Whether it's through pen and paper, tabletop, or massive online servers, people are always finding new ways to build immersive roleplaying worlds to inhabit with like-minded fans. Recent years have seen the incredible expansion of roleplaying elements thanks to the online components of Grand Theft Auto. Fictional worlds have always been a means of escape and entertainment for people, an opportunity to step into an existence different than their own, and ever since the birth of Dungeons & Dragons this fantastical alternate reality has risen to astounding prominence.
With the launch of GTA Online and Red Dead Online players were given near-endless playgrounds to be the ultimate wild west cowboys and west coast crime lords. Both games had a major flaw at launch, however - there was hardly anything to do. While many players were, and still are, disappointed at the lack of RDO & GTAO sustenance, that didn't stop the hardcore fans from creating their own methods of having fun. From setting up stunt runs to skydiving races, players continually found ways to enhance the world they were given. As the games moved to PC, that opened the floodgates for new mods and servers to arise, and thus the roleplay worlds were born.
Both games, though similar, have distinct nuances to them. The settings obviously differ, but the mechanics in GTA Online are much more arcade-like compared to the hyper-realistic gameplay of Red Dead Online. The realism of RDO is what sets the main stage for the role-playing debate. Little things, such as having to take guns on and off the horse and opening every drawer in a dresser, draws Red Dead players deeper into the game organically. Alternatively, GTA Online features a massive world filled with buildings that can't be accessed, let alone looted, and a weapon wheel providing players with near endless bag space. Subtle details such as this give Red Dead Online an advantage at its foundation.
GTA Online & RDO Differences
GTA Online, however, benefits from its early launch with a plethora of added content that has helped roleplayer servers build even more robust experiences. The sheer number of mods available in GTA for s to create their own game experience gives it a huge advantage. GTAO servers like EclipseRP then took those mods and online expansions to build a detailed world in which players can immerse themselves. They can take on the role of clerk at the convenience store or a delivery driver, creating an alternate life for themselves in Los Santos. As Rockstar rolled out a variety of new heists this experience grew, giving players new ways to interact with their roles.
Rockstar's approach to Red Dead Online is setting the stage for an even more impressive roleplaying scene, one that seems to have learned a few things from the GTA community. RDO servers build intricate systems for their players to enjoy.
As roleplaying servers continue developing and Rockstar creates more expansions for the online world it will continue adding on to the realistic world of Red Dead Online to form a deeper, more nuanced experience for players. GTA Online certainly has the head start, and an incredible amount of expansions give it the more robust roleplaying experience currently available. Red Dead Online though, by nature of its core design, has everything it needs to sur its older sibling.
