Red Dead Redemption 2 is a monster of a game. It's huge. Honestly, looking at the full list of rdr2 missions in order for the first time is enough to make anyone want to just turn off the console and go for a walk. We're talking 104 story missions. That doesn’t even count the stranger encounters, the legendary hunts, or the hours you’ll spend just trying to find a pristine woodpecker skin for a hunting request that feels more like a chore than a hobby.
But there’s a logic to the madness. Rockstar Games didn't just throw these missions at a dartboard. The flow of Arthur Morgan’s journey from the frozen peaks of Colter down to the humid swamps of Saint Denis is a masterclass in slow-burn storytelling. If you’re trying to keep track of where you are, or if you're planning a second playthrough and want to know when to stop and actually enjoy the world, you need to understand how the chapters breathe.
The Colter Sludge: Chapter 1
The game starts slow. Like, really slow. Chapter 1 is basically a two-hour tutorial disguised as a survival movie. You’ve got "Outlaws from the West," where you meet the O’Driscolls, followed by "Enter, Pursued by a Memory" to find John Marston.
Most people complain about the snow. It’s thick. It makes your horse move like it’s walking through peanut butter. But look, this is where the game sets the stakes. You aren't superheroes; you’re a dying breed of outlaws freezing to death. By the time you hit "Eastward Bound" and the caravan finally rolls down into the heartlands, the relief is real. That’s the point.
Horseshoe Overlook and the Golden Age
Chapter 2 is where the game actually starts. This is the sweet spot. Once you finish "Polite Society, Valentine Style," the world opens up. A lot of players make the mistake of rushing through rdr2 missions in order here because they want to unlock the better gear.
Don't do that.
Seriously. Stay in Chapter 2 as long as possible. Arthur is healthy. The camp is happy. You can unlock the Ledger by doing "Money Lending and Other Sins," and once you have that, you can upgrade your camp. This is also when you get the fishing rod from "A Fisher of Men." If you push too fast into "A Strange Kindness," you’re forced into the move to Clemens Point.
The Mid-Game Shift
Chapter 3 (Clemens Point) and Chapter 4 (Shady Belle) are where the tragedy starts to peak its head out. The mission "The Course of True Love" feels like a distraction, but then you hit "Blood Feuds, Ancient and Modern."
That mission—the assault on Braithwaite Manor—is arguably the best-looking sequence in the entire game. The lighting, the music, the way the gang walks in a line toward the house... it’s peak cinema. But notice the pacing shift? The missions get more violent. More desperate. By the time you’re doing "Revenge is a Dish Best Eaten" in Chapter 4, the gang isn’t just hiding; they’re picking fights they can’t win.
The Guarma Problem
Look, we have to talk about Chapter 5. "Welcome to the New World." It’s controversial. Some fans love the change of pace; others find it a distracting detour. When you look at the rdr2 missions in order, the Guarma arc is a sharp left turn. It’s linear, loud, and you lose all your gear.
Is it necessary? From a narrative standpoint, yeah. It shows that there is no "Tahiti." There is no tropical paradise waiting for them. Everywhere Dutch goes, he brings the same violence. It’s a reality check.
Chapter 6: The Long Goodbye
This is the heavy hitter. The mission list here is long, and Arthur's condition makes the gameplay feel different. You’re coughing. Your cores drain faster. You’re doing missions like "Goodbye, Dear Friend" and "The Delights of Van Horn."
The tone shifts from "outlaw fun" to "existential dread." You start seeing the "Honorable" vs "Dishonorable" choices carry more weight. "Red Dead Redemption," the final mission of this chapter, is a gauntlet. It’s long. It’s emotional. It’s the end of an era.
The Epilogue: Why It Matters
A lot of people stop playing after Chapter 6. That is a massive mistake. The Epilogue (Parts 1 and 2) contains 21 missions. It starts with "The Wheel," which is literally just driving a wagon and building a fence.
It’s a tonal whiplash.
But finishing the rdr2 missions in order means seeing the bridge to the first game. You need "American Venom." You need that final confrontation on the mountain. Without it, the story is unfinished. It’s the closure John Marston—and the player—needs.
Important Mission Milestones
- Chapter 2: "The Spined Tail of America" (Unlocks the Fence for selling stolen wagons).
- Chapter 2: "The Sheep and the Goats" (The big shootout that pushes you out of Valentine).
- Chapter 3: "The Battle of Shady Belle" (Secures the new camp).
- Chapter 4: "Banking, The Old American Art" (The mission where everything goes wrong).
- Chapter 6: "Our Best Selves" (The final train heist).
Navigating the Missable Content
One thing the standard mission list won't tell you is that some stuff disappears. If you don't do the "Help a Brother Out" or "Fatherhood and Other Dreams" missions in Saint Denis during Chapter 4, they’re gone. Same for the debt collection missions. If you care about the Platinum trophy or 100% completion, you have to be meticulous.
The game rewards slow play. It’s tempting to sprint to the next yellow circle on the map, but the "real" RDR2 happens in the white circles—the side missions. "The Veteran" with Hamish Sinclair is a better story than half the main missions, and you can actually start it as Arthur and finish it as John, which adds a layer of sentimentality that’s hard to beat.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Playthrough
If you want the best experience with the rdr2 missions in order, follow this structure:
Stay in Chapter 2 until you have crafted the Legend of the East satchel. It sounds like a grind, and it is, but having infinite inventory space for the rest of the game changes everything. Do not do "The Sheep and the Goats" until you’ve explored the entire map.
In Chapter 3, focus on the challenges. The camp is centrally located, making it easy to hit the north and south points of the map.
Once you hit Chapter 4, the game picks up speed. This is your last chance to do most of the "fun" stuff as a healthy Arthur.
When you reach Chapter 6, focus purely on the story and the "Money Lending and Other Sins" wrap-up. It fits the narrative better.
Finally, take the Epilogue slow. It’s a reward for surviving the main story. Build the farm. Do the chores. It makes the final mission feel earned rather than just another shootout.
Red Dead Redemption 2 isn't just a list of tasks to check off. It's a timeline of a collapse. Understanding the order of these missions helps you see the cracks forming in Dutch's mask long before the gang realizes it. Every mission is a step toward the end of the Wild West, and playing them with that awareness makes the 60+ hour journey feel a lot more personal.
Next Steps for Completionists:
Check your Progress menu in the Pause screen frequently. Missions are categorized by chapter, but some "Stranger" missions only trigger at specific times of day or after certain story beats. If a mission icon isn't appearing, try sleeping at a hotel or camping until morning; many Saint Denis missions only trigger during daylight hours. Ensure you have completed all optional Honor missions before starting "Our Best Selves" in Chapter 6 if you are aiming for the "Lending a Hand" achievement.