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When it comes to open-world games, there’s nothing quite likeRed Dead Redemption 2. The game features an expansive open world filled with various types of activities and wildlife. It’s easy to forget about the main story and just spend hours traveling between the different towns.
Not all towns are created equally inRed Dead Redemption 2, and some are better than others. Some towns are small and have very few facilities, while others are large and feature everything that Arthur could need. The good part is that no matter which town the player chooses to visit, there’s always something to do.
There’s something special about all the towns ofRed Dead Redemption 2, but there’s something special aboutSaint Denisand Blackwater. They’re the most modern and advanced towns in the game, and they’re encountered during the later hours of the game. It’s interesting to see the emergence of late 19th-century technology and how people react to it.
These two towns are also packed with NPCs that behave rather realistically, making it possible for Arthur to just take a seat and watch pedestrians go about their day. Perhaps the only downside is that Blackwater and Saint Denis are swarming with law enforcement, so Arthur should be on his best behavior when he visits.
The A-Tier consists of dusty towns that look like they were ripped directly from a Western film. The reason why they don’t make it to the S-Tier is because they’re all very similar with very little to make each town stand out. On the plus side, they’re the perfect locations to have a classic duel at high noon, and they’re great spots to stop at wheneverArthur Morganneeds to sleep, bathe, or stock up on supplies before heading back out into the wilderness. Players will find that NPCs are mostly friendly, but they don’t hesitate to whip out their revolvers if Arthur causes too much trouble.
Interesting events do happen in these towns.When theRDR2gang visits RhodesArthur becomes temporarily deputized, while Valentine is where the gang robs a bank. It’s also worth stopping by Strawberry as it has a friendly atmosphere to it.
Annesburg is a town found in the Roanoke Ridge region of the state of New Hanover, and it’s quite large. It’s a mining town plagued by pollution, as seen by the oily water and black smoke in the air. It lands in the B-Tier because being there can be depressing. It’s easy to tell that life isn’t easy for the inhabitants, and there’s not much to do but walk the streets or sit by the pier.
The C-Tier towns are mostly those that have very little available to do. Colter is the first town encountered inRDR2and the long prologue takes place here. It overstays its welcome, and it takes too long for players to finally arrive at the more interesting towns. Armadillo andTumbleweedare also rather boring locations with not much to do or features to make them stand out. With this said, it’s still worth spending the time to explore every nook and cranny of these towns.
While Van Horn and Lagras aren’t completely terrible locations, they’re overshadowed by the other towns that have much more to offer.Van Horn Trading Postmight be the most depressing location inRed Dead Redemption 2—it’s obvious that it’s a dying town and nothing short of a miracle could save it. Lagras is a small settlement located in Bayou Nwa and is unassuming at first. However, spend enough time here and players are bound to cross paths with the creepy Night Folk.
