Dan Houser, the creative mastermind behind Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption, has crowned Red Dead Redemption 2 as Rockstar’s finest work. The statement from the studio’s co-founder has kicked off fresh arguments about which Rockstar game truly deserves the top spot.
Houser’s opinion carries serious weight. He co-founded Rockstar Games and served as the lead writer on virtually every major title the studio released before his departure in 2020. From the chaos of Liberty City to the dusty trails of New Hanover, his creative vision shaped gaming’s most iconic open worlds.
According to Houser, what sets RDR2 apart is how perfectly its open-world mechanics mesh with the story. The game doesn’t just tell you Arthur Morgan’s tale, it makes you live it through every hunting trip, every camp conversation, and every sunset ride across the frontier.
Released in October 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 pushed boundaries in ways that still impress today. The game took Rockstar’s entire global workforce years to complete, resulting in a world so detailed that horses’ testicles shrink in cold weather. That’s commitment.
The numbers back up Houser’s assessment. RDR2 has shipped over sixty million copies and swept the 2018 Game Awards with wins for Best Narrative, Best Score, and Best Performance. Critics praised everything from the voice acting to the way mud realistically clings to Arthur’s boots.
But not everyone agrees with Houser’s ranking. Many argue that Grand Theft Auto III‘s impact on gaming history outweighs RDR2‘s technical brilliance. GTA III didn’t just create a great game—it invented the template that countless others would follow for the next two decades.
Players remain split on the debate. Some praise RDR2 as “the most complete cowboy simulator you’ll ever play,” with writing and production values that dwarf anything else Rockstar has made. Others point to frustrating mission design that forces players down narrow paths despite the open world’s promise of freedom.
The Houser has spoken
The timing of Houser’s statement is interesting. After leaving Rockstar in 2020, he founded Absurd Ventures in 2023 to create stories across games, film, and TV. His perspective now comes from outside the Rockstar machine, perhaps allowing for more honest reflection on past work.
Whether you agree with Houser or not, his statement highlights an important truth. Red Dead Redemption 2 represents peak craftsmanship in game development, even if it didn’t revolutionize the industry like GTA III. Sometimes being the best at something matters more than being the first.
