From emotional storytelling to an immersive gameplay experience,Red Dead Redemption 2is one of the greatest games ever;Rockstar Gamesreally went all-out with the details in this game.
And despite the slight criticism I have of the cookie-cutter mission design and gunplay, finishing the game all the way toward the epilogue is an unmatched feeling that stays with you for a long time.
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I’m a cowboy BAYBEE.
So, to keep your emotions intact, I’ve listed below my picks for games that capture the magical essence of RDR2 in some shape or form.
These are games that, in the past two decades, have provided a relatively equal immersive atmosphere or an enthralling narrative.
10Fallout: New Vegas
A Timeless Classic
Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegasis a beloved open-world game for many; from its memorable NPCs to a branching storytelling design, this game did it all.
The only real downside I would consider is how the game isn’t available on current-gen consoles, and your best bet (and my personal suggestion) is to play it on PC.
Especially due to thetreasure trove of modsto download after your first playthrough, the replayability factor is incredibly enriching, and you can multiply your playtime by tenfold.
We might never see a sequel, and if we do, it’ll have big shoes to fill if it needs to prove itself worthy to the loyal fanbase.
Beautifully Aged Like Fine Wine
Whether you choose to play the problematic definitive edition or the aged classic version,Mafia 2is a must-play if you love Rockstar’s superb storytelling design.
The back-and-forth drama and exchanges with the characters are akin to the excellent cinematic performances done by the cast of RDR2, and that’s despite the aged graphics of the original Mafia 2.
So, while the open-world stuff isn’t anything noteworthy to write home about, the heart of the game that carries it is the slow-burn crime soap opera, one that I know you’ll enjoy coming fresh off the Red Dead 2 playthrough.
8Death Stranding
Much More Than A “Walking Sim”
Death Stranding
I absolutely adoreDeath Strandingand consider it on my personal all-time list. On the surface, both this and RDR2 seem like vastly different games, but the similarities are there; hear me out here.
Both games share an immersive world with relatively equal character-driven aspects. Arthur Morgan and Sam Bridges are protagonists who slowly develop and open up throughout their respective journeys.
And the payoff? A deep emotional attachment to both as you bid a heartbreaking farewell to them. Well, it’s an exception for Sam since we’re getting him back soon with Death Stranding 2.
Lastly, Death Stranding’spost-dystopian worldexcellently captures the evolving world aspect of the Wild West, one that gets influenced by the main narrative or your actions at certain times.
7The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
A Critically Acclaimed Success
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
With tons of Game of the Year awards and numerous other accolades,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildre-defined the open-world genre of gaming.
And its sequel,Tears of the Kingdom, albeit having an identical foundation, freshened things up with newer and more creative gameplay elements.
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Although not as story-rich as RDR2, if you give enough time and attention to BOTW, it’ll pull you in as it did for me, giving you awhole sandbox worldto explore with minimal guidance.
Exploring that world almost brings out the same whimsical feeling when you’re out and about as Arthur on your horse; running into occurrences or surprising discoveries that spark intrigue.
6Call Of Juarez: Gunslinger
Rootin' Tootin' Shootin' Galore
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger
If you’re someone who adores the whole cowboy shtick in various media but hasn’t played theCall of Juarez games, you’re doing yourself a disservice.
While you should definitely play the Bound in Blood prequel, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger takes the win for me, being the perfect balance of high-octane action and engaging storytelling.
Itsfirst-person shootergameplay keeps you on your toes with the arcade-like level design. The cherry on top is the monologue of our protagonist, who narrates this whole adventure in the salon to some patrons.
This game’s writing and voice acting are so engrossing that it honestly feels like Quentin Tarantino directed the whole thing.
But the only downside? Just like New Vegas, the game’s locked on old-gen hardware, but hey, at least it’s on the Nintendo Switch and PC.
5Kingdom Come: Deliverance
A Historical Adventure
Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Kingdom Come: Deliverancetakes place in the Kingdom of Bohemia during the historical invasion of King Sigismund.
The game takes great steps to ensure realism in both its open world and gameplay. It tries to emulate actual sword fighting as closely as possible, with multi-directional fighting and calculated attacks.
Although a bit controversial, Deliverance has dedicated hunger, sleep, and durability mechanics. These, of course, are parallel to the simulation stuff from RDR2, such as managing your horse and Arthur’s personal stats.
Oh, and I should mention the manual saving system is locked behind a collectible item. So, if a hyper-realistic and immersive medieval game sounds appealing to you, then give this underappreciated gem a shot.
4Cyberpunk 2077
Never Fade Away
Cyberpunk 2077
With all the ups and downs it’s been through post-release,Cyberpunk 2077, in its current condition, is one of the best open-world games of the modern era.
Having played it on three different occasions, from its 1.6 patch to the revamped 2.0 supporting thePhantom Liberty DLC, the world of Night City is one of my favorite video game worlds.
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If it weren’t for the geopolitical, intergalactic, and civil conflicts in these locations, I would surely move.
V and Johnny’s chaotic yet sibling-like duo is strikingly familiar toJohn and Arthur’s memorable bromancein the sense that both pairs pull in audiences with their compelling development with one another.
Most importantly, Cyberpunk 2077 features a wide range of rich characters, from the Gig overseers to individual NPCs such as Judy, Songbird, and Panam; they’re all brilliantly written and handled here.
Give Cyberpunk 2077 a chance if you haven’t already because it provides an equally amazing story as Red Dead Redemption 2, one that pulls you in right from the opening hours.
3The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
CD Projekt Red’s Crown Jewel
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
I know we just mentioned Cyberpunk 2077, butThe Witcher 3is also on this list, and it only goes to show the masterful ideology of CD Projekt for their games.
Thenext-gen release of the gamegave new life to it, giving everyone another chance to replay it with improved gameplay additions and graphical enhancements.
Red Dead 2’s incredible attention to detail and incentivization to make you explore are vividly similar in scope to Witcher 3, being the latter’s countless question markers on the map.
These lead you to discover side quests, interactions, and several hidden secrets, all of which are this game’s strongest suits and comparable to Rockstar’s unbelievable quality with RDR2’s world.
2Ghost Of Tsushima
One Of The Best PlayStation Exclusives
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut
In a time when open-world games felt like the most saturated genre in the industry,Ghost of Tsushimamanaged to exceed my expectations with its initial release.
Rushing in as a full-blown Samurai or the stealthier Ghost keeps the gameplay loop fresh along with the other side elements such as the Duels, Fox Shrines, and Enemy Outposts.
The obvious similarities with Red Dead 2 are the photorealistic visuals for sure. But just like how Arthur has alterations to his ending with the honor system, you can also choose between two ending variations for Jin Sakai.
This gives you a personal interpretation of Jin’s fate at the end and his dramatic confrontation with his uncle.
Plus, if you love the cinematic approach of Arthur and the Vanderlinde Gang’s rollercoaster ride, Tsushima achieves that in high regard with its inspiration from classic samurai movies by Akira Kurosawa.
The One That Started It All
Red Dead Redemption
I know it’s obvious, but considering the first game’s now available across modern platforms,Red Dead Redemption 1is the closest game to pick up if you finish the second one.
There are a ton of people that I’ve known and personally seen who played the second game without having prior knowledge of RDR1, considering the latter’s story is the follow-up sequel.
That makes this game a perfect choice to pick up and play, especially since it runs at a smooth 60FPS frame rate on current-gen hardware.
Although the gameplay is still your typical point A to B with gunplay, the writing, and overall narrative structure make it an endearing journey, with one of the most emotional and important protagonist deaths in gaming.
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