role of the sheriff, work on farms, complete bounties, make deliveries, rescue innocent individuals, and even play poker games. Be forewarned, however, that if you do commit any crimes, the law will be notified and they will respond.
The third-person combat featured in Gun is slow-paced, yet varied, and quite brutal. You have the ability to sneak, shoot, and use melee skills. You can also fight on the back of a horse or onboard trains. As you play, you will be able to unlock weapons and upgrade the firing abilities of the weapons you are already holding. Finally, as you aim to complete your quest for personal justice, you can choose one of two paths: righteousness or vengeance. In either cases, you will encounter warring tribes, outlaws, bandits, the police, renegades, politicians, and various other entities.
3. The Witcher 3
Quite possibly the only modern RPG title that can compare to Red Dead Redemption 2 in regard to the storyline, the quality, and the immersive nature of the elements it features is The Witcher 3.
The game, which was developed and published by CD Projekt Red, was released in May of 2015 on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows, features a setting, a soundtrack, weapons, locations, kings, and empires that correctly convey where you are situated, which is a fictional medieval fantasy world that is engulfed in war.
While there are so many similarities between Red Dead Redemption 2 and the Wither 3, the character progression system of the latter title is much more straightforward and isn’t as complex. It involves leveling up, which allows you to unlock skills, and purchasing, locating, or crafting new gear as you move up in levels.
Otherwise, the game’s story is character-driven, and while there are few choices to make, the choices that you do need to make are intense. Additionally, there is an expansive open-world to explore that sites outside the linear questlines.
In The Witcher 3, you’ll play as the main character, known as Geralt of Rivia. The personality of the main character is very strong. Witchers, who are mutated humans that are able to defeat evils, such as monsters, are very unique.
As far as the gameplay goes, it’s mostly centered on locating and hunting beasts; moreover, you will collect information about the beasts and refer to your “Bestiary”, a journal that informs you of the qualities of different beasts, about the weakness of each one that you capture.
Combat occurs in the third-person perspective. You’re armed with variety of weapons, including a crossbow, a sword, grenades, and potions, as well as magic. You can select the style of gameplay, so if dodging and parrying better suites your interest, you can enhance the character in that manner. In either scenario, the combat in The Witcher 3 is quite challenging, but it isn’t too punishing, and it’s never, ever, too rapid.
Finally, the storytelling in this video game is done in a cinematic style and is quite impressive. The story follows Geralt’s loved ones, as well as his friends, such as Yennefer. Furthermore, the plot is based on finding Ciri, the surrogate daughter of Geralt, so it’s very personal. The journey will take you across a variety of maps as you seek allies and information that will help you find Ciri. There are three distinct endings, and the choices you make will influence the ending that you experience.
4. Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The most recent entry in the reinvented Legend of Zelda franchise, Breath of the Wild was developed and published by Nintendo EPD and is was released in May of 2017 on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Wii U. The setting of the video game, Hyrule, is an expansive open-world sandbox that lacks indications and markers. Similar to Red Dead Redemption 2, Breath of the Wild broke the conventions of the open-world style, as the experience it delivered wasn’t as “gamey”, but rather, it was much more immersive.
As an action RPG, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild follows the classic main character of the franchise, Link, though it’s a new iteration of him. Link is on a quest to defeat Ganondorf, and you can follow the quest in any way that you see fit.
To illustrate, you can begin by going to a town to gather information, or you can travel out further to the mountains, where you can obtain loot. You can use a variety of actions, including walking, running, climbing, swimming, and mounting; however, you do need to keep an eye on your stamina bar, as it will alert you to your limits.
For example, all of the temples, mountains, lakes, and treasures you see will be yours if you have the stamina to reach them. There are collectibles scattered about the map, and if you find them, they can be used to increase your stamina and HP. There’s also better gear located throughout the map that you can find, and you can learn new abilities, too.
Not only is the character progression in Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild lighter, you can also hunt animals and harvest fruits, vegetables, and nuts from nature. There are several resources that you can use to cook, and you can also craft tools and create potions. Moreover, you can select and utilize a vast array of weapons, and your weapons can double as tools. Finally, the game features a physical engine that indicates the any two in-game items or events collide with each other. Likewise, the mechanics and weather cycles, as well as the day and night cycles, are very realistic.
5. Grand Theft Auto V
Next on our list of games that are like Red Dead Redemption 2 is Grand Theft Auto V. This title is, of course, the fifth installment in the GTA franchise, which was developed by Rockstar North and was published by Rockstar Games. It’s a classic run and gun game that takes place in a massively expansive open-world city. The title was released in October of 2103, and it is available for PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.
In Grand Theft Auto 5, you’ll play as three criminals, and you can switch between them whenever you complete a main or side quest, or when you are exploring the city of Los Santos. Like other Rockstar games, the immersive, interactive, and dynamic nature of the city is clearly displayed.
The world that the game is set in really does feel as if it is alive, as it reacts to your movements and the decisions that you make, and there are loads of opportunities for interactions. Los Santos is a fictional representation of Los Angeles, California.
The three criminals, Trevor, Michael, and Franklin, have to complete main quests, which get more and more complex as the game progresses, as well as successfully execute a variety of heists in order to build up their funds, to achieve fame, and to boost their reputation. The storyline is the best part of the game, but the numerous side activities are great, too.
Grand Theft Auto V is played in the third-person, and the mechanics are very simplistic. You will aim, shoot, swap out weapons, run, climb, jump, and of course, you’ll drive cars after you steal them. As you complete actions, the characters will improve, just like in the other titles in the GTA series. Additionally, the game features a police persecution system in which the law reacts to the crimes that you commit.
Finally, similar to Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA V provides you with free access to its online version, GTA Online. You’ll be able to complete heists and various other criminal acts in an ever-changing, action-packed, realistic world, alongside other players.
6. Weird West
Developed by WolfEye Studio and Raphael Colantonio and published by Developer Digital, Weird West was released in March of 2022 on PS4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to play Red Dead Redemption 2 with isometric graphics and dark magic, than this is the game for you. This squad-based action RPG game, which feature real-time mechanics, is certainly unique.
The setting of this game is dark fantasy Wild West in which gunslingers and lawmen share the land with magical evil entities. You’ll play alongside a group of renegade heroes and you’ll need to make choices that will shape the world.
Every journey you embark on is different, as the Weird West world reacts to your decisions and your actions. There are six different characters to choose from, and each one is equipped with a unique segment in the game on a series of stories that are interconnected. Sandbox elements are incorporated into the game, which makes it so that the characters, factions, and locations respond to your decisions.
The combat in this game is highly immersive. You’ll shoot, kick, and use a variety of other abilities, as well as interact with lots of different elements within the environment that surrounds you; rails, explosive TNT barrels, toxins, and a lot more. It’s an open-world setting, and the choice mechanics combine seamlessly with a world and the action.
The former developers of Arkane Studio are the creators of Weird West, and the influence of titles like Prey and Dishonored is very obvious as soon as the opening credits start rolling. It really is a unique game and while a lot of elements make it stand alone, there are several features that will be sure to remind you of Red Dead Redemption 2.
7. Dying Light 2: Stay Human
Next up on our list of titles that are like Red Dead Redemption 2 is Dying Light 2: Stay Human. This title was both developed and published by Techland, it was released in February of 2022 and it’s available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Microsoft Windows, and Nintendo Switch.
This open-world action-adventure RPG title is inspired by RD2 in a number of ways. Specifically, it has a dynamic event system, which makes it so that with every 2 minutes of exploration, you will find something that you can do.
You’ll play as the main character, known as Aiden, and you’ll guide him on a quest to find his long-lost sister. The story takes place in the walls of a ruined fictional sity, known as Old Villedor. Hundreds of humans and several factions have survived in the ruined city, despite a persistent zombie outbreak.
You’ll seldom use the fast-travel system after it’s unlocked, though, because the parkour traversal is super-cool; furthermore, the map features minimal markers, which means that you’ll find massive amounts of loot and events as you explore. It is for this very reason that this game feels a lot like Red Dead Redemption 2.
The significant locations to explore include a laboratories that look and feel like creepy dungeons, as well as stores where you can loot supplies, arenas where you will participate in boss battles, and subway stations where jumping puzzles take place. The progression of the game is organic, and the parkour traversal actions and combat actions enhance their respective trees.
As you progress through the story, you will restore various key points within the fictional city; water towers and electrical plants, for instance. That said, the choices you make will ultimately decide which faction will rise to power and take control of the others.
8. Assassins Creed: Odyssey
Assassins Creed: Odyssey was developed by Ubisoft Quebec and was published by Ubisoft. It was released in October of 2018 and is available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Windows, Xbox One, and Google Stadia. Odyssey is the sequel to Assassins Creed: Origins, and it’s much better, much better, even more visually appealing, and a lot more immersive than the first. Furthermore, this title introduces gender customization options, as well as romantic options.
An action RPG, Assassins Creed: Odyssey is about locating the Staff of Hermes Trismegistus in Atlantis; however, it takes place 400 years before Origins and the creation of the Brotherhood of Assassin’s ancestors, the Hidden Ones.
In the past, Eagle Bearer, a mercenary, stars as the protagonist. You’ll be able to use the franchise’s standard move-set and the simple character progression system. The world is open, vast, loaded with side activities, such as fighting arenas, and even raiding forts.
There’s a crime system, too, which responds to your actions. For example, if you murder an innocent individual or you steal someone, you will earn bounty, which will encourage other assassins to hunt you. In addition to that, you are able to raid locations, and you will be able to defeat adversaries to obtain loot and gear.
Finally, Assassins Creed; Odyssey is set in Ancient Greece, and the imagery is just absolutely stunning. It really does make you feel as if you have been transported back in time to the Mediterranean. This feature of the game is very similar to the vividness and life-like visuals that are featured in the setting of Red Dead Redemption 2.
In AC: Odyssey, you will have a chance to traverse islands, myths, temples, ruins, and a whole lot more. For instance, you will meet numerous historical characters, such as Euripides, Alkibiades, and Democritus, and you will visit historical locations, such as Macedonia.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a fan of Red Dead Redemption 2 and you are looking for other games that offer a similar look, feel, and overall experience, then there’s no doubt that you will be impressed by the titles that are featured on this list.
All of the games above offer expansive open-world settings, impressive visuals, incredible action, immersive combat, and graphic settings that will really bring the video games alive and that will make you feel as if you are inside of them and experiencing what is happening to the characters. We’re confident that you will be impressed by the titles on this list.
