Finishing the main story of Red Dead Redemption 2—with its 50+ hours of content and an additional 20 hours in the epilogue—might feel like closing the book on the Van der Linde gang, but there’s still a wealth of content to uncover. Whether you’re exploring as John Marston or simply eager to complete unfinished business, here are 20 things to keep you riding through the frontier long after the credits roll.

1. Complete the Remaining Stranger Missions

Some stranger missions carry over from Arthur’s story to John’s, offering new scenes and conclusions. Missions involving characters like Hamish Sinclair, Charlotte Balfour, and Albert Mason evolve when picked up again in the epilogue. One mission, featuring author Evelyn Miller, is exclusive to John.

2. Find All Unique Weapons

While many weapons are obtainable as Arthur, others—like Micah’s revolver or Otis Miller’s pistol—are only accessible in the epilogue. Explore the wilds as John to complete your arsenal.

3. Visit Every Gang Member’s Grave

The secret achievement “Paying Respects” unlocks when John visits the graves of all the fallen gang members. It’s a somber and meaningful way to say goodbye.

4. Reunite with Surviving Characters

Not everyone from the gang perished. Track down the survivors, like Pearson (in Rhodes), Mary-Beth (at Valentine’s train station), Charles Smith, and Sadie Adler. It’s a fitting way to close the loop.

5. Revisit Changed Locations

The story’s timeline shift from 1899 to 1907 brings noticeable changes to towns and landmarks. Places like the Valentine restaurant, Strawberry hotel, or the new Saint Denis Memorial Hall look different post-story.

6. Live the Ranch Life

At Beecher’s Hope, you can enjoy downtime with your family. Do chores like chopping wood or mucking out the barn for a more grounded experience.

7. Return to New Austin

Originally explored in the 2010 Red Dead Redemption, this region opens fully in the epilogue. Visit Armadillo, Tumbleweed, and McFarlane’s Ranch to see familiar locations in their earlier days.

8. Take on New Bounty Missions

While Arthur has access to only one bounty mission, John can pursue the rest. Some are exclusive to the epilogue, making it a perfect time to cash in on justice.

9. Finish the Legendary Fish Quest

Arthur can begin the mission from Jeremy Gill, but only John can finish it. Three fish—Pickerel, Rock Bass, and Redfin—reside in New Austin and are inaccessible until the epilogue.

10. Hunt the Remaining Legendary Animals

Some legendary animals are only found in the southern regions. John can hunt the final three in New Austin to unlock all outfits at the trapper.

11. Find Unique Character Encounters

John can meet odd characters like the tinfoil-helmeted hermit near McFarlane’s, a self-proclaimed storm chaser in Armadillo, or sun worshipper Bob Brownlee, who has a series of 12 unique interactions.

12. Clear Out Gang Hideouts

New Austin holds several hostile camps. Hunt down the Del Lobo gang at Thieves’ Landing and Benedict Point, or root out the Skinner Brothers from scattered hideouts.

13. Tame Rare Wild Horses

Two rare breeds are exclusive to John: the Warped Brindle Arabian near Wapiti and the Tiger Striped Bay Mustang found only in one region near Lobo Rock. Capture and bond with them to add them to your collection.

14. Complete the In-Game Challenges

Some challenges require actions only available in the epilogue, like breaking every wild horse or finishing the master hunter line. Continue Arthur’s legacy by completing these as John.

15. Finish the Dinosaur Bone Quest

Deborah MacGuiness’ fossil hunt spans the entire map, but eight of the bones are only accessible in New Austin. Only John can finish what Arthur started.

16. Discover All Points of Interest

There are 50 locations that can be logged into your journal, including nods to the original game like the Donkey Lady or Charles Kinnear’s flying machine—many of which are found in the South.

17. Hunt for Hidden Treasures

Some treasure maps and their associated loot can only be found and completed in New Austin. This includes the Elemental Trail and various gold stashes exclusive to John’s timeline.

18. Aim for 100% Completion

Check the game’s menu to track what’s left. This includes collecting cigarette cards, witnessing 25 chance encounters, or finishing activity checklists across every region.

19. Replay Missions for Gold Medals

Relive Arthur’s journey by replaying missions through the main menu. Aside from nostalgia, it gives you another shot at achieving Gold Medals in missions you may have missed.

20. Dive into Red Dead Online

If you’re ready for something new, Red Dead Online lets you create a custom character and experience the West with a new story, frequent updates, and both fresh and familiar faces.


Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t over when the story ends. Whether you’re chasing achievements, tying up narrative threads, or simply exploring the breathtaking world as John Marston, there’s always more to do. So saddle up, and keep the adventure alive.


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