Red Dead Redemption 2: 9 Ways You're Playing It Wrong

8. A Price On Your Head Is Massively Beneficial

Oh god, the bounty system.

Described as everything from broken to authentic to the time period (minus the fact NPCs know EXACTLY who you are, even if you're butchering one random person up in the mountains), there are some key gameplay benefits to actively keeping a price on your head.

First up, having a bounty guarantees bounty hunters; roaming posses of A.I. gunslingers who'll randomly come to bring you down. The higher the bounty, the more there are, but this is a good thing providing it's not breaking the character of Arthur, because engaging in frequent combat provides XP, expands your Dead Eye allowance and stamina, and makes use of the entire environment as one giant play-space.

Honestly, few things are cooler than facing off against a platoon of gun-toting outlaws in the middle of the night, with just the moonlight piercing through the forest as you take them out in super slow-motion. Killing bounty hunters ALWAYS nets you a combination of belt buckles, tonics, horse revives etc. that are immediately useful, or can be sold for better gear and equipment.

The solution to Red Dead 2's bounty system? Indulge in it.