Things To Do After You Beat RDR 2

Rockstar Games has proven time and time again that they are one of the leading video game developers. Red Dead Redemption 2 was an undisputable success both in terms of units sold and reviews.

Many players might wonder what to do after beating Red Dead Redemption 2. Sure the campaign is long, but achievement hunters and completionists alike want more. In case you were wondering, this game has an abundance of content for its endgame, and you can keep flying for hours and hours. Let’s explore the things to do in RDR2 after you finish the main story.

Updated on November 26, 2024, by Jon Eakin: Red Dead Redemption 2 has been out for years now, but is aging like a good whiskey. It remains in the conversation of the best games of all time, and for good reason. Part of what gives it such longevity is that it contains an almost endless wealth of things to do. With that in mind, we’ve added new items to this list to help you get the absolute most out of your time in the saddle.

22 Cause Mayhem

Go Wild, Wild West

Most people play through Red Dead Redemption 2 with a focus on the Redemption part of the title, leaning Arthur towards a man rediscovering his morality and steering away from the bombastic antics of Rockstar’s other leading title, Grand Theft Auto.

Once you’ve finished the story, you might fancy a change of pace. Keep a save handy to reload and go to town. No really, go to town and rob stores. Get into drunken brawls, have shootouts with the law, try low morality on for size. You just might like it.

21 Retrace Your Steps

Hit Up Old Haunts

Something you might not know is that after the main story wraps up, you can revisit key locations from the story and be treated to echoes of the past. By heading to some of the gang’s campsites throughout the game, you’ll hear their voices again.

It’s a touching reward for anyone who goes to the trouble and worth your time just for the novelty of a game that actually rewards you for nostalgia, something very few go to the effort to do.

20 Play The Epilogue

The Show Must Go On

This may be an obvious one, but, in case anyone thinks nothing of significance happens after the tragic demise of Arthur Morgan, there is more to the game. John Marston has an adventure of his own that ties back into the Van Der Linde Gang and Micah Callahan.

Again, you might have realized this on your own, but it bears highlighting in case any new players think the story properly begins and ends with Arthur Morgan.

19 Buy All The Upgrades

Don’t Compromise Your Style

If you didn’t get all of the satchel upgrades and clothing as Arthur Morgan in your first walkthrough, you should definitely do so after completing the game. Fashion and cosmetics are one of the most fun qualities of just about any open-world or RPG game, and RDR2 is no different.

Everyone has their own version of John Marston/Arthur Morgan, and you should definitely feel free to catch your own.

18 Go Treasure Hunting

X Marks The Spot

Like the first iteration, there are several treasure maps throughout the world of Red Dead Redemption 2. They lead you to remote locations with stashes of gold and help with the accumulation of wealth in your pockets.

If you didn’t go to the trouble of finding all these hidden treasures while playing as Arthur Morgan during the story, you should definitely take the time to do so after the story concludes. Some are pretty tricky to figure out, but you always have a sweet reward.

17 Take Down The Gang Hideouts

The Fastest Gun In The West

All good outlaw cowboys are always looking for a good old-fashioned shootout, and this game gives you ample opportunity to test out your gunplay. Chief among these shootout opportunities is the existence of gang hideouts.

The gang hideouts are spread throughout the world, and a couple of them are only accessible after completing the story and heading south. These are fun encounters and allow you to get creative with your approach to combat.

16 Complete The Remaining Challenges

Tying Up Loose Ends

If you didn’t complete all the Hunting, Herbalist, Outlaw, and other Challenges during the story of RDR2, you can still do so after the story is concluded. In fact, they will likely be easier by this point given all of the upgrades that are locked behind story missions.

These challenges can be tough and require effort and precision, so feel free to spread them out among other activities so they don’t tax your patience too much all at once. Game controllers are expensive these days.

15 Replay Story Missions

Raking In The Gold Emblems

After you beat the story and have more experience with the game’s mechanics, you might want to consider replaying some of the main missions so you can get gold achievements. During your adventure, there are challenges you can complete that will allow you to earn a bronze, silver, or gold emblem.

Some challenges are easy while others are much more tough. However, to get the much sought-after 100 percent completion, you’ll need to get gold in them all. You can replay them as much as you want to by going to Progress, Story, Chapter, and then choosing the mission you want to play again.

14 Take Your Time Looking Around New Austin

Soaking In The Sights

New Austin, also referred to as the Frontier, is the largest territory in Red Dead Redemption 2. It cannot be fully explored until you reach the game’s epilogue. There is a lot to do in this new area, including wild animals to hunt and secret locations to find.

You’ll also discover some new Stranger missions and new bounty-hunting quests there. Plus, Armadillo and Tumbleweed are worth the time to explore them. Most of the area is desert terrain and there are some animal species unique to New Austin, including armadillos, Gila monsters, iguanas, condors, and more. On another note, visiting Armadillo is rather terrifying since there happens to be a cholera outbreak.

13 Visit Grave Sites

Pay Your Respects To Fallen Comrades

Sadly, not every character you get attached to in the game, or in your gang, will survive until the very end. However, when they die, they get special gravesites. One of the collectibles becomes visiting each of these gravesites and paying your respects to the person buried there.

It’s a nice moment and a cool way to return to see your favorite characters one last time and give them a proper send-off. You won’t be able to do this until you finish the main campaign.

12 Revisit The People You Met In Random Encounters

Soak Up The Nostalgia

One cool thing you can do after the game ends and you’re playing as John is to revisit some of the people that Arthur assisted during his journey in the main campaign. Certain random encounters and strangers will remember Arthur with fondness and even help John out once they realize that they knew each other.

One example is Hamish Sinclair, who Arthur helped out when he needed to get his horse under control. If you meet up with him again as John, he’ll take you fishing; a nice detail and a warm moment in your journey.

11 Find All The Guns

Gun Connoisseur

There are tons of weapons to discover in RDR2 and some of them can only be unlocked after you complete the main story mission. Of course, each one has its unique perks, stats, and other reasons to get your fingers on them.

Some of them can be purchased from gunsmiths, but most of the rare guns are hidden away in various places on the map — you’ll need to scour all the nooks and crannies to find them. You’ll definitely want to find the rare shotgun, pistol, and sniper rifle.

10 Play Red Dead Online

The Adventure That Doesn’t End

Continue the adventure of Red Dead Redemption 2 by heading into its expansive online mode. One is a lonely number, and Red Dead Online is a new Western experience that will appeal to most players.

With a variety of co-op missions, the ability to start your own trading company, and more than enough liquor to wet your whistle, you can progress through Red Dead Online as a yokel or a full-blown cowboy. Now, what are you waiting for? Skedaddle and head into Red Dead Online.

9 Search For The Other Van Der Linde Gang Members

Crossing Names Off The Hit List

Dead or alive, Van der Linde gang members can be found throughout the world of the game. Mary-Beth is a character who is located at the train platform in Valentine. Even dead people from the gang like Micah can be found in the endgame of Red Dead Redemption 2.

Micah is at the cabin where you left him — frozen and lifeless. You can’t see all the Van der Linde members because it wouldn’t fit with the plot of the first game, but you can find most of them.

8 Complete The Stranger Missions

Visit The Most Interesting NPCs

Rockstar Games didn’t hold back on the content for this sequel. The game contains an abundance of things for you to enjoy its endgame. One noteworthy thing to do once you beat the game is to complete RDR2’s Stranger Missions.

You can encounter NPCs in the game who will offer missions with rewards. including a Stranger Mission involving testing an invention, learning what it’s like to be an artist, and finding dinosaur bones, there are plenty of side missions to keep you busy.

7 Hunt For Legendary Animals

Become The Legendary Hunter

The meat of the endgame is hunting for legendary animals (no pun intended). If you want to collect new outfits and new satchels, for example, you’ll need to partake in hunting to obtain the required materials.

This video game provides realistic hunting as part of its sizeable package. A legendary cougar, elk, buck, beaver, bear, and alligator can be found in RDR2. Legendary hunting isn’t required for the game’s campaign, but it will certainly keep you busy in the endgame.

6 Find The White Arabian Horse

Tame The Fastest Horse

A majestic white Arabian horse appears in the mountains of Red Dead Redemption 2. The Arabian horse is the fastest horse you can ride in the game. Its handling and overall enjoyment make it worth finding.

You can see, tame, and ride this horse if you head to the correct location and learn how to tame it. The challenge to tame the Arabian horse is more substantial than other horses but is not that difficult overall.

5 Work On The Marston Ranch

A Little Home Improvement

John Marston has shown that he is not cut out to be a city-slicker. Instead of getting a job like a normal person, he falls back into the dregs of society by being a gun for hire.

With that being said, John Marston earned enough money to buy the tools and materials needed to build a house. The Marston Ranch is quite excellent considering he made it with his bare hands. In the endgame, you can further work to improve this special place.

4 Search For Easter Eggs

Appreciate Life’s Biggest Mysteries

The remains of a Wooly Mammoth can be found in a mountainous region of Red Dead Redemption 2. Similar to Grand Theft Auto V, there are numerous easter eggs to keep players busy when they are done with the campaign. Rockstar Games seems to be obsessed with supernatural creatures and phenomena.

Ghosts, witches, and aliens can be found, and it’s doubtful every easter egg has been discovered so far. In addition to a ghost train located near Lemoyne and New Hanover, there are a variety of other apparitions present throughout the game.

3 Go Fishing

Become A Legendary Angler

Many players gained exposure to fishing by playing the game’s storyline, but there is actually a lot more depth than most people believe. In total, there are 13 Legendary fish that can be caught throughout the world of Red Dead Redemption 2.

Fish including a Legendary Trout, Legendary Rock Bass, a Legendary Lake Sturgeon, and a Legendary Catfish will have you showing off your fishing prowess. Grab some lures, get in a boat, and spend some quality time fishing. It’s not a stretch to say fishing is one of this title’s most thrilling activities.