Is It Worth Playing Red Dead Redemption 2 After the Epilogue? A Deep Dive

Absolutely. Continuing Red Dead Redemption 2 after the epilogue is unequivocally worth it for several compelling reasons. While the main story arc of Arthur Morgan concludes with a powerful emotional impact, the epilogue provides not just closure, but also a significant extension of the game world, allowing you to inhabit the shoes of John Marston and witness the foundations being laid for the original Red Dead Redemption. It’s more than just an add-on; it’s a crucial piece of the narrative puzzle that enriches the entire experience. You will find compelling story beats, new and familiar locations to explore, and the overall sense of completion that you are looking for.

Why the Epilogue Enhances Your RDR2 Experience

The epilogue serves several crucial functions:

• Bridging the Gap: It directly connects Red Dead Redemption 2 to the events of the first game, showcasing John Marston’s transformation into the character we meet in 2010’s Red Dead Redemption. Seeing John build his life with Abigail and Jack, and facing new and old adversaries, provides invaluable context.

• Open-World Continuation: The vast open world, a hallmark of the Red Dead franchise, remains accessible and filled with activities. The epilogue introduces new areas and expands existing ones, offering new hunting opportunities, side missions, and locations to explore. This extension allows you to truly soak in the game’s meticulously crafted environment.

• Character Closure (and New Beginnings): While Arthur’s story is complete, the epilogue revisits familiar faces from the Van der Linde gang and offers glimpses into their lives after the gang’s dissolution. This provides a sense of closure for these characters and allows you to see the consequences of their choices. Moreover, playing as John allows you to carve your own path and forge new relationships.

• Unfinished Business: Many players miss significant content during their initial playthrough. The epilogue offers a perfect opportunity to complete side missions, track down collectibles like Dinosaur Bones and Legendary Animals, or simply explore areas they didn’t have time for before.

• Theme and Perspective: The epilogue shifts the focus from loyalty and the slow death of the outlaw life to family, responsibility, and the struggle to escape the past. This thematic shift provides a different lens through which to view the Red Dead world, making it more than just a gunslinging adventure.

What To Do In The Epilogue

The game truly opens itself up. You will find yourself exploring areas of the map you may have glossed over before, and a plethora of content to discover. Here are a few examples of what to expect:

• Complete Stranger Missions: Numerous side quests and encounters open up during the epilogue, offering unique storylines and rewards.

• Hunt Legendary Animals: The epilogue provides access to more challenging hunting opportunities.

• Track Down Collectibles: Search for dinosaur bones, rock carvings, dreamcatchers, and other hidden items scattered throughout the world.

• Explore New Locations: Venture into areas like Thieve’s Landing, Tumbleweed, and Armadillo, locations familiar to players of the original Red Dead Redemption.

• Upgrade Your Gear: Use your earnings to purchase better weapons, clothing, and horses.

• Engage in Open-World Activities: Participate in fishing, hunting, gambling, and other activities to earn money and experience the full breadth of the game’s world.

• Fulfill Challenges: Many challenges remain available in the epilogue.

The Emotional Impact

Ultimately, the decision to continue playing Red Dead Redemption 2 after the epilogue rests on personal preference. However, for those invested in the characters and the world, the epilogue offers a deeply rewarding experience. It’s a chance to say goodbye to familiar faces, witness the birth of a new life for John Marston, and truly appreciate the scope and ambition of Rockstar Games’ masterpiece. It is more than just additional content; it’s an integral part of the Red Dead Redemption 2 narrative. Understanding game narratives and player engagement is a focus for organizations like the Games Learning Society. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more about how games are used for learning and development.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is there anything to do in RDR2 after the epilogue?

Absolutely. After completing both epilogues, you can explore areas like Thieve’s Landing, Tumbleweed, and Armadillo from Red Dead Redemption. You can hunt new Legendary Animals, track down the last remaining treasures in the West, and complete any unfinished side missions.

2. Is there a point to the epilogue in RDR2?

Yes, the epilogue serves multiple purposes. It wraps up RDR2’s story, sets up the events of the first Red Dead Redemption, and tells a new story centered on family and leaving the past behind. It also offers a chance to see familiar characters and how they’ve moved on after the gang’s disbandment.

3. Can you keep playing RDR2 after John dies in the first Red Dead Redemption?

This is the second game in the series. John Marston is the protagonist in Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2’s epilogue. Therefore, you don’t play the epilogue after his death.

4. Is it worth playing Red Dead Redemption 2 after Arthur dies?

Yes, it is. The epilogue provides closure to the overall narrative.

5. Can you find Dutch after beating RDR2?

You won’t encounter Dutch during the epilogue itself, but his story is further developed and concluded in the original Red Dead Redemption, which explains his actions and ultimate fate.

6. Does Arthur get weaker in RDR2?

Yes, Arthur contracts tuberculosis (TB) during the game, which progressively weakens him. This decline in health affects his stamina and overall physical condition, adding a layer of realism and emotional depth to his character arc.

7. Can you find Trelawny in RDR2 epilogue?

Yes, there is a specific scene where you can find Trelawny with his family, suggesting he left his life of crime behind after the Van der Linde gang broke up and settled down.

8. Why did Dutch shoot Micah?

Dutch shoots Micah out of a sense of obligation to Arthur and a belated recognition of Micah’s betrayal. It’s seen as a moment of redemption for Dutch, acknowledging his role in the gang’s downfall.

9. Do you keep Arthur’s money as John?

Yes, if you leave your money at the Aberdeen Pig Farm before Arthur’s demise and return as John, you can retrieve it. This is a specific method to transfer funds between characters.

10. Can you play as Arthur after he dies?

No, there is no way to continue playing as Arthur after his death unless you revert to an earlier save. The game transitions to John Marston for the epilogue.

11. How old is Jack in RDR2?

Jack Marston is around 4 years old at the start of Red Dead Redemption 2. By the end of the epilogue, he is approximately 19 years old.

12. How much longer is RDR2 after Arthur dies?

The epilogue in Red Dead Redemption 2 can take anywhere from 15 to 30 hours to complete, depending on how much side content you engage with. It represents a significant portion of the overall game experience.

13. Can you keep Arthur’s horses as John?

Unfortunately, no. Arthur’s horse(s) do not transfer to John during the epilogue. You will have to find and bond with new horses as John.

14. Where are the characters after the epilogue in RDR2?

• Pearson is running the general store in Rhodes.
• Mary-Beth is writing novels, and can be found at the train platform in Valentine.
• Tilly is married well, and you can bump into her near the tailor in Saint Denis.
• Rains Fall is at the train station in Annesburg; his tribe settled in Canada.
• Swanson can be found in New York.

15. Does the White Arabian respawn after Arthur dies?

Yes, the White Arabian horse will respawn at Lake Isabella after Arthur’s death, allowing you to acquire it again as John.