Determining the top Red Dead Redemption 2 missions is not easy. After the release of Grand Theft Auto V, RDR2 (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 we would try to rank the top ones.
RDR2 offers players the chance to replay missions by clicking start, going to "Progress," and selecting the mission. Hopefully, this list will inspire you to replay Red Dead Redemption 2's glorious missions. Warning! There be spoilers ahead!
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Updated on February 18, 2021 by Scoot Allan: The ongoing success of a game like Red Dead Redemption 2 can be easily measured by its continued replayability, with players repeatedly returning to Rockstar Games' best-selling entry in the Red Dead franchise to enjoy Arthur Morgan and John Marston's journey in the closing days of the Wild Wild West. There are plenty of ongoing releases enticing new players to Red Dead Online's multiplayer, though there are also several great missions available in the original Red Dead Redemption 2 campaign that we'll be taking a further look at today.
15 Chapter 4 - "Banking, The Old American Art"
We can't forget the Red Dead Redemption 2 mission titled "Banking, The Old American Art." It put 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.
14 Chapter 1 - "Colter"
Some of Red Dead Redemption 2's earliest action-packed moments took place in the "Colter" 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.
"Colter" is a lengthy mission that ends with robbing a train. This train robbery influences later events in the story of RDR2. Overall, the mission was fun and put the game off to a good start.
13 Chapter 6 - "The Bridge To Nowhere"
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 you 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.
12 Chapter 5 - "Hell Hath No Fury"
Hell Hath No Fury can be considered one of the best missions in Red Dead Redemption 2. Helping out the locals proves to be beneficial when they offer you transport to get home. While discussing how to get back, a group attacks you, and you must defend a bombardment on the island.
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Using a cannon to combat a naval ship in the water was too cool, and it was an effective way to conclude the events on the island. This is an unforgettable mission in Red Dead Redemption 2.
11 Chapter 6 - "My Last Boy"
Riding with the Van der Linde gang, Arthur takes part in an attack on Cornwall Kerosene & Tar. In one part of this mission, Dutch leaves Arthur for death, and denies it afterward! It was clear at this point that Dutch was only looking out for himself and saw Arthur (who was ill) as a liability.
This mission had dramatic story elements and a fantastic war sequence against the army. All-around it was a fun mission, which is why it's deserving of high placement on this list.
10 Stranger Mission - "The Veteran"
There are plenty of stranger missions that add quite a bit to the overall story of Red Dead Redemption 2, including "The Veteran," which can be accessed after the sixth chapter by either Arthur Morgan or John Marston in the epilogue, though there are definite benefits to waiting until you're in control of Marston.
"The Veteran" introduces players to Hamish Sinclair, a new friend filled with great stories that you hear over enjoyable fishing and hunting trips. The mission even comes with the reward of a new horse that it can be hard not to build an emotional connection with, which is why players might want to wait until Marston can retain the horse unless you're a fan of gut-wrenching goodbyes.
9 Chapter 6 - "Icarus And Friends"
The mission begins with Sadie Adler (one of RDR2's unforgettable characters) who has located a hot air balloon ride for Arthur. You meet with Arturo Bullard, an expert hot air balloon pilot who offers to give you a ride. Flying above the clouds was one of the most invigorating flight experiences in video games.
Unbeknownst to the pilot, Arthur plans to take a route near the restricted Sisikia Penitentiary. The guards begin firing at the balloon, and despite their horrid aim, the mission is highly enjoyable.
8 Chapter 4 - "A Fine Night Of Debauchery"
There are many leisure games spread across the map in Red Dead Redemption 2 for players to try which fulfill a number of player challenges, though they also factor into a number of story missions, including Chapter 4's " A Fine Night Of Debauchery."
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Morgan and company follow a lead from Josiah Trelawny about a riverboat safe, that requires a new fancy outfit and haircut as well as an extended game of cards that some players might not enjoy, so thankfully cheating options are available. The heist also features a thrilling shootout and riverboat escape that can sometimes be overlooked when replaying missions.
7 Chapter 2 - "A Quiet Time"
Arthur and Lennie have one too many drinks at the saloon, and Arthur finds himself in a drunken stupor, which turns into a nightmare. He begins with the first round of drinks, and you have to talk to people in the bar. After the second round of drinks, Arthur loses sight of Lennie and must find him in the saloon.
Arthur begins hallucinating and accidentally walks into a room where people are having coitus. The night turns into debauchery and eventually, Arthur accomplishes his goal of finding Lennie.
6 Epilogue - "Jim Milton Rides Again"
"Jim Milton Rides Again" was arguably the best mission in the epilogue. This mission brought back the version of John Marston from the first Red Dead Redemption we know and love. He defends the farm against a group of bandits and picks up arms once again.
He does this despite saying to his wife that his gunslinging days are over. This mission is so much like the first Red Dead Redemption that it stands out in the epilogue.
5 Chapter 5 - "Welcome To The New World"
Waking up on what was later revealed to be an island in the Atlantic Ocean was a monumental part of Red Dead Redemption 2. Arthur Morgan becomes stranded in Guarma and must locate his friends. Shortly after he rendezvoused with other members of the Van der Linde gang, they are ambushed by a militaristic group.
Chain-linked, Arthur and friends must find a way to escape. This mission kicked off one of the most exciting chapters of Red Dead Redemption 2. The visuals are stunning, and this is one mission we can't forget.
4 Chapter 3 - "The Fine Joys Of Tobacco"
After a few dull missions, chapter 3 of Red Dead Redemption 2 redeemed itself with the inclusion of The Fine Joys Of Tobacco. Galloping through the fields while it is engulfed in flames was one of the most epic moments in Red Dead Redemption 2. After all, Arthur was the one who poured moonshine all over the fields and lit the flame.
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It's the ingenuity of missions like this that leaves all doubt out the window that RDR2 deserves a perfect 5/5 score for being a masterpiece.
3 Chapter 6 - "Red Dead Redemption"
Arthur Morgan's final playable moments in Red Dead Redemption 2 are in the similarly-titled finale of Chapter 6, as he is forced to face off against Agent Milton and his Pinkerton agents in order to rescue the captured Abigail, though the mission also comes with an important decision that will reward players with different outcomes that lead to Arthur's final moments.
Whether you choose to go back for the money in the camp or help John escape, the torturous final moments of Arthur Morgan were perfectly and painfully explored and players keep coming back to experience the route not taken.
2 Epilogue - "American Venom"
The finale of the main Red Dead Redemption 2 storyline may not be the most fun mission to play — it carries a lot of weight from previous events in the game as players finally have the chance to track down Micah over his actions that led to the splintering of the van der Linde gang.
After Sadie received a tip about his whereabouts, Marston was finally able to take revenge on Micah, which also gave players a tease of the Dutch fans knew from the original Red Dead Redemption. Not only does the rewarding mission set John and Sadie up with a hefty treasure for the after game, but players also received some much-deserved satisfaction.
1 Chapter 3 - "Blood Feuds, Ancient and Modern"
The mission Blood Feuds, Ancient and Modern seemed to stand out from the rest of the missions. The assault on the Braithwaite Manor, which used to be a slave plantation, is a place that needed to be destroyed.
After a few cordial meetings, Arthur and the Van der Linde gang find out that the Braithwaites kidnapped Jack for stealing the Braithwaites' horses. This combat sequence is one of the most epic scenes in Red Dead Redemption 2, and concluding it with the burning of the mansion was the perfect way to end it.