Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is the closest follow-up to Red Dead Redemption 2 if what you value most is grounded history, demanding survival systems and an immersive world that expects you to live in it. For a larger fantasy adventure with exceptional quests, choose The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Pick Grand Theft Auto V for Rockstar-style freedom and crime storytelling, Cyberpunk 2077 for a dense role-playing city, Ghost of Tsushima for cinematic historical exploration, or Horizon Forbidden West when varied landscapes matter more than realism.
At a glance: which RDR2 alternative fits you?
| Game | Best for | How realistic is it? | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdom Come: Deliverance II | Historical immersion, survival routines and grounded combat | Highest: a 15th-century Bohemia setting with everyday-life systems | More demanding and less immediately accessible than RDR2 |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | Large-scale exploration, side quests and character-driven storytelling | Low literal realism: a fantasy world with magic and monsters | Its supernatural systems replace RDR2’s historical authenticity |
| Grand Theft Auto V | Rockstar’s open-ended freedom, satire and crime structure | Modern and exaggerated rather than historically realistic | Very different tone, setting and protagonist structure |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Dense city exploration and build-focused role-playing | Immersive but futuristic, not realistic in a historical sense | Science-fiction technology and dystopian themes dominate |
| Ghost of Tsushima | Cinematic historical travel, horseback exploration and samurai drama | Historical backdrop with stylized combat and presentation | Less simulation-oriented than RDR2 |
| Horizon Forbidden West | Landscape variety, discovery and science-fiction exploration | Far from realistic: machines and a post-apocalyptic premise are central | Its combat and world-building are designed around spectacle |
No authoritative statistic fairly ranks these games for “realism” or open-world quality. The useful distinction is what each game makes you do: manage a historical character’s daily needs, follow authored quests through a fantasy world, improvise in a modern sandbox, specialize an RPG build, follow a cinematic samurai story, or explore a machine-filled frontier.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 PS5 | $31.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
The Art of Kingdom Come Deliverance II | $69.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Dead Island 2 - PS5 Game - D a One Edition | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
What made Red Dead Redemption 2’s world feel realistic?
RDR2 combines several kinds of immersion that are easy to confuse. Its setting is historically grounded, but its realism also comes from pacing, animation, sound, character behavior and the number of activities that happen without a mission marker. You can travel by horse, hunt, care for equipment, meet strangers, investigate small events and let a long ride become part of the story.
The games below match different parts of that formula. “Realistic” can mean historically plausible, physically demanding, visually convincing or simply dense with believable routines. Decide which meaning matters to you before choosing.
#1 Best Overall
- Live life through the eyes and actions of Henry, a young man on a quest to avenge his murdered parents. His story – illustrated with over five hours of stunning cinematics – takes him from aspiring warrior to rebel, crossing paths with a charismatic cast of characters and an unforgettable set of adventures, as he goes up against the King of Hungary, Sigismund the Red Fox and his fearsome allies.
- Your actions shape Henry’s destiny and how the world will react to him. Customize freely his appearance, skills and equipment while taking a moral stance on the events around you. Travel round the land engaging in unique activities, such as blacksmithing and archery, to truly immerse yourself in this vibrant region of Europe that will remember your actions, forever.
- This stunningly authentic rendition of 15th Century Bohemia allows you to experience this fascinating setting like never before. Get lost in a sprawling city, engage with peasants and talk with nobles while exploring a vast and rich countryside with taverns, bath houses, castles and more.
- Feel the clash of steel and visceral combat as you engage in thrilling real-time battles. There’s a range of authentic weapons and combat styles to suit every player. On foot, horse or by stealth, you can specialise in elegant sword mastery, brutal blunt weapons or deadly ranged attacks.
Historical grounding
If you want clothing, weapons, settlements and social rules to belong to a recognizable period, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is the strongest match. Ghost of Tsushima also uses a historical setting, but presents it through a highly choreographed samurai adventure. The other four games deliberately leave history behind.
Living-world density
RDR2’s appeal is not just its map; it is the sense that the map contains people, work, weather and distractions. The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077 and Ghost of Tsushima offer strong alternatives, although their density is built around fantasy quests, a futuristic metropolis or cinematic discovery rather than frontier simulation.
Character and quest writing
If authored stories and memorable companions are your priority, The Witcher 3, GTA V and Cyberpunk 2077 are the safest choices. Their protagonists and tones are very different, so “better” depends on whether you want dark fantasy, crime satire or a personal story in a dangerous future city.
1. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II — the closest realistic replacement
Choose Kingdom Come: Deliverance II first if you want a world that treats ordinary life as part of the adventure. PlayStation describes it as a 15th-century Bohemia journey in which Henry of Skalitz is drawn into revenge, betrayal and discovery. That historical frame gives the game a grounded identity that fantasy and science-fiction alternatives cannot reproduce.
Why it matches RDR2
GameSpot identifies the Kingdom Come series as the strongest realism and immersion option among games compared with RDR2. The appeal comes from systems that make the character’s condition matter: exhaustion, thirst, hunger, hygiene and equipment maintenance all influence how you approach travel and combat. You are not simply selecting a destination and sprinting toward it; you are preparing for the trip and dealing with the consequences of neglect.
The result is a slower, more deliberate rhythm. Equipment is part of the routine rather than a purely statistical upgrade. Keeping yourself and your gear in usable condition reinforces the feeling that Henry is a person moving through a medieval society, not an action-game avatar who can ignore basic needs.
What you should expect to learn
- Survival and maintenance systems are more prominent than in RDR2, so early play can feel demanding.
- Real-time battles emphasize positioning, timing and preparation rather than fast, cinematic gunplay.
- Your choices affect Henry’s destiny, making decisions part of the role-playing structure rather than simple dialogue decoration.
- The historical setting is the point: there is no supernatural shortcut to replace planning, supplies or skill.
Who should choose it
Pick it if your ideal post-RDR2 game includes believable medieval settlements, practical routines and a character whose limitations shape the adventure. It is less suitable if you want instant action, firearms or a world designed mainly for spectacular set pieces. Treat the first hours as an adjustment period: the systems are intended to make immersion more demanding, not to provide friction-free travel.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — the best broad match for story and exploration
The Witcher 3 preserves the feeling of crossing a huge world full of quests, strangers and optional discoveries, but it does so in an explicitly fantasy setting. GameSpot highlights its open-world scale and side activities, while PlayStation’s Complete Edition includes the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions. Those additions make the edition a substantial choice for anyone seeking a long, story-led follow-up.
Where it feels similar
Like RDR2, The Witcher 3 rewards leaving the main path. You can encounter characters, investigate local problems and uncover stories that would be easy to miss if you only followed the central objective. The world’s regions have distinct identities, and travel is often a way to find narrative rather than merely a method of reaching the next mission.
Its strongest overlap is structural: a broad map, authored quests, recurring characters and a protagonist whose decisions can alter the tone and outcome of events. If “realistic” means that side activities feel meaningful and the world has a history beyond the main plot, this is the best fit.
Where it differs
- Geralt uses signs, potions and specialized equipment, so combat and preparation are built around fantasy rules.
- Monsters and magic define the setting; there is no historical claim comparable to RDR2 or Kingdom Come.
- Gear progression is more overtly game-like, with builds and item statistics shaping your approach.
Choose The Witcher 3 when story depth and exploration outrank literal realism. The Complete Edition is the straightforward version to look for, but confirm the current platform listing and regional availability before buying because editions can change.
Recommended Free Tools
3. Grand Theft Auto V — the closest Rockstar-style sandbox
Grand Theft Auto V is the right answer when your favorite part of RDR2 is the freedom to roam, encounter trouble and create unscripted moments inside a Rockstar-designed world. GameSpot directly connects the games through that open-ended freedom and memorable character work. PlayStation describes its interwoven stories of Franklin, Michael and Trevor across Los Santos and Blaine County.
Why it belongs on this list
Its modern setting is packed with activities, traffic, businesses, strangers and opportunities to improvise. You can move between protagonists, approach missions in different ways and let the city generate the kind of accidental stories that make an open-world game memorable. The structure is also more explicitly built around crime, planning and escalation, making it a natural choice if you want another Rockstar sandbox rather than another historical drama.
Why it is not a realism substitute
GTA V is contemporary but intentionally exaggerated. Its satire, violence, set pieces and character switching create a very different tone from RDR2’s patient western drama. The city is recognizable, yet the game bends reality for comedy, action and player freedom. It also does not center on one sustained personal journey in the way Arthur Morgan’s story does.
Choose GTA V for the developer’s approach to freedom, mission design and environmental detail. Do not choose it expecting frontier pacing, historical authenticity or survival routines.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute4. Cyberpunk 2077 — the densest role-playing city
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world role-playing game set in a dangerous future city, as CD Projekt Red’s official description puts it. PlayStation presents Night City as a bustling futuristic metropolis. That makes it a strong alternative for readers who want a world that feels crowded, layered and authored, even though its technology and social order are science fiction.
What carries over from RDR2
Night City rewards wandering. Districts have distinct visual identities, side jobs introduce characters and conflicts outside the main storyline, and the city’s density makes short trips feel like opportunities rather than downtime. The game also supports a personal approach through role-playing systems: your build, equipment and decisions affect how you handle encounters.
That explicit build design can satisfy players who enjoyed tailoring Arthur’s equipment and approach, but it is more systematic. Cyberware, weapons and abilities encourage specialization, experimentation and repeated adjustment as your character develops.
The important trade-off
- The setting is futuristic, so realism comes from social detail and environmental consistency rather than historical accuracy.
- Combat is more dependent on builds and abilities than RDR2’s weapon handling and cover-oriented gunfights.
- The city is dense and vertical, while RDR2’s appeal often comes from long rides through open countryside.
Pick Cyberpunk 2077 if you want a tightly authored urban world and deep role-playing choices. It is the least suitable option here for a quiet, naturalistic journey, but one of the strongest for city-based immersion.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →5. Ghost of Tsushima — a cinematic historical journey
Ghost of Tsushima offers a historical alternative without trying to simulate daily life as rigorously as Kingdom Come. GameSpot places it in 13th-century feudal Japan and compares its exploration freedom and horseback travel with RDR2. Its central appeal is a large, scenic island, a focused emotional story and a samurai fantasy presented with cinematic confidence.
Why RDR2 players may enjoy it
Horseback travel gives the world a similar sense of scale, while exploration is guided by environmental clues and discoveries rather than a screen permanently filled with icons. The landscape itself does much of the storytelling: weather, color and changing terrain create a strong reason to leave the main road.
The story also treats the protagonist’s personal conflict seriously. You follow a warrior balancing inherited ideals with the tactics required to protect his home, creating the kind of tension between identity and survival that many RDR2 players appreciate.
Rank #3
- PlayStation 5 Video Game Deep Silver
- Colour: multi-coloured
- Dimensions: 13.5 x 17.3 x 1.8 cm
- Reference: S7188301
- If you are looking for quality at the best price do not keep looking!
How its realism is stylized
Ghost of Tsushima is historical in setting but not a simulation. Its samurai combat is more choreographed and readable than RDR2’s gunplay, and the presentation often prioritizes composition over mundane routine. You will not manage hunger, hygiene or equipment wear in the same way as Kingdom Come. Choose it for atmosphere, horseback exploration and emotional storytelling, not for survival mechanics.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
6. Horizon Forbidden West — choose it for exploration variety
Horizon Forbidden West is the most distant match on the list, but it earns a place when the part of RDR2 you remember most is traveling through striking landscapes and finding what lies beyond the next ridge. PlayStation lists it among major open-world adventures, yet its science-fiction premise and machine combat make clear that it is not a grounded-world substitute.
Its strongest qualities
The game is built around environmental variety and discovery. Different regions support different visual moods, traversal challenges and machine encounters. Exploration is more than collecting scenery: you scan threats, read the environment and use specialized tools to reach places that initially seem inaccessible.
That focus can appeal to players who enjoyed hunting, tracking and using the environment in RDR2, although the underlying fantasy is different. You are studying machines and ancient technology rather than following natural wildlife and frontier communities.
When to skip it
Do not select Horizon if your priority is historical plausibility, realistic social systems or a restrained story. Select it when you want a polished open world with varied terrain, a clear progression loop and science-fiction spectacle.
Match the game to your priority
| Your priority after RDR2 | Best choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Grounded history and daily-life simulation | Kingdom Come: Deliverance II | Its 15th-century setting and survival routines make ordinary preparation part of play. |
| Huge quest-rich world | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | It combines broad exploration with substantial side stories and two major expansions in the Complete Edition. |
| Another Rockstar crime sandbox | Grand Theft Auto V | Its interwoven protagonists and modern city preserve Rockstar’s open-ended mission structure. |
| Dense city and character builds | Cyberpunk 2077 | Night City is built around exploration, side jobs and explicit role-playing specialization. |
| Historical atmosphere and horseback travel | Ghost of Tsushima | It combines a 13th-century setting with cinematic exploration and an emotional samurai story. |
| Landscape variety and discovery | Horizon Forbidden West | Its science-fiction world emphasizes traversal, machines and changing environments. |
How to choose an edition and platform
Platform listings and edition names can change by region and over time, so verify the store page for your console or PC before purchasing. The recommendation is about the game’s design, not a guarantee that every edition is available on every device.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
Look for the current edition on your platform and confirm whether it includes only the base adventure or additional content. The core recommendation is the game itself because its realism comes from the setting and systems rather than a particular add-on.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Complete Edition is the useful reference point because PlayStation confirms that it includes Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. Check that the listing you choose identifies both expansions and matches your platform generation.
Grand Theft Auto V, Cyberpunk 2077, Ghost of Tsushima and Horizon Forbidden West
These games have platform-specific editions or naming conventions. Confirm the edition, included expansions and supported hardware in the current listing. Availability, performance features and upgrade policies are not identical across regions.
A practical order for playing after RDR2
- Start with Kingdom Come: Deliverance II if you want the smallest thematic jump: historical people, practical equipment and an intentionally slow pace.
- Move to The Witcher 3 if you discover that quests and exploration matter more to you than realism.
- Choose Ghost of Tsushima if you want another historical journey but prefer cinematic combat and a more guided emotional arc.
- Choose GTA V if what you miss is the feeling of a Rockstar sandbox where missions can turn into unscripted chaos.
- Choose Cyberpunk 2077 if you want a denser city, more explicit character builds and a futuristic social world.
- Choose Horizon Forbidden West if the landscape and discovery side of RDR2 matters most and you are comfortable with science fiction.
Final verdict
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is the best answer to “What should I play after Red Dead Redemption 2?” when realistic historical immersion is non-negotiable. It replaces the American frontier with 15th-century Bohemia and replaces gun maintenance and camp routines with medieval survival, hygiene and equipment concerns.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the better all-round recommendation for readers who want a massive world and exceptional side storytelling, provided fantasy is acceptable. Grand Theft Auto V is the answer for Rockstar freedom, Cyberpunk 2077 for role-playing density, Ghost of Tsushima for cinematic history and Horizon Forbidden West for science-fiction exploration.
Quick Recap
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.
