Highlights

• Red Dead Redemption 2 is an immersive, open-world game with mesmerizing graphics and a ruthless depiction of the Old West.
• Be prepared to spend over 50-60 hours to complete the game without optional storylines, with 120+ hours required for 100% completion.
• Don't miss out on optional side quests and activities, as they provide additional context and depth to the game's story and characters.

By now, it's obvious that Red Dead Redemption 2 is a massive open-world game, and it's more than just "Grand Theft Auto with a horse." Although many players have complained about how slow it takes to travel from one place to another with a horse, the game's graphics are purely mesmerizing, and it captures the Old West's ruthless world.

Red Dead Redemption 2 needs more than 50-60 hours to beat without completing the optional storylines, with players taking more than 120 hours to reach 100% completion. However, many casual players tend to miss certain RDR2 side quests and activities, so it's important to know where to go to complete optional activities in the game.

Updated on February 2, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: Many side quests in Red Dead Redemption 2 are pretty easy to find, but the same can't be said for others. Some side quests can be a pain to uncover, making it important for players to explore the map thoroughly and listen attentively to any conversations happening in the distance. This can help them find certain activities and missions that wouldn't be possible to complete otherwise, which is particularly useful for those who want to discover as many things as possible in their Red Dead Redemption 2 playthrough.

18 Rob A Stagecoach With Bill

Go With Bill And Tilly To Get Some Quick Cash

• Location: Clemens Point
• Quest Giver: Bill Williamson

There are times when players have the opportunity to interact with members of the camp and go on interesting adventures with them. Such is the case when players get the chance to rob a stagecoach with Bill Williamson, roping in Tilly along the way.

It's a simple quest with a few interesting moments of banter here and there. Moments like these add more context to the events of the first game and why the deaths John Marston had to orchestrate were pretty tragic in their way.

17 Playing Dominoes With Tilly

A Simple Game Played With One Of The Camp Members

• Location: Clemens Point
• Quest Giver: Tilly Jackson

Dominoes is a fairly simple, luck-based minigame players can check out in Red Dead Redemption 2. While it can be frustrating if the stars don't align with the player, it's still a decent way to pass the time for those who want to relax after a few intense missions.

Tilly is an interesting character with whom players can enjoy an interesting game of dominoes, ending with Tilly asking Arthur to get a necklace for her. It's a simple and nice way to build up her character, no matter how minor the exchange may be.

16 A House Under Construction

A Simple Side Story That Progresses Throughout The Game

• Location: Castor's Ridge
• Quest Giver: Curtis and his family

Players who head south from the town of Valentine will find themselves in Castor's Ridge, one of the many breathtaking locations in Red Dead Redemption 2. This area houses a series of events that players can take an active role in if they come to this place multiple times throughout their adventure.

A family is seen building a house here, with Arthur being able to come back later on to help them deal with a group of bandits who've opened fire on them. Another visit will lead to the revelation that the people here don't have the money to fund additional construction, and Arthur can choose to help them out with a small donation of a hundred dollars. However, the final visit reveals that the family eventually sold this land off to a group of farmers, giving Arthur his money back along with an extra fifty for his efforts.

15 Arthur's Violation

Not For The Faint Of Heart

• Location: A lonesome cabin in Lemoyne
• Quest Giver: A disturbed individual

There are many random events that Arthur can discover as he explores the world of Red Dead Redemption 2. However, there's one particular encounter that most players are better off not experiencing, especially given how disturbing the contents of this unfortunate abduction are. This particular event takes place in Lemoyne in an isolated cabin that houses a pretty disturbing individual.

Arthur is initially taken in by this man's friendly approach and even decides to enter the cabin to partake in a meal this man offers. However, this turns out to be a massive mistake, with the man knocking Arthur out before performing some highly unpleasant acts. After this unfortunate encounter, Arthur wakes up in the middle of nowhere and can decide to go back to the location and get his revenge on this sick, demented man.

14 The Events At The Lumberjack Camp

Help Out The People In This Camp At Regular Intervals

• Location: Appleseed Timber
• Quest Giver: Members of the Appleseed Timber Company

If players head northeast of Strawberry, they'll find themselves in a lumberjack camp that is full of many interesting characters. Players can initially sell some of their supplies at a premium here if they're strapped for cash. A visit later on will feature an event where a lumberjack gets trapped under the trunk of a tree, prompting Arthur and the other members of the camp to go and help free him.

After going to visit the camp again, Arthur finds out that the lumberjacks are being hounded by a pack of wolves who are irritating them every step of the way. As always, players who want to play the role of the good Samaritan can go and kill these animals, allowing the lumberjacks to resume their work without worrying about being hunted down.

13 Help Two Escaped Convicts

A Funny Criminal Duo Who Add To The Game's Hilarity

• Location: Southern Rhodes
• Quest Giver: Sampson Black and Wendell White

Players who are looking for something a bit comedic and heartwarming should seek out two escaped convicts just outside Rhodes in the woods near the train tracks. "The Ties That Bind Us" is a three-part quest where Arthur (or John) can encounter the duo multiple times, helping them to avoid recapture (or turning them back in for the bounty money if they see fit). The duo is rather funny to watch, initially hating on one another quite a bit, but it soon becomes apparent to the player that they're pretty reliant on each other for survival.

This quest may not offer the best rewards or anything out of the ordinary, but it's a great side mission for those who are looking to immerse themselves more into the world of Red Dead Redemption 2.

12 Help Solve A Love Triangle

A Hilarious Tale Of Two Lovers Taking Jabs At Each Other To Earn The Love Of A Woman

• Location: Valentine
• Quest Giver: Proetus and Acrisius

"Oh, Brother" is easily one of the most hilarious and entertaining quests found throughout the wide world of Red Dead Redemption 2. Players will encounter a twin duo in Valentine near the store after completing Chapter 3 and beginning Chapter 4. It's easy to miss this quest as the NPCs simply look like two young men arguing with one another. Players will need to head nearby to initiate the questline, which spans multiple encounters with the twins.

Players will find themselves embroiled in a love triangle, something Arthur usually wouldn't find himself partaking in. The writing for this particular mission is particularly biting, with the twins vying for the attention of a woman by calling each other some pretty despicable (and downright comical) names. It's one of the funniest experiences in the game, and players should see it unfold at least once.

11 Re-Enact Frankenstein With A Twist

A Mad Scientist Who Creates A Robot

• Location: Western Saint Denis
• Quest Giver: Marko Dragic

One of the coolest and most often-overlooked missions is "A Bright Bouncing Boy," which can be started once players reach Saint Denis. There, just north of the Horse Stable on the edge of town, players will encounter a man named Marko Dragic. The inventor is being called a fraud by some strangers and enlists Arthur's help to prove them wrong, roping players into a fun mini-game where they must pilot a remote-controlled boat.

While many players will find this mission, the next couple of times Marko is encountered, he is located high up in the mountains, almost on the edge of the map. Players who don't venture this far to check out the awaiting question mark will miss out on one of the strangest and most electrifying missions in the game.

10 Find Dinosaur Bones

Finding Thirty Of These Bones Can Be Quite A Chore

• Location: New Hanover
• Quest Giver: Deborah MacGuiness

'A Test of Faith' is a Stranger mission where players encounter Deborah MacGuinness, an amateur paleontologist, in The Heartlands, New Hanover. She'll ask players to mail the coordinates of 30 dinosaur bones they come across for a cash reward in return.

It's understandable if some players tend to skip this mission since it's too much hassle for a very minimal reward. Lucky for every completionist out there, simplified guides and shortcuts for finding these dinosaur bones are all over the internet now.

9 Collect Wild West Pokemon Cards

A Whopping 144 Cards Need To Be Found

• Location: Outside Flatneck Station
• Quest Giver: Phineas T. Ramsbottom

If players fancy collecting the Pokemon Cards' of the Old West, then 'Smoking and Other Hobbies' is something to consider. In this mission, players are required to collect up to 12 Cigarette Card Sets, and each set contains 12 cards. That means, 144 unique cards have to be obtained, ranging from the Prominent Americans Card Set to the Horses Cards Set.

It's no wonder why so many players skip this part. The easiest way to complete this quest is to upgrade the player's satchel, maximize the Honor bar, and buy premium cigarettes (preferably in Saint Denis). It's time-consuming, but it's nice to see a complete set in the protagonist's possession.

8 Find A Bunch Of Legendary Gunslingers

Help A Man Interview Four Notorious Figures In The Wild West

• Location: Valentine
• Quest Giver: Theodore Levin

In 'The Noblest of Men, and a Woman,' players, whether it's Arthur or John, will be tasked to take on the West's four most notorious gunslingers: Flaco Hernandez, Emmet Granger, Billy Midnight, and Black Belle.

After competing with each gun-slinging legend, various rare rewards are ready to be claimed. The mission will only be activated during Chapter 2 at Keane's Saloon in Valentine, so players should make sure not to rush it.

7 Hunt A Bison With Charles

A Simple Hunting Mission Where Players Bond With A Member Of The Camp

• Location: Horseshoe Overlook
• Quest Giver: Charles Smith

Aside from the Stranger missions, most casual players tend to overlook the camp's additional tasks, like hunting bison with Charles, for example.

Charles and Arthur will eventually come across a group of marauders who hunt and kill buffaloes for fun, and players can either choke a member to death or spare them. These camp missions will disappear once players move forward with the main story, making them very easy to miss for those prioritizing the main story.

6 Play Five Fingers With Micah

Interact With A Hated Red Dead Redemption 2 Character

• Location: Clemens Point
• Quest Giver: Micah Bell

Every Red Dead Redemption 2 player can agree that Micah Bell is the game's worst, most hated character. So why not beat him in a classic Five Finger Fillet game instead of killing him?

In this companion side mission, players are required to have a solid focus and finish by getting more laps than their opponents. Missing the order will abolish any lap progression that's been made, so players should always make sure to keep an eye out and maintain focus.

5 Find The UFO

Continues The Tradition Of Rockstar Adding Aliens To Their Video Games

• Location: Various
• Quest Giver: None

Rockstar loves to sprinkle their games with zany hidden Easter eggs and references. One such Easter Egg is the Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) from Red Dead Redemption 2, which may or may not be the same one seen in Grand Theft Auto 5.

To summon the UFO, players should head over to the small shack in New Hanover, just northeast of Heartland Overflow, to find a concerning note about an interstellar traveler. If players wait long enough in the cabin, then they'll see a green-glowing, mysterious flying object in the sky.

4 Hunt Down A Serial Killer

A Chilling Addition That Makes The World Of Red Dead Redemption 2 Feel More Sinister

• Location: Valentine (optional)
• Quest Giver: Curtis Malloy (optional)

Still from the second chapter, there's a Stranger mission called 'American Dreams' given by Sheriff Curtis Malloy in Valentine. There are three murder scenes to be investigated that may trigger the quest, too.

The goal of this side mission is to hunt down a cold-blooded killer, Edmund Lowry Jr., who mutilates his victims. Players need to connect the dots of his current whereabouts and bring him to justice. Even though the reward is not that big ($20), it's still better than nothing. However, to get the reward and some gratitude, players should be sure to help the authorities put Edmund down when he breaks free of his restraints.

3 Reclaim A House From The Night Folk

A Short, Action-Packed Mission In Bayou

• Location: Bluewater Marsh
• Quest Giver: Old Cajun

'A Fine Night for It' is a Stranger mission from Chapter 2, and many players miss it because it's only available between 10 PM to 5 AM. To trigger the task, players have to encounter the murdering group, the Night Folks, along the Bayou or Bluewater Marsh at night.

The mission itself centers around a Night Folk's victim, begging for Arthur to help him claim his house back from the murdering thieves. It's an interesting mission, and it's sure to leave players feeling unsettled.

2 Encounter The Aberdeen Pig Farm Family

A Simple Side Story That Progresses Throughout The Game

• Location: Scarlett Meadows
• Quest Giver: Bray and Tammy Aberdeen

The Aberdeen Pig Farm is a creepy-looking ranch where two incestuous siblings, named Bray and Tammy Aberdeen, live. It's located in the Scarlett Meadows region of the Lemoyne, right next to the border of Roanoke Ridge.

Upon encountering the siblings, they'll welcome the player to join them for dinner and eventually offer an alcoholic beverage until they pass out. They'll loot the player of all their money and ditch them in a mass grave, located right next to their ranch. To reclaim their money, players should head over to the farm and make them pay in any way they want. It's also possible to tie Tammy up and take her to the mass grave for some unique dialogue.

1 Hunt Down A Snake Oil Salesman

Capture Benedict Allbright

• Location: Valentine
• Quest Giver: Uncle and Curtis Malloy

'Good, Honest, Snake Oil' is a pretty interesting mission players can get in Valentine. It's one of the first bounty-hunting side missions. This is a good quest to finish, especially if players are low on money.

To trigger it, simply head over to the sheriff's office at Valentine to collect a bounty poster of Benedict Albright. This Snake Oil con man sold his so-called 'miracle cure' that proved fatal to the people of New Hanover. The reward is $50. Looting Benedict yields a bottle of his miracle cure that, ironically, works on the protagonist.