Red Dead Redemption 2 is considered by many to be the greatest game ever made. Almost everything about the Rockstar Games title was perfect, from the sprawling and intricately detailed landscape to the polished characters and engaging storyline. Perhaps this is why the studio is taking so long to release GTA VI – it knows the next title needs to be flawless to compete with the 2018 Western.
One of the highlights of Red Dead Redemption 2 was the wide array of side games for players to enjoy. These added richness and depth to the immersion and extended the game’s run time massively. GTA VI will have to bring in new ideas to better what has come before it.
How Did Red Dead Redemption 2 Nail Its Side Games?
In the modern age of highly expansive open-world games, players want to feel as if they have been immersed in a new life. This means that, along with completing the regular storyline missions, there are other activities that increase the immersion levels. Red Dead Redemption had a range of mini-games that players didn’t need to do to complete the game, but they simply existed as options to enhance the experience.
For instance, players could hunt for animals or go fishing for a sense of achievement and to capture some animal skins. They could play dominoes or Five-Finger Fillet to bond with other characters or win money. The title even tapped into the booming online casino market and attracted those players through its detailed blackjack offerings. Nowadays, a lot of people play blackjack for real money online and have various options such as European Blackjack and Atlantic City Blackjack to choose from. RDR2 capitalized on this interest by giving players the chance to win in-game currency in blackjack games that resembled the offerings found in the online casino industry.
It’s clear that diversity was the key to Rockstar Games’ Western nailing its side games, along with tapping into hot trends in popular culture. GTA VI will have to do the same if it is to be considered superior to RDR2.
GTA Titles Have Always Been Good for Mini Games Too
Players have been speculating about the release of the next GTA game for some time, and a recent leak confirmed that it’s in the late stages of its development. That means it could conceivably be released within the next few years. GTA titles tend to be aware of current affairs and developments in technology, so it’s likely to include some side games that nod to these.
GTA V had loads of side games, including seriously fun options like yoga and golf. Ideally, it would be great to see these return. The casino expansion to GTA V Online was a hit, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see some gambling games in the next title, too. It may also bring in some elements of virtual reality, with the player character perhaps putting on a VR device and then diving into a completely unrelated game within a game. Additions like these could put GTA VI’s side games on a higher level than RDR2’s.
GTA VI is on the way, and it’s likely to be one of the best games ever made. To beat RDR2, though, it will need to have a more diverse range of side games.
