Red Dead Redemption: Best Female Characters

Key Takeaways

• Red Dead Redemption
  has showcased Rockstar’s ability to create fascinating and memorable female characters in their typically male-centric franchises.
• Susan Grimshaw and Bonnie McFarlane are standout female characters in the series.
• These women exhibit complexity, agency, and emotional depth, making them some of the most compelling characters in the
  Red Dead Redemption
  universe.

The Red Dead Redemption saga first began when Rockstar acquired Angel Studios, who was working on a title called Red Dead Revolver for Capcom at the time, as well as the rights to the IP. And while Rockstar’s other franchises like Bully and Grand Theft Auto often focused entirely on the exploits of male characters, Red Dead Redemption has been a series where Rockstar has shown an ability to craft truly fascinating and memorable female characters. The criticism of Rockstar’s female characters in other franchises has been well-earned, but the women of Red Dead have proven to be some true standouts in their long history.

In this expansive, cinematic exploration of the final days of the American Frontier, Red Dead Redemption has seen some of the most intricate and well-developed stories in both the open-world genre and the entire industry. Despite how male-centric the cast is, the women of Red Dead Redemption often play some very important roles, and some of them are even more interesting than the leading men. They have played pivotal roles in the journeys of the leads, either through assisting them in their criminal escapades or becoming crucial to the redemption that the series title alludes to. They have been heroes, villains, and everything in between.

Updated on December 3rd, 2024, by Maddie Fisher: The women of Red Dead Redemption are just as multi-faceted and compelling as their male counterparts, as this epic franchise has chronicled the rise and fall of Old West. This list of the best Red Dead Redemption female characters has been updated to include new galleries, showcasing these characters in full force. They are rich, flawed women who are just as deserving of praise as the men of Red Dead. As a result of Red Dead taking place across multiple different generations, it’s able to explore the women of the Old West in numerous different ways and these are the ones that have stood out the most.

7 Mary-Beth Gaskill

Demure Thief Hides Behind Soft Exterior

• Appearance(s): Red Dead Redemption 2

Many of Red Dead’s best female characters can be seen as being stronger than the males, as in some ways they had to work twice as hard during a time of inequality between men and women. And one way women could take advantage was by using their femininity, something that Mary-Beth Gaskill does quite well in Red Dead Redemption 2.

It’s exactly what makes Mary-Beth so intriguing, as she doesn’t quite seem to fit into the darker, more violent activities that Arthur and the Van der Linde gang get into. Her quiet, softer demeanor is a fairly sharp contrast between the atrocities of the Old West and her unique role in the story.

6 Susan Grimshaw

The Matriarch Of The Van Der Linde Gang

• Appearance(s): Red Dead Redemption 2

Not only is Red Dead home to some of Rockstar’s best female characters, but Susan also bucks a few trends in that she’s an older lady. This demographic is somewhat underrepresented across the entire industry, so Susan Grimshaw is a welcome addition. This matriarchal outlaw is one of the Van der Linde gang’s most charming members, adding some grit to an already grizzled crew.

Susan also has a fascinating history with Dutch, as the two former lovers create some of Red Dead Redemption 2‘s most interesting scenes. She is one of Red Dead Redemption 2‘s highlights, as her interactions with Arthur Morgan through all of its dark explorations of the Old West are amazing to watch unfold.

5 Mary Linton

A Woman With A Troubled Past

• Appearance(s): Red Dead Redemption 2

Mary Linton has courted a bit of a reputation with the Red Dead Redemption fan base, as her role in the 2018 sequel is hotly debated. But while one may dislike Mary for her actions throughout RDR2 and her interactions with Arthur, it’s hard to argue that she’s one of the franchise’s most compelling female characters. Like many of Red Dead’s most interesting and fascinating characters, Mary Linton isn’t regarded as a hero. She is a selfish person, a woman who carries a heavy burden in a lawless time, but that’s all a part of what makes her such a unique character to watch.

Mary and Arthur’s doomed relationship is just one part of what makes her such a fascinating character. Caught between her love for an outlaw and the desire to help her family, Mary is given time to be shown as a woman who has a lot of plates spinning. Her complex journey and relationship with Arthur form some of Red Dead Redemption 2‘s most poignant scenes.

4 Luisa Fortuna

A Rebellious Freedom Fighter

• Appearance(s): Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead Redemption was one of the best games of the seventh generation of consoles, as the open-world cowboy game placed players in the boots of John Marston for the first time. Along the way, Marston meets a huge roster of fascinating heroes and villains, but perhaps none of them are as undervalued as much as Luisa Fortuna, a young revolutionary who is a part of some of Red Dead Redemption’s most interesting missions.

Her loyalty to Mexico and desire to create a better world for her sister Miranda plays a vital role. Her clashes with John and what the cowboy is willing to do become paramount to these missions, featuring some marvelous performances from both actors. She is a character driven by a multitude of different factors, as all of her interpersonal relationships with her sister and her problematic relationship with a freedom fighter named Reyes are what make Luisa as endlessly complicated as she is. She isn’t just one of Red Dead’s most interesting women; the missions she gives John make up some of the game’s most exciting sequences.

3 Abigail Marston

Tough-As-Nails Woman Trying To Survive The West

• Appearance(s): Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2

Abigail Marston is more than just John Marston’s wife, as evidenced by her roles in both Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2. This hard-luck woman has a long, storied history that is all her own. As a result of her harsh life, some of which is chronicled in Red Dead Redemption 2 as the result of it being a prequel, she becomes fully formed into the fabulous character she is in Red Dead Redemption.

She isn’t a woman waiting for her husband to come home with open arms, but rather someone who has her own problems to deal with in the harsh realities of the Old West. The husband she lost to the outlaw life is secondary, as she is left to raise her son Jack in tough times and does so admirably. When John returns home during the events of Red Dead Redemption, she is allowed to act as any normal person would instead of a stereotype. Abigail isn’t a submissive wife but rather a courageous woman who showcases exactly how tough women have to be in order to survive these brutal and unforgiving times.

2 Bonnie MacFarlane

Charismatic Heroine Saves The Protagonist

• Appearance(s): Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Online

In a world as male-dominated as the Old West, Bonnie is something of a game changer in that she runs the MacFarlane Ranch. This fiercely independent and charming lady introduces players to the world of Red Dead Redemption, saving John Marston from certain death and helping him get back on his feet. From there, Bonnie becomes one of John’s closest and loyal friends throughout the game.

She has since become one of Red Dead’s most popular characters, as she exemplified exactly what it means to survive the time period and did so with unlimited charm and wit. The close bond and friendship between Bonnie and John is truly one of the highlights of the original game, as their undeniable chemistry and somewhat awkward introduction to each other is absolutely delightful. Bonnie has remained one of the franchise’s best characters, even being briefly mentioned in Red Dead Redemption 2.

1 Sadie Adler

A Grieving Woman Turned Expert Bounty Hunter

• Appearance(s): Red Dead Redemption 2 and Red Dead Online

It’s safe to say that there was no supporting character in Red Dead Redemption 2 as popular as Sadie Adler. The desire for a single-player story DLC with her in the leading role hasn’t ceased. Driven by revenge and retribution for the death of her husband Jake at the hands of O’Driscolls, Sadie is one of the Van der Linde gang’s most intriguing and compelling members.

The performance of Alex McKenna truly gives Sadie so much life and spirit as she takes her on a journey of discovery and an effort to find peace of mind after Jake’s death. Her journey from a broken woman to a strong, confident warrior is absolutely one of the game’s most fantastic elements. It’s a wonderful character to watch grow alongside both Arthur Morgan and then later John Marston. Sadie broke the barriers of what it meant to be a woman in the gang, showing she truly belonged in its operations and is one of Red Dead Redemption 2’s finest-written and performed characters.