Many things happened in 2018. Many games and movies came out, some better than others. There were titles that managed to disappoint us and sleeper hits that took the entertainment world by storm. It was definitely an interesting year full of ups and downs.
Thankfully, there is one thing we can all universally agree on: Red Dead Redemption 2 was an absolute masterpiece. It's easily one of the best games to come out in the last decade and it was well worth the lengthy development time that Rockstar put into it.
It wasn't just fantastic from a gameplay angle either, it was also filled with epic storylines and memorable characters. Thanks to this perfect storm of enjoyment, it managed to spawn some downright hilarious memes. Here are some of our favorites.
Updated by Juliet Childers on October 6th, 2020: Now available on PC in stunning graphics, Red Dead Redemption II players continue to discover new conversations, characters, and oddities in the game. But by far, the best part of the game is how fans morph the content into memes. From accidental murders to Dutch's infamous plans, here are some of the best RDRII memes around.
14 Dutch Has A Plan
If there's one thing players learn throughout their Red Dead Redemption 2 adventure, it's that Dutch has a plan. In fact, he always has a plan. It becomes his defacto catchphrase and Arthur can expect him to slip it into each and every possible conversation he can.
Okay, so it's not THAT bad, but it's definitely apparent enough to turn it into an ongoing and hilarious meme. This isn't the first time that something concerning Dutch and his infamous plans appears on this list. Even Loki of the MCU might have trouble keeping up with Dutch's "special brand of planning."
13 A Bounty Of Bounties
Red Dead Redemption 2 is pretty unforgiving when it comes to amassing a bounty. Pulling a weapon in the wrong place, running into someone on horseback, or simply bumping shoulders with the wrong person can turn Arthur into a wanted criminal.
At times, it can be frustrating, especially when trying to converse with some locals and Arthur accidentally pulls his six-iron on them. The buttons can get a bit backward from time to time (especially on the PlayStation) so it's definitely a mistake that most of us will make.
12 Stop Horsin' Around
One of the coolest aspects of Red Dead Redemption 2 is the horse system. Arthur can purchase or "acquire" a horse and then access better levels of stamina and speed by bonding with it. Because of this, it's very important to keep the horse as happy and healthy as possible.
Unfortunately, some horses don't really seem to care about their personal health. They're trip over the smallest branches and run face-first into trees. It's honestly quite easy to lose control of a steed, especially when sprinting full-speed. Thankfully, the world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is filled to the brim with horses.
11 It's Always Sunny In New Austin
Red Dead Redemption 2 has its fair share of hilarious memes but there is something special about this combination between the gang and the cast of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Dutch is back with his infamous plans and he's going to reassure us all that no one has to get hurt so long as we "stay the course." Unfortunately, those of us that have actually played through Red Dead Redemption 2 (even the first 10 minutes) know that people are definitely going to get hurt. A lot of people, pretty much constantly.
10 A Little Too Much To Drink
There are a TON of missions to undertake in Red Dead Redemption 2. The main story missions alone will take awhile to get through and then there are countless side missions and challenges to complete. Some of these missions are more memorable than others, which leads us to this next hilarious meme.
Anyone who overstayed their welcome in Valentine will remember the epic night of debauchery that Arthur and fellow gang member Lenny had. It paved the way for one of the most entertaining and hilarious "missions" to ever grace the Red Dead Redemption franchise.
9 Cowboy Priorities
It's incredibly easy to get sidetracked when playing Red Dead Redemption 2. Following the main story is increasingly difficult when there are so many tantalizing side-quests to visit. Then there's the allure of challenges, tons of mini-games, strangers to befriend, and stuff to collect.
On top of all of this, there are "random events" which can pop up at any time. Sometimes there will be a find a damsel in distress or someone that needs a ride. This is all well and good, but Arthur has places to be and legendary pelts to turn into the Trapper.
8 Pride Cometh Before The Fall
As we discussed earlier, keeping Arthur free and clear of a bounty can be a hassle sometimes. Sure, there are moments within the game when Arthur is free to pillage and annihilate as one does, but generally, he'll find himself knee-deep in enemies or in a stronghold far away from any civilians at that time.
The issue with the NPCs is that they act as witnesses and if they manage to get far enough away from Arthur after committing a crime or shooting someone, there will be a bounty on his head. This is easy enough to avoid, unless, of course, one of those dastardly O'Driscoll boys calls Arthur out in public.
7 No Competition
Gamers waited for what felt like ages for Red Dead Redemption 2 to finally arrive. To be fair, it was an incredibly long time but it was worth absolutely every moment of development. Rockstar poured their heart and soul into this title and it definitely shows.
The world is mammoth, the characters are amazing, the story is fantastic, and the gameplay is every bit as enjoyable as we hoped it would be. A lot of other singleplayer releases came out during the same time period. Unfortunately for them, most of us only had eyes for Red Dead Redemption 2.
6 The Son Can Do No Wrong
Spoiler alerts to follow for anyone who has yet to make it through Red Dead Redemption 2's robust storyline: the rest of this article is in mega spoiler territory.
Those who made it to "the end" know just how deranged and derailed Dutch eventually becomes. It seems that Micah can do no wrong in his eyes (even though most of us know Micah is bad news from the get-go).
Just like the "favorite child" in an extended family, Micah is seemingly absolved of all crimes, no matter how much chaos he brings towards Dutch and his beloved gang.
5 Dutch Still Has A Plan
We end as we began, with Dutch and his illustrious quest to fund his plan. Will the group ever make it to Tahiti? Does Dutch even know where Tahiti is? It doesn't matter. The point is, the gang needs money. Just one more score, one more big take, and they're gone.
It's like a broken record that echos throughout the plains of West Elizabeth. Perhaps in a different life, Dutch could have finally gotten the funding he feels he so rightfully deserved. Too bad GoFundMe wasn't around in the Old West.
4 When Memes Imitate Life
Most kids who grew up in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s probably remember drawing that random "S" all over their notebooks. It started with three horizontal lines and then three more horizontal lines below that. Then, just fill in the gaps with diagonal lines and boom: the "S."
Twitter user and noted games journalist @nibellion had a gaff with his followers when he said "Just unlocked all weapons by drawing this symbol in the snow, try it out." Just to be clear: no, it doesn't do that.
3 10/10 Horses And Lokis Agree
The Drake meme is classic and has been riffed upon endlessly at this point. But Kratos and Arthur make this meme extra crispy. Fans of the God of War series will instantly hear how Kratos says "Boy" toward Loki admonishingly and too often from the game.
But Red Dead fans will also remember all the times Arthur lovingly reassured his horse (with boy or girl) since he pushed them so hard riding across the American countryside.
Reddit user MikeFlame got it right when they created this meme.
2 Makes Perfect Sense
Reddit user iLoveDinosaurs exposed many Red Dead fans with this meme.
Known for producing games with a decent amount of violence, Rockstar didn't disappoint with Red Dead. As such, players tend to rack up quite the body count if they decide to do so. However, players can also interact with a number of animals in the game including dogs.
It is imperative for many fans to pet every dog they find. But all interactions don't go so well. Horses can be difficult to control or, as many a Highlight Reel (formerly from Kotaku) will show, the game can visually bug out and make players witness or do horrible things.
Nevermind the murder, robbery, and other crimes.
1 I'm Not Crying, You're Crying
Arthur Morgan's journey over the course of Red Dead Redemption II is extraordinary. If gamers truly take the time to explore all the in-game world has to offer, they'll encounter so many rich details about Arthur's inner life. He's much more than an outlaw.
That's why, since most gamers know that Arthur doesn't survive the game, many players have tried to seek out every side quest they can. It isn't just interesting to see what Rockstar put in the game; it's to avoid losing the unique and sensitive soul that is Arthur Morgan.