Red Dead Redemption and its sequel take place around the time when the age of outlaws is slowly dying out, with Dutch and his gang (along with other criminals) struggling to survive in a world that doesn’t want them anymore. It’s important to note that outlaws in the Red Dead Redemption franchise aren’t bad per se, but just lived a life that was accepted in the Wild West until the government decided to implement law and order across the nation.
As a result, the outlaws that players fondly remember in the RDR games are far from cartoonishly evil caricatures. This franchise is known for boasting a level of writing that is arguably superior to Grand Theft Auto, which is why some of the game’s best outlaws feature character arcs that are riveting in every way.
Arthur Morgan
One Of The Greatest Video Game Protagonists Of All Time
Early on in Red Dead Redemption 2, it’s clear that Arthur lacks a proper moral compass and doesn’t put too much weight into his deeds (even his Honor is capped, making it seem that perhaps this character isn’t thinking too much about what he does). However, the death of his friends and Dutch’s descent as a villain cause him to doubt the words of a man he once considered to be his father.
The turning point for this character is when he contracts tuberculosis, with players either choosing to make him stick to his guns or turn over a new leaf in the hopes of redeeming himself. It’s a powerful character moment and leads to one of the most emotional send-offs for Arthur Morgan, who is easily the very best protagonist in a Rockstar game.
John Marston
Tries To Become A Family Man After Struggling With The Idea Of Being A Husband And Father
Marston gets a ton of flack from Arthur for abandoning his family some time before the events of Red Dead Redemption 2, which is understandable. However, from John’s perspective, it’s easy to see why the life of an outlaw clashed with his ideals of what a good father and husband should be.
He’s one of the few ones in Dutch’s gang with something to lose, and tries to live up to Abigail’s notions of what a hard-working husband should be. This clashes with his natural inclination to become an outlaw, but he decides to finally follow a peaceful life after his family is kidnapped by the Pinkertons in exchange for the deaths of Bill Williamson, Javier Escuella, and Dutch van der Linde. For a moment, everything is normal as fans assume he has redeemed himself… only for the Pinkertons to remind him that he can never escape from his past, leading to John making a heroic sacrifice for his family as he’s mercilessly gunned down.
Sadie Adler
A Widow With An Axe To Grind Whose Hate For The O'Driscolls Is Palpable
When Sadie is introduced to the group for the first time, she’s a helpless widow who was robbed of a life with her husband because of the O’Driscoll gang. She became a member of the gang but didn’t want to fulfill the womanly duties everyone expected her to. Instead, her mind was set on making Colm O’Driscoll and his gang pay for what they did.
This sparks her transformation into a fearless gunslinger who becomes a competent and trusted member of the gang, stepping up in the absence of the men when they are stuck in Guarma. She gets her revenge on the O’Driscoll gang and becomes a bounty hunter after Dutch’s gang disbands, cementing her character arc as one of the most riveting ones in the game.
Dutch van der Linde
Despite His Charismatic Attitude, It's Clear That His Plan Only Benefits Himself
Dutch is a character people either hate to love or love to hate. Despite how destructive his actions were, it’s hard not to love Dutch for his infectious charm, with the gang having no problems standing up for him when the Pinkertons arrive to haul him away. His dramatic speeches and flamboyance make him an easy outlaw to love, but the cracks become too big to ignore after Hosea’s death.
Dutch starts to endanger innocents for his gain and becomes close pals with Micah the snake, with Arthur and John finally admitting that Dutch was probably a bad man all along, especially after he killed an innocent woman in Blackwater before the game’s events. His narcissism is something that was managed by Hosea, but Dutch goes off the deep end and becomes a character people can’t make up their mind about by the time Red Dead Redemption 2 draws to a close.
Hosea Matthews
Matured Well Before The Events Of The Game, But That Doesn't Take Away From His Riveting Personality
Hosea was the wise man of the group and the voice of reason that kept Dutch tied down. He had an inkling that Dutch could go wild if the reins were let loose, but his words always managed to placate Dutch and prevent him from doing something reckless more often than not.
This is why Hosea’s death during the bank robbery in Saint Denis is so heartbreaking. The gang was playing with fire and eventually got burned, with the wise and trusting Hosea being mercilessly shot in the head following a tense confrontation.
Micah Bell
Love Him Or Hate Him, His Transformation Into The Main Villain Is Captivating
It may be popular to hate Micah Bell, but the fact is that his character arc was so masterfully crafted that it was easy for fans to harbor a deep dislike for him by the end. He was always one of the slimier members of the group and showed his true colors after he set up a deal with the Pinkertons following the gang’s return from Guarma.
He sold his friends and caused the group to fracture with his villainous actions. His antagonism towards Arthur only grew to the point where players wanted to throttle him after he started calling Arthur Black Lung. His character arc is a huge reason why the ending of Red Dead Redemption 2 is so satisfying, even if it gave the Pinkertons the leverage they needed to rope in Marston and force him to hunt down his ex-comrades in the first game.
Charles Smith
One Of The Few Honorable Men In Dutch's Gang
Unlike most other outlaws in the game who can do horrible things without a care in the world, Charles Smith’s tendency to try and be a good man is so admirable that even Arthur can’t stop himself from glazing his friend in his journal. Charles’ unwavering moral code involved not killing innocents and never letting an animal’s meat go to waste.
He sticks to this code and is loyal to the people, who try to do right by him, which is why he becomes such a beloved character by the end of Arthur’s journey. His loyalty can be seen in the epilogue, where he willingly endangers himself to assault Micah’s camp and give him the death that he deserves once and for all.
Kieran Duffy
Just Before He Was Embraced By The Gang, The O'Driscolls Executed Him
After being kidnapped by the gang, this former O’Driscoll is put through hell and back. He’s tied up and berated by the gang over and over again, but eventually proves his loyalty by saving Arthur in a life-or-death situation.
He is eventually accepted into the gang, although he’s still a bit wary about being too friendly and doesn’t participate in the camp’s festivities too much. Perhaps he could’ve warmed up to his new comrades in time, but the O’Driscolls hunted him down and executed him before launching an assault on Shady Belle. At High Honor, Arthur laments this new gang member’s loss, making it clear that he respected Kieran for trying to do the right thing and sticking with the gang that saved him.