11 Essential Red Dead Redemption 2 Mods That Improve the Game
For many, Red Dead Redemption 2 has been a “forever game” that just keeps on going.
Considering the amount of stories, missions, random encounters and activities there are to do in the game, Red Dead Redemption 2 is the kind of thing that most players won’t ever fully complete.
There’s simply just too much to do, and that can mean spending hundreds of hours just trying to chase that mythic 100% completion status.
Still, for the sickos who want to do even more beyond everything that Rockstar Games offers, the PC version of Red Dead Redemption 2 allows you to install mods which dramatically change the game, and even improves it in some ways.
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Because Red Dead Redemption 2 is such an immersive experience, we’ve picked out 11 mods which we feel enhances that realism and keeps you immersed in the world.
We ought to stress that while each of these mods should work independently, there may be issues if you try to run multiple of them at the same time.
Rampage Trainer
Rampage Trainer is an all-in-one mod that has many different features for Story Mode. It essentially activates the debug menu that Rockstar hides away in-game, allowing you to enable or disable certain features to tweak the experience, as well as accessing hidden information not seen in any of the menus.
Some of these include being able to see your exact health points, spawning in objects and weapons, changing your clothes and horse on the go, and being able to tweak NPC behaviour. There’s actually a massive amount of different actions here that you can do, but we’d recommend this if you just want to mess around with the game in Story Mode.
Ped Damage Overhaul
Ped Damage Overhaul aims to make fights a bit more dynamic by giving new behaviours to NPCs during combat. This includes clutching their wounds, stumbling around when trying to run with hurt legs, and squirming on the ground when fatally injured.
Because the mod affects all NPCs—not just enemies—It’s a great mod for the players who enjoy a Low Honor playthrough and get into loads of random fights with characters you stumble across.
Crime and Law Rebalance and Enhancement
One of Red Dead Redemption 2’s most undercooked features is arguably its law enforcement system, which tries to do a lot but ends up feeling rather half-baked. The idea was there, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.
Crime and Law Rebalance and Enhancement does a lot to improve on this aspect of the game, fixing many issues with the police system. Now, lawmen are much more skilled, but they’re not overpowered. They’ll stop respawning if you manage to kill them all, dispatch has been overhauled to make the system more realistic. There are also some tweaks made to how crimes are reported, and how bounty persists to encourage you to act more like an outlaw.
Duels
The duels in the first Red Dead Redemption were among some of my favourite moments in the game, and I was always disappointed the prequel didn’t include more of these outside of the main story.
This simple mod allows you to duel any NPC, provided they also have a gun. The prompt to duel any NPC will pop up during your interactions with them, and the goal here is to make them feel as cinematic and risky as the ones in the story are.
Buyable Properties
A mod that does exactly as it says on the tin by allowing you to purchase properties and decorate them to your heart’s content. These properties come with interactable furniture and weapon lockers, and they feel like a nice hub for you to settle in between missions.
Okay, sure, this one doesn’t necessarily fit with the themes of Red Dead Redemption 2’s story. Arthur and his fellow gang members are on the run from the law, it’d mess with the narrative to have them suddenly own real estate that can be easily tracked down. Still, cool mod though.
Dynamic Seasons
A pretty massive mod that adds seasons to Red Dead Redemption 2, with the season changing every ten real-life hours. Each season has its own colour palette, along with unique weather patterns, temperatures and sunrise/sunset times.
Snow will fall and cover the land during winter, which then starts to melt as temperatures get warmer in spring. In summer, the temperature rises quite dramatically and days become longer, which then turn to higher chances of rain or sleet during autumn.
Dog Companion
Arthur Morgan may be a horse girl, but the Dog Companion mod will also allow him to adopt his own little canine friend.
The mod allows you to bond with a dog, adopt it, and have it follow you around. It’ll attack enemy NPCs during fights, help you track and hunt various animals, and will find additional treasures and loot for you. You can even give it a name if you’d like to immortalise your own real-life pets in the game.
Basic Needs Final Cut
As the name implies, this mod adds several more cores for Arthur to monitor during free play, with several debuffs hitting him if he doesn’t keep them in check.
Now you’ll need to keep Arthur fed so he doesn’t go hungry and thirsty, as well as well-rested and carrying less on his back so he doesn’t become exhausted. You’ll also need to go to the loo every so often, to keep his bladder health in tip-top shape.
Bank Robberies
There are several banks in Red Dead Redemption 2, but despite playing as an outlaw on the run from the law, you don’t actually get to rob them in single-player outside of a few missions.
Bank Robberies allows you to rob banks during the free play section of the game in the same way you can rob any of the stores dotted around the map. Three banks are supported at the moment; Valentine Bank, Rhodes Bank, and Saint Denis Bank. Be prepared to get hunted by the law as a result of your crimes, though.
Immersive Scenarios
This is one for those who enjoy the role-playing aspects of Red Dead Redemption 2. It opens up new interactions that are previously only exclusive to NPCs.
Stuff like playing the piano, sleeping on a bedroll, watching the livestock, playing musical instruments, and working various tasks are all supported here. While not essential to the game’s sense of immersion, it’s one that players who enjoy wasting time doing nothing will probably enjoy.
Man With No Name Poncho
With this mod you can dress up like your very own ‘Man With No Name’, featuring a poncho similar to the one Clint Eastwood wears in the Dollars trilogy. It’s not too essential a mod, but the aura farming you’ll get from using it is simply off the charts.
Topics: Red Dead Redemption 2, Mods, Rockstar Games, Red Dead Redemption, PC, List, Features