Red Dead Redemption 2 started as a complete mystery to me. I had never played the first game, barely knew any of the characters, and the three previous times I tried to start it, I quit during the snowy opening hours. The reason was simple: the Western genre has never been one of my favorites, and games in the style of GTA never really appealed to me either. This game seemed to combine both of those things, which made it difficult for me to get invested.

What changed was a friend who kept insisting that I give it a real chance. Eventually, I did. I started my journey full of doubts, expecting to drop it once again. Instead, those doubts slowly disappeared as I became immersed in what the game truly is: a work of art disguised as a video game. Every hour revealed more of the incredible care and attention poured into its world, its characters, and its storytelling. By the time I finished it, I understood why so many people consider it one of the greatest games ever made.

World & Atmosphere:

Even as someone who isn’t particularly interested in the Wild West, I found myself completely absorbed by the setting. The game constantly teaches you something about the era, whether it’s the conflicts over land, the changing nature of civilization, or the everyday struggles of people trying to survive in a world that is leaving them behind. It feels authentic, lived-in, and endlessly fascinating to explore.

More importantly, the world feels alive. Not in the way games often advertise, but genuinely alive. People remember your actions, conversations feel natural, and every location seems to have its own story waiting to be discovered. It is one of the few worlds where I truly felt like my presence mattered.

Music:

The soundtrack is exceptional. Every song appears at exactly the right moment, whether during a quiet ride across the wilderness, a tense shootout, or one of the game’s many emotional scenes. Even now, hearing Unshaken is enough to give me chills and immediately bring back memories of my journey.

Storytelling:

This is where the game truly separates itself from most of the industry. The amount of love and effort poured into both the main story and the side content is impossible to ignore. The game constantly finds ways to surprise you, whether through moments of tension, tragedy, reflection, or hope.

Some of the most memorable moments come from situations that initially seem insignificant. A simple side quest can suddenly become deeply emotional, while a random encounter can leave you thinking about it long after you’ve finished playing. Few games manage to create that kind of impact consistently.

Characters:

This is where I have to make the biggest point of all.

Arthur is one of the best-written protagonists I have ever experienced in any video game. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the fact that you help shape the kind of person he becomes throughout the story makes him feel incredibly personal. There were countless moments where I found myself thinking something during a conversation at camp, only for Arthur to express the exact same thought moments later.

That level of humanization is what makes him special. Eventually, you stop thinking of him as a video game character and start seeing him as a real person with beliefs, flaws, struggles, and dreams.

The supporting cast is equally impressive. Whether it’s the charisma of Dutch, the journey of John, the determination of Sadie, the wisdom of Hosea, the calm nature of Charles, or the unsettling presence of Micah, every major character brings something meaningful to the experience.

Final Thoughts:

Very few games reach the narrative heights achieved by Red Dead Redemption 2. It is the kind of experience that stays with you long after the credits roll. You don’t simply finish the game and move on. You spend days, weeks, and sometimes even months thinking about the people you met, the choices you made, and the journey you experienced.

I started this game expecting to dislike it.

I finished it convinced that it is a masterpiece.

Final Verdict: ★★★★★ (5.0/5)

A landmark achievement in storytelling, world-building, and character writing. A game that goes far beyond entertainment and becomes something genuinely unforgettable. Everyone should experience it at least once.

it's peak

Nonostante siano passati quasi tre anni da quel 9 agosto del 2023 in cui ho chiuso il suo epilogo, faccio ancora fatica a trovare le parole per descrivere ciò che Red Dead Redemption 2 rappresenta per la mia vita da videogiocatore.

Il Selvaggio West ha sempre esercitato su di me una fortissima attrazione, fin da quando da bambino giocavo a essere un cowboy e facevo combattere piccoli indiani di plastica nel salotto di mia nonna. Da grande ho scoperto la musica country, i film di Sergio Leone, le serie TV di Taylor Sheridan, i libri di McCharty e la passione per l’equitazione. Non so come mai questo mondo mi attiri così tanto: forse perché è selvaggio, violento, malinconico, sconfinato, spietato e meraviglioso al tempo stesso; forse perché racconta di personaggi leggendari, iconici, che avrei tanto voluto conoscere; o forse, perché non esiste più, sgretolato dalle fauci di una modernità che va sempre più veloce.

Quale che sia la motivazione, Red Dead Redemption 2 ne incarna l’essenza più pura.
Non è un gioco perfetto, sia chiaro. Per molti giocatori il ritmo potrebbe risultare lentissimo, il sistema di movimento talmente realistico da diventare a tratti frustrante, l’open world dispersivo e la storia troppo diluita per potercisi appassionare. Tutto legittimo: Red Dead non è per voi.

Ma se amate questo mondo tanto quanto lo amo io, se vi piace la sensazione di cavalcare senza meta nella prateria, se vi gasano le sparatorie all’ultima pallottola, se vi appassionano le storie lente, profonde, viscerali e struggenti che raccontano di uomini disperati in un’epoca destinata a tramontare, se non state nella pelle all’idea di inoltrarvi in terre inesplorate in cerca di chissà quali segreti, se siete disposti a stupirvi per la quantità di vita che cammina, parla, grida, spara, cavalca, muggisce, striscia, ulula, ringhia, cinguetta, stride, sibila, scorre in un mondo così vasto da sembrare senza confini…beh, allora, vi assicuro che non troverete niente di meglio.

Dopo più di duecento ore di gioco vissute nel corso degli anni, ritengo che Red Dead Redemption 2 sia un’opera monumentale, che racconta il West con la profondità e l’ampiezza di un romanzo e permette al giocatore di viverne ogni aspetto: un capolavoro che ha superato la prova del tempo e si è imposto nell’immaginario collettivo ridefinendo il concetto stesso di videogioco.

In una parola: INTRAMONTABILE.