WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2.
Rockstar Games' blockbuster Western franchise, Red Dead Redemption, has so far focused on two main characters: John Marston and Arthur Morgan. The first game followed Marston's journey to free his wife and son, who were taken hostage by the government. The second installment served as a prequel, focusing on Morgan and Marston's time in Dutch van der Linde's gang.
Though a third game in the series has not been announced, Red Dead fans are eager for Rockstar to head back to the Old West and expand on its award-winning franchise. With so many established characters and story threads to pull on, there are many different directions a third game could go in. Here are five potential storylines Red Dead Redemption 3 could follow.
Sadie Adler in South America
After the events of Red Dead Redemption 2, it's heavily implied that Sadie Adler -- the blood-hungry widow who assists Arthur, and later John, throughout the game -- heads to South America, where it's likely she would take up work as a bounty hunter. Sadie is one of the most interesting members of the van der Linde gang, in large part due to the revenge she seeks following her husband's murder.
She's also a stone-cold badass, and it would be a lot of fun to play as Sadie hunting down criminals and carving out a new life in the Southern continent. The only downside would be the departure from the setting of the Old West, which is such an integral part of the first two games. Rockstar has proven to be so good at world-building though, that a brand new setting could be thrilling.
Dutch Building His Gang
Dutch van der Linde is a character that players love to hate. He always has a plan, even if they often go awry, as well as an unhealthy affection for the island of Tahiti. The enigmatic gang leader is an essential part of both Red Dead games, though he's featured much more prominently in the second. Elements of the gang's history are teased out over the course of the two adventures and it sounds fascinating.
A new game could have players take the role of Dutch, recruiting members of his gang and establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Fan favorites like Arthur and John could feature heavily in the story, as well as other members of the gang like Hosea. The plot could culminate in the infamous Blackwater Massacre, too.
Landon Ricketts
The first two Red Dead games were set in the final stages of the Wild West, as America moved into a more industrial age. A third game focusing on the days when the West was truly at its wildest would be a whole new experience, and there's already an established character who would be a perfect protagonist: legendary gunslinger Landon Ricketts.
His story spans several locations from the Southwest to Mexico, and we already know he has a redemption arc, siding with the police at Blackwater after a life of crime. This would be an interesting departure from the van der Linde gang without completely leaving the world they inhabit. However, Ross Hagen, who voiced Ricketts, passed away in 2011 and Rockstar may not be comfortable with replacing him for an entire game.
Jack Marston in New York/Chicago
Players step into the boots of John's son, Jack, for the epilogue of Red Dead Redemption, eventually hunting Edgar Ross -- the government agent responsible for John's death -- and gunning him down before the credits roll. Jack seemingly turns to the life of crime his father never wanted for him, and a third game could explore this journey.
The events of the game finish in 1914, so it's likely that Jack was then drafted into the army for World War I. A new game could pick up his story after the war, dealing with the fallout of it as he finds himself embroiled in the mob wars of the Prohibition era in a big city like New York or Chicago. Again, this would remove the Old West element of the game and completely change the Red Dead experience.
Something Unrelated
Another viable option for Rockstar is to delve into stories and characters completely unrelated to the first two Red Dead games. Still set in the Old West, a new game could take place at any point in its storied history and involve a brand new protagonist.
That's not to say there couldn't be allusions to significant events from the other games. Perhaps these could be presented through newspaper clippings or conversations with non-playable characters. But, it would be a refreshing shift if Rockstar were to leave the story of the van der Linde gang as it is. Perhaps the team could focus on a Native American character and draw inspiration from historical events like the Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890, or perhaps the preceding Great Sioux War of 1876. There are so many directions Rockstar could take.