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Nevertheless, mods have a natural tendency to change how a game is played. Some make the game even more realistic, while others are simply ridiculous. Exploring the rabbit hole that characterizes the Red Dead Redemption 2 modding community can take some time. Rest assured that this collection of mods is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to altered gameplay.

Updated November 28, 2021 by Mark Hospodar: Fans who can’t get enough of Red Dead Redemption 2 are in luck when it comes to the game’s modding community. It’s hard to ignore the stellar quality of some of RDR 2’s mods, many of which significantly alter the gameplay itself.

Mods that transform Red Dead Redemption 2 into an altogether different experience can be a lot of fun to try. Players may not need much of a reason to reinstall RDR 2, but these mods certainly represent a valid excuse to do so. Fans may also find that RDR 2 can’t be played again without them.

15 Gunsmith Business

Arthur Morgan is a man of many talents but owning a successful business isn’t one of them. Granted, players can rob plenty of businesses, although that’s about it. Unsurprisingly, the ability to own a shop is made possible through the use of mods.

One of the more interesting, albeit unfinished examples of this feature is the Gunsmith Business mod. As its name suggests, this mod allows Arthur to purchase one of the gun shops in the game world and manage it like his own business. Players can set their prices, acquire inventory, establish a reputation, and much more.

14 Buyable Properties

Another omission from the game is the opportunity to purchase real estate. Fans were able to purchase various businesses in Grand Theft Auto 5, so why not buy some land in Red Dead Redemption 2? Once again, mods come to the rescue to make up for this deficiency.

The Buyable Properties mod allows players to buy houses and hotel rooms as additional safe-havens. Furthermore, fans can customize both the interior and exterior layouts of their properties. If gamers ever had dreams of turning Arthur into a land baron, this mod is perfect.

13 Duels

Dueling is one of the most iconic acts of any Western film or TV show. In Red Dead Redemption 2, Arthur can set out on a series of side missions that involves dueling famous gunslingers. It’s a pretty neat mechanic, one that intensifies the drama a great deal.

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The simply-named Duels mod expands the scope of this feature quite a bit. With this mod, fans can challenge any NPC to a duel, which opens up plenty of additional roleplaying opportunities for players to experience. After all, fans should know whether or not Arthur is the fastest draw in the West.

12 Instant Travel

Fast traveling isn’t as straightforward in Red Dead Redemption 2 as it is in other open-world sandboxes. Players have to make upgrades to their camp before the ability to fast travel is unlocked. In the meantime, fans will inevitably do a great deal of traveling the old-fashioned way by horse or foot.

However, for players who don’t mind breaking some of the immersion, the Instant Travel mod can make arriving at one’s destination a speedier process. Fans can instantly travel anywhere with their horse, thereby cutting out quite a bit of the game’s filler.

11 Injuries Overhaul

Red Dead Redemption 2 already incorporates a satisfying level of realism and immersion. The great thing about mods is that those features can often be expanded even further, offering a more hardcore experience for gamers who want to embrace a challenge.

The Injuries Overhaul mod makes combat a much deadlier process than it is in the base game. The mod adds four injury types (hand, head, legs, and wounds) that can have a drastic impact on how players approach a fight. Hand injuries, for example, affect Arthur’s ability to aim. It’s a cool mod that adds an extra layer of complexity to gunfights.

10 Bank Robberies

For all its stunning level of detail, Red Dead Redemption 2 possesses a surprising oversight. Despite being part of a band of outlaws, Arthur Morgan is actually unable to rob banks while free-roaming in the game. The activity is possible in Red Dead Online, but the feature is lacking in single-player.

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The Bank Robberies mod rectifies that situation. With it, players can rob various banks throughout the map, including ones in Valentine, Rhodes, and Saint Denis. It’s a great lore-friendly mod that adds yet another method of increasing one’s bankroll.

9 Banking: The Old American Art

Perhaps players don’t want to stop at just robbing banks? They do perform a useful function after all. Another somewhat surprising omission in the vanilla game is the inability to store one’s money in a bank. Dying in Red Dead Redemption 2 results in one’s wallet taking a hit.

That potential loss of money can be avoided with the Banking: The Old American Art mod. It adds yet another feature to banks by making it possible to deposit money into their vaults. Fans can sleep more soundly knowing their money is safe from unexpected setbacks. Players should just make sure to refrain from robbing that bank!

8 Basic Needs

Fans of Red Dead Redemption 2 are well-aware of the various core meters. They affect certain gameplay elements, such as Deadeye mode, Stamina, and even weight. Keeping these meters full through activities such as eating is important for ensuring Arthur stays in top shape.

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The Basic Needs mod adds even more realism to the proceedings. With this mod, Arthur must now manage hunger, thirst, and even urination! Neglecting these basic human needs results in stiff penalties to Arthur’s regular cores and eventually death. If you don’t think the game is enough of a simulation, then this mod is perfect.

7 Telekinesis

Maybe realism isn’t in your wheelhouse? If players ever get tired of dispatching enemies the normal way, there’s no shortage of wacky death-dealing mods on the Internet. One of the more inspired choices is assuredly the Telekinesis mod.

Arthur doesn’t need traditional firearms with this mod. Instead, he utilizes the power of his mind! Objects and NPCs can be grasped and flung across the map with humorous effect. Enemies won’t know what hit them, that’s for sure.

6 Mini NPCs

Arthur is already a rather large and intimidating fellow. He can hold his own in a fight, whether it’s with guns or his fists. However, if one really wants to see Arthur dominate a fight, then you may want to consider the Mini NPCs mod.

There are a few customization options in this mod, one of which makes NPCs ridiculously puny. Arthur, who remains the same size, now appears massive. If players ever wanted to feel like the Jolly Green Giant in a game, this mod should be at the top of the list.

5 Ride With Gang

Being part of an outlaw gang is a pretty interesting concept. Red Dead Redemption 2 does a very good job at making players feel as if they are a part of a functioning organization. Much of this is achieved through story content, however. While free-roaming, Arthur often must travel alone.

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The Ride With Gang mod fixes that deficiency. Now, instead of being a solo act while exploring, Arthur can rely on the support of his fellow gang members. They effectively act as followers, assisting the player as allies in a fight. It’s definitely a nice touch that changes how one approaches free-roaming.

4 Fight Club

Everybody knows the first rule of fight club. What players of Red Dead Redemption 2 may not know is that a Fight Club mod actually exists. Similar to other games, such as The Witcher 3, this mod adds a brawling minigame.

Players can duke it out with any NPC in the game by spawning them instantly. Fights can be fought in rounds, with each successive one getting harder. Fight Club can take place anywhere, wherever the player chooses. Just don’t talk about it…

3 RDR – Contracts

Massive, open-world titles very rarely are lacking in things to do. A completionist run of Red Dead Redemption 2 can take hundreds of hours easily. Yet, with a game as good as this, players are often left wanting more. Luckily, mods typically come to the rescue in that department.

The RDR-Contracts mod adds a slew of new activities in a lore-friendly manner. It adds over twenty-two auto-generated assassination missions to the game. Each one is unique and offers multiple variations in how to complete them. For those thirsting for more bounty hunting action, this mod is a great addition to the game.

2 Riot Mode

Although the setting of Red Dead Redemption 2 is quite dangerous, there does exist some semblance of order. People can’t just do anything they want. There are consequences to one’s actions in that law enforcement officers will pursue the player when the rules are broken.

However, with the Riot Mode mod activated, everyone in the game world is transformed into a raving lunatic. NPCs will constantly attack each other as well as the player. It can almost be treated as a sort of survival mode. Fans can see how long they last while everyone is out to kill them.

1 Playing As Animals – Lenny’s Simple Trainer

If one wishes to experience Red Dead Redemption 2 in a radically different light, then playing as an animal should take the cake. Who needs Arthur or John when fans can play as a vicious cougar or majestic hawk? This, and much more, is made possible with Lenny’s Simple Trainer.

Playing as an animal is, of course, limited for obvious reasons. But nothing beats the fun out of controlling a wild beast and roaming the landscape. Why take part in a duel when one can just as easily turn into an alligator and devour an enemy? For a different way to play the game, few mods come close to this one.

Red Dead Redemption 2 was released on October 26, 2018 and is currently available on PC, Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Stadia.

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