You know a game is good when it has a skip cutscene option and you don't want to use it.
You know a game is good when you are sad that they skip the boring part of traveling to a mission objective.
You know a game is good when the story makes you almost stop playing because what's the point.

It's hard to write in a review what makes this game so special as you need to experience it. What I can write is why I think it's a masterpiece while not spoiling it.

If you want an open world experience where the world feels alive, NPC live their lives and where stories unfold with or without your active involvement this is the game for you. Just riding around between missions you will get so many random events, some of them even forming little stories that even after 100 hours I was still finding new things. Save a man from his own bear trap? Meet the same fellow in a nearby town few days later and he gives you a reward. Pickup a stranded girl and bring her home, get some information that helps you later. This type of event's make it feel like individuals have their own life and good or bad luck.

Activities that you can do are plentiful and integrate very well into the game. Even collectable mission are something you do for extra cash and you can do them in increments. This makes it so natural during gameplay and it's not something you go out to do just to achieve 100%. Finding cards and bones just happens while exploring, hunting or fishing. Not to mention that there are so many interiors, shacks, houses, whole farms that you can explore, steal and murder your way through them.

All of this makes the world of RDR2 one of the best open worlds out there. Ubisoft should take a note here. This is how you make a open world work. Every mechanic stands alone but also is seemingly integrated with the general feel of the game.

Story is I would say Rockstar going to their original quality. Memorable main and side characters. Through story, side mission and activities you get to know them and they become part of the experience. This leads to questioning any available decision that the game throws at you whit great caution. I feel that they took a different path than in GTA 5 where side characters kinda felt like a mean to an end while here they are your friends and you actually care for them. Your character Arthur has a very unique progression. Without spoiling anything he is a man that tries to live in the ever changing world going through industrialization. He is learning to cope that the old days are gone and trying to find a purpose in this new era. Even if you don't do any side activities just playing through the story is a worthwhile experience.

The downsides are very few. There is some jittering of animations in towns that happens at random. I also experiences a bug when toggle to aim was on so I had to play with hold to aim option and one quest was bugged from progressing due to a known bug.
Besides bugs I would love to see the eating and drinking mechanics serve a more survival purpose. I loved going up to the mountain rationing and hunting for food.

All in all this game pulled me in and didn't let me go until I finished it. It's a unique experience that I would recommend to everyone. Only regret is that I didn't start playing it sooner!

You know a game is good when it has a skip cutscene option and you don't want to use it. You know a game is good when you are sad that they skip the boring part of traveling to a mission objective. You know a game is good when the story makes you almost stop playing because what's the point. It's hard to write in a review what makes this game so special as you need to experience it. What I can write is why I think it's a masterpiece while not spoiling it. If you want an open world experience where the world feels alive, NPC live their lives and where stories unfold with or without your active involvement this is the game for you. Just riding around between missions you will get so many random events, some of them even forming little stories that even after 100 hours I was still finding new things. Save a man from his own bear trap? Meet the same fellow in a nearby town few days later and he gives you a reward. Pickup a stranded girl and bring her home, get some information that helps you later. This type of event's make it feel like individuals have their own life and good or bad luck. Activities that you can do are plentiful and integrate very well into the game. Even collectable mission are something you do for extra cash and you can do them in increments. This makes it so natural during gameplay and it's not something you go out to do just to achieve 100%. Finding cards and bones just happens while exploring, hunting or fishing. Not to mention that there are so many interiors, shacks, houses, whole farms that you can explore, steal and murder your way through them. All of this makes the world of RDR2 one of the best open worlds out there. Ubisoft should take a note here. This is how you make a open world work. Every mechanic stands alone but also is seemingly integrated with the general feel of the game. Story is I would say Rockstar going to their original quality. Memorable main and side characters. Through story, side mission and activities you get to know them and they become part of the experience. This leads to questioning any available decision that the game throws at you whit great caution. I feel that they took a different path than in GTA 5 where side characters kinda felt like a mean to an end while here they are your friends and you actually care for them. Your character Arthur has a very unique progression. Without spoiling anything he is a man that tries to live in the ever changing world going through industrialization. He is learning to cope that the old days are gone and trying to find a purpose in this new era. Even if you don't do any side activities just playing through the story is a worthwhile experience. The downsides are very few. There is some jittering of animations in towns that happens at random. I also experiences a bug when toggle to aim was on so I had to play with hold to aim option and one quest was bugged from progressing due to a known bug. Besides bugs I would love to see the eating and drinking mechanics serve a more survival purpose. I loved going up to the mountain rationing and hunting for food. All in all this game pulled me in and didn't let me go until I finished it. It's a unique experience that I would recommend to everyone. Only regret is that I didn't start playing it sooner!