Red Dead Redemption II wins the Terrible Date Award

Despite everything, I think Red Dead Redemption II deserves credit for how fascinating it is. Rockstar Games has made something that is fun to talk and write about. That’s true even when I’m trying to explain why I find it so disappointing.

For me, Red Dead II is the antithesis of what I like about games. And it disregards my tastes with a confidence and bravado that I find undeniable. When people talk about Red Dead Redemption II, it’s common to hear them use the phrase “singular vision.” The implication is that Rockstar made the game in a vacuum and went with its gut on how it should play and feel. It didn’t look to what Ubisoft or Nintendo were doing in the space. Rockstar knows best.