Red Dead Redemption 2: How Long Does it Take for the World to Open Up?
Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the longest games of the year. With a 70-hour campaign, Rockstar’s latest enters territory where usually only JRPGs dare tread. That stubbornly languid pace means that it takes a while to get to the point when it opens up. Here’s a look at what to expect in those slow first few hours. We’ll also explain how many hours you’ll need to play to get to the moment the game really begins.
Red Dead Redemption 2: The First Few Hours
While the first few hours don’t deliver the thrills that Grand Theft Auto fans have come to expect from Rockstar’s open worlds, Red Dead Redemption 2’s opening is vital to everything that comes later. The game opens on a snowy mountain where the Van der Linde gang has holed up to escape the law. During this section, you’ll meet the gang’s leader Dutch, former protagonist John Marston, and other important members of the gang.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll be drawn in early. I was intrigued by the yarn Rockstar was beginning to spin on the mountain. Arthur’s journal, which provided backstory on events prior to the game, was captivating. The other gang members had interesting things to say. But, if you aren’t as sold as I was, this segment is over soon enough.
When Does RDR2 Open Up?
This sequence can last anywhere from two to five hours, depending on how many gang members you chat up, how often you fail missions and how much of Arthur’s journal you read. When your time on the mountain is done, you’ll hit a title screen that announces you’re entering Chapter 2.
Then you’ll get this achievement:
Now you’re free to explore the rest of Red Dead Redemption 2’s version of the American south. Be prepared, though. If that opening was too slow for you, you may find it hard to enjoy the rest of the game. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a fantastic game, but it will test your patience at every turn.