Finally rolled credits on the epilogue after starting years ago. The Red Dead games are the grandest narrative adventures ever produced on this scale. The magic trick of the series (which is more impactful in the first iteration) is that even though it’s a Rockstar game where they give you the ability to ride into town and kill everyone, you don’t. Arthur Morgan wouldn’t do that. John Marston wouldn’t do that. And so you don’t. The weight and slowness of the world in 2 adds to that sensation.
The epilogue is such a flex; you want to raise a barn and muck out the stables because it’s what John wants in this moment and you share the moment with him. The ending leaves a slightly bitter taste, if only because you know that the story isn’t over like he says. You want John and Abigail and Jack to fade into their farm and a quiet life. If there wasn’t another revenge story to tell we’d love to see them ride off into the sunset as the scene fades to black.