10 Best Rockstar Games Protagonists - Ranked

John Marston was born in May 2010 when Red Dead Redemption launched. Marston came around in a time when almost every gaming protagonist was a skin-head guy with zero fear and few weaknesses. To speak with a smidge of hyperbole, it was a rather dull time in regards to characters in video games.

At the beginning of the game we see Marston being ushered onto a train by two government officials, who tell him he can have his family back when he finds all of his old gang members. It's a unique set-up right away, gives you a real purpose for your deeds, and a reason to care.

By the end of the game he has done some bad things and completed his journey... until he too is hunted down, and sacrifices himself to save his family.

Then we rewind to Red Dead Redemption II where the wizards at Rockstar found a way to make John an even better character. We see a younger Marston, who puts himself before his family and lacks the loyalty and badass nature we'd come to know.

By the end though, his character has developed massively, so that the blend right into the first game feels natural and earned. Marston is always a gruff, no-nonsense character, but he becomes layered and sympathetic. His rough persona is more than just bravado and his ending is perfect.