Red Dead Redemption 2 was a highly detailed game that first appeared in 2018. It featured extensive interaction systems, including realistic animal behaviour. Although some people were skeptical about whether the experience was worth the “death march crunch” cost to create it, there was an unexpected result. A paper published in the journal ‘People and Nature’ found that players who had played Red Dead Redemption 2 and Red Dead Online were more successful at identifying real-life animals than those who didn’t.
Over 500 gamers were asked to identify specific animals. They had to choose between a blank field or a multiple choice. Researchers omitted “charismatic megafauna”, such as bears or wolves, in favor of creatures like the little bird and steelhead trout, which are animals that were found in the games.
Red Dead Redemption 2’s main story was completed by players who took a “Naturalist” role in Red Dead Online. They were significantly better at identifying animals. The results were less impressive for those who had not played either or those from outside North America.
Study found that educational games are less popular than “edutainment” ones. Because they are trying to educate, they can be difficult to engage with. Education can come as a bonus for players who already enjoy popular games.
Although the study didn’t endorse games as educational goods, participants noted that animals in-game were more aggressive than their real-life counterparts. The game, which is set in the wild west bandit-fighting scene, was also not recommended for children.
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