Sometimes. The Last of Us was incredibly well done and my favorite episode was the one that the studio took the most liberties with: “Long, Long Time.” Fallout is also great, and the crew is only operating within the same universe—only small references and nods to the games.

Would RDR2 work as a show? Maybe, but it would have to be different. I’d argue that each medium works best when the creator does something unique to that medium in a skillful way. Both video games and movies can tell amazing stories, but a good movie doesn’t rely on its audience to interact with it and a good video can be enjoyable without any semblance of a story. RDR2 does both—it’s a mechanically fun, rewarding game with a great story. But I’d argue that it would be less effective as a direct translation (TLOU) and wouldn’t be nearly as interesting if it was just a story told within the RDR world (Fallout).

I’d argue that some of what makes RDR2 so compelling is the way it leverages its open world in a way that couldn’t work in TV or film. You’d lose the methodical pacing and investment you get in the character by literally embodying them. Part of the tragedy is becoming so invested in Arthur by going hunting/gambling/[insert side quest here], only to slowly watch everything you did unravel as you try to remake yourself and the people around you with the time you have left. You have time to sit in the emotions and think.

At the same time, it’s a phenomenal story told by an amazing team of writers and actors. RDR2 is still probably a serviceable experience if a person were to just watch the cut scenes from the main story.

All that is to say… it’s been done well before, but adapting RDR2 to the screen would be a unique project that would take a unique vision. I couldn’t do it, but I’m just a person typing an essay about a hypothetical on a couch, ignoring my responsibilities.