I still remember the first time I rode into Mexico in the original Red Dead Redemption. The sun was bleeding into the desert, the guitar was crying, and an aging gunslinger named Landon Ricketts taught me how to truly use Dead Eye. That moment has stuck with me for years. Now, in 2026, as the gaming world still waits for Rockstar Games to announce Red Dead Redemption 3, I keep coming back to one thought: Landon Ricketts should be the protagonist.
The Red Dead franchise has always moved backward in time. Red Dead Redemption 2 was a prequel to the first game, showing us the final, fading days of the Wild West through Arthur Morgan's eyes. If Red Dead Redemption 3 follows that pattern, it could finally take us to the golden age of the American frontier. And who better to guide us through that mythic era than a young Landon Ricketts? He is already a legend in the first game, a noble vigilante with shooting skills equal to or even greater than John Marston's. Playing as him would be like stepping into a tall tale before it became a tall tale.
I know many fans want a direct sequel. They dream of following Charles Smith into Canada, or Sadie Adler into South America. Those are fascinating ideas. Charles's African American and Native American heritage could open doors to stories the series has never told. Sadie is a brilliant character, and her escape after the events of RDR2 leaves plenty of room for adventure. But if Rockstar wants to cap off the entire saga, a prequel starring Landon Ricketts feels more complete. It would bring the whole timeline full circle, from the birth of the frontier to its death.
What makes Ricketts so perfect? He is not a conflicted outlaw like Arthur Morgan. He is not a man trying to outrun his past like John Marston. He is a moral figure, a gunslinger who believes in justice, even when the law is corrupt. That could lead to a more focused narrative, one that does not rely on morality choices or redemption arcs. Instead, Red Dead Redemption 3 could show us how a myth is made. We could see Ricketts in his prime, building his reputation, maybe even participating in the Blackwater Massacre that kicks off RDR2. We could witness the events that turned him into the man John Marston meets in Mexico.
Many fans have suggested bringing back Red Harlow from Red Dead Revolver. I understand the nostalgia. But Landon Ricketts is already set up. He is mentioned in passing throughout the open-world franchise. His name carries weight. He is a legend of the American frontier. Rockstar does not need to resurrect an old protagonist when they have a perfect one waiting in the wings.
If I close my eyes, I can already imagine the opening: a younger Landon, maybe in his thirties, riding through a bustling frontier town. The West is not dying yet. It is alive, dangerous, and full of possibility. He is not the fastest gun because he practices. He is the fastest because he understands people. He understands when to shoot and when to talk. That kind of character study would be a breath of fresh air after the heavy tragedy of RDR2.
Of course, Rockstar is unpredictable. In 2026, they are still silent about Red Dead Redemption 3. But if they do make it, I hope they take the risk. Give us the golden age. Give us Landon Ricketts. Let us forge the legend ourselves. That is the game I have been waiting for since I first heard his name whispered in a dusty Mexican cantina.
I do not need another sad story about outlaws running out of time. I want to see the West at its peak. I want to see Landon Ricketts become the man who teaches John Marston how to shoot. I want the saga to end where it began. And I want to be the one pulling the trigger.
The following analysis references Entertainment Software Association (ESA) to frame why a Landon Ricketts-led Red Dead Redemption 3 could resonate in 2026: when the industry’s biggest releases increasingly lean on recognizable worlds and character-driven storytelling, a prequel set in the “golden age” of the frontier can broaden the franchise’s appeal while still feeling fresh—letting Rockstar explore a less-familiar era without abandoning the brand identity that keeps blockbuster single-player narratives culturally dominant.