Developer Rockstar Games has long been lauded for its attention to detail and ability to create a world that feels truly lived-in. It’s a quality that is present in many of the studio’s most popular games but is arguably most evident in Red Dead Redemption 2.
To illustrate, Red Dead Redemption 2 players are still finding details nearly two years after the open world Western game released. For example, one player noticed a detail involving Jack Marston and the book he is seen reading in the game.
Just in case there are any people out there who haven’t finished Red Dead Redemption 2 (Game Rant’s Red Dead Redemption 2 review suggests it’s worth playing) beware that there are spoilers to follow.
The Reddit user who goes by TheBrogDaddy92 shared a cool detail that brings one of the game’s side quests full circle. As Arthur, players are tasked with finding a book for Hosea, which the character then uses to teach Jack Marston how to read. That book is called the Aldous Filson Mysteries and is a completely fabricated series for Red Dead Redemption 2.
The book Jack's reading is the one Arthur gets for Hosea's item request, the same book Hosea then teaches Jack to read with. The details in this game are what keep me coming back from reddeadredemption2
Throughout the game, players can pick up a bunch of different items for Hosea as part of his side quests and most seem fairly innocuous. However, this book is significant because players eventually see Jack reading it again much later in the game. In the game’s Epilogue, where players get to control John Marston from Red Dead 1, Jack is seen with the book under the shade of a tree.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is filled with tiny details that players may never pick up if they don’t pay attention or simply don’t follow a certain quest. One user in the same Reddit thread pointed out that Jack also mentions the Boy Callaway novel that Arthur Morgan helps write as one of the quests in the main storyline.
The little details like these can go a long way towards delivering a world that feels lived-in. Rockstar Games may not return to the West for some time (if at all), but Red Dead Redemption 2 has enough quests to keep players occupied and searching for Easter Eggs or hidden details. And those that want to continue their cowboy exploits can jump into Red Dead Online and try to write their own storyline. It may not have as much detail as the story that Rockstar wrote for Arthur Morgan, but there is still plenty to do.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.