Summary
- Red Dead Redemption 3 can build on the success of its predecessor by upgrading the Survivalist challenges, which currently encompass fishing, hunting, and crafting.
- Survivalist challenges in Red Dead Redemption 3 can be expanded to include an all-encompassing test of the protagonist's survival skills, such as caring for horses, treating wounds, and setting up camps.
- By enhancing the survivalist challenges, Red Dead Redemption 3 can create a more immersive roleplaying experience and showcase the protagonist's ability to thrive in a modernized world.
Red Dead Redemption 3 can offer a significant upgrade to one of Red Dead Redemption 2's challenge types. There are already a lot of aspects that Red Dead Redemption 3 can build on, especially considering how well Red Dead Redemption 2 handled most aspects of its gameplay and story. The challenges of Red Dead Redemption 2 are an excellent place for the next game to seek more ways to expand, especially since they give players extra goals to aim for. As for the one type of challenge in particular that Red Dead Redemption 3 could put a new spin on, the Survivalist category could use another look.
There are many ways for RDR2 players to challenge themselves, so it only seems natural that the game includes its own slate of challenges. In-game, there are nine categories of challenges, consisting of tasks that the game will automatically track for players. These challenge categories are:
- Bandit
- Explorer
- Gambler
- Herbalist
- Horseman
- Master Hunter
- Sharpshooter
- Survivalist
- Weapons Expert
Each list of challenges involves a different area of gameplay, embodying one aspect of outlaw life apiece. Completing challenges will unlock rewards in the form of unique pieces of gear, providing a good incentive for players to experiment and explore all elements of the game.
Red Dead Redemption 3's Survivalist Challenges Could Be an All-Emcompassing Test
When it comes to the challenges offered, the Survivalist challenges in Red Dead Redemption 2 are some of the most eclectic. Rather than focusing on one area of the game, Survivalist encompasses feats involving fishing, hunting, and crafting. This does make sense, since survival is more of an overarching theme of the game rather than a specific mechanic. Still, it's a bit surprising that it includes some hunting feats when the Master Hunter challenge is already wholly devoted to challenges that involve hunting animals. If Survivalist challenges return in Red Dead Redemption 3, they could be given a new scope to work with.
After Red Dead Redemption 2's incredibly intricate world, it's likely that RDR3 will be an excellent game for immersive roleplaying, and its survivalist challenges should reflect that. RDR2's survivalist challenges only covered three areas of surviving in the wilderness, and the sequel can do much more with the concept. That's not to say that the previous focuses need to be removed entirely. After all, fishing, hunting, and crafting tools are all important aspects of survival. In fact, Red Dead Redemption 3's survival challenges may be best used as a catch-all category, testing the player in almost every important field of survival the game has to offer.
By covering multiple fields, survivalist challenges could embody the spirit of a true cowboy survivor within Red Dead Redemption 3's protagonist. In addition to showing that the player can fish and hunt, it could also measure their general survival skills, such as keeping their horses in good condition and being able to treat their own wounds. There could even be some camping-specific abilities, like setting up camps in several different environments, or surviving for a full day without going indoors. Survival is just as important as being a good gunslinger in the wild west, so the protagonist's skills in that regard should be tested to the limit.
Red Dead Redemption 2's challenges were a good idea, but the survivalist challenges would benefit the most from an upgrade. With Red Dead Redemption 3 unlikely to change settings, then most of the survival skills that players learned in the past game should be useful to them once again. In fact, if the timeline moves forward once more, then it could further make the player character stand out in an increasingly modernized world if they fully delve into the idea of living off the land. Red Dead Redemption 2 may have tested its protagonist's survival skills, but Red Dead Redemption 3 could enhance the challenge.
