Red Dead Redemption 2 vs GTA 5: Which Rockstar Games' title is better

Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA 5 are 2 of the best games by Rockstar, but which game title is better than the other? here's everything you need to know

By Mukul Dutt 25 Dec 2023 in Gaming

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Red Dead Redemption 2 vs GTA 5: Which Rockstar Games' title is better

Rockstar Games is one of the most well-known and Iconic game developers of all time. They've been known to always deliver masterful and brilliant games that truly captivate their players. Two of the most recent and well-known games from the talented studio are GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2. These games are almost as good as games can get and are considered the best video games of all time by many.

A topic fans have been debating since 2018 is which one of these games is a better project and a better representation of Rockstar's brilliance in developing games. Both games have different sets of fans and advocate for their favourite one. Since one is the representation of modern America and the other is around the Wild West. Thus there are many differences between these two titles.

Graphics and visuals

Both GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 are graphically some of the most beautiful games of all time. The former also received a remaster/port for the current generation of consoles. But it is clear that Red Dead Redemption 2 has better graphics and visuals as the game was released much later into the last generation of consoles and could truly unleash the graphical potential of the PS4 and Xbox One.

Moreover, GTA 5 was a cross-generation game and was held back a little due to the low graphical power of the PS3 and Xbox 360. Even after 5 years of release, Red Dead Redemption 2 is still considered the best visually looking. So, Red Dead Redemption 2 is the clear winner when it comes to graphical and visual fidelity.

Main Story

GTA 5 boasts a coming-of-age story that consists of three playable protagonists(Franklin, Trevor, and Michael). The story showcases how these deal with their life, and monetary crises while pulling off heists and jobs for themselves and corrupt government agents. It showcases the tremendous character development and a beautiful arc.

The story of Red Dead Redemption 2, however, tells players a story about a gang(The Van der Linde gang) that lived together like family and how they fell apart. The game has two playable protagonists( Arthur Morgan and John Marston) and shows how these two old members of the gang find a way to redeem themselves and get a life more peaceful and better not just for themselves but their gang as well.

The story of Red Dead Redemption 2 is a lot more intricate and gripping. It follows many complex story beats like Dutch's(the Gang Leader) path towards madness and insanity and how the gang goes from people who helped common folk to robbers and murderers. Red Dead Redemption 2's story is a true marvel of modern storytelling that every video game fan should experience once. The story of GTA 5 while also being masterful pales in comparison to Red Dead Redemption 2.

Gameplay

Both games use Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE) and have similar gameplay structures. The gunplay in GTA 5 is usually preferred by the audience over Red Dead Redemption 2's. Other than the gunplay, because of the later release of Red Dead Redemption 2 it has a more refined gameplay.

Besides this, the movement and player interactions seem to be more well-animated, refined, and cleaner looking but due to these complex animations, the game may feel a little janky. Overall the gameplay systems are very similar and are up to the player's preference.

World and Activities

publive-image — GTA 5 (Image via Rockstar Games)

The world in Red Dead Redemption 2 is a lot more detailed and immersive in comparison to GTA 5's. However, this doesn't mean that GTA 5's map is boring. GTA 5 at the time it was released(2013) was one of the most visually stunning and breathtaking worlds. The world was alive and NPCs in it had different routines depending on the time of day and situations. Rockstar upped all these systems in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Red Dead Redemption 2 boasts a world filled with a variety of highly detailed weather effects, the world is filled with detailed flora and fauna. The animals in the game also have their routines and are almost photo-realistic. The world is very interactive, players can interact with almost all NPCs.

Rockstar has been known because of their classic stranger missions. Both games have the classic quirky-natured stranger missions- these can be anything from finding Big Foot to exploring the home of a slaver. Both of these worlds truly showcase Rockstar'sacumen in making a living and brilliantly detailed worlds.

Verdict

While both games are brilliant and masterful, Red Dead Redemption 2 just about edges it as it is a game full of breathtaking moments, a more gripping story, and a more immersive world. While GTA 5 also boasts a lot of these features, due to the later release of Red Dead Redemption 2 and its longer production cycle it is much more refined and well-crafted, Red Dead Redemption 2 is also not hindered by the last generation of consoles and truly helps players achieve their Wild West Fantasies.