Red Dead Redemption 2: 5 Best Kept Secrets

The amount of hidden secrets and Easter eggs there are in Red Dead Redemption 2 is unfathomable — to the point of still having seasoned players digging up clues and other material half a decade after its 2018 launch. In 2023 alone, even, returning Westerners have successfully managed to discover dozens, if not hundreds of new secrets, and that isn’t even taking into account the thousands of encounters, weapon mods, and legacy items that have been found already.

Truth be told, there’s still a whole lot we don’t actually know about Red Dead Redemption 2, much less its enormous open world and its corresponding lore. Kudos to Rockstar Games, though — it isn’t very often an open world game shines on for five years straight and still finds ways to surprise its fan base. But there you have it.

With 2023 almost over and Rockstar shifting its focus over to Grand Theft Auto 6, we thought we’d carry out one final sweep in Red Dead Redemption 2 to document the rarest encounters. Interested? Here are the best kept secrets you might’ve missed during your time in Dutch’s Boys.

5. The Incestuous Thieves

Red Dead Redemption 2 certainly isn’t short on strange folks and oddball NPCs, that much is true. However, one of the weirder conversations you can experience in the game is with a brother and sister—a Bonnie and Clyde-like couple, only a little more, shall we say, rogueish—who take it upon themselves to invite strangers into their home for a freshly cooked meal. Sounds rather harmless on paper, sure, but the truth is, the only thing waiting on the other side of the toast is a bottomless pit and a pile of rotting corpses.

The good news is, engaging in such an interaction won’t leave you six feet under — but it will leave you with fewer pennies in your pocket. If you choose to avenge your burnt purse, then you’ll have the chance to return to the cabin and either kill the siblings in cold blood, or bring them back to the gravesite for an interesting conversation. But don’t let us spoil it for you. If you’re knocking about in the northern part of Bluewater Marsh, then just head over the train tracks and towards Aberdeen Pig Farm.

4. The Abandoned Witch’s Cauldron

Stumbling upon the abandoned witch’s cauldron in the Albariño district is something of a double-edged sword, as doing so will reward you with replenished Cores, but at the cost of causing you to go unconscious and wind up in another part of the world. Worth it, though, if only to secure bragging rights to say you’ve drunk the forbidden fruits of the witch’s labor, and all.

In addition to the cauldron and secret blackout juice, the area also houses a series of old books and witchcraft recipes and trinkets. It’s an interesting place to go and visit — especially if you’re out exploring the East Grizzlies portion of the map on some other random hunt or mission. Don’t fret, though — there won’t be any negative consequences as a result of your actions. If anything, being a little nosy will send you a long way, and your Cores will thank you for it, too.

3. The Monk

If there was ever a time to keep your lasso on a clip and refrain from kidnapping someone for financial gain — it’d be at the summit of the East Grizzlies, where a meditating monk often likes to perch sometime around noon. Of course, you’re more than welcome to interrupt the monk and hurl him from the apex of the mountain for no reason whatsoever — but it won’t do your Honor any good. Not that this is an issue for those drawn to bad deeds and immoral behavior, mind you.

Anyway, there isn’t much more about the meditating monk than what initially meets the eye. Even still, it’s a pretty neat add-on, and it definitely helps break away from the gun-toting chaos that the bulk of the main story tends to steer towards. And so, if you’re aiming to achieve emotional catharsis at any point in the aftermath of your wrongdoings, then you know where to go.

2. The Wolf Man

As if there weren’t enough weird folks knocking about in the wooded areas and canyons of Red Dead Redemption 2. Turns out, there’s also a hermit who lives out in the wild, who also happens to have the power to summon a pack of wolves on command. And if that isn’t enough, the cue also causes your horse to buck you from the saddle and flee for the hills, leaving you to fend for yourself.

The good news is, if you are able to whittle down the pack and stalk the bearded NPC back to his hideout, then you’ll be treated to a special reception, complete with an abundance of carcasses and disturbing illustrations. You can activate this rather unusual series of events by visiting the woodlands near Roanoke Valley during a full moon. For an extra reward, aim to capture and return him to a nearby jail.

1. The Bigfoot Sighting

We’re not entirely sure why Rockstar Games has an obsession with Bigfoot, but clearly the devs felt the need to keep the tradition going by inserting an entire thread of fetch quests set around the mythological creature in Red Dead Redemption 2. Or at least, give us the impression that Bigfoot is actually one of the hidden NPCs at the end of a certain chapter, anyway.

If you’re able to register 30 animals in your compendium, then you’ll be able to have a relatively short conversation with a humanoid creature who just so happens to possess all the same features as Bigfoot. To signal the interaction, you’ll need to travel to North Albariño and follow the river that flows with a peculiar flock of birds. If you’ve made it to the correct location, you’ll find a cave, which will house none other than Bigfoot himself. How’s that for an Easter egg?

So, what’s your take? Do you have any favorite Red Dead Redemption 2 encounters or secrets you’d like to share? Let us know your thoughts over our socials here.