Red Dead Redemption 2 Feels Like A Whole New Game With These 3 Free Expansions

When it comes to Rockstar Games, all the chatter concerns the recent opening of pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI.

Soon enough, everyone will be ceasing their replays of GTA V or Red Dead Redemption 2 in favour of returning to Vice City.

In the meantime, though, Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2 is well worth a revisit as three recent mod releases can totally transform the game.

It goes without saying that you’ll need to own Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC in order to get involved in modding.

If you tick that box though, downloading and combining the newly released Random Events Mod, Blackwater - Town Overhaul, and Ultimate Climbing Overhaul could really revitalise this rootin’ tootin’ experience.

Add New Experiences Into RDR2’s Open-World With This Free PC Offering

Let’s begin with the Random Events Mod, which comes from NexusMods user knoxien.

Rockstar Games’ open worlds are unmatched, featuring a wide array of secrets, side content, and randomised encounters.

That’s not to say that the boat can’t be pushed any further, though.

This mod introduces additional “ambient encounters” to the game, including “predator attacks, runaway wagons, public hangings, drunken townsfolk and bounty hunter pursuits” to spice up your open-world exploration.

“Adds spontaneous encounters into your free roam,” begins the mod’s description.

“As you ride around, random events spin up near you: a cougar comes barreling out of the brush, a team of spooked horses tears down the trail with a runaway wagon, a gang strings some poor soul up from a tree, drunks brawl near settlements (at night) and bounty hunters with hounds come looking for trouble.”

READ MORE: 11 Essential Red Dead Redemption 2 Mods That Improve the Game

If you download Ultimate Free Climbing Overhaul, you’ll be able to switch up how you explore the open-world as well as the things you encounter within it.

alejahH

Created by NexusMods user alejahH, this one does pretty much what it says on the tin, allowing players to freely climb all in-game buildings, trees, and mountains.

“Hide on top of roofs, jump from treetop to treetop, scale mountainsides. There are no limits to where the player can go now,” said the mod’s creator.

They cite The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as a major inspiration, so if you’ve played that game, expect much of the same traversal here.

Finally, you might want to add Blackwater - Town Overhaul into the mix by NexusMods user Rixus724.

This mod, unsurprisingly, overhauls the town of Blackwater, adding in restored content from Red Dead Redemption 1 while remaining true to the style of Red Dead Redemption 2.

Players should expect “classic structures, expanded streets, improved and new interiors, and much more — designed to make Blackwater feel larger, more alive, and truly civilised”.

In fact, the modder notes that the download includes two “distinct versions” of Blackwater for players to choose from, although it doesn’t go into too much detail about the differences.

These are far from the only worthwhile mods available, so if you are looking to instil some new life into the game, have a browse.

As for GTA VI, the final countdown is most definitely on.

PLAYSTATION PRE-ORDER: Playstation UK | Walmart | Amazon UK | Amazon US

XBOX PRE-ORDER: GAME UK | Loaded | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Walmart

Both the Standard Edition and Ultimate Edition of GTA VI will launch on 19 November, with those who pre-order the title eligible to pre-load the game from 12 November.