Red Dead Redemption 2’s Map Casts a Long Shadow
By
Joshua Duckworth
Red Dead Redemption 2 is praised for a ton of reasons, but its map of the Wild West does something very few others seem to do.
Upon release, Red Dead Redemption 2 became an instant hit critically acclaimed far and wide. There are a ton of reasons for this, ranging from the general popularity of the first game and the heart-wrenching story to the mysteries found throughout Red Dead Redemption 2 and the overarching design of the game’s map.
There have been comparisons of RDR 2‘s map to games like Skyrim, but beyond the sheer size of it, it does something that maps fail to do. It brings the game to life through environmental storytelling that hasn’t really been replicated since.
RELATED: Hilarious Red Dead Redemption 2 Glitch Shows Dangers of Bathing
Red Dead Redemption 2: The Map is Alive
Environmental storytelling can be conceptualized in a variety of ways, one of which is that the area tells its own story, and this is true for practically every location in Red Dead Redemption 2 does this. From the basics of a frontier town to the ongoing spread and development of the Pinkerton agency, from the areas that are defined by characters like Gavin to mysterious areas like the Ghost Train, and from small details like the conversations between NPCs to hidden characters like the giant, this seems like there’s a no brain.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is still so alive, yet there’s more to it than that. Players still to this day find more secrets, such as Arthur’s bullet counting, but then the map and environment have their own secrets. One player recently discovered that a real-world event between wildlife takes place, and that’s where sometimes when Bucks fight, one will kill the other but remained locked. This eventually results in both’s death and is a morbid thing to think about, yet does exactly what it is meant to do.
RELATED: Red Dead Redemption 2 Players Discovers Incredibe Detail About Game’s Wildlife
Red Dead Redemption 2: Capturing the Spirit of the Wild West
Furrthermore, beckoning back to the aforementioned comparisons, there are some games that could effectively take place anywhere.
The map sometimes is just an attachment to the whole experience in lieu of this, and of course, this often depends on genre and other factors. However, that cannot be said about Red Dead Redemption 2; historical aspects aside, the clear set-up of the world lore through environmental storytelling means this could not take place anywhere else.
This may seem like a small thing, but loading up RDR2 2 years ago or now in 2020 results in players learning something new. Sometimes, it’s about Arthur, John, or even the recently discovered detail about Jack, but other times, it’s about the very world they’ve entered. That’s environmental storytelling at its finest.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is out now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
MORE: 5 Red Dead Redemption 2 Secrets Everyone Missed
Subscribe to our newsletter
Related Topics
- GR Originals
- PC
- Rockstar Games
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- PS4
- Xbox One
- Stadia
- Red Dead Redemption
About The Author
When Joshua Duckworth received Pokemon Yellow for Christmas at 5-years-old, his fate as a gamer was set.
Since then, he’s been involved with every step of the gaming industries’ growth from the golden PS1 era and the dying days of the arcade to any current gaming trend. When he’s not writing, playing his own games, or thinking about writing or playing his games, he’s probably the second player to his son’s Pokemon Let’s Go, Pikachu! file. Joshua has an MA degree in English from Jacksonville State University.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Map Shows How Game World Corresponds to Real States
By
Kean Sullivan
One observant fan of Red Dead Redemption 2 made a map that overlays the in-game locations of Red Dead Redemption 2 to actual US states.
If there’s one thing that can be said about Red Dead Redemption 2, it’s that the attention to detail is incredibly extensive. The sheer level of player interactivity in Red Dead Redemption 2 can almost be overwhelming at times.
However, what most players may not realize is that the environments and terrain share a correlation with actual North American landscapes.
Red Dead Redemption 2 takes place in America at the tail end of the 1800s, where the age of outlaws and gunslingers is rapidly declining. The various towns and locations in-game, such as Valentine and Blackwater, while fictional in name and appearance, do possess a degree of accuracy to the actual landscape of North America. As one user has proven, the attention to detail featured in Red Dead Redemption 2 is modeled off of real American states.
RELATED: Red Dead Redemption 2 Player Notices Interesting Detail When Exploring Swamp at Night
A Reddit user by the name of Mr-Wide49 overlaid the in-game map of Red Dead Redemption 2 over the top of a map of the United States and shows where the areas are located relative to the actual landscape of North America. Another user made a similar map that assigns Red Dead Redemption 2 locations to real US States, but this map is updated to account for higher detail and accuracy.
The map even shows where in-game towns would be located relative to the corresponding States.
The rdr2 states In real life. After going through nearly every comment on my last post, gathering all the feedback, and just a little bit of tinkering and extra design, I finally made a new map that to the best of my ability overlays the rdr2 states in real life. Feedback appreciated from reddeadredemption
It’s amazing to see how accurate the in-game locations correlate to actual US States. Rockstar Games likely couldn’t use the names of the actual States, even though historically speaking, essentially all of the States that the in-game locations encapsulate reached Statehood by the time the events of both Red Dead Redemption 1 and 2.
The fact that a fan was able to correlate each in-game location to a real world location is quite impressive. Then again, many Red Dead Redemption fans and player have managed to accomplish quite a lot both in-game and real life.
One fan actually made a custom, Red Dead Redemption themed corn hole set featuring John Marston and Arthur Morgan.
It will be interesting to see what the future holds in terms of Red Dead Redemption. Right now, most of Rockstar’s attention is likely focused on Red Dead Online, given the amount of content being produced for the game as of late. In which case, the likelihood of a third installment releasing anytime soon is quite slim. Although, given how popular Red Dead Redemption 2 remains, even after releasing nearly three years ago, it’s entirely possible that a new installment will release at some point in the future.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
MORE: Red Dead Online: How to Start Crimes and Robberies in Blood Money
Treasure maps in Red Dead Online: where to find how much money and gold they bring — Guides
Survival on the frontier requires remarkable courage, stamina and pockets filled to the brim with money and
gold.
Ways to earn money are provided by a wagon and a small cart, but in this material we will talk about
treasures. With 90,005 90,006 Treasure Maps in Red Dead Online, you can find chests with 90,003 treasures that are indispensable in the everyday work of any cowboy. Get ready to travel to a variety of
game card locations.
Treasure hunting is interesting primarily because of gold bars — the most valuable
currency in the game. However, even a small bundle of money is unlikely to be refused by anyone. In addition, among the treasures are cartridges for pistols, rifles, carbines and
revolvers, as well as tonics, vials of tinctures and chewing tobacco.
Treasures are stored in chests and safes hidden in inconspicuous places: inside trees and in
stumps, among stones, under logs, in abandoned buildings and wagons, on mountain tops and
hills, on islands in the middle of rivers and swamps, behind waterfalls and many other places.
Finding out if you have a treasure map is simple: open your bag, go to the «Documents» section
and find the paper you need there. If there is none, then it’s time to look.
Where can I find treasure maps?
- For every fifth level: upon reaching level 10
you will receive the first treasure map. Then you will receive a card for every fifth level
, that is, the next time you will be given a card at levels 15, 20, 25 and so on. - Looting: Cleanse the corpses of all criminals.
In addition to collectibles, valuable trinkets, ammo, and tonics, there are
treasure maps. This also applies to role-playing tasks, such as the supply of supplies for Cripps, the destruction of cordons of tax agents and others. - Treasure hunters: on the map you can meet
NPCs who can sell you the map for a symbolic price. No one
forbids taking a card from a hunter by force.
- Maps on trees: sometimes treasure maps hang
on trees. - Bandits’ lairs: bandits may have a cherished map in their pockets
. - Daily Challenges: Completing
daily challenges for 28 days will reward you with a treasure map and $100. - Bonuses from Rockstar: the company often arranges bonuses
thanks to which you can get a treasure map, even in several
copies. Follow the news.
Since there are many ways to get cards, the chances of finding them are equal for both experienced players and those who have just started the game. Treasures are also independent of your level. We only note that at the initial stages of the
game, the levels are pumped easily and quickly, therefore, the cards themselves will fall into the bag, they will not even have to be looked for by
. As the character develops, the speed of reaching new levels noticeably decreases.
Here you can already run for
cards. We also highlight one detail: all treasure maps received will be random,
nothing can be predicted in advance.
Treasure hunters
During the daytime, treasure hunters can be found in the wilderness. They
can sell the player a card for a small price. If you scare the hunter, he will attempt to escape.
In this case, there is nothing left but to catch up, kill and pick up the card, or let go in peace. On
everything is up to you.
On the map, we marked all the locations where treasure seekers randomly spawn.
Treasure maps on trees
At night, you can find a treasure map nailed to a tree trunk with a knife . Nearby lies
a lantern that illuminates it. The light of the lantern serves as an excellent identification mark, it can be seen from afar. This
is one of the easiest ways to find a treasure map, especially if you stumble upon it by accident, rather than
exploring the trees all night long.
All possible spawn locations on the tree are marked on the map.
Gang lairs
The world of Red Dead Online is teeming with binditism and absorbs blood, flesh, bullets and shells every day, so
stumbling upon another gang lair will not be difficult. Clean out the dead bandits: it is quite possible that
one of them will have a treasure map. You can also kill everyone, leaving only the leader alive, and
exchange his life for a treasure map. True, such an exchange is not always possible.
All places used by criminals for dens, we have marked on the map. Note that every
lair appears strictly in due time, and then not always, but randomly.
Treasure hunt
Find the treasure map in the bag and unfold it. An area highlighted in pale yellow by
will appear on the game map, within which a chest or safe is hidden. Go to the specified location and
explore the area. Treasures are highlighted with golden pollen in Eagle Eye
mode .
After finding the chest, take everything valuable from it. Ready.
For a quick treasure hunt, the ability Eagle Eye+ , which allows you to use Eagle Eye
while running and galloping, will come in handy. The ability can be obtained by becoming a bounty hunter. In addition, the
high-precision binoculars , available for purchase by collectors, will not hurt for treasure hunting. Unlike the usual one, in the high-precision
, eagle vision is constantly working, and at a great distance.
When playing with a gamepad, it will vibrate when approaching a treasure.
We recommend that you use the Treasure Map as soon as you receive it, as there can only be one copy of each
in your bag. A duplicate can be stored in the mail, and also only one
. For example, if you have a Bluewater Swamp card in your bag and in the mail, then the third such
card will disappear, since there is no slot for it.
For players who don’t want to bother with the game, we have prepared maps with the exact location of
treasures, you can find them below.
Important: you can’t find the treasure without a map!
Treasure Location
Bards Crossing
Bards Crossing is an arched steel railroad bridge
passing over the mouth of the Dakota River. It connects the states
West Elizabeth and New Hanover. This is one of the largest bridges in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Benedict Point
Benedict Point is a train station and a tiny
settlement in the Rio Bravo region of New Austin.
San Luis Banks
The San Luis is a major river that forms the geographic and
political border between the United States and Mexico.
Bluewater Swamp
Bluewater Swamp is a small region in the state of Lemoyne. It is characterized by an abundance of silt, mud and reptiles.
Falls
Brandywine Falls is a scenic waterfall in the
Roanoke Range region of New Hanover.
Cumberland Forest
Cumberland Forest — the smallest region
New Hanover. There are many coniferous trees and animals here.
Cattail Pond
Cattail Pond is a small pond in Ambarino. Quiet place surrounded by reeds.
Black Bone Forest
Black Bone is a rich forest in the western part of
West Elizabeth. Great place for hunting.
Little Creek
Little Creek is a river in northern
West Elizabeth, in the Big Valley region.
O’Criegs Run
O’Criegs Run — a large lake far from civilization in
state of Ambarino. Excellent for fishing.
Lake Isabella
Lake Isabella is the largest lake in Ambarino. Pond
is half-covered with an ice crust.
Bolger Glade (Battlefield)
Bolger Glade — Site of the 1864 Battle of Scarlett Meadows. It was during the
Civil War.
Hill Haven Ranch
Hill Haven Ranch is a ranch north of Rhodes. Cows usually roam in the paddocks.
Dakota River
The Dakota River is the longest river in the game. Emerges from
Calumet Gorge and flows into Flat Iron Lake.
Camassa River
The Camassa River flows through New Hanover and Lemoyne.
Divides the Roanoke Range region in half.
North Klingman
Klingman is a wooden hut apparently used by
as an outpost during the Civil War.
North Ridgewood
Ridgewood Farm is a farm in the Cholla Springs area of New Austin. On site
cattle are raised.
North Tumbleweed
Tumbleweed is a small town in western New Austin.
Rapidly turning into a ghost town.
North Hennigan
Hennigan Stead is New Austin’s easternmost region.
There are prairies, swamps, hills and savanna.
Citadel Rock
Citadel Rock is a natural formation in the
New Hanover Hinterland region.
Burnt City
Limpany is a typical American small town,
once burned to the ground.
Now abandoned.
Calumet Gorge
Calumet Gorge is a deep mountain valley within the
Eastern Grizzly region of Ambarino.
Watsons Cabin
Watsons Cabin is a homestead in the Big Valley
region of West Elizabeth. In RDR2, she can be robbed.
Hawkes Eye Creek
Hawkes Eye Creek is the river that divides the town of Strawberry in two. The source is at the top of
Mount Shann.
Devil’s Backbone
Devil’s Ridge is a mountain formation in the
Great Valley region of West Elizabeth.
Hanging Rock
Hanging Rock is a rock formation in New Austin.
Has been repeatedly used for hangings.
Hennigan Center
Hennigan Stead is New Austin’s easternmost region.
Of the settlements, there is only a ranch
McFarlane.
Cracked Rift
Cracked Rift is a small rural community of
miners in the desert west of New Austin.
South Roanoke
The Roanoke Range is a region of New Hanover.
Mountainous,
hilly and wooded area rich in resources.
Interactive Map
Gang Hideouts, Tree Map Locations, Treasure Hunter Locations, and Treasure Storage Locations
can also be viewed on Red Dead Online’s interactive map. In addition, you will find a lot of other
usefulnesses on the map. You can use it directly on this page or at https://jeanropke.github.io/RDOMap/.
Contents of treasure chests
For a rough understanding of the possible contents of treasure chests, we examined 30 cards, the results of
are recorded in the table below. Using the arithmetic mean formula, we get the following numbers: one
chest with
treasures contains on average 1.21 gold bars and 99.44 $ . Also
often comes across 5-8 rounds for weapons , a little less common are tonics and
drugs , even rarer chewing tobacco . This is where luck comes into play.
In total, 30 treasure cards brought us 36.38 gold bars and 2983.20
$RDO . Together with other sources of income, the result is not bad, and given the ease of the
process and the absence of restrictions on the level and quantity, it is good.
Let’s clarify that some of the treasures — ammunition and tonics — did not fit in the inventory.
| card number | Gold bars | Money, $ | Optional |
| 1 | 1.4 | 124.02 | — |
| 2 | 1.17 | 119.13 | — |
| 3 | 1.05 | 99.85 | 5x rounds (carbine) |
| 4 | 1. 3 |
56.34 | Opened medicine bottle, 6x rounds (revolver) |
| 5 | 0.95 | 43.21 | — |
| 6 | 1.54 | 97.55 | Opened tonic bottle |
| 7 | 1.49 | 104.37 | 6x cartridges (revolver) |
| 8 | 0.71 | 124.45 | 5x ammo (rifle) |
| 9 | 1.63 | 130.87 | 8x ammo (pistol) |
| 10 | 1.75 | 69.91 | 8x ammo (pistol) |
| 11 | 1. 64 |
76.43 | 7x cartridges (carbine) |
| 12 | 0.89 | 113.28 | Opened medicine bottle, 5x ammo (rifle) |
| 13 | 0.86 | 96.51 | Opened tonic bottle, 5x rounds (rifle) |
| 14 | 0.73 | 105.84 | Chewing tobacco, 7x cartridges (carbine) |
| 15 | 1.53 | 78.49 | Opened medicine vial, 7x cartridges (carbine) |
| 16 | 0.93 | 80.31 | Chewing tobacco |
| 17 | 1. 55 |
94.97 | 5x ammo (rifle) |
| 18 | 0.91 | 169,44 | 5x ammo (rifle) |
| 19 | 1.54 | 163.35 | Chewing tobacco, 7x cartridges (carbine) |
| 20 | 0.63 | 112.98 | 5x ammo (rifle) |
| 21 | 1.28 | 128.73 | 5x ammo (rifle) |
| 22 | 0.49 | 95.67 | — |
| 23 | 1.54 | 88.12 | 7x cartridges (carbine) |
| 24 | 1. 33 |
118.60 | Chewing tobacco |
| 25 | 1.29 | 55.30 | — |
| 26 | 1.26 | 25.00 | — |
| 27 | 1.46 | 139.51 | — |
| 28 | 0.75 | 79.39 | — |
| 29 | 1.17 | 124.91 | — |
| 30 | 1.61 | 66.67 | Opened medicine bottle, 8x cartridges (pistol) |
Related Videos