Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a 2018 action-adventure game developed and published by Rockstar Games. The game is the third entry in the Red Dead series and is a prequel to the 2010 game Red Dead Redemption. The story is set in 1899 and follows the exploits of outlaw Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang, in a fictionalized representation of the Western, Midwestern, and Southern United States. Arthur must deal with the decline of the Wild West whilst attempting to survive against government forces, rival gangs, and other adversaries. The game's epilogue follows fellow gang member John Marston, the protagonist of Red Dead Redemption.

The game is presented through both first and third-person perspectives, and the player may freely roam in its interactive open world. Gameplay elements include shootouts, heists, hunting, horseback riding, interacting with non-player characters, and maintaining the character's honor rating through moral choices and deeds. A bounty system similar to the "wanted" system from the Grand Theft Auto franchise governs the response of law enforcement and bounty hunters to crimes committed by the player.

The game development lasted over eight years, beginning soon after Red Dead Redemption's release, and it became one of the most expensive video games ever made. Rockstar co-opted all of its studios into one large team to facilitate development. They drew influence from real locations as opposed to film or art, focused on creating an accurate reflection of the time with the game's characters and world. The game was Rockstar's first built specifically for eighth generation consoles, having tested their technical capabilities while porting Grand Theft Auto V to the platforms. The game's soundtrack features an original score composed by Woody Jackson and several vocal tracks produced by Daniel Lanois.

Red Dead Redemption 2 was released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in October 2018, and for Microsoft Windows and Stadia in November 2019. Red Dead Online, the online multiplayer mode of the game, was released as a beta version in November 2018 before a full release in May 2019. Widely anticipated and marketed before release, Red Dead Redemption 2 broke several records and had the second-biggest launch in the history of entertainment, generating US$725 million in sales from its opening weekend and exceeding the lifetime sales of Red Dead Redemption in two weeks. It received critical acclaim, with praise directed at its story, characters, open world, graphics, music, and level of detail; some criticism was directed at its control scheme and emphasis on realism over player freedom. Considered as an example of video games as an art form, it won year-end accolades including Game of the Year awards from several gaming publications. It is among the best-selling video games with over 43 million copies shipped.

Like the first installment, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an action-adventure game, played as both first-person and third-person, set in the American Wild West and developed in an open-world environment with a fictionalized version of the West, Midwest and Southern United States in 1899, during the second half of the Wild West era and the end of the era, at the turn of the 20th century. The game features both single-player and online multiplayer components, the latter released under Red Dead Online. For most of the game, the player controls the outlaw Arthur Morgan, a member of the gang led by Van der Linde, as he completes numerous missions (linear scenarios with set objectives) to progress the story. During its epilogue, the player controls John Marston, the protagonist of the first video game. Outside of the missions, the player (with both Morgan and Marston) can freely roam his interactive world. The player can engage in combat and duels with enemies using melee attacks, firearms, throwing objects or explosives. Combat has been refined from the game's predecessor, and notable new mechanics consist of dual wielding and the ability to use a bow. Unlike the previous game, the player has the ability to swim (except when playing with John), although the action is limited and depends on the player's strength and stamina.