For the subset of PC gamers who have never strayed from the light of their LED keyboards, October 30, 2024, is a date that will go down in history. After 14 years, Red Dead Redemption is finally available to play on Steam – words that I'd almost given up on being able to say. In that lengthy gap between release and port we've gone from the PS3 and Xbox 360 to their modern-day counterparts, seen three sitting US presidents in the White House, and – perhaps most bizarrely – enjoyed half a decade of Red Dead Redemption's sequel already being on PC.
For many, that last one will sting a little. There's a lot that Red Dead Redemption 2 does better than its predecessor besides looking prettier: Arthur's journey through the American West is richer for its livelier open world, which to this day is the only game I'll nip in just to wander around for awhile – no quest-chasing, no collectible hunts, just clip-clopping around big hills and thinking This Is Good. Don't get me wrong, Red Dead Redemption is worth playing for John's story alone and it's still a phenomenal game, but its open world isn't quite as magical as it was in 2010.
