Everyone needs a hobby, especially during quarantine. But for some people, getting getting really into board games just isn't enough. Fans are devoting their time to something more creative, like building an incredibly accurate model of a location in Red Dead Redemption 2 entirely out of matches.
Red Dead Redemption 2 launched in 2018 to overwhelming critical and commercial success. Since then, it has retained a loyal fanbase, who are not afraid to show their love and devotion for the game. However, even among the diehard fans, the amount of time and dedication it must have taken to build this matchstick model is pretty stunning.
The model was posted to Reddit by a user going by u/T-_-W-_-S. It's a replica of the Annesburg Coal Mine, a location which plays a key part in the game's story. The model is very detailed, and features some very impressive structural work, especially in its midsection. While the user never specified how many matches went into building the model, they did say that they've invested over sixty hours into the project. That's almost enough time to replay Red Dead Redemption 2, although, with side quests, the game can be a lot longer.
UPDATE 6: The Annesburg Coal Mine is after 60+ hours of work mostly finished!!!!! Some minor detail work and coloring will be done on stream tomorrow, links are in the comments! from reddeadredemption
Comparing the model to the keyboard in the background of the photo, it becomes clear just how small the model actually is. Working with matchsticks as a medium cannot be easy, and this Redditor deserves some serious props for creating something so complex using the tiny pieces of wood. If nothing else, the creator is certainly more clever than Red Dead's dumb horses.
The user says that he plans to continue the model, and should be painting it soon. Considering the wide amount of customization in Red Dead, it will be interesting to see what direction they go with it. Will it be accurate to the game? Or will it branch off and go its own direction? Only time will tell. In the comments the user also joked about recreating the entire world of Red Dead, but judging by how big the game is, that seems unlikely.
This model is another example in a long line of players celebrating their passion for video games through art. Fans want to express their gratitude to the worlds that have sucked them in, and connect in deeper ways to the characters in those games. That's how fans end up creating some incredible Red Dead Redemption 2 cosplays, and the above model.
Red Dead Online is available now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.