HomeFeaturesRed Dead Redemption 2
Can’t play Animal Crossing? Try Red Dead Redemption 2 insteadThey share more than just fishing
They share more than just fishing
Animal Crossing: New Horizons has become a phenomenon. If you’re not playing it, you’re probably still seeing it everywhere you turn - on Twitter, on Twitch, on the lips of your friends discussing turnip prices. It’s likely enough to inspire FOMO, the fear of missing out.
There are a couple of Animal Crossing adjacent games available on PC.Stardew Valleyis one which comes instantly to mind, and othergames like Stardew Valley. If you want to truly capture the spirit of Animal Crossing, however, there’s a surprising contender:Red Dead Redemption 2.
On the face of it, the two games have very little in common. There’s no bloodshed or bullets in Animal Crossing, no singing octopus neighbours in Red Dead, and no matter how much you may want to, you can’t kill and skin Tom Nook.
They do both have fishing, though, and this is the gateway to the similarities that lie beneath. Both games include a similar mechanic of bait and durability, but more importantly though, both capture the tranquil, soothing nature of the pastime and the pangs of anxiety which comes with the need to catch ‘em all. It’s not just that they both have fishing - a fairly common mini-game these days - but that they both capture the spirit and escapism of standing on the edge of a lake and casting out your line.
This is the real joy of Animal Crossing and, if you venture off the beaten path, Red Dead Redemption 2. Both are games of simple pleasures, of spending time with people divorced of any goal, and of continuous, relaxing joy. Strip away the pressure to complete the story missions of Red Dead Redemption 2, and both are huge, sprawling spaces of emptiness, ready to be filled however you wish. They put you in the vast, welcoming arms of nature, and let you relax in the world they’ve created.
Oh, and you can keep your Animal Crossing Rainy Day Music. Just give me an endless loop of Arthur Morgan saying “you sir, are a fish,” and all my problems will melt away.
The Red Dead cast can also serve to fill the spirit of togetherness FOMO Animal Crossing might be leaving you with. The Van der Linde gang have been through thick and thin together and as Arthur often says himself, they’re like family.
How can you compare the Van der Linde gang to your Animal Crossing village, you ask, when Red Dead’s cast is made up of murderers and thieves? Well, to that I’d say: ugly, unlikeable villagers are a core part of the Animal Crossing experience. Dutch, if you’re wondering, is definitely Tom Nook. A charismatic leader, offering to fill all your dreams if you’ll just give him your cash.
Once you get through the early few hours of setting the story up, Red Dead Redemption 2 quickly becomes your own private Animal Crossing, especially if you can put the violence on the backburner. If you’re looking for a tranquil getaway and don’t have a Nintendo Switch, consider taking Arthur Morgan fishing.
