Red Dead Redemption 2 Outclasses Ghost of Yotei — GTA 6 Is Poised to Define the Next Decade
Released eight years before Ghost of Yotei, Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption 2 still sets the gold standard for environmental realism—leaving many modern releases scrambling to catch up.
Here’s the vibe: Red Dead Redemption 2 is still the open-world champ, and the only thing that looks ready to take its crown is Rockstar’s next monster. Even with an eight-year head start on Ghost of Yotei, RDR2 keeps making newer games look like they’re still in warm-ups.
RDR2 vs Ghost of Yotei: not a close fight
Ghost of Yotei has been getting love for its sweeping old Hokkaido setting and a new lead named Atsu. It’s clearly built to be a prestige samurai experience, and Sucker Punch fans have plenty to sink into for weeks or months. But if we’re talking pure open-world immersion, RDR2 is still miles out in front.
- Environmental realism: towns, backroads, and wilderness feel alive down to tiny details
- NPCs, wildlife, and environment systems that interlock in a way most games don’t even attempt
- Emotional storytelling that actually lands and sticks
- Replayability that exists beyond the main missions — just riding into town feels weirdly therapeutic
That’s why RDR2 didn’t just hit big on release — it grew into a full-on cultural moment. Ghost of Yotei may deliver a strong story and post-launch content, but in terms of open-world depth, it’s still chasing.
The Rockstar tech edge: RAGE 8 to RAGE 9
Part of this is tech. Rockstar’s in-house engine, RAGE (Rockstar Advanced Game Engine), powered RDR2 on RAGE 8. Grand Theft Auto 6 is running on RAGE 9, the latest version. Translation: it should look and feel even sharper than RDR2.
GTA 6 has been pushed back for more fine-tuning — which usually means Rockstar is obsessing over details — and the expectation is extreme realism across the board. If it delivers, GTA 6 isn’t just going to top RDR2; it could set the standard for open worlds for the next decade.
The takeaway
RDR2 remains the benchmark, Ghost of Yotei is a strong but clear step behind in open-world depth, and GTA 6 is the only realistic contender to dethrone Rockstar’s own heavyweight. If GTA 6 really lands the way people think it will on RAGE 9, the future of open-world games is basically locked in.
Where do you land on this? Team RDR2 forever, or ready to let GTA 6 take the belt?