Rockstar Co-Founder Dan Houser Says Red Dead Redemption 2 'Was the Best Thing I Worked On' - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 01 October 2025 / 4,004 Views
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser in an interview with IGN was asked which of the games he worked on during his time at Rockstar was his favorite of all-time.
"Red Dead 2, I think, was the best thing that I worked on," said Houser (via VideoGamesChronicle). "The best single realization of open-world storytelling, thematic consistence and understanding how the games are assembled to take you on an emotional journey."
Houser also discussed his favorite parts of other games that he worked at Rockstar.
"I also think GTA 4, because we did try and evolve how we did the storytelling and did it in a fundamental way," he said.
"I think the middle section of GTA 5 is amazing when we got the three characters working. I think it was not flawless, but it was so smooth. That middle section, I thought that was really amazing. And then the end of Red Dead 1. Those are sort of my favorite bits."
He added that Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto 3, and Bully were also important games he worked on. This is "because they were all essentially new (or nearly new) IP – doing that for the first time and assembling something strong, that’s a really gratifying experience that I’m trying to take into what we’re doing now."
Houser co-founded Rockstar Games in December 1998 and would leave the company in March 2020. He would register Absurd Ventures in 2021, and announced his involvement with the studio in 2023. They would announce new new game and animation universe, Absurdaverse, earlier this year.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can follow the author on Bluesky.
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I would argue GTA 3. Because without that game, there is no Red Dead. GTA 3 basically created an entire genre. It was a revolution.
Sure, but I think he's just saying the highest quality product he produced
You could easily say GTA2 or GTA London since he worked on those and GTA3 wouldn't have existed
Those were 2D and didn't change an entire industry. GTA 3 is like SMB 1 or Minecraft. It changed everything. The Nirvana of the gaming world.
Unpopular opinion, but i enjoyed campaign of RDR1, much more than the sequel.
Agree, RDR2 dragged too much in certain parts.
Yeah, I remember everyone calling it a "slow burn"
When I just felt like it overstayed its welcome by about 10 hours lol
I think most would agree
I personally liked RDR more than RDR2 but the latter is certainly higher quality and much more cinematic
Yeah first game was better. The campaign felt better, felt more like a true western/ cowboy flick. The sequel felt more like a gta 1899.
Also the targeting system Red eye didn't have the same impact as it did back when it was on Rdr1.
RDR2 is a technical masterpiece. What they were able to achieve is remarkable with the level of detail they put into it. I certainly understand why it's his favorite game he worked on.
I am gonna be contrarian. GTAV and RDR2 may be their biggest games, but they are among their weaker games too. GTA SA, GTA IV, LA Noire and Max Payne 3 were all more interesting gameplay experiences too me. Even GTA III actually.
