Red Dead Redemption 2 Vs. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Who Did It Better?

Red Dead Redemption 2 has been out for about 1 week and fans have dedicated days into exploring the vast open world of the wild west. As one of the most technically advanced games this generation, how does Rockstar's latest title hold up again one of CD Projekt RED's best games? Does Red Dead Redemption 2 surpass The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or does Geralt of Rivia's last adventure still reign supreme?

Fantasy or Wild West

Both games look outstanding. Each of The Witcher 3's 3 maps are beautifully detailed and rich with intricate details. The same can be said about Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption, which is not only 1 large map but free of loading screens. Players can ride from each corner of the world without having to deal with a single break between the action and gameplay. Because of this The Witcher 3 does feel more densely compact while Red Dead Redemption 2 can feel scattered.

Each environment in both The Witcher 3 and Red Dead Redemption 2 houses numerous NPCs that bring life to the world. With unique enemies, towns, and landscapes that immerse the player. What Red Dead Redemption 2 does better than The Witcher 3 is the dynamic situations.

Both games provide varied consequential choices that make you feel like you're part of this extensive world. However, much of The Witcher 3's consequences are limited to a specific section. Whether it's the main campaign or side missions the consequences of your choices tend to isolated to that specific section, with some have domino effects into other choices. What Red Dead Redemption 2 does is make the most tawdry choices have rippling effects. Players can choose to kill someone and have someone related to that NPC hunt you down or give money to the poor only to be rewarded with something of higher value. Rockstar took extra steps to ensure that the most meager choices can have results and completely shock the player.

While the world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is much more dynamic is a lot harder to get around. The Witcher 3 does limit fast-travel to specific stations but compared to Red Dead Redemption 2 these are plentiful and easy to access. Much of Red Dead Redemption 2 requires the player to run between large areas that can take up to 5 minutes. That ease of travel through large landscapes can easily become frustrating, especially when collecting the game's wide array of collectibles.

Both games have their advantages, with Red Dead Redemption 2's dynamic changes slightly more advanced than The Witcher 3 and large map free of loading screens but The Witcher 3 offers easier transport options densely packed areas since the maps are separated. Ultimately, Red Dead Redemption 2's dynamic situations help create a much more realistic world.

What blows Red Dead Redemption 2 ahead of The Witcher 3 is the first-person mode. This mode doesn't just offer a first-person perspective it puts you in the eyes of Arthur, showing everything from picking up items to rolling on the ground. You can see all the details within each environment and gives the entire adventure a new distinct feel.

 Winner: Red Dead Redemption 2

Swords and Guns

The gameplay of both The Witcher 3 and Red Dead Redemption 2 couldn't be more different. One is centered on third-person shooting and the other melee combat. However, on the surface, The Witcher 3 reigns supreme against Red Dead Redemption 2's combat system.

The diversity of enemies in The Witcher 3 easily exceed Red Dead Redemption 2. The creatures that house the world built by CD Projekt RED each have unique weaknesses and behaviors. This is not to say that many of the enemies in Red Dead Redemption 2 are not wonderfully animated and coded, but outside the animal kingdom, most of them are generic foot soldiers and bandits.

What The Witcher 3 truly outshines is the control. Red Dead Redemption 2 has difficult controls, often result in confusing button inputs and rules that often hinder the gameplay. For example, Arthur will often put away his weapons without the player's knowledge when riding and leave the player at a disadvantage. In addition, the player has to hit the trigger twice to shoot; once to shoot and another to pull back the hammer. This can be incredibly frustrating during hectic firefights.

The Witcher 3 never suffers from this problem, with controls being exact. Players who are good enough can even take down enemies far beyond their own level if they're skilled enough. Everything feels grounded and precise from offense to defense and the complicated level of detail to the enemies, potions, and equipment allow for players to creativity decide how to fight.

Winner: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Beasts or Bandits

Much of the enemies with Red Dead Redemption 2 are picked from a limited pool of enemies. Given the period and context of the game Rockstar did a great job of populating the adventure with diverse enemies, some made more profound thanks to the fantastic story. However, The Witcher 3 goes above and beyond with the enemy diversity.

CD Projekt RED did have a more to work with than Rockstar given the fantasy setting. However, the amount of detail put into each enemy is staggering. Even the most common enemies have specific weaknesses, lore, and histories about their origins that the player can and should use. Taking on certain enemies without preparation will lead to a quick death whereas in Red Dead Redemption 2 shooting it till it dies generally works.

Winner: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Monster Hunter or Gunslinger

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Red Dead Redemption 2 have richly decorated tales full of memorable moments and layered characters. Geralt of Rivia is given ample opportunity to change the adventure and alter the path of the narrative. However, in Red Dead Redemption 2 these choices are limited but aid in the adventure's narrative, given the player enough choices to slightly alter Arthur's actions without changing his overall persona.

The Witcher 3's narrative does offer more replayability, with 1 of 3 endings provided depending on the player's choices. This mailability benefits The Witcher 3's narrative given its political structure and save the world focus. But it also comes at the cost of a more stable protagonist, as Geralt becomes a reflection of the player instead of his own person. He does have some core attributes but much of his persona comes from the player preferences.

Arthur Morgan is a much more rooted. It's made clear what type of person he is, someone who values the lives of his family but won't think twice about killing someone. You do have some opportunities to act honorably or alter the story but the player has little effect on what makes Arthur Morgan such a great protagonist. He acts like a person, with values, desires, and is constantly uncertain. Often challenged to take a look in the mirror and ask what he wants and how to help those closest to him

Winner: Red Dead Redemption 2

Both Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt offer extensive content with incredible adventures. Red Dead Redemption 2's dynamic world is one of the most impressive virtual environments ever made and The Witcher 3's extensive combat mechanics still makes it one of the more challenging games around. Regardless of which title you pick up, you're guaranteed to have a good time.

Winner: Tie

Adam Siddiqui, NoobFeed
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