Rockstar develops and publishes some of the most beloved franchises in the entire gaming industry, andRed Dead Redemptionis certainly one of those. Debuting in 2010,the firstRed Dead Redemptionmarked a bold departure for the publisher best known forGrand Theft Auto, but that risk was more than worth it, with the game selling extremely well and becoming one of the most beloved open-world games of all time. Rockstar somehow managed to capture lightning in a bottle twice with 2018’sRed Dead Redemption 2, another monumental success both in terms of sales and critical reviews. But if Rockstar plans on returning to the Wild West, then it might want to consider making anotherRed Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmarefirst and foremost.
Released only a few months after the original game hit store shelves,Undead Nightmareis a standalone DLC expansion that takesRed Dead Redemption’s Spaghetti Western influencesof the base game and blends them perfectly with campy B-movie horror. Set in an alternate, non-canonical timeline,Undead Nightmaresees players lock and load as John Marston once more, though this time rather than save his family from the consequences of his past crimes, he’s saving them from zombies. And it’s as good of a time as ever to bring players back to that world.
RELATED:Grand Theft Auto 6’s Rumored Protagonists Make Co-Op a Shoo-In
Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmareis widely considered to be one of, if not the greatest DLC of all time.Undead Nightmaretakes the expansive open world of the base game and gives it a zombie makeover, complete with new enemy types, a plethora of new missions, and even the four horses of the apocalypse.Undead Nightmareis packed to the brim with engaging new content, and its campy self-aware tone still feels like a breath of fresh air in an otherwise often solemn, self-serious industry. It’s clear thatRockstar San Diegohad a lot of fun working onUndead Nightmare, and that fun definitely carries over to the player experience.
Red Dead Redemption 2, despite making controversial headlines before its release due to extreme crunch, was a huge success for Rockstar, and fans are still avidly playing the game almost five years later. MuchlikeGrand Theft Auto, it’s not really a case of “if” Rockstar will make anotherRed Deadgame, but “when,” and instead of another mainline entry that focuses on realistic gameplay and a heart-wrenching story, Rockstar should make anotherUndead Nightmare.
Zombie games have fluctuated in popularity pretty heavily over the last decade or so, going from being one of the most oversaturated genres on the market to one with barely any entries. Nowadays,Dying LightandDead Islandare really the only big hitters around, carving out the perfect space for anotherUndead Nightmaregame. ThoughDying LightandDead Islandare popular franchises, they pale in comparison toRed Deadand Rockstar’s following, andUndead Nightmare’s Wild West setting immediately sets it apart from the crowd. Fans have also been asking for anotherUndead Nightmarefor years now, and a fully-fledged, content-complete game could do a lot for theRed Deadbrand, which has been a little tarnished over the last few years due toRed Dead Online’s reception.
But on top of all that, a newRed Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmarewould also give Rockstar developers the chance to work on something a bit more lighthearted. WhileGrand Theft Autousually has a satirical undertone, many of its themes are still pretty dark and gritty. If a newUndead Nightmareadopted a similar B-movie tone to its predecessor, then it’s likely to make for a more enjoyable gameplay experience.
Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmareis available now for PS3 and Xbox 360.
MORE:Red Dead Redemption 3’s Protagonist Could Carry the Torch for Van Der Linde Gang’s Lenny
