Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser, the visionary writer behind some of the studio’s most iconic franchises, has openly declared Red Dead Redemption 2 as the pinnacle of his gaming career.
During an exclusive interview at LA Comic Con on Saturday, September 27, we pressed Houser to share which of the many rich worlds and compelling narratives crafted by Rockstar over the years truly resonated with him the most.
Houser, whose extensive writing credits span the beloved Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series, didn’t hesitate with his answer. “Red Dead 2, I think, was the best thing that I worked on,” he stated. He elaborated, describing it as “the best single kind of realization of open-world storytelling thematic consistency, and understanding how the games are assembled to take you on an emotional journey.”
Red Dead Redemption 2, which launched in 2018, is widely celebrated as one of gaming’s all-time greats. IGN itself lauded it as a masterpiece, awarding it a perfect 10/10 in our review, calling it “a game of rare quality; a meticulously polished open-world ode to the outlaw era.” The game’s success is undeniable, having sold an incredible 77 million units within seven years.
Of course, Houser also holds a special affection for the Grand Theft Auto series.
“I also think GTA 4,” he added, “because we did try and evolve how we did the storytelling and did it in a fundamental way. 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 my favorite bits.”
In the same revealing interview, Houser also shed light on why a highly anticipated sequel, Bully 2, never came to fruition. “I think it was just bandwidth issues,” Houser explained. “You know, if you’ve got a small lead creative team, and a small senior leadership crew, you just can’t do all the projects you want.”
Currently, Houser is spearheading Absurd Ventures, a company he founded after departing Rockstar Games in 2020. Fans can look forward to his new crime fiction comic series, American Caper, slated for release on November 12, 2025, with its first arc comprising 12 issues. While specific game projects remain under wraps, it was confirmed last September that approximately 20 former developers from Ascendant Studios, including its CEO, joined Absurd Ventures to establish a new studio in San Rafael, California, known as Absurd Marin.