Summary
Red Deadwas a franchise that was fairly unknown for the most part, until Rockstar Games took over the IP and bestowed upon us one of the greatest open-world adventures of all time in the form ofRed Dead Redemption. For the longest time, this was the only peek that gamers had into theRed Deadseries until Rockstar Games decided to up the ante and release a sequel that most people consider to beone of the greatest open-world games of the modern generation.
Red Dead Redemption 2is a marvel in every aspect, with the story, in particular, beinga well-thought-out and emotional ridethat most people would remember long after finishing this masterpiece. For people who still want to experience the feeling thatRed Dead Redemption 2invoked in them by playing other games, there are many other story-heavygames likeRDR2that will certainly fill up this void.
Updated on June 25, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat:Red Dead Redemption 2 was a new standard in telling a long story and building believable characters. Of course, it will take a lot of effort to see another game with the same level of details in story-telling, gameplay, and visuals.
It’s difficult to find games that recreate the Red Dead Redemption 2 experience, but there are plenty of games that share one or two major aspects with Rockstar’s masterpiece. Now, if the story is what most people love about Arthur Morgan’s saga, then the options are even broader!
Chernobyliteis a semi-open-world first-person shooter with survival elements and a branching story. The game follows the story of a man who enters the exclusion zone in Chernobyl after the atomic disaster, searching for his long-lost wife who used to work in the power plant.
The game leaves players free to decide about different matters throughout the game. The gameplay process is similar to that ofEscape From Tarkov. Each time, player chooses a certain region of the exclusion zone to explore and bring back some evidence or items to help him with finding the truth about his wife’s fate.
As the final entry in theBatman Arkhamseries,Arkham Knighttakes the gameplay to the next level. After the shocking ending of Arkham City, Batman is lurking around Gotham City once again to prevent the villains from executing their one last evil plan to toxicate the entire city.
The story in Batman: Arkham Knight is more personal than ever, as Batman’s mistakes in the past have severely traumatized him, affecting his ability to bring justice back to the city.
The game has a massive world with tons of interesting side quests and of course, a memorable main campaign.
With the sequel in the making, there is no better time than now to playKingdom Come: Deliverance, a medieval story of a young man who rises to become a noble warrior in an attempt to avenge the people responsible for the death of his parents.
Kingdom Come: Deliverancemight not have guns, but it’s world-building is close to that ofRed Dead Redemption 2with massive wilderness that can be traversed using horses. The game features a long story with some surprising twists that is well-worth the effort.
San Andreasis one of the best entries in theGrand Theft Autofranchise, featuring one of the biggest worlds in the series. The epic story sees CJ obtaining revenge at all costs, after members of the Grove Street Families ally themselves with C.R.A.S.H.’s corrupt forces to fill their own pockets at the cost of his family’s well-being.
What follows is an immersive journey where CJ makes unlikely allies in various areas before finally coming back to Los Santos and showing the Ballas who’s boss. It’s an amazing game that players still can’t get enough of to this day, and fans of Rockstar Games who lovedRed Dead Redemption 2will obviously have a great time playing through the lengthy and engaging story ofSan Andreas.
Mafiais one of the firstGTAclones to hit the market, using the structure of Rockstar’s flagship series to make a more story-focused game.Mafiatells a unique story that revolves around a crime family and documents the rise of a lowly grunt to become one of the most influential figures in the mafia. The first game was pretty, fun but quite dated, so fans were glad to see that this game was remade with modern graphics while retaining a lot of what made the original so special in the first place.
The sandbox may be nowhere near as interactive as titles likeGrand Theft AutoandRed Dead Redemption, but most players will forgive this after playing through one of the most engaging stories ever told in an open-world game. Tommy Angelo is a likable protagonist, and fans are bound to get attached to this character, which makes the ending that much harder to digest.
It’s a shame thatMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxysold so poorly at launch, with many people of the opinion that the launch ofMarvel’s Avengerswas so poor that most people were turned off from checking this game out. Players who gaveGuardians of the Galaxya shot would find themselves enjoying one of the best superhero video games ever made, especially from a narrative standpoint.
The chemistry between Quill and his buddies is palpable for everyone to see, with the overarching narrative being rife with emotion. It helps that the script is full of humorous instances that just work, with the game setting up some creative set pieces that most people don’t always see in most AAA games.
The ambition ofWesterado: Double Barreledshould certainly be lauded, with this game’s attempts to integrate a procedurally-generated narrative in a sandbox being pretty interesting to behold. After the main character’s family is killed and their ranch is burned down by an unknown culprit, the protagonist must investigate the world and figure out who this person is.
The identity of the aggressor changes in each playthrough, and players must gather the relevant clues before finally landing upon a suspect. This gameplay loop is a pretty simple yet riveting one, with the combat and exploration being pretty interesting in its own right. The story may not set the world on fire but gets the job done and is pretty engaging given how elements of the plot change every single time.
There would be noRed Deadseries without an interesting take on the Wild West that features its fair share of cowboy action, tense duels, and a story rife with betrayal.Red Dead Revolveris a game that not many people may have checked out, but the importance of this title can’t be stated enough.
If players take the time to figure out some way to play this unique action game, the plot is one of its strongest aspects that will keep them hooked till the end of the experience. The story of Red as he seeks revenge for the death of his family is a riveting one that shows exactly where Rockstar picked up its influences forRed Dead Redemption.
The firstMafiagame is a pretty fun title in its own right, receiving a well-deserved remake that has made the title way more accessible for modern games. The sequel to this title is considered by many to be a step up in every way, with the storyline being quite engaging indeed.
The crime-laden drama ofMafia 2coupled with Vito Scaletta’s brilliance as a protagonist really elevates the game in many ways. WhileMafia 2may not have the most interactive open world, the fun gameplay, great performances, and excellent narrative carry the experience with ease.
There was a time when Telltale was at the very top of its game, and this was around the time whenThe Walking Deadwas released to unprecedented levels of successall over the world. The story of Lee and Clementine struck a chord with players who loved how this game explored the human side of the zombie apocalypse, with the game focusing on these survivors who gave it their all to ensure that they didn’t succumb to the plague that has ravaged the entire world.
The firstRed Dead Redemptiongame features theUndead NightmareDLC, which was lauded for how it changed up the formula of the series while allowing players to experience a new, more supernatural side ofRed Dead’s gameplay. It’s a shame thatRed Dead Redemption 2is probably never going to get a DLC that continues this legacy, so the closest thing players can enjoy are fantastic and emotional experiences likeTelltale’s The Walking Dead!
