Red Dead Redemption 2 Becomes Completely New Game if You Change One Setting

Red Dead Redemption 2 is widely regarded as one of the best video games of all time thanks to its incredible worldbuilding, characters and narrative.

Released back in 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 arrived as a sequel to both Red Dead Revolver and Red Dead Redemption and although the previous entries were positively received, it was Red Dead Redemption 2 which has cemented itself as a modern-day classic.

Thanks to Rockstar’s attention to detail and dedication to creating both a fun game and memorable narrative, Red Dead Redemption 2 is unlike anything that has come before.

So would you believe me if I told you there was a simple setting tweak which could completely revolutionise the game?

The idea comes courtesy of user trampolinebears over on r/reddeadredemption2 who shared a setting recommendation to completely change how you can experience the world of Red Dead Redemption 2.

Playing without a minimap.

As with most games of this size, Red Dead Redemption 2 features both a main and minimap with the latter shown on the UI at all times.

However, trampolinebears completed an entire playthrough of the game with this setting disabled and would recommend it to all players.

“I’ve been playing without the minimap and it’s a wonderful experience,” they shared.

It’s like driving without GPS: by giving up someone holding your hand, you end up living by the feel of the land around you.

Someone in camp gave me a task at Emerald Ranch, so I just hopped on my horse and went there, because I know my way there from anywhere.

The process of feeling your way around the world results in knowing the world.”

They explain that, thanks to this process, they were soon able to navigate the massive open-world map by making use of Rockstar’s incredible attention to detail.

“The game is better-suited for this kind of play than you might think: the sun and shadows tell you the compass directions, the mountains and rivers in the distance are unique enough that you know which way you’re facing at a glance, smoke rises into the sky from camps and towns, birds flee from people and predators nearby, encounters worth investigating tend to make noise.

You get used to looking around the woods, so you notice the little details.”

For them, it is HUD-free all the way and it seems as though Red Dead Redemption 2 was made for such challenges.