Red Dead Redemption & RDR2's Easiest Characters To Cosplay
The Red Dead Redemption franchise is one that is filled with interesting, one-of-a-kind characters. Across both major entries, that is, 2011's Red Dead Redemption and 2018's Red Dead Redemption II prequel, there are countless personalities that have been received as despicable, lovable, funny, or pitiful, but nearly all of them are memorable. The series' large cast ranges from Red Dead Redemption enigmas like the Strange Man to complex, introspective characters like Arthur Morgan, and this diverse roster makes the game ripe for cosplay inspiration.
Creating a believable, respectable cosplay outfit isn't always as easy as it may seem. One might think that a franchise like Red Dead Redemption, with its grounded aesthetic and historically accurate costume design, would be less of a challenge for cosplayers than a game like World of Warcraft, which features much more dramatic, fantastical characters and outfits. However, the opposite can sometimes be true, as cosplayers have to capture the image of a character through more subtle means.
So, for those looking to dip their toes into the world of Red Dead Redemption cosplay, they should choose a character with a distinctive, yet simple, appearance if they want to have an easy time with things. This means that apparel, accessories, and easy-to-replicate physical features should come first, as iconic Red Dead Redemption hats and fashions will be instantly recognizable to fans of the games. To that end, there are some characters that will be easier to cosplay than others.
Starting things off with one of the characters that were carried over from the first Red Dead Redemption, dopey, drunken, slovenly Uncle would be a great choice for someone thinking of doing a Red Dead Redemption cosplay. Uncle is characterized by his bushy white facial hair and unkempt appearance. With that in mind, would-be cosplayers with access to a decent false beard and a couple of dirty button-downs should be able to pull this look off quite easily.
Uncle is bald on the top of his head, too, but thick-maned cosplayers can easily conceal their locks with a hat, which is conveniently also part of this character's signature look. Dying the visible hair gray to simulate Uncle's elderly appearance in Red Dead Redemption would also be a must. Throw on some red makeup to recreate his flushed skin, and a very believable Uncle cosplay is born.
Wealthy Dubliner Molly O'Shea left her lofty life in Ireland in search of adventure in America, which she eventually found with the Van der Linde gang. While considerably fiery and even violent at times, Molly's affluent roots can still be seen through her choice of clothes, which is noticeably more lavish than the rest of the gang members. Just like the other characters, she changes her apparel throughout the course of the game, but she has a few iconic staples, mainly a ruby pendant necklace that is almost always visible, an unmoving sign of her class.
Related: What RDR2's Guns Reveal About The Van Der Linde Gang
Molly typically wears more makeup than other characters, as she can be seen applying lipstick multiple times throughout Red Dead Redemption 2's epic story. This character would also be a great choice for anyone with natural red hair or freckles, as she is one of few copper-topped characters in the game. Throw in a hand fan for good measure, and prospective cosplayers can relive the glory days of Horshoe Overlook in no time.
Speaking of redheads, Red Dead Redemption 2's other resident Irish immigrant Sean Maguire would be another great choice for aspiring cosplayers. Boasting distinctive red hair similar to Molly O'Shea's, Sean also sports a more roguish, casual appearance than some of the other members of the gang. This would make his regular wardrobe easy to copy, as throwing on a combination of dirty blue jeans, a blazer, a checkered vest, and a green bowler hat would make for a recognizable cosplay, especially when paired with his signature long, red hair. Sean is more fresh-faced than other seasoned Red Dead Redemption 2 characters, so this would be a great choice for cosplayers in their late teens or early twenties.
The Van der Linde gang saves Sadie from a group of nefarious bandits who killed her husband. Naturally, Sadie is traumatized by this, but that traumatic event began to shape her into a calloused, rough-and-tumble bounty hunter, revealing her true potential as an intimidating outlaw later in Red Dead Redemption 2's story. This change in her personality is reflected in her apparel, as she starts to don clothing that is similar to the fearsome men of her time, eschewing traditional feminine outfits like dresses, corsets, and skirts.
She also begins to tie up her blonde locks and cover them with a hat, showing her preference for practicality. Sadie also has distinctive facial scars, one above her right eye, and another on her left cheek, both of which would be easy to replicate with some light makeup. Sadie is one of RDR2's most important characters, and this is mirrored in an iconic, striking look that would be one of the more straightforward ones to replicate.
These are just a handful of Red Dead Redemption characters that would be easy to cosplay. Although they are commonly cosplayed, series protagonists John Marston and Arthur Morgan are not included on this list due to the games' personalization options and hair growth systems, which make their appearances less static than other characters'. The characters mentioned in this list change their appearance as well, but these changes are curated by the game's developers to keep a consistent aesthetic and personality.
While these characters' memorable looks are easy to replicate, that is only have of the battle when it comes to cosplaying. To truly conceive a convincing cosplay, one must capture the spirit of the person they are portraying, even if they are cosplaying as one of Red Dead Redemption's more minor characters. Uncle cosplayers need to present themselves as messy, ornery, and scatterbrained, while Molly O'Shea impersonators should be prim and proper, while carrying a certain air of vanity. Sean cosplayers will need to have a youthful, charming exuberance, and anyone copying Sadie will need to be confident, rugged, and resilient. Through a combination of clever, mid-effort apparel, minimal makeup, and attitude, Red Dead Redemption fans can cosplay as these characters without breaking a sweat.