Red Dead Redemption 2 remains one of the best open-world non-RPG's out there, and for good reason. Developed by Rockstar, the attention to detail when it comes to environmental storytelling and atmosphere is where this game shines.
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Ride away from the heartbreaking historical drama for a while and get lost in the wilderness; RDR2's world features all the oddities expected in a land isolated from civilization. From the horrors of human violence, to unexplained sights that'll have you grabbing your tinfoil hat, these strange scenes are sure to get your heart racing.
10 The Man Who Had Enough
Hangings, to the great misfortune of the squeamish player, are a common find in this game. But the nature of this specific hanging is a bit more messed up than some of the others you’ll come across. Passing through the woods in Roanoke Ridge, you’re always in danger of coming across the Murfree gang, one of the most ruthless gangs in the game. Read the note under the hanged man, and you’ll learn that it wasn’t the gang that killed him; it was a suicide.
He fled the awful torture and chose to end his own life here, an out that can't be worse than being killed by a cultish maniac. This sighting appears last on the list since hangings are pretty common, and this discovery is one of the few that won’t get you ambushed.
9 An Unsettling Message
There aren’t many man-made structures in the West Grizzlies, so you might explore the frozen wastes just to see what folks have left behind. On the southeastern cliff of Mount Hagen, you’ll encounter a shack, a supply store full of dynamite, and an abandoned mineshaft. Despite being super creepy by the very nature of it, there isn’t actually anything in the mineshaft but a series of narrow tunnels. At least, it might appear that way at first glance.
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In the back of the cave, however, written in red on the wall are the words: “A FOOL ON COMMAND”. Its nature as a piece of scenery with no effect on gameplay keeps this encounter at number nine, but the possible implications of the comment are pretty chilling. Could the message be referring to Arthur, who is being controlled by Dutch, or else, controlled by the player?
8 You're A Fool, Eugene Hutton
Just south of Brandywine Drop, there’s a treacherous patch of forest wherein wild cougars and crazed Murfree boys alike keep you on your toes. But there’s one possible encounter you might not be expecting: the voice of a ghost right beside you. The airy voice of a young woman speaks not to you, but to a man named Eugene Hutton.
It's his wife, Ethel, calling him a fool for getting them lost in the woods. Ethel’s whispery, angry voice is still pretty freaky, but she isn't the scariest ghost encounter out there, since Arthur isn't actually in danger.
7 The Horrified Murfree Hostage
Riding into the area just west of Annesburg and around Beaver Ridge, you’ll find yourself in Murfree country. If you’re on the road at night, the game might introduce you to the gang in a horrible way through an encounter with a wagon full of bodies. Kill the Murfrees driving the wagon and save the woman screaming in the back, who then must push the corpses off of her to make her escape.
She says very little to you and runs off into the woods, terrified. Its nature as a low-risk encounter doesn’t make it very scary, but the sheer horror of the woman in the cart might make you anxious to be wandering this area at night.
6 Ghost Train To Nowhere
On the western border of Lemoyne, the railroad passes near the waterline, just below the old Greenbank Mill. Ride along the track in this area at night, and you might catch sight of a ghost train. The train isn’t very large and only appears for an instant, which is why this scary sight sits at number six. But dang, does it look super cool.
The muffled sounds of a train racing down the track add to the ethereal effect of this encounter and makes us wonder why it's appearing at all.
5 The Brutal Skinner Attack
There’s nothing quite so unsettling in RDR2 than walking through the woods and hearing wailing in the distance. Hearing such a thing in Tall Trees can probably be linked to the Skinners gang, who are unfortunately known for their namesake. Following the sound will lead you to a camp full of bodies that have been gruesomely ripped apart by the Skinners, though the sounds you heard came from the lone survivor.
Horribly, the survivor’s face seems to have been scraped off, and he doesn’t seem long for this world. Despite any attempt on your part to comfort him, the man dies terrified, leaving you with quite an impression of the Skinners gang.
4 An Uninvited Guest
Southeast of Elysian Pool, just under the “R” in “New Hanover” on the map, is a little town called Butcher Creek. Possibly connected to the Murfree boys, this town and its gory secrets are a story all on their own. More startling perhaps, is the chance that a crazed woman will approach your campfire if you make camp near the area. The woman claims to be from Butcher Creek, and speaks of the devil getting a hold of the town.
She flees from you, claiming the devil’s in you, too. Though you’re in no danger here, this encounter sits at number four simply because of how frightening it is to have the safety of your camp broken by a creepy stranger.
3 The Creepiest Swamp Slumber Party
If you’re in Saint-Denis, cross the river in the northwest corner of the city, just behind the fancy neighborhood where Angelo Bronte lives. Across the water, you’ll encounter a small cabin with a man sitting on the porch who tells you how lonely he is. He’ll invite you inside, which certainly isn't one of the game's hardest decisions, but if you’re a curious idiot, you accept. To no one’s surprise, he knocks you out. What follows is a series of strange noises and snippets of the man feeding you and making affectionate comments that’ll give you goosebumps.
When Arthur awakes in the swamp he’s only short a dollar, but he’s on the brink of death. Interestingly, if you return to the cabin, the stranger screams for you to get away. One can only wonder what Arthur did to make this creep so afraid. The encounter only loses points since you’re bound to survive with little consequence, but as far as stranger encounters go, it's perhaps the most unsettling.
2 The Wailing Woman Ambush
The Night Folk, who hunt in the swamps southeast of Rhodes, are perhaps the most deadly gang due to how stealthy they are. They can be seen running through the swamp at night, and if you’re not careful, they’ll attack on sight. Their most horrifying ambush encounter begins with the sound of a woman screaming and crying in the distance. Follow the sound to a campfire where a woman, whose face is concealed, sobs loudly.
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Approach the woman offering help, and she’ll dart off before Night Folk with knives emerge from behind and attack you. This encounter loses points since it's a simple gang ambush, but the suspense of approaching what could’ve been a ghost or some disturbed woman intensifies when you’re put in a life-or-death situation.
1 An Evening With Agnes Dowd
The swamps around Saint Denis seem to be teeming with ghosts, and this area is sometimes the most frightening to wander at night. You’re not alone in being creeped out though: at camp, Reverend Swanson mentions a ghost girl that he saw, swearing she’s real. The ghost is that of Agnes Dowd, whose grave is just behind Shady Bell.
You can encounter the voices or ghost visage of Ms. Dowd multiple times in Bluewater Marsh, where she seems to be lamenting a man who either didn’t love her or cheated on her. This ghost means you no harm, but the number of encounters, the actual appearance of the ghost, and the depth of her lore put her in the top spot.
NEXT: Red Dead Redemption 2: Best Stranger Missions, Ranked
