Rockstar Games' cowboy epic Red Dead Redemption 2 has added another accolade to its already impressive trophy case, by taking home Steam's Game of the Year Award for 2020. Despite being the oldest game in the lineup of contenders, Red Dead Redemption 2's now-legendary open world, immersive gameplay, and impeccable detail edged out younger competitors Hades, Death Stranding, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, and DOOM Eternal.
Released in late 2018 as a prequel to Red Dead Redemption, the first in the series, Red Dead Redemption 2 follows outlaw Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang during the decline of the Wild West at the end of the 19th century. The story eventually leads into the events of the original game, with John Marston taking over as the protagonist, and shares similar features with its predecessor including a bounty system and the Dead Eye targeting system. Red Dead Redemption 2 was critically hailed upon its release as one of the best of the era, and it's frequently cited as prime example of video games as an art form.
Red Dead Redemption 2 won most of its accolades in 2019, the year after its release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. But its release on Steam in December 2019 qualified it for a place as a contender for Game of the Year 2020, even with younger games clamoring for the top spot. Despite a buggy start on the digital distribution service, the port quickly proved that it hadn't lost any of its luster. In keeping with its ongoing legacy, Red Dead Redemption 2's compelling story and incredible depth rightly secured its place as Steam's Game of the Year.
It's an award as well-earned as any that Red Dead Redemption 2 has already scored, for a title that, along with its predecessor, is securing the series' place as one of the best franchises in video game history. Rockstar's cowboy epic and its modern day cousin Grand Theft Auto both serve as prime examples of the studio's ability to produce open-world titles that don't get so swept up in their own grandiosity that they forget to provide the engaging story and gameplay that their audiences look for. And while gamers are starting to suspect that massive open-world games may be getting too big, focusing too much on environment and not enough on content, Red Dead Redemption 2 proves that studios, given enough time, can do both and do it well.
So while this may be the last major award Red Dead Redemption 2 will earn, it's still a powerful testament to the game's enduring legacy and the standard it has set for open world games to follow. Here's hoping that Red Dead Redemption 3 continues what is becoming another proud tradition in Rockstar's arsenal.
Source: Steam