Exploring The Vastness Of Red Dead Redemption 2's Map: A Comprehensive Overview

Rockstar Games has been a little cagey on the exact size of Red Dead Redemption 2's map, preferring people discover it for themselves, but it's almost certainly the largest they've ever created. In a world where expansive landscapes and intricate details often define the gaming experience, the maps created by Rockstar have set a high bar. The exploration of the immense open world in Red Dead Redemption 2 offers players a chance to immerse themselves in a vivid, sprawling environment that captivates and engages.

One of the remarkable aspects of Red Dead Redemption 2 is that it includes much of the map from the original Red Dead Redemption—essentially everything north of the San Luis River. This connection allows fans of the series to draw comparisons between the two games, enhancing the nostalgia and excitement surrounding the sequel. As players traverse the landscape, they can find familiar locations from the first game alongside new territories to explore.

Comparing the sizes of in-game worlds can be tricky, as different developers utilize varying scales. However, Rockstar Games' Rockstar Advanced Engine (RAGE) has been in use since Grand Theft Auto IV, offering a consistent framework for approximations across their titles. For instance, all of GTA IV's boroughs—Broker, Dukes, Bohan, and Alqonquin—are slightly larger than the Los Santos metropolitan area, indicating the significant expansion seen in Grand Theft Auto V compared to its predecessor.

In a fascinating video by Rooster Teeth producer Alanah Pearce, she takes approximately 14 minutes at a fast gallop to cross the Red Dead Redemption 2 map from corner to corner. This impressive journey highlights the sheer scale of the world players can navigate, although it doesn't encompass the entire map, as there are regions that overlap with the first Red Dead Redemption game.

Her adventure does not cover the complete Red Dead Redemption 2 map, as she is unable to explore areas that connect to the original game's map, such as the towns of Armadillo and Blackwater. This limitation adds a layer of intrigue for players who are eager to see how the two worlds intertwine.

Since the map from the first Red Dead Redemption fits within the middle third of the GTA V map, we can make some rough extrapolations about the sheer size of the new game. The vastness of the new map is further illustrated in a Legendary Animals Map, where the original game's territory is dwarfed by the new regions introduced in Red Dead 2.

This extensive map, pieced together by PowerPyx, gives an even better sense of what players are dealing with. The map in Red Dead Redemption 2 appears to be almost four times the size of its predecessor. While the first Red Dead was primarily centered in New Austin, the sequel features five diverse regions: New Austin, Ambarino, New Hanover, Lemoyne, and the entirety of West Elizabeth. One estimate suggests that the first Red Dead map measures around 12 square miles, whereas the Red Dead 2 map is a staggering 29 square miles.

Loose attempts to overlay the Red Dead Redemption 2 map with the GTA V map have already been made, reinforcing the idea that RDR2 is indeed larger. This growth in size and scope not only enhances gameplay but also enriches the storytelling experience that players can enjoy as they navigate through this beautifully crafted world.