10 Xbox Game Pass Games To Play If You Love Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 is often hailed as one of the greatest video games ever made, and that also makes it one of the hardest acts to follow. Finishing the saga of Arthur Morgan and John Marston can leave a giant hole in anyone’s heart, putting extra pressure on whatever game comes next. Looking for a free option on Xbox Game Pass can be even harder, but there are actually plenty of strong choices.
The best games like Red Dead Redemption 2 on Xbox Game Pass encompass a variety of RDR2’s strong points, ranging from the compelling take on a Western setting to the presence of fantastic side quests. None of them tick every possible box, but some might be just as good or even better in their own ways.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
No discussion of open-world games is complete without Red Dead Redemption 2, but The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is an equally vital inclusion. For years, Skyrim stood as the benchmark for open-world hits, and exploring the frosty northern reaches of Tamriel can be just as fun today.
Skyrim’s main story can’t really compete with Red Dead Redemption 2, but it features plenty of memorable side quests and characters. Morrowind and Oblivion are also great Xbox Game Pass options — even better, I would argue — but if you’re new to The Elder Scrolls, Skyrim is the easiest entry point.
Forza Horizon 5
A racing game might not seem much like Red Dead Redemption 2 at a glance, but Forza Horizon 5 is a lot closer than most. After the franchise’s trip to the United Kingdom in Forza Horizon 4, it returned across the Atlantic to take root in Mexico, succeeding the first Red Dead Redemption in one way that RDR2 didn’t.
Unlike the Forza Motorsport series, Forza Horizon 5 is all about the sense of freedom and the open road. Races are fun, but cruising across the gorgeous vistas is often even better. While you won’t find any rich character-building here, there are more than enough cool cars to make up for it.
Evil West
Xbox Game Pass isn’t exactly bursting at the seams with Westerns, but Evil West qualifies as one standout on the service. This one’s all about the action, assigning players the task of dealing with vampiric hordes in single-player or co-op. It does provide a narrative framework for all the bloodshed, so it’s not purely mindless.
Evil West isn’t one of the best games on this list, but it’s a solid way to scratch that Western itch. If you wish Red Dead Redemption 2 had been followed by an out-there expansion like the original game’s Undead Nightmare, Evil West is your best bet.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 might be the biggest Xbox Game Pass standout of 2025, and it’s also a strong choice as a Red Dead Redemption 2 alternative. At its core, it’s all about the storytelling, and it tackles some heavy topics with the kind of skill that’s hard to find outside of Red Dead Redemption 2.
The turn-based combat and a classic overworld system have less in common with Red Dead Redemption 2, but its JRPG inspirations shouldn’t be a turn-off. Fun tweaks like a parry system give Expedition 33 wide-ranging appeal, and it’s no surprise that it’s been such a breakout hit.
Indiana Jones & The Great Circle
Many games attempt movie-style storytelling, but few pull it off as well as Red Dead Redemption 2. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, however, makes it look easy. The game’s approach to emulating Spielberg is significantly more successful than Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’s silver screen attempt, delivering a long succession of set pieces with sheer cinematic excitement.
Like Red Dead Redemption 2, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is also incredibly responsive to player actions (as a side note, Dishonored is another Game Pass option that excels in this regard). Rather than simply shooting your way through the adventure, you’ll whack fascists with sledgehammers and yank them down from guard towers. Its globetrotting scope never lands in the Old West, but it handles locations like the Vatican City and Thailand deftly.
South Of Midnight
If Red Dead Redemption 2 is the definitive game about the American West, South of Midnight is arguably the definitive game about the American Deep South. While its take on the setting is more fantastical, South of Midnight dives into the beauty, danger, and folklore of its setting with equal passion.
South of Midnight isn’t as tight on the gameplay front, with relatively routine action-adventure mechanics. The art and narrative, however, are capable of carrying the experience. With a roughly 12-hour runtime, you’ll be in and out a lot more quickly, so you don’t need to worry about a major time investment if you’re unsure.
Assassin’s Creed Origins
Assassin’s Creed’s gigantic open-world games don’t really compare to the Red Dead Redemption 2 standard, but Origins is about as close as it gets. Despite being the first pivot to the larger, RPG-lite formula of the modern games, Origins pulled it off with more aplomb than several later entries.
Bayek is one of the most compelling Assassin’s Creed protagonists, and it’s easy to get sucked in by the intoxicating rhythm of exploring Egypt. Odyssey and Valhalla are also fun Xbox Game Pass inclusions if the different settings seem compelling, and Assassin’s Creed 3 is another fun foray into American history.
Hunt: Showdown 1896
While the date in Hunt: Showdown 1896’s title is a solid indication of its relevance to Red Dead Redemption 2, the similarities go beyond the 19th-century setting. The earliest maps were set in the deep south, but after expanding to Colorado, Hunt: Showdown started to tackle a similar Western appeal.
The games aren’t much alike in other regards, as Hunt: Showdown is a multiplayer extraction shooter rather than a story-driven single-player experience. If you enjoyed bounty hunting in Red Dead Redemption 2, though, you’ll find plenty of that here.
Grand Theft Auto 5
Even outside of Xbox Game Pass, Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of the most obvious answers to a Red Dead Redemption 2 alternative. As the most recent entry in Rockstar’s other flagship series, GTA 5 leans into sheer chaos while delivering a comparable level of breadth and quality.
Jumping from Red Dead Redemption 2 to GTA 5 will take a bit of adjustment, as the somber tone of RDR2’s best moments is a lot harder to find amid GTA mayhem. As far as open-world exploration and reactivity go, however, you’re unlikely to find much else on Xbox Game Pass that can truly compete.
Fallout: New Vegas
Fallout: New Vegas might lack the polish of Red Dead Redemption 2, but in other regards, it’s the best competitor you can find. Despite the post-apocalyptic riff on America, Fallout: New Vegas is just as much of a Western, bathing in the ambience of a ruined Mojave Wasteland.