Although Rockstar Games seems entirely enraptured by theGrand Theft Autofranchise right now, with the recent re-releases and remasters, theannouncement ofGrand Theft Auto 6, and so on, many fans are wanting updates regardingRed Dead Online.Red Dead Redemptionis the developer’s second most popular IP, and while the general focus onGrand Theft Autoright now makes sense, many fans hope that it’s not a decade before they get a new game.
Of course, a prospectiveRed Dead Redemption 3may not happen right away—aRed Dead Redemption Remakewould be welcome to help bide the time—but Rockstar should eventually release a threequel. Whether that’s another prequel or a sequel is up in the air, but either way, there is a ton of potential for protagonists.
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Fans have been barking up this tree for years, but stepping into the shoes of adult Jack Marston for one more game would be interesting to see. The last players saw of him was when he took revenge on hisfather’s killer at the end ofRed Dead Redemption 1, and such an action no doubt cemented Jack Marston into a “last outlaw” sort of character archetype. It would be great to see this come to an end, even if it’s not a happy ending.
This sequel would likely be difficult because, at the time, World War I would soon begin and the west was closing even more rapidly. Still, to see Jack Marston fight to hang on to everything his father and Arthur Morgan believed in (and actually seeing a version ofJack Marston reflect on the loss of Arthur) would be a good threequel in the beloved franchise.
If Rockstar was reluctant to visit Jack, that would make sense, and Sadie Adler would be another popular choice. Many fans have called for it to be so, and even the actress has said she wants to be thelead protagonist forRed Dead Redemption 3. After all, Sadie Adler is one of few characters to get a “happy” ending, or at least not end up dead by the end ofRed Dead 2. She’s out there, somewhere, and that is fertile soil for storytelling.
Perhaps, even, there would be a way to connect the two. If Sadie learns aboutJohn Marston’s death, even after years (news travels slow in the west), she could perhaps return in search of Jack. Bringing the two together would make for an epic send-off of some sorts, but fans should be prepared for one—if not both—of them to die at the end.
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Instead of moving forward,Red Dead Redemption 3could go even further back. Players learned of theDutch Van Der Linde gangthrough John’s eyes inRed Dead 1, see its downfall inRed Dead 2, and so seeing its formation and/or early days would be interesting. Players could take on the role of Hosea or Dutch Van Der Linde, and that would certainly be enough to perk the ears of fans.
As fans know, however, both characters live through the early days of the gang. Two games could just be a coincidence, but it’s not a stretch either to think the third game would feature the main protagonist dying and let players continue the game with another. Perhaps it would still take place during this time, but it could feature another new character—someone Arthur doesn’t talk about, oddly—and continue on this tradition of prequels. Either way, the early days of the gang particularly throughHosea and Dutch’s eyescould make its downfall all the more tragic.
Jack, Sadie, Hosea, or Dutch would all make great protagonists, depending on the direction Rockstar wanted to go. But there are several more characters who would notably make good choices as well, if less obvious.
Ultimately, whenever Rockstar moves forward withRed Dead Redemption 3, it’s hard to imagine it going wrong on the character front.
Red Dead Redemption 2is available now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
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