History
A History of Open-World Action Games: From Elite to Grand Theft Auto III and Beyond
How open-world action games evolved, from Elite and Mercenary in the 1980s through GTA III's 3D city in 2001 to the sandbox boom and the Red Dead 2 era.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Open World
How Wanted Levels and Police Systems Work in Open-World Games
How wanted stars, bounties, notoriety and heat work in GTA, Red Dead 2, Assassin's Creed and Watch Dogs, and the common logic behind escaping the law.
Open World
Open-World Map Design Explained: Towers, Icons, Fog and Points of Interest
Why open-world games use towers, map fog and icon-filled maps, how landmarks guide you, and why many series moved toward less HUD-driven exploration.
Series Guides
Red Dead Redemption or Red Dead Redemption 2: Which Should You Play First?
RDR2 is a prequel to the 2010 original. Here is how Arthur Morgan's and John Marston's stories connect, and the pros and cons of each play order.