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Red Dead Redemption 2 vs. Cyberpunk 2077: Which Open World Should You Play?

A western journey or a futuristic city? Compare Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 by pace, world, combat progression and edition details.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Choose Red Dead Redemption 2 if you want a measured western story about Arthur Morgan and his outlaw gang, with hunting, exploration and time away from missions. Choose Cyberpunk 2077 if Night City, action-oriented combat and a character build you can shape sound more appealing. Neither is the universal winner: the choice comes down to setting, pace and how much you value build flexibility over frontier immersion.

How the two open worlds differ

What matters Red Dead Redemption 2 Cyberpunk 2077
Setting and story 1899 American frontier; you play as Arthur Morgan in the Van der Linde gang. PlayStation Store Futuristic Night City and V’s story; the optional Phantom Liberty expansion adds a spy-thriller story around Dogtown. PC Gamer CD PROJEKT RED: Phantom Liberty
What roaming feels like Ride through the frontier, hunt, explore and spend time around the gang’s camp. Rockstar Games PlayStation.Blog Explore a dense futuristic city as part of V’s journey. Its appeal is more urban and character-led than a frontier journey. PC Gamer
Progression and combat The comparison is more about story and roaming than building a character around a flexible progression system. That does not mean the game lacks combat variety or player choices. Build-focused progression is a major draw. The 2023 Update 2.0 documented redesigned perk trees and cyberware, as well as changes to enemy AI, police behavior, traffic and vehicle combat. CD PROJEKT RED: Update 2.0
Pacing A better fit if you are happy to settle into a deliberately paced western. Some players find that pace slow; whether it feels absorbing or like a slog is a matter of taste. Reader discussion A better fit if you prefer a more action-oriented loop, though your build and play style affect the feel. This is a preference-based distinction, not a measured comparison.
What the listing includes Rockstar’s listing describes both Story Mode and Red Dead Online. Rockstar Games Phantom Liberty is optional and requires the base game. Check the edition details to see whether it is included. CD PROJEKT RED: Buy Cyberpunk 2077 CD PROJEKT RED: Phantom Liberty

Choose Red Dead Redemption 2 if you want frontier immersion

Red Dead Redemption 2 makes most sense if the appeal is not simply having a large map, but spending unhurried time in a western world and caring about the gang at its center. Hunting, camp life and exploration give you reasons to step away from the main plot. The PlayStation Store describes the story as taking place in 1899 and identifies Arthur Morgan as its protagonist. PlayStation Store

Its camp is part of that slower rhythm: PlayStation’s pre-launch guide discusses conversations, hunting and upgrades, including a fast-travel upgrade. That guide reflects the game’s design at launch, not a claim about later patches. PlayStation.Blog

Pick it if you enjoy inhabiting a setting between major story beats. If you want frequent build changes or a consistently brisk action pace, that same deliberate approach may be a drawback.

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#1 Best Overall
Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 Brand New Factory Sealed
  • From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption
  • The deepest and most complex world Rockstar Games has ever created
  • Covers a huge range of 19th century American landscapes
  • Play as Arthur Morgan, lead enforcer in the notorious Van der Linde gang
  • Interact with every character in the world with more than just your gun;Engage in conversation with people you meet. Your actions influence Arthur's honour;Horses are a cowboy's best friend, both transport and personal companion;Bond with your horse as you ride together to unlock new abilities

Choose Cyberpunk 2077 if you want Night City and build-driven action

Cyberpunk 2077 is the better match if a futuristic city and shaping V’s combat approach matter more to you than a western’s slower, more directed journey. The game’s progression systems received significant changes in Update 2.0: CD PROJEKT RED’s September 21, 2023 announcement describes changes to perk trees, cyberware, police behavior, enemy AI, traffic and vehicle combat. CD PROJEKT RED: Update 2.0

That update is evidence of a substantial post-launch change, not a statement that it is the latest patch. Treat it as context for the game’s systems rather than a complete guide to its current state.

Rank #2
Sale
Red Dead Redemption - PlayStation 5
  • When federal agents threaten his family, former outlaw John Marston is forced to hunt down the gang of criminals he once called friends.
  • Experience Marston’s journey across the sprawling expanses of the American West and Mexico as he fights to bury his blood-stained past in the critically acclaimed predecessor to the 2018 blockbuster, Red Dead Redemption 2.
  • Also included is Undead Nightmare, the iconic horror story that transforms the world of Red Dead Redemption into an apocalyptic fight for survival against a zombie horde.

Phantom Liberty is an optional expansion rather than a prerequisite for the base game. CD PROJEKT RED describes it as a spy thriller set around Dogtown and states that Cyberpunk 2077 is required to play it. CD PROJEKT RED: Phantom Liberty CD PROJEKT RED: Buy Cyberpunk 2077

Which should you play first?

  • Start with Red Dead Redemption 2 if you want a western narrative, an outlaw-gang story and small frontier activities between missions.
  • Start with Cyberpunk 2077 if Night City and the freedom to shape combat progression are the bigger draw.
  • If both sound equally appealing, decide by pace: choose the slower western journey or the more action-oriented city adventure.

PlayStation Store says Red Dead Redemption 2 has received “over 175 Game of the Year Awards” and “over 250 perfect scores.” Those are the storefront’s published claims, not a directly comparable measure of which game is better. PlayStation Store

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Rank #3
Silent Hill 2 (PS5)
  • Fully Remade to terrify modern audiences
  • KONAMI's intense psychological horror masterpiece SILENT HILL 2 is made exclusively for PlayStation 5
  • The main protagonist James Sunderland searches for clues in the namesake town, after receiving a mysterious letter from his wife Mary… who has long been dead
  • Experience the eerie monsters and other manifestations of James' consciousness reworked after 20 years
  • Made with state-of-the-art technology to play on modern entertainment systems in 4K
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Check platform and edition before buying

Store listings differ by region and can change. The US PlayStation Store page lists Red Dead Redemption 2 as a PS4 product, gives October 26, 2018 as its release date, and notes PS5 play subject to compatibility conditions. Rockstar’s page also exposes a PC listing. CD PROJEKT RED’s US purchase page shows PC, Xbox and PS4 selections but contains legacy wording, so these pages do not establish a complete current platform matrix. Confirm the exact platform and edition in the store where you plan to buy. PlayStation Store Rockstar Games CD PROJEKT RED: Buy Cyberpunk 2077

For Cyberpunk 2077, check whether the edition includes Phantom Liberty; buying the expansion separately requires the base game. PC players should consult current system requirements for their platform and version. The Update 2.0 announcement said an SSD became a requirement in its 2023 notice, which should not substitute for checking current requirements. CD PROJEKT RED: Buy Cyberpunk 2077 CD PROJEKT RED: Update 2.0

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 Brand New Factory Sealed
Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 Brand New Factory Sealed
From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption; The deepest and most complex world Rockstar Games has ever created
$23.80
SaleBestseller No. 2
Bestseller No. 3
Silent Hill 2 (PS5)
Silent Hill 2 (PS5)
Fully Remade to terrify modern audiences; Made with state-of-the-art technology to play on modern entertainment systems in 4K
$29.50
Bestseller No. 4
Red Dead Redemption 2 - Playstation 4 (PS4) [video game]
Red Dead Redemption 2 - Playstation 4 (PS4) [video game]
From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption; The deepest and most complex world Rockstar Games has ever created
$25.79
Bestseller No. 5
Marvel's Wolverine PS5
Marvel's Wolverine PS5
Marvel’s Wolverine is a new action-packed adventure from Insomniac Games
$69.00
Best Value
Marvel's Wolverine PS5
  • Marvel’s Wolverine is a new action-packed adventure from Insomniac Games
  • Play as Wolverine and Ravage enemies with explosive brutality and unleash razor-sharp adamantium claws to deploy fast, fluid attacks and overcome impossible odds
  • An Original, Emotionally Charged Story. Beneath Wolverine’s gruff exterior and violent temperament is a man fighting for a cause greater than himself
  • A Global, Adrenaline-Fueled Journey where you slice into enemies across detailed locales such as the frosted Canadian Wilderness, the narrow streets of Tokyo, and the high and low districts of the island nation of Madripoor
Rank #4
Red Dead Redemption 2 - Playstation 4 (PS4) [video game]
  • From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption
  • The deepest and most complex world Rockstar Games has ever created
  • Covers a huge range of 19th century American landscapes
  • Play as Arthur Morgan, lead enforcer in the notorious Van der Linde gang
  • Please note that although this game is Region Free or Region Unlocked and will work on all systems, this is the international version and may differ from the local version in age rating, labeling or instructions.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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