Highlights
- Red Dead Redemption is a beloved franchise that thrives on its immersive depiction of outlaw culture and post-Civil War society in the west.
- To surpass previous games, Red Dead Redemption 3 should consider changing the setting to somewhere remarkably different, just like Horizon Forbidden West did.
- A new setting in the west could bring new challenges, enemies, and opportunities for hunting and storytelling, offering a fresh experience for players.
Red Dead Redemption is a franchise that has a strong identity, being inherently linked to American history and more specifically post-Civil War society in the west. Its depiction of outlaw culture allows the player to engage in immoral deeds while never breaking immersion, adhering to the expectations of most Rockstar Games titles where committing crimes and being less-than-lawful are the source of a great deal of enjoyment. The series is beloved, with each being critically and commercially acclaimed to no end, but as the third game now has a pair of titles to live up to, it has to be a step above what has come before.
To do this, it might be a good idea to make a change to the setting, and take the protagonist somewhere that looks and feels remarkably different to past games. Heading further west would be a viable option, especially considering Guerrilla Games successfully took Aloy to the Pacific Ocean for a fantastic adventure in 2022's Horizon Forbidden West. That game could show that Red Dead Redemption would be wise to uproot the series in favor of new pastures, because one of the best ways to shake things up is to go somewhere else.
West Could be Best for Red Dead Redemption
Though each game takes place in a fictional setting, Red Dead Redemption covers a lot of ground. The first game brought with it vibes of Arizona and New Mexico, while Red Dead Redemption 2 was far more topographically and experientially diverse. Both games combined do a great job of recreating the wild west in a way that is respectful of history, but also fresh, and always rewarding of curiosity. The second game offered that much-needed diversity, and replicating its unwavering beauty and stunning variety will be tough, so it might make more sense to push further west in search of a new setting that can bring with it a different atmosphere. That's something that Horizon Forbidden West and its DLC Burning Shores did wonderfully.
Horizon Forbidden West covers parts of Nevada, Utah, and California, the latter of which depicting the San Francisco coastline with the Golden Gate Bridge towering in the background. From Chainscrape to the shimmering blue sea, the map is packed with fascinating places, but the sunny tropical feel of the setting differs hugely from the rugged terrain of the Rocky Mountains, so the map doesn't feel like a rinse-and-repeat affair. Red Dead Redemption 3 could take advantage of the California sunshine, or possibly look even further west and use the tumultuous history of Hawaii and the United States as a plot point in the game.
Horizon Forbidden West's Setting is Beautiful, but Dangerous
A new place to explore means different friends to make, and enemies to overcome. In Horizon Forbidden West there are a whole host of machines exclusive to the West Coast, making each battle feel like the player needs to relearn how to take each foe down. It does a great deal for the replayability of the series at large. While Red Dead Redemption is more subdued in its adversaries, the move out west brings with it original opportunities.
Hunting could include different prey, side activities could change to suit the landscape, and the story would do well to have the protagonist contend with lawmen of a different kind. Red Dead Redemption 3 is likely a while away as Rockstar works on the ever-looming Grand Theft Auto 6, but with a reputation as big as it has, there's still the pressure of making fans happy.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
