Red Dead Redemption 2's Ending Explained (In Detail)

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is a long game that's renowned for its story and well-written characters, particularly the protagonist Arthur Morgan. As Arthur, players can choose to sink further and further into selfish villainy or turn a new leaf as the story progresses, trying to redeem themselves as Arthur slowly dies due to tuberculosis. It's a beautiful and tragic tale either way, continuing themes from the first game about the human capability for change and the conflict between freedom and industrialization.

[Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the ending of Red Dead Redemption 2.]As a prequel to the first, the story leads directly into the start of the previous game, which featured the protagonist John Marston. ends with Arthur's death and a prolonged epilogue in the role of John, building on the game's themes and bridging the gap between entries. The ending is rather drawn-out, making it easy to lose some of the details as it goes along. Still, it's incredibly rewarding to go back into the first after completing Arthur's journey and learning everything that led up to John's deal with the notorious Edgar Ross.

follows the slow deterioration of the Van der Linde gang,mirrored by Arthur Morgan's worsening tuberculosis. As the game goes on, Arthur becomes more and more sick, people in the gang die or desert, and Dutch van der Linde, the gang's leader and Arthur's paternal figure, becomes paranoid and confused. The gang's falling out is quickened by Micah Bell, the game's antagonist, who divides Dutch from Arthur and drives him towards increasingly violent and risky jobs.

Even after the end of Red Dead Redemption 2, there are plenty of things to do after beating the game that expand upon the best parts of the Wild West.

All the while, Arthur is battling his own demons, caught between his life with the gang and the woman he loves, and eventually, his approaching mortality. It is up to the player whether Arthur spends his last weeks alive trying to redeem himself and become a