The 32 Best Red Dead Redemption 2 Missions, Ranked

Highlights

• RDR2 has a variety of captivating missions, from train robberies to emotional character interactions.
• Storytelling in RDR2 is compelling, with missions that immerse players in Arthur’s journey and relationships.
• Top missions like “A New Jerusalem” and “An Honest Mistake” showcase the depth and impact of RDR2’s narrative.

Determining the top Red Dead Redemption 2 missions is not easy. After the release of Grand Theft Auto 5, Red Dead Redemption 2 had big shoes to fill. RDR2 surpasses expectations with the best-written story in a Western video game ever. With an abundance of enjoyable missions, it’s only natural that most people would wonder which ones are the best of the bunch.

RDR2 offers players the chance to replay missions by clicking start, going to “Progress,” and selecting the mission. Given how amazing these moments are in the game, most people would be inspired to replay the best missions in RDR2 that show this cinematic action-adventure game at its very best. From securing locations to fending off ambushes, the firefights and tear-jerking story moments in Red Dead Redemption 2 make it clear why players can’t get enough of Arthur Morgan’s captivating adventures.

WARNING! This article contains spoilers for Red Dead Redemption 2Updated on July 23, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the best video games ever made, proving anyone wrong who felt that Rockstar was resting on its laurels after GTA Online’s massive success. The narrative of this title is the biggest upgrade from previous games in the series, doing a great job of making players empathize with Arthur Morgan’s struggles as he slowly transforms over the course of the title and lets his honor dictate his actions. A huge reason why the story is so impactful is because of the many best missions in RDR2 that enhance the cinematic qualities of this title and help players enjoy some of the best cutscenes ever directed in a video game.

32 A Strange Kindness

Arthur And Charles Scout Out A New Location For The Camp

After struggling to survive in Colter while hiding out from the authorities, the gang finally makes their way near Valentine and sets up camp. However, Dutch’s group fails to stay out of trouble and must move away from one of the best campsites in the game and relocate somewhere else.

Calling this one of the best missions in RDR2, but it’s fun to go with Charles and scout for a new place where the gang can set up camp at the end of Chapter 2. Arthur’s unwillingness to help people can be seen here and Charles must push him to locate the father of a family that was holed up here. For his efforts, the gang is rewarded with a nice hideout to make camp at Dewberry Creek.

31 A New Jerusalem

A Simple, Calming Moment Where Uncle And John Start Making The Ranch House

The Epilogue is a bittersweet moment in Red Dead Redemption 2. Arthur’s loss hurts, but players finally get to play as John Marston after the longest time – nearly 10 years for those who played the first Red Dead Redemption. This includes the moment when Uncle and John finally get around to making Beecher’s Hope, his iconic ranch where he eventually raises a family with Abigail.

In “A New Jerusalem,” players get to see the house being made. If Arthur had high honor, there’s a blue jay that observes John as he works on making the house. Many fans have surmised that this is meant to be the spirit of Arthur looking over John, which is a heartwarming touch if the speculation holds some truth.

30 An Honest Mistake

Arthur, Uncle, Charles, And Bill Rob A Wagon

Leviticus Cornwall is a powerful figure that the Van Der Linde gang accidentally messes with, leading to a string of events that eventually lead to the downfall of Dutch and his group. The misunderstandings simply don’t end, as in “An Honest Mistake,” the members of the gang get a tip that a wagon with valuable loot is nearby that is prime for robbing.

Unfortunately, it turns out that the wagon was the property of Cornwall himself, and his guards descend on the group as they realize the error of their ways. They’re forced to retreat to a barn, where the group must hide out for a bit before another massive shootout with Cornwall’s guards, who end up peppering the barn with bullets and forcing the men to split up after fleeing for a second time.

29 Favored Sons

Dutch’s Manipulation Pollutes The Natives

By the time Chapter 6 starts, it’s increasingly clear that Dutch doesn’t harbor the same morals that made Arthur admire him at one point. The man only looks out for himself, trying to gaslight everyone about his plan, which sounds less and less ideal as the events of the game reach a climax.

In “Favored Sons,” Dutch decides to do what he does best and looks out for himself, coaxing Eagle Flies to make the critical mistake of attracting the army’s attention and trying to reduce the attention he’s drawn to himself. It’s a pretty action-packed mission, but sets off a domino effect that ends with the death of Eagle Flies in a later mission.

28 Outlaws From The West

The First Mission In The Game

The beginning of Red Dead Redemption 2 can be a bit of a doozy for players. They lack a lot of the context to understand why Dutch’s gang is on the run. Still, despite the prologue’s slow pace, the first mission does a great job of introducing players to the gameplay mechanics at play and how players must prepare to deal with everything this game can throw at them.

The conflict between Dutch’s gang and the O’Driscolls is established, with one of the best missions in RDR2 also introducing an excellent and captivating character. Seeing Sadie Adler require the aid of Dutch is sobering and shows just how lawless the world can be at times, and watching this widow transform as the game progresses to take revenge on the men who killed her husband forms one of the game’s many memorable moments.

27 The Battle Of Shady Belle

Players Must Clear Out A New Camp Hideout For The Gang

Players who were missing the campsite near Valentine will be glad to know that Chapter 4 introduces one of the best hideouts in the game. Shady Belle is a location that players have fond memories of, letting head to Saint Denis and back in no time as they make progress in one of the game’s best chapters.

Of course, before the gang can settle in Shady Belle, Arthur must team up with John and take out the last of the Lemoyne raiders in this location. Despite being a quick and painless shootout, what makes this one of the best missions in RDR2 is the long-term impact of securing a beautiful manor as the gang’s hideout.

26 Enter, Pursued By A Memory

A Memorable Mission That Introduces The Protagonist Of The First Game

Some of Red Dead Redemption 2‘s earliest action-packed moments took place in the “Enter, Pursued By A Memory” mission. The snowy conditions are ideal for spotting enemies with a rifle. Combatting wolves while learning the game mechanics was awkward at first, but with enough tries mostly everyone got through the mission.

“Enter, Pursued By A Memory” is a fun mission that introduces everyone’s favorite character, John Marston. Overall, the mission was fun and put the game off to a good start.

25 Mrs. Sadie Adler, Widow

The Final Chapter In Sadie Adler’s Journey Of Revenge

The O’Driscolls have been a huge pain in Sadie Adler’s side from the very start of the game. They killed her husband and forced her to hide in her own house for days until Dutch and the gang came to save her. After proving her worth as a skilled gunslinger, Sadie forms a great partnership with Arthur and requests his help one last time to take out the last of the O’Driscolls in the mission “Mrs. Sadie Adler, Widow.”

The animosity for this group can be seen in this final encounter when Sadie takes revenge for the meaningless death of her husband. However, no amount of bloodshed can bring back the head, and Sadie is ultimately left rather hollow after a goal she’d been striving to achieve for what felt like a lifetime.

24 The Sheep And The Goats

Transforms From A Mission About Stealing Sheep Into An All-Out Firefight

“The Sheep and the Goats” is a great example of how things can escalate in Red Dead Redemption 2 while allowing players to spend some time with the protagonist of the first game, John Marston. It starts on a muted note, with Arthur getting the hilarious responsibility of stealing some sheep to sell them.

However, things take a turn for the worse when Leviticus Cornwall and his goons locate where Dutch’s gang is. They take John hostage, and Arthur and Dutch have to shoot up everyone to save their friend and run away unscathed.

23 Goodbye, Dear Friend

Making Sure That Colm O’Driscoll Hangs For His Crimes

Sadie Adler is one of the best characters in Red Dead Redemption 2, swearing revenge on the O’Driscolls for killing her husband and upending her life permanently. She joined Dutch’s gang to hone her skills and take her revenge on this gang.

The whole mission “Goodbye, Dear Friend” involves Colm O’Driscoll’s hanging, with the gang arriving to ensure that things go smoothly. Any attempts to sabotage the hanging are halted, and Sadie decides to vent out her frustration on the other O’Driscoll Boys too.

22 Blessed Are The Meek?

Breaking Micah Out Of Jail

At the start of the game, most players don’t realize just how horrible of a man Micah is. For them, this character is a loyal member of the gang whom they need to break out of the prison in Strawberry.

“Blessed Are The Meek?” involves an engaging and action-packed prison breakout that ends with Micah’s escape. Both Arthur and Micah have an eye-opening conversation soon after that sets the stage for the antagonism between the two as the story evolves.

21 Pouring Forth Oil 4

A Botched Train Robbery Full Of Action-Packed Set Pieces

Robbing trains is always fun in Red Dead Redemption 2, and it’s easy to see why “Pouring Forth Oil IV” is such an engaging mission. The gang decides to stop a train in its tracks and rob its passengers and cargo.

As always, things don’t go smoothly, and players have to shoot down several guards and lawmen before escaping with the loot. Train robberies are a blast in any video game, and this mission is a great display of what makes Red Dead Redemption 2‘s missions click.

20 Who The Hell Is Leviticus Cornwall?

A Cinematic Train Robbery That Draws The Ire Of Leviticus Cornwall

“Who the Hell is Leviticus Cornwall?” is a turning point in Red Dead Redemption 2, setting the stage for the eventual downfall of Dutch and his gang. In need of money, the gang decides to rob Leviticus Cornwall’s private train, which ends up being a huge mistake.

Players fight through the train to reach the bonds lying inside, killing many people and making a powerful enemy in the process. It makes for a fun mission where players even get to make a choice at the end, although the only impact it has on the game is Arthur’s Honor level.

19 The Fine Art Of Conversation

A Thought-Provoking Conversation That Proves Why People Love Arthur Morgan

Near the latter half of the game when Arthur gets tuberculosis, he engages in a mission where he has to prevent a conspiracy from killing Captain Monroe. It’s a pulse-pounding chase that ends with Monroe escaping, but this is nowhere near the highlight of “The Fine Art of Conversation.”

Instead, this comes at the tail end of the mission when he meets Sister Calderon and engages in a genuine heart-to-heart discussion. It reveals a lot of what’s going on in Arthur’s mind and lets players know the sheer depth of this amazing character.

18 Country Pursuits

A Memorable Encounter With The Legendary Bullgator

There are several missions that people need to engage in before robbing the Saint Denis bank. One of these missions is “Country Pursuits,” where Dutch and Arthur decide to get some help required to kill Angelo Bronte, the antagonist of this chapter who serves as a thorn in the side of Dutch and his group over and over again.

The mission ends up being quite memorable when the player is ambushed by a ravenous alligator that will stop at no end until the player is devoured. The fact that a multitude of bullets doesn’t stop this powerful Bullgator from decimating the player shows just how powerful this creature is.

17 The New South

A Heartwarming Fishing Trip That Makes Future Events All The More Somber

Hosea was one of the most prominent members of the group, serving as a balancing voice that kept Dutch sane and stopped him from becoming too savage in his personal quest. His death marked a turning point for the game, fragmenting the group permanently and alienating Dutch from the rest of his posse.

One particular mission, “The New South,” involved Dutch, Hosea, and Arthur embarking on a fishing trip where they swapped tales, reminisced, and just had a great time in general. It’s a great moment in the story and makes the events of Hosea’s death even sadder.

16 Sodom? Back To Gomorrah

A Bank Robbery Followed By A Savage Beatdown, That Causes Arthur To Contract Tuberculosis

“Sodom? Back to Gomorrah” features an amazing combat sequence where players rob a bank, followed by a rather human moment where Arthur goes to take money from a family whose father was beaten to a pulp by Arthur. It’s an action-packed mission that ends on a rather tepid note when Arthur finds out about the consequences of his actions.

Robbing the bank in Valentine and fleeing law enforcement is a blast, quite literally if players choose to open the bank safes with dynamite. However, after going to Thomas Downes’ house, he finds out that the beatdown he issued earlier, coupled with complications from tuberculosis, led to the man’s demise.

15 Fleeting Joy

A Reunion With An Incredible Soundtrack Spoiled By The Pinkertons

“Fleeting Joy” features one of the best uses of music in the entire game, which is saying a lot given how masterful the soundtrack of Red Dead Redemption 2 is. After reuniting with the gang at Lakay following the horror show at Saint Denis, everyone is ambushed by the Pinkertons who were tipped off about their secret hideout.

This leads to a massive shootout and a great piece of music to accompany it, making for one of the best parts of the game. Mowing down waves of Pinkertons with a minigun never fails to be entertaining.

14 Banking, The Old American Art

A Fun Bank Robbery Where The Gang Works Together

It’s impossible to forget the Red Dead Redemption 2 mission titled “Banking, The Old American Art.” It puts players in perilous circumstances as they rob a bank’s vault. Hosea gives a signal and it’s action time.

Cleverly, Hosea creates an explosion a block away from the bank, diverting the attention of nearby police officers and bystanders. They don’t have much time to work, but with enough dynamite, they can open the vault and get all the valuables and money. Fleeing from the rooftops and the shootout made this mission beyond exceptional.

13 The Bridge To Nowhere

An Explosive Mission Spent Bonding With John Marston

Arthur Morgan and John Marston featured in the Chapter 6 mission “The Bridge To Nowhere,” as the duo set out to blow the Bacchus Bridge to smithereens with dynamite, which players have to set up at marked points along the bridge within a set time limit.

It’s not a challenging mission by any means, though it offers some great conversations with John that change depending on Arthur’s Honor level, adding much more depth to their relationship in a mission that culminated with a massive explosion that affects the rest of the game, which is always fun to take part in.