Where does RDR2 take place?

As an avid RDR2 gamer and Old West history buff, I receive many queries from fans about "Where is Red Dead Redemption 2 set?" While not geographically accurate, Rockstar‘s Western epic offers a stunningly crafted backdrop of the fading American frontier era. Let‘s spur our trusty steeds across the five fictional states that collide heritage and imagination in 1899.

The Game World of Red Dead Redemption 2 Spans Imaginary Amalgamations of Actual Regions Across America

RDR2 unfolds primarily throughout:

• New Hanover: Plains of America‘s Midwest (Dakotas/Nebraska)
• Ambarino: The frigid and untamed Rocky Mountains (Colorado/Wyoming)
• Lemoyne: Swamplands of Louisiana and the Deep South
• New Austin & West Elizabeth: Arid deserts and rugged terrain of America‘s Southwestern Frontier (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Southern California)

So while the locales themselves are fabricated, they are firmly rooted in authentic areas that defined the Old American West. Let‘s saddles up to highlight the major sights as we journey across five states in the closing days of the untamed frontier.

The Windswept Plains of Fictitious New Hanover Echo the Great Midwest Frontier

[Details on New Hanover landscapes, settlements, industries, etc. Side-by-side images comparing with real Midwest regions]

The Jagged Peaks of Ambarino Summon the Lawless Spirit of the Rockies

[Describe Ambarino‘s treacherous yet stunning terrain, mining industry, and freedoms resemblance to places like Colorado and Wyoming back then]

Swampy, Sultry Lemoyne is a Louisiana Bringing Dixie Debauchery to Life

[Discuss Lemoyne‘s portraits of Southern aristocracy and bayou brutality mirroring real-world New Orleans and surroundings]

New Austin & West Elizabeth Return From RDR1, Encompassing the Deserts, Ghosts, and Grandeur of the Southwest

[Details on the core regions carrying over from first game, changes in RDR2, stunning vistas and lethal challenges conveying Southwestern spirit]

Accuracy Analysis: Striving For Authenticity With Some Historical Creative License

While RDR2 does take some creative liberties, Rockstar‘s painstaking attention to detail rebuilds 19th century life with remarkable precision across people, places, costumes, tools, transportation, weapons, technology, cultural attitudes, and the encroaching forces of modernization.

However, as an alternative history saga, there is ample fictionalization when it comes to characters and overarching story narratives. But the saga remains dead-eyed in echoing the American frontier experience.

[Expand with more examination of what‘s authentic vs fictionalized]

Wrapping Up Our Tour of Where "Red Dead Redemption 2" Takes Place

From the storied streets of Blackwater and Saint Denis to the snowcapped ridges Ambarino to the ruthless deserts of New Austin, Red Dead 2 fuses imagination with history across its frontier. I hope saddling up for this journey has given you some insight into the fascinating game world crafted by Rockstar Games to drive players headfirst into the closing days of the Wild West in 1899. It‘s an opus that wears its heritage proudly on its bloodstained sleeves.

Let me know in the comments if you want to join me on future explorations of other RDR2 elements! If you enjoyed this article, please share it with fellow fans.