Why Games Like Red Dead Redemption Don’t Exist Anymore

Red Dead Redemption was a surprising success. It took the simple action game Red Dead Revolver and transformed it into a much larger, more ambitious open-world experience. Think of it as the Old West version of Grand Theft Auto – it captured that same feeling but with its own unique style. Despite being very different from the Grand Theft Auto series—and it’s not just because of the Western setting—it really stood out.

Despite the huge popularity of Red Dead Redemption and its sequel – games that are considered classics by Rockstar fans – we don’t see many other open-world Western games being made. Why aren’t there more games like Red Dead Redemption, or Western-themed games in general? Here’s a look at some of the reasons from within the gaming industry.

How To Keep Players Interested In A World Like The Western Frontier

Westerns Are Dead On All Ends

Westerns have largely disappeared from movies, television, and video games. There are simply fewer of them being made now compared to the past. Horror and superhero genres have become much more popular and attract larger audiences, especially in film. Because there aren’t many new Westerns being created across different media, it’s difficult for any studio to take the risk of starting a new one. In video games, creating engaging open-world experiences like those found in Red Dead Redemption also presents a challenge for the Western genre.

Placing a game too early in the Old West can create a sparse world with few towns or settlements, leaving players wandering mostly through empty landscapes hunting animals or encountering Native American camps. While adding fantasy or sci-fi elements and focusing on RPG mechanics could revitalize the Western genre beyond games like Red Dead Redemption, taking such risks is challenging, especially given the current uncertainty in the AAA game market. It’s disappointing that we don’t see as many diverse Western games anymore, compared to classics like Sunset Riders, Wild Arms 5, and Gun.

Red Dead Is No Grand Theft Auto

Better To Make An Open-World City Than A Frontier

Western-themed games are uncommon these days. While Rockstar has had success with titles like Red Dead Redemption, they’re exceptions to the rule. Developing a game like that takes a lot of time – around eight years – which is a big risk for most developers. It’s safer for them to create open-world games set in cities, similar to the popular Grand Theft Auto franchise, which is Rockstar’s biggest hit. Players really want to explore detailed city environments, even if those games aren’t exactly like Grand Theft Auto.

Games like Watch Dogs and, to some extent, Cyberpunk 2077, demonstrate a trend. Open-world cities offer many more gameplay options – things like going to bars, driving around, or playing street sports. While creating these expansive cities is expensive, they appeal to a wider audience than games typically made in Western markets. Publishers naturally follow where they see the most profit, which can be disappointing, but it’s simply how business works. While we’re seeing fewer *Grand Theft Autostyle games compared to the PlayStation 2 and 3 era, that trend isn’t as strong as the decline of Western-themed games.

Live-Service Is Prioritized Over Narrative Finality

Keeping Players Hooked Over A Long Period

It can be really discouraging for game developers to spend five years creating a game that players finish in just eight hours and then quickly move on from. Publishers also face a challenge, as they need games to remain popular for a long time to recoup their investment – think of how consistently well Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold for Nintendo. This is why ‘live-service’ games are attractive. Games like Destiny 2, which launched in 2017, stay popular for years through regular updates, events, and new content. While player numbers might drop between updates, the game continues to thrive.

Games like Final Fantasy 14 aren’t always considered “live-service” games, but they were early examples and offer a huge amount of content. The goal is to create a game that encourages players to keep spending money on things like cosmetic items or expansions, which keeps revenue coming in – as Rockstar proved with the online version of Grand Theft Auto 5. Even a high-quality open-world Western game, designed as a live-service or MMO, wouldn’t automatically succeed, as seen with Red Dead Redemption 2. The live-service model isn’t foolproof – Anthem is a clear example – so while it’s popular right now, there are still many potential risks.

Enormous Authorial Single-Player Games Are A Dying Breed

Multiplayer Sells

People often praise single-player games that don’t plan for downloadable content or include multiplayer options. It shows there’s still a demand for complete, self-contained gaming experiences, like games such as Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 and Marvel’s Spider-Man. However, these types of games are becoming less common, as the industry currently favors games that offer ongoing engagement. Multiplayer games are especially popular because video games are increasingly becoming a social activity, and that’s where the industry is seeing the most growth.

Many players enjoy playing games with friends, whether it’s through a cooperative campaign, a dedicated multiplayer mode, or a game built entirely around multiplayer – think games like Overwatch 2 and Fortnite. Playing with friends is often a great experience, even if the game itself isn’t perfect. From a business perspective, multiplayer games can also be very profitable for developers and publishers, as they don’t necessarily require complex storylines. While it’s possible to create a fun multiplayer experience within a Western setting – Red Dead Redemption 2 had a following – it didn’t achieve the same level of success as Grand Theft Auto 5’s online mode. It’s unclear if this was due to the Western theme, a lack of content, or simply because players were already invested in Grand Theft Auto Online. The gaming industry, like many others, is difficult to predict.

Dealing With Difficult Emotions

Loneliness, Melancholy, And Boredom

Let’s quickly recap what made the Red Dead Redemption games so good. Traditional Westerns aren’t popular anymore, it’s tough to create a compelling open world, and single-player games are becoming less common. Despite these challenges, Rockstar created interesting worlds to explore, and the games really stood out because of their main characters, John Marston and Arthur Morgan. These heroes felt more realistic and emotionally complex than most video game protagonists – especially Arthur, who was a particularly well-developed character.

In the game, players could choose whether Arthur would embrace a life of crime like his fellow outlaws or attempt to reform. Even if players didn’t try to guide Arthur toward goodness, the game showed him struggling with the morality of his actions. The vast, empty landscapes could also drive anyone to desperation, and while playing a troubled character isn’t always enjoyable, Rockstar Games masterfully crafted the story to make both Arthur and John compelling. It’s a risky move to create a protagonist with so many internal struggles, and it’s unlikely many other game developers will take the same chance.

Another reason developers might hesitate to follow the storytelling approach of Red Dead Redemption involves major plot points, so some spoilers will be mentioned. It’s a bold move to kill off a protagonist and introduce a new one so late in the game. In both Red Dead Redemption games – with Jack taking over for John, and John replacing Arthur in the prequel – this choice heightened the emotional impact and reinforced the games’ themes about the unforgiving nature of the Wild West.

2026-01-24 23:08