Red Dead Redemption 2 is easily one of the most gorgeous video games ever released and has won the awards to prove it since it debuted in 2018. Not only is its world incredibly massive, but it is also wonderfully varied, resulting in numerous unique locations.
Each of these locations has its own personality, appearance, and tone, and it's amazing how the game can make you feel so different through sheer atmosphere alone. Of course, some locations are better than others and your mileage will obviously vary, but these areas are not to be missed.
Updated on February 28th, 2021 by Scoot Allan: As fans continue to discover and return to Rockstar Games' hit Red Dead Redemption 2 to explore the final days of the Wild Wild West, the amazingly beautiful areas of the visually breathtaking game keep stunning players as they make their way through the well-constructed story of the ongoing Game of the Year winner. With Red Dead Online giving players even more opportunities to travel across the map to experience everything the game has to offer, we wanted to take another look back at a few of the best areas, settings, and points of interest that we have to visit every time we step into the world of Red Dead Redemption 2.
15 *The Mysterious Hill Home Looks Like A Hobbit Home
There are a number of unique houses that players can find and sometimes explore inside during their travels across the map in Red Dead Redemption 2, though none of them are quite like the peculiar dwelling that can be found in Grizzlies East.
When Arthur Morgan first discovers the location he marks it down as the "Mysterious Hill Home" due to the house's construction under a hill, which somewhat resembles a Hobbit house from Lord of the Rings. Arthur found the area so beautiful that his gravestone is ultimately located near the Hill Home in the Epilogue of the game.
14 *The Cave of Statues Is A Hidden Secret Filled With Treasure
Treasure hunting is a great way to earn some money and explore the map as Arthur or John Marston follow the various treasure maps that can be found or purchased or stolen, though one of those treasures can only be accessed after discovered a cave painting on Window Rock that gives a clue to solving the mysterious Cave of Statues.
Once players manage to find the hidden Cave of Statues, which features seven statues facing each other, they are required to activate the statues in a certain order in order to retrieve a cache of gold as they enjoy one of the oddest areas of Red Dead Redemption 2.
13 Bayou Nwa & Bluewater Marsh Are Dangerous But Beautiful
Bayou Nwa and Bluewater Marsh are certainly unique locations, but we have to admit, they can be a little grating and tiring after a while. The entire area is basically one large swamp, so your opinion on this area will depend largely on how much you enjoy swamps.
Personally, we're not fans. The place is littered with crocodiles, so your horse gets scared every five seconds; Arthur moves like he's swimming through molasses while in the swamp; and the entire place is necessary for the ridiculous hunting challenges, ensuring that you get sick of it real quick.
12 Roanoke Ridge Is A Forested Mining Area And Trading Post
Roanoke Ridge is a beautiful spot. The surrounding area is mountainous and forested, making it a prime location for hunting and flower gathering. It also contains some unique towns, including Annesburg and Van Horn.
Annesburg is a mining town, and as such, it is both bustling and filthy, a prominent and persistent black trail of soot rising into the sky. Van Horn is a trading post that time has passed by, filled with criminals and run-down buildings. It's just too bad that Arthur is, you know, dying for a majority of the time you spend in this area.
11 Grizzlies West Provides A Wintery Change Of Scenery
The Grizzlies West is a unique location in the Red Dead Redemption universe. The first game contained little more than a traditional Western setting, although it did have a little snowy area. With that said, the Grizzlies West is on a whole other level. The entire place is devoid of life, and the only town in the entire area is completely deserted.
It also contains frozen ponds and lakes, dangerous mountain passes, and knee-high snowbanks. Arthur will also freeze in this area if you don't dress him accordingly, adding yet another dangerous element to the area. It's great for exploring, and it serves as a beautiful change of scenery.
10 Armadillo Is A Deserted Look At The Ravages Of Illness In The Old West
Armadillo is little more than an afterthought in this game — but it is a wonderfully unique and nostalgic afterthought. Of course, everyone remembers this little town from the first game, although things are a bit different this time around.
The deserted town is in rough shape thanks to a combination of scarlet fever and typhus that has seemingly ravaged the town and its citizens. It's the only area of its kind in the game, and it puts a unique and refreshing twist on an area we have already experienced and explored.
9 *The Strange Man's Cursed House Furthers The Red Dead Mystery
The town of Armadillo first appeared in the original Red Dead Redemption, though that isn't the only nod to the original game that can be found in RDR2's Armadillo, as a picture of The Strange Man who encounters John Marston and predicts his death can be ominously seen in the General Store.
Players can also find an odd Cursed House known as Bayall Edge located in the swamps near Caliga Hall that is filled with odd messages and a mysterious painting that will slowly reveal itself as The Strange Man over subsequent visits, with The Strange Man himself popping up to scare whoever manages to catch a glimpse of him in the mirror.
8 *Mount Shann Features A Number Of Landmarks And A UFO
The largest geographical feature in Red Dead Redemption 2 is Mount Shann, which is located in the Big Valley region and can be traversed on foot or by horse to discover a number of interesting landmarks and secrets.
Not only can players locate the mysterious Panoramic Map, Giant Remains or the ancient sundial, but if they manage to climb to the top of the mountain between the early morning hours of 1 and 3, they will be lucky enough to have a close encounter with a UFO!
7 Blackwater Helped Bridge The Later Events Of The First Game
Unlike Armadillo, there's a lot to do and accomplish in Blackwater. Not only does the town nicely pay homage to the original game, but it also plays an important role within the story of Red Dead Redemption II.
It is here that John buys the lumber required to build his iconic farmhouse, and it is here that he enjoys the beautiful day with Abigail before proposing to her. It helps enliven their relationship and gives context to Red Dead Redemption. But on top of that, it's just a really beautiful and vibrant town that is well worth experiencing.
6 The Town Of Rhodes Is Trapped Between Eras And Dueling Families
Rhodes is certainly an interesting little town. Some parts of it are quite picturesque. The hotel and bar are gorgeous, the train station is pretty nice, and the surrounding area is full of beautiful little hills, lush green grass, and red clay roads. That said, it also contains its fair share of nastiness.
The town is rife with racism and slavery, the two families own a large majority of it, and it's clearly seen better times, as the future has seemingly passed them by. This weird combination makes Rhodes one of the most fascinating locations on the entire map.
5 Tall Trees Is A Breathtaking Area That Needs To Be Seen... Carefully
Tall Trees is easily one of the most stunning locations in the entire game, but it's also one of the scariest. The entire area is simply sublime, as it is filled with towering trees — hence the name Tall Trees — each of which is packed so thick and close together that the canopy nearly blocks out the sun.
It's wondrous. However, it's also inhabited by the dangerous Skinner Brothers, a group of sadistic psychopaths who kill travelers and dismember their corpses. Talk about a contrast between beauty and ugliness.
4 Strawberry Is A Gorgeous Picturesque Mountain Town
There's not really a whole lot to do in Strawberry, but it is so darned gorgeous that its visual qualities elevate its dull nature. Strawberry contains a gorgeous wooden hotel (complete with a wonderful lodge-like lobby), is surrounded by a gorgeous forest and contains a lovely tiny waterfall and creek that runs through the town, forcing you to traverse its two halves via bridges.
When you think of the crisp, luscious environments of the West (not Wild west, but west West), Strawberry is undoubtedly something that immediately comes to mind.
3 *Beecher's Hope Lets You Live As A Red Dead Rancher
The epilogue of Red Dead Redemption 2 brought players full circle as they once again took over John Marston prior to the events of the first game as he began to settle with his family in New Austin, resulting in his purchase of Beecher's Hope and the construction of his ranch.
While the majority of the game's missions are completed by the time John is ready to settle in Beecher's Hope, there is still quite a lot to do around the ranch that further explores this unique chapter in the life of John Marston and his family.
2 Valentine Features A Number Of Memorable Characters And Experiences
Valentine holds a special place in our hearts. Sure, it's obviously not the biggest, most extravagant, or most beautiful town in the game. That said, it is the first major town you visit in the story, and for that reason, it holds a certain nostalgic charm.
Visiting Valentine stirs up our memories, reminding us of the sheer excitement that we felt upon experiencing this game for the first time. Seeing and experiencing Valentine with fresh eyes was like visiting London or New York in real life, even if it's really just some dingy town that no one cares about.
1 Saint Denis Is The Largest City To Appear In The Red Dead Franchise
And here we come to pure civilization — Saint Denis. Of course, if you have the mindset of Arthur and prefer the more lush and open, natural landscape, you'll hate the civilized industrial city of Saint Denis. That said, you can't deny that it is the most interesting location in the game.
Paved streets, electricity, gorgeous hotels, expensive suits, interesting characters, wonderful theaters and shows, it's all there, and rife for the picking. We could spend hours simply exploring all that Saint Denis has to offer.