Red Dead Redemption 2: 8 Ways To Make A Second Playthrough Different

Haven’t you found yourself captivated by the world of Red Dead Redemption 2? After experiencing the intricately designed tragedy of Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang, I bet there’s still more of this remarkable single-player game that you haven’t explored yet.

How can we recreate the captivating journey through a fictionalized version of America, as lived by Arthur, so that it remains engaging and fulfilling? How might we immerse ourselves in an authentic depiction of the American Frontier’s historical context?

Rest assured, we have numerous suggestions ready for you. Regardless of your previous strategies, you’re likely to find a fresh approach among these ideas that could alter the way you play the game.

Check out some distinctive methods to enjoy Red Dead Redemption 2, immersing yourself in the Wild West atmosphere. Of course, feel free to experiment with one or more of these approaches during a second playthrough.

Instead, be patient as you work through the introduction; the real depth of the game awaits beyond this initial stage.

8. Play In First-Person

See Through Arthur’s Eyes

In contrast to many of Rockstar’s other games, such as Grand Theft Auto, which are designed mainly with third-person shooter mechanics and focus on creating a cinematic experience, Red Dead Redemption 2 offers a unique twist by adopting a first-person perspective, significantly altering the way you interact with the game.

Remember that while you can play RDR2 in first-person perspective, it doesn’t fundamentally alter the gameplay. Unlike in First-Person Shooter (FPS) games, aiming down sights functions differently, and the camera tends to vibrate to simulate Arthur’s head movements.

Nonetheless, experiencing the whole game from the first-person viewpoint is undeniably an effective method for fully engaging with the environment and viewing it as if you were Arthur himself, offering a fresh, distinctive point of view.

7. Try Out Different Weapons

Switch Up Your Loadout

In the thrilling world of Red Dead Redemption 2, as I roam through its expansive landscapes, I come across an incredible variety of weapons. It’s quite possible that during my initial playthrough, I stumbled upon a collection of firearms that I’ve grown particularly attached to and now find myself gravitating towards them in combat.

Instead of consistently using the same weapon setup throughout the game, how about switching it up and experimenting with various guns instead? Every firearm offers a unique gaming experience; by adapting to their characteristics, you might discover fresh and creative strategies for engaging in battles.

If you’ve consistently relied on firearms, why not try out bows or melee combat for a change? Or perhaps, instead of relying on long-distance weapons like rifles, consider mixing things up by playing the whole game with short-range shotguns and melee attacks.

6. Make The Most Of Mods

This World Is Yours—Play God

Sadly, the opportunity to utilize mods is exclusive to players who own Red Dead Redemption 2 on a PC, since console versions do not currently allow for mod support.

If you’re fortunate enough to enjoy the game on a PC, then you should be aware of the vibrant modding community, particularly Nexus Mods. Here, passionate fans share their creative additions to keep the game engaging and exciting.

Modifications don’t just alter the gaming experience; they encompass a wide spectrum, ranging from minor aesthetic improvements and novelties to significant transformations such as companion mods.

Here’s a list of five of the most popular and interesting mods:

Rampage Trainer: This is essentially a convenient cheat menu that allows you to spawn items and entities, change time, and even create certain effects.
Dog Companion: You can have a versatile dog companion to travel with you and help you in combat and hunts.
Gun Tricks: You can use the full extent of Arthur’s gunslinging abilities and channel his inner Revolver Ocelot. By pressing a button, you can make Arthur stylishly twirl his pistols.
Ped Damage Overhaul: This makes combat more interesting and dynamic, allowing you to shoot at different enemy body parts to disable them.
Stash That Lantern 2.8: This is a simple mod that allows you to stash your lantern without having to holster your gun and vice versa.

5. Complete Everything

Leave No Stone Unturned

For those who enjoy finishing everything, this game offers a wealth of activities to explore, such as gathering all the collectibles or mastering each mini-game. There’s plenty here to keep you engaged in this remarkable open world.

In your subsequent gameplay, leverage the wisdom gained from your initial experience to execute missions more efficiently and avoid mishaps such as unwanted character deaths.

Additionally, you have the option to revisit the 70 story missions and earn the “Gold Rush” achievement by meeting specific objectives within a set time frame. This can be accomplished during your initial gameplay through the mission replay feature.

In conclusion, since Guarma becomes inaccessible once its chapter is finished during the first playthrough, you can utilize your subsequent gameplay session to leisurely discover and push the boundaries of the map.

4. Inverse Your Honor

You’re A Good/Bad Man, Arthur Morgan

In Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2), your choices influence a system called honor. This honor level affects how Non-Player Characters (NPCs) interact with you and ultimately shapes the game’s ending. So, essentially, your actions in the game have real consequences for both the characters and the storyline.

Hey there, as I’m navigating through this virtual world, let me tell you, I ain’t your typical hero. I’ve got flaws, lots of them, and the author sure did a great job capturing those. But remember, they call me an anti-hero, which means it’s up to you, the player, to decide if my story ends happily or not. It’s all in your hands now!

If you’ve finished the game once and typically chosen options that most people would select, it’s likely that you ended up with a high honor outcome since maintaining a low honor requires intentional actions. Essentially, let your inner Micah Bell guide you toward less virtuous choices in future playthroughs.

Despite the current situation, you have the opportunity to switch the prestige of your initial playthrough. If you’ve managed to secure the high honor ending, then I suggest you commit deplorable actions to earn the low honor ending instead, and if you’ve achieved the low honor ending, aim for noble deeds to flip it into a high honor one.

To get an unsatisfactory conclusion in the game involving Arthur, simply play him as a self-centered, unkind individual. This includes killing anyone who seems suspicious, refusing to help with camp expenses, irritating non-player characters at the camp, and committing any immoral acts that come to mind.

If you’ve already witnessed the high honor conclusion and you’re curious about what happens in the low honor ending, here’s the path to follow.

3. Go Wild

Live Every Day Like It’s Your Last

In the same vein as the low honor run, you can also play RDR2 like any GTA game.

Engage in the game without any regret or boundaries. Who is Arthur, you ask? Ah, the cowboy character you’re manipulating! He’s merely a manifestation of your power, a tool for chaos, relentlessly causing turmoil amongst the townsfolk.

This statement implies a casual dismissal of the importance of a game, suggesting that one shouldn’t care about immersion-breaking actions such as finding shortcuts or exploits in missions, altering NPC behaviors, or rushing through the game at the expense of Arthur’s health.

If my approach doesn’t resonate with you, it might not be suitable, but if you revel in disregarding NPCs as mere code and find little remorse in the moral implications of your actions, then this could indeed be what you’re looking for.

Don’t worry too much about what you’re doing in this game since there aren’t any actual repercussions. Disregard the inner feelings that suggest you might be causing harm to the non-player characters (NPCs).

2. Embrace Distractions

Everything But The Main Story

In a similar vein to my recommendation for finishing all aspects of the game during your first playthrough, an alternative strategy for a second run could be to focus on completing tasks that are not part of the main storyline instead.

In addition to its main storyline, Red Dead Redemption 2 offers four mini-games and a variety of other engaging activities such as hunting, fishing, and bounty hunting, all of which can easily consume multiple hours of your time. Furthermore, the game provides opportunities for learning some practical real-life skills.

The game offers an abundance of content beyond the primary storyline, particularly the additional missions or subplots, known as side quests. From the onset, you’re also given the opportunity to discover different cities and regions within the game, where the main plot becomes less prominent.

Remember that proceeding with the primary narrative could prevent you from experiencing random events or meeting some characters. Instead, consider searching for and gathering trinkets to share with your band of outlaws.

Maybe if you play with all the distractions, you might be able to delay the inevitable.

1. Take It Slow

Soak It In

The most valuable guidance for playing Red Dead 2 could be this—disregard its ‘videogame-like’ aspects and instead, appreciate the world as you would during a leisurely stroll in nature.”

Or simply:

“Red Dead 2 is a game that should be savored slowly. Try to overlook its game-like qualities and enjoy the world as if you were on a peaceful hike in the wilderness.

Immerse yourself in the game just like you would live it in reality. Avoid instant travel options, ensure you rest each night, have regular meals at least thrice a day, and nurture connections with your gaming companions, all while embodying the character of Arthur Morgan.

Indulge yourself by immersing deeply into your surroundings. Put on some noise-cancelling earphones and explore the environment in a first-person perspective. Whenever you’re at camp, pause for a moment to eavesdrop on conversations and savor the atmosphere of nature while appreciating the stunning vistas.

In a place such as Saint Denis, take a leisurely stroll instead of hurrying or using a horse. Pay attention to the locals as they carry out their daily activities, and you may overhear fascinating details that will add depth to your journey.

Since you’ve already gone through the primary plot, there’s no need to hurry or force yourself to complete the story. Instead, take your time and enjoy the game’s atmosphere thoroughly.

2025-04-13 18:10