Red Dead Redemption 2

I recently highlighted a few of the cool mods I discovered for Red Dead Redemption 2 that can alter Story Mode in unique, interesting, and, in some cases, pretty big ways. But I’m not done just yet, because there’s an overwhelming wealth of mods that can further shape this cowboy sim into an image more my liking.

Even though I would prefer some meaningful content added to Red Dead Online (which would allow me to utilize my unique avatar instead of being saddled with Arthur and the gang), beggars can’t be choosers.

So let’s dive into six more mods that can improve the single-player experience of Red Dead Redemption 2, or at the very least flesh out some of the areas where the base game falls just a little short. With this list, I’m looking at smaller mods that have a surprisingly big impact on overall gameplay. Even if they don’t completely alter the genetic makeup of the game, they help fix minor quibbles I’ve had since the game released back in 2018.

It’s also worth mentioning that, much like the previous mod list, some of these might require Script Hook or Lenny’s Mod Loader to get them to work.

Wait for a Train

Red Dead Redemption 2 - Wait for a Train

If you want to catch a train in Red Dead Redemption 2, you have to go to a station and buy a ticket, then watch a cutscene as you wait for the train to arrive. But thanks to the Wait for a Train mod, there’s an easier way.

Now, you can just walk up to any train platform, then use the “Wait for a Train” prompt and select a destination. These trains will be faster than the ones in the base game, though ticket prices might be a little different.

You can check out the Wait for a Train mod (by crossed99) here.

Guiding Wind

Red Dead Redemption 2 - Guiding Wind

One of the coolest elements of Ghost of Tsushima is the Guiding Wind mechanic. Being able to simply trigger a gust of wind with the press of a button is perhaps one of the coolest wayfinding tricks I’ve seen in a game. Instead of following a line on a minimap or a hovering waypoint icon, Guiding Wind made finding one’s way feel more organic, if not still completely unrealistic.

Well, thanks to the lovely Guiding Wind mod, you can now do the same for Red Dead Redemption 2. And although it is still completely unrealistic, I think it helps you take in the game world instead of looking at a minimap in the corner all the time (or being completely lost if, like me, you prefer no minimap at all).

You can check out the Guiding Wind mod (by Shtivi) here.

Show Waypoint Distance

Red Dead Redemption 2 - Show Waypoint Distance

If you prefer to keep your minimap on display, Show Waypoint Distance is a great addition to that playstyle, as it actually shows you how far you have to go to your destination. When you start a mission, it’s nice to know exactly how far you need to travel instead of peering blindly at the GPS trail, anticipating when the endpoint might pop up. 

This is especially useful for longer missions where you are driving a wagon full of valuables or have a companion, but are expecting trouble along the way. Knowing that your destination is just around the bend can alleviate some of the stress of tense missions, or simply give you encouragement to tough out the last stretch of the more annoying ones.

You can check out the Show Waypoint Distance mod (by srgamerio) here.

More Persistent Weather

Red Dead Redemption 2 - More Persistent Weather

Red Dead Redemption 2 has some of the best weather systems and effects I’ve ever seen in a video game. The problem is, these events can come and go in the blink of an eye, something that completely breaks the immersion of the whole thing. One minute, you just awoke at camp and there is a thick pea-soup fog covering the area, and a few seconds later it evaporates as if someone just turned on an industrial exhaust fan. 

Thankfully, the More Persistent Weather mod extends the parameters on these events and allows them to build and fester for a more realistic amount of time. For me, this is exactly what the doctor ordered. I love the thunderstorms in RDR2, and having them around for longer means I won’t miss one if I decide to blink my eyes (as I am prone to do from time to time).

You can check out the More Persistent Weather mod (by crossed99) here.

Lockdown Manager

Red Dead Redemption 2 - Lockdown Manager

The map in Red Dead Redemption 2 is absolutely massive, encompassing the entire North America sections of Red Dead Redemption and expanding on them immensely. The problem is, because you start the game wanted dead or alive in Blackwater, you are unable to venture to the Southwestern region of the map until pretty late in the campaign.

This isn’t too much of an issue if you are following the story campaign as intended, but if you simply wish to experience some mods and shirk Arthur’s quests to play an even-more-sandboxy version of the single-player mode, then not being able to have full run of the place is a bit too constricting. 

With the Lockdown Manager mod, you can simply turn off wanted or red sections of the map with a stroke of the key and roam freely to your heart’s content, as God intended.

I should mention that this does have a warning on the mod page: The game will remember any changes you make with this mod, so back up your save file first!

You can check out the Lockdown Manager mod (by SergeantJoe) here.

Duels

Red Dead Redemption 2 - Duels

The random duels that would occur in certain areas of Red Dead Redemption were among my favorite parts of the original game. I loved walking into a town only to see a nogoodnik spitting in my direction and besmirching my good name, because I was just itching to send them home in a pine box.

So when I realized dueling was largely absent from Red Dead Redemption 2 (aside from a few instances) I was a bit disheartened.

And although I suppose it may seem antithetical to a character like Arthur, who spends the duration of the game trying to atone for his many sins and misdeeds, dueling is still fun and sadly missed.

But with the aptly titled Duels mod, I can finally give these jabronies a taste of what for. You simply lock onto any NPC with a gun and you now have the option to initiate a greeting they will never forget.

You can check out the Duels mod (by Shtivi) here.

Conclusion

Red Dead Redemption 2

So here are six mods that let you better realize the promise of some of the mechanics and features of Red Dead Redemption 2‘s Story Mode. Hopefully these will hold you over until either the online mode gets a meaningful content update (don’t hold your breath), or Red Dead Redemption 3 comes out (don’t hold your breath for that one either).

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