It’s not clear if there will ever be a Red Dead Redemption 3, but it should go without saying that it would be successful. Both Red Dead Redemption games, especially Red Dead Redemption 2, are widely recognized as some of the best narrative-driven open-world games of all time, carried by watertight writing and stellar mission design. One would assume that Rockstar would be enthusiastic about maintaining such a prestigious, not to mention profitable, video game series.
But Red Dead Redemption 3 would come with a host of complications as well, and these may not be so easy for Rockstar to navigate. Red Dead Redemption is all about John Marston grappling with his past and coming face to face with his old gang members, so it made a lot of sense for Red Dead Redemption 2 to be a prequel that follows many of those same characters, including John. But neither Red Dead Redemption nor Red Dead Redemption 2 offers enough wiggle room for a similar premise in a future game, even though some might argue otherwise. While there’s merit in the belief that, say, Sadie should helm Red Dead Redemption 3, such suggestions are often motivated more by players’ affection for these characters than by what would actually make for a good story.
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The Case Against Red Dead Redemption 3
The gaming community at large has clamored for more Red Dead Redemption, but it might be best to let the series rest, at least for a while.
Why Red Dead Redemption Is Facing Down the Barrel of a Hedgehog’s Dilemma
The Hedgehog’s Dilemma, attributed to Arthur Schopenhauer, can be roughly described as follows:
- Two hedgehogs wish to huddle together for warmth during the winter months, but cannot do so without harming each other with their quills.
It’s an obvious metaphor for human relationships, which Schopenhauer believes are destined to cause mutual harm. Schopenhauer argues that humans come together as a result of a shared desire for comfort or entertainment, and are consequently repulsed by each other due to their negative traits, only to come back together once the aforementioned desires overpower the fear of the figurative quills. In other words, human connection always comes at a cost.
It’s a rather bleak philosophy, but it applies to Red Dead Redemption 3 surprisingly well. Audiences may think that they want characters like Sadie and Charles to return, but their most likable or compelling elements probably won’t carry into this new game. This is because Red Dead Redemption 3 would have to be removed from the context of its predecessors, and therefore can’t enjoy the same narrative strengths.
Red Dead Redemption Is Replete with Great Characters, but Their Stories Are Over
Jack Marston is commonly cited as one of the best candidates for Red Dead Redemption 3‘s protagonist, but this would require him to follow in his father’s footsteps as an outlaw, effectively undermining John’s mission in the first Red Dead Redemption while making Jack less distinct. Other fans have suggested that the series follow Sadie to South America and focus on her adventures as a bounty hunter, but this would remove the mystery and finality of her story in Red Dead Redemption 2, morphing her into yet another gun-toting action hero. The same can be said for the likes of Charles, another fan favorite.
The most stunning flower can look garish in the wrong arrangement, and the most basic of weeds can elevate a bouquet; it’s all about the context in which these elements exist. Characters like Sadie, Jack, and Charles are among the Red Dead series’ best, but they are part of a bigger, more complex recipe. They can’t simply be dropped into a different game and be expected to be just as likable and compelling. In fact, they could be bastardized, turned into mere intellectual commodities rather than pieces of a greater, cohesive whole.
Red Dead Redemption 2
10/10
- Released
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October 26, 2018
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Engine
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RAGE
