In the wild west of Red Dead Redemption 2, the line between outlaw and law-abiding citizen is as thin as a whiskey shot glass. One wrong move, and you’ll find yourself with a price on your head that would make even the most hardened criminal sweat. But fear not, aspiring gunslingers – mastering the intricate Wanted system is your key to staying one step ahead of the law and living to see another sunset.
The most important types of crime
In Red Dead Redemption 2, crimes are a central mechanic that can significantly impact gameplay. The most important types of crimes include assault and murder, which raise the wanted level substantially, and theft, such as robbing individuals, shops, or banks. Other notable offenses include horse theft, trespassing, and even seemingly minor actions like accidentally hitting someone on horseback. Each crime carries consequences, from attracting law enforcement to increasing bounties on Arthur Morgan’s head. Players must weigh their actions carefully, as even minor infractions can escalate into major conflicts with the law.
In Red Dead Redemption 2 Arthur may have a conflict with the law in many different ways, as there are many different types of crime in the game. The most important of these are:
- Assault on innocent person or law officer (melee attack or use of firearms).
- Murder of innocent person or law officer – as you can suspect it’s one of the most serious crimes (and it raises the wanted level a lot).
- Hitting someone while travelling on horseback – this is very problematic in cities, because it is easy to get involved in an accident. Try to move slowly on horseback after reaching the city in order to avoid potential problems with causing harm to someone.
- Stealing from somebody – The robbery of a deceased person or a person who has lost consciousness is also considered a crime.
- Theft in a public place – This also applies to farms whose owners or residents are on the spot. It is only safe to steal from abandoned locations.
- Theft of a horse – This does not apply to wild horses found in the world of the game.
- Robbery, includes places like – shop, bank, stagecoach or train. All these types of crime are classified as very serious.
- Trespassing and entering forbidden locations – This can be a minor offence if you enter a private household, or a very serious offence if you reach Blackwater or the “forbidden” state of New Austin in general.
- Killing domesticated animals, e.g. dogs or cows – This should be avoided if other characters are in the vicinity.
How a crime can be connected with Arthur?
Arthur Morgan, the protagonist of Red Dead Redemption 2, is intrinsically connected to crimes due to his role as a member of the Van der Linde gang. His involvement in robberies, murders, and other illegal activities often stems from the gang’s survival needs and Dutch’s leadership. Arthur’s actions, such as breaking Micah Bell out of jail or silencing witnesses, directly link him to criminal acts that escalate his notoriety. Even when players attempt to maintain a high honor rating, Arthur’s association with the gang and the game’s narrative frequently places him on the wrong side of the law, making crime an inescapable part of his story.
There are two main mechanics related with the detection of crimes. The first one is the presence of witnesses in the place where the law was broken. They will be automatically alerted if a crime has occurred in their field of vision. However, they can also reach the crime scene late, e.g. when they have heard the sounds of fighting.
If Arthur is identified as having committed a crime, the witness will start fleeing to alert the guardians of the law. You can set out to chase such people to stop them. You can stop a witness by, for example, killing him, making a warning shot or using a lasso. Unfortunately, this method will not work as expected in locations where many people are staying (e.g. in cities).
The crime can then be seen by several witnesses at the same time, or the detention of the first witness can cause a “chain reaction” and lead to more people being alerted. In such situations it is better to start an escape immediately. You will have more time to move away from the crime scene before the law enforcement officers set out to look for Arthur.
You can also move away from the place where you committed the crime before a more distant witness arrives or before the crime scene is discovered, for example, by a person passing by. The crime should not be linked to Arthur and even if you receive a message from the guardians of the law, they will complete the investigation upon arrival.
The second important mechanics is the ability to use the bandana to cover the hero’s face. This significantly reduces the risk of Arthur being identified as the perpetrator of a crime, although he cannot be fully secured. Nevertheless, you should wear a bandana each time you plan to kill someone in a public place, or rob a shop, bank, stagecoach or train.
Later in the game you can also buy alternative headgear from the fence, which allows you to hide your hero’s identity.
Effects of recording a crime
When a crime is recorded in Red Dead Redemption 2, it triggers a series of consequences that escalate the player’s challenges. Law enforcement officers are dispatched to investigate and pursue Arthur, initiating a chase if he is identified. Fighting these officers is risky, as their deaths attract further reinforcements and armed civilians, increasing the bounty on Arthur’s head. The player can attempt to escape by leaving the red search area and evading direct pursuers, or surrendering under specific conditions to serve jail time, which results in losing some of Arthur’s cash. Regardless of the chosen action, the crime remains on record, leading to heightened bounties and potential encounters with bounty hunters or guards later in the game.
After the crime has been recorded and reported, the law officers appear. It is never a good idea to start fighting with them, because their corpses will be found by other guardians of the law, or armed citizens will join in the fight and bounty after you.
The first possible solution to the problem with law officers is to start escaping. You have to get out of the red circle around the scene of the crime and, in addition, you have to lose those law enforcement officers who are directly chasing Arthur. If you have problems with this second step, shoot while still escaping on horseback. You can also use your Dead Eye to make more accurate shots.
After going beyond the red circle, you must wait until the Wanted System bar in the top right corner of the screen runs out. The law enforcement officers will finish the search, but the committed crimes will not be forgotten. The Bounty for catching your hero will increase and this means potential trouble if the law officers or bounty hunters are encountered later in the game.
The second possible solution to the problem is to surrender and go to prison. This is only possible if you have not committed a serious crime and only in the initial phase of law enforcement intervention, i.e. before they attack Arthur. After encountering a law officer, you have to hide your weapon and hold down the surrender button (L2/left trigger and then the Triangle/Y). Arthur will be arrested and released after serving his sentence. A visit in prison means losing some of the cash that was in the hero’s inventory when he was arrested.
Getting rid of the bounty and wanted level
Getting Rid of the Bounty and Wanted Level
In Red Dead Redemption 2, clearing your bounty and reducing your wanted level are essential for avoiding constant harassment from lawmen and bounty hunters. To pay off a bounty, visit any Post Office, marked with an envelope icon on the map, and speak to the clerk to settle your debt. This restores your status as a law-abiding citizen in that region. Alternatively, you can surrender to law enforcement if your bounty is low; this leads to a jail sentence where the fine is automatically deducted. For escaping a wanted level, leave the red investigation area on the map or change your appearance to avoid detection. Staying out of sight long enough allows the wanted meter to drain, but note that any remaining bounty will persist until paid.
Even if you managed to escape from law officers, you cannot “feel” victorious, because there is still a bounty you have to pay for all crimes you have committed. The bounty is valid in the state in which the crime was committed. It means potential problems in case of encountering guards or bounty hunters, but it also blocks some additional activities. You cannot, for example, receive orders to search for escapees or use a fast stagecoach journey. In the case of a series of serious crimes, it may even happen that all shops and businesses in a given city are closed for a certain period of time.
How does the Wanted system differ from previous Rockstar games like GTA 5
The Wanted system in Red Dead Redemption 2 differs significantly from that in Grand Theft Auto 5, reflecting the unique settings and gameplay priorities of each game:
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Dynamic Crime Response: In RDR2, crimes are investigated by witnesses who report them, and law enforcement responds based on the severity of the crime, creating a more immersive and realistic system. In contrast, GTA 5 uses a more straightforward wanted level system where police are instantly alerted once a crime is committed.
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Bounty System: Unlike GTA 5, where wanted levels dissipate after evading the police, RDR2 introduces a bounty system. Crimes result in monetary bounties that persist until paid off, adding long-term consequences to criminal actions.
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Stealth and Disguises: RDR2 allows players to mitigate detection by wearing masks or changing outfits to avoid recognition. This feature is absent in GTA 5, where wanted levels are tied strictly to evasion mechanics.
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Wanted Levels: While GTA 5 caps its wanted levels at five stars, older games like GTA 4 featured six-star levels for heightened challenge. However, RDR2 avoids a star-based system altogether, focusing instead on narrative-driven law enforcement responses.
These differences highlight Rockstar’s effort to tailor the Wanted system to the thematic and gameplay needs of each franchise.
Why did Rockstar decide to reduce the wanted level system in GTA 5
Rockstar reduced the wanted level system in GTA 5 from six stars to five stars to streamline gameplay and focus on more realistic police responses. The decision emphasized smarter police AI, which made law enforcement more strategic and less overwhelming compared to previous games. This change also widened the scope of each wanted level, allowing for a gradual escalation of law enforcement tactics rather than an abrupt shift to military intervention at the highest levels3.
However, this reduction disappointed long-time fans who enjoyed the chaotic rampages of earlier titles like GTA: San Andreas, where six-star wanted levels introduced military forces and tanks into the mix. Critics argue that GTA 5’s system lacks the extreme challenge and emergent gameplay opportunities that defined previous entries.
