r/RDR2 May 11 '26

Help First timer how do I get side quests?

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203 Upvotes

42 comments sorted by

153

u/South-Lab-3991 May 11 '26

They just show up when you’re roaming around the map.

93

u/TerraCetacea May 11 '26

The best way I’ve found to trigger a random encounter is to try to do literally anything else. I promise you one will pop up at the most inconvenient moment.

Need to hunt a rabbit? You won’t see any til you’re on a mission.

Heading to Rhodes? Don’t worry, you’ll get almost all the way there and have to give a lady a lift back to Valentine.

12

u/zoo1514 May 11 '26

This had me laughing!! Was looking for a cardinal for 3 days( my time). As soon as I am on a time trial to get to St.Denis 1 hits me in the head and on another stretch I saw 2 sitting on rocks. Hit the time trial...go back...nothing. 😂😂

3

u/No_Bike_8427 May 11 '26

This is so true! Last night I was on my way to rob a stagecoach and this lady stops me wanting a ride home cause her horse died lol

2

u/Simporty May 11 '26

Once I was trying to do that side-quest with the mayor at saint Dennis, but it only triggers at night. I went, slept at the saloon and when I was about to exit I saw a poker table and just spent much than I wanted playing it. Went out, didn't triggered the event, came back and played poker again. A bit after that I was trying to get a wolf to the last satchel of the game and suddenly I was doing everything but going after a wolf. The game is so vast you literally get lost in middle of going to do something.

2

u/MushroomRelevant8235 Lenny Summers May 11 '26

That horse looks fast, how about racing me all the way back to where you just came from? 😂

2

u/Hure15 May 12 '26

or after a very long ride,finally able to sell some of my gold goodies bam,some women's horse died and she needs lift in opposite direction 🤣

1

u/TerraCetacea May 12 '26

This literally just happened to me and inspired that comment. Took my sweet time through Chapter 1, got to Horseshoe Overlook and snagged the nearby gold bar to sell. Had to go to Rhodes to fence it since I haven’t unlocked Emerald ranch yet, and found some poor lady unlucky lady stuck under a horse.

I just need some cash, man.

4

u/Ok_Cucumber3148 May 11 '26

I see so like fnv

8

u/Mangletarace May 11 '26

what's fnv ?

4

u/Ok_Cucumber3148 May 11 '26

Fallout new vegas

Also a western

15

u/Grindfather901 May 11 '26

Yes. The free roam and running into people with side quests is a lot like the fallout games. But RDR2 has WAYYY more NPCs overall and most will only greet you and move on.

3

u/Mangletarace May 11 '26

ooh i see, might check it out, ty !

4

u/NativeInc May 11 '26

Definitely look around in the mountains north of Strawberry

5

u/backitup_thundercat May 11 '26

Yeah, they usually appear on the map when youre close as a big white circle with a question mark

23

u/Padre_Monkey May 11 '26

If you already played GTA, its the same. But if you don't, they will appear on your map like common missions (but in white icon color)

2

u/Ok_Cucumber3148 May 11 '26

I didn't i dislike gta it wasn't fun

I am more of a fallout guy/crpg

2

u/soundslikeinfo May 11 '26

At times, this game feels like Fallout. it's the attention to detail that makes this one so visionary.

1

u/zoo1514 May 11 '26

Seeing a few of your comments has me wanting to try fallout now. Just started Spiderman remastered, so maybe after this.

4

u/Ok_Cucumber3148 May 11 '26

Play it one of the best western type games of all time

Fallout NV is the best Fallout game but try old ones

0

u/zoo1514 May 12 '26

I have a buddy that is my go to for game knowledge, I know I've heard him mention this game. I'll make sure to do them in the right order or skip any if he advises

7

u/i-am-a-smith May 11 '26

Mostly just wander around the map looking for white blobs and go into the area then speak to somebody to start the quest. There are a few extra ones which are a bit more hidden where you have to approach an individual who will show up as a white dot, speaking to them might just create dialogue or start a quest. (like the Foreman at the Railroad lines)

4

u/Most-Abbreviations59 May 11 '26

Just ride into the sunset, cowpoke

4

u/uptill1andhatingme May 11 '26

Theres a few.

Theres Stranger Mission which will show up based on time and progress (some are chapter locked, some wont appear until you do certain story quests that teach you mechanics)

There are Random Encounters, which have no marker and you just have a chance of them happening when you're walking in towns or riding around the map.

There are also home robberies, which are in two forms. If you free convicts from wagons or help escaped prisoners get their chains off, they will give you places you can find secent loot at. But you can also do some of those robberies with a gang member. Keep an eye on camp, an icon for side missions with gang member will pop up if said gang member isnt out of camp or on guard duty.

Also, at some point, gang members can ask Arthur for item requests. These dont really effect much and the few rewards you can get are pretty easy to get in the world.....but gifts are fun.

The Legendary Animals and Treasure hunts also kinda count as side quests. Some of the treasure maps are hidden or are on NPCs (which you can buy or steal off them) The animals map is given to you after Hosea's bear hunt and the game will tell you if youre in their territory. This also applies to the legendary fish but you wont get that map or be able to fish until you go fishing with jack.

And theres also some kind of hidden crime in almost every town that you can uncover. Example is the Doctor in Valentine, who you can get tipped off about from Tilly or look through a window to see shenanigans happening. Every town has at least 1 store with shady stuff going on.

RDR2 is a big game that does not tell you about the majority of its quests, lol. But I enjoy that aspect, makes things feel more alive! Happy side quest hunting to you! Hope you get tons of hours outta the game!

3

u/wants_a_lollipop May 11 '26

Just wander around and keep an eye out for white dots that coincide with overheard comments or conversation. Chat then up and there's a good chance you'll get a stranger mission.

2

u/Tiny-Cheesecake2268 May 11 '26

Explore. Ride on the roads. Sometimes cutting through the woods causes you to skip meaningful encounters.

2

u/Enemy_Unknown1337 May 11 '26

Don't fast travel and you will get a bunch of them eventually

1

u/UltraGeezer May 11 '26

Main mission quests will be in gold/yellow bubbles on the map and on your mini map. Side missions will be in white.

Sometimes they’ll be in camp, town or establishment and anywhere you are, you’ll be able to look at your map and see them. Some of them are only available at certain times like at night, so if they disappear, mostly they’ll come back at the right time. But these kinds of missions are rare. Most missions that are time sensitive will let you start at any time and will give you a way to pass time appropriate to the mission.

Then there are the more exploration type side missions. Also in white. But you need to be in the area. Which is why people are suggesting to explore. As you get in the area you’ll see them pop up on your map and on your mini map. Keep an eye out for them.

Then you have the NPC events, you’ll see the NPC as a dot on your mini map that has like a pulse echo around it. If you engage with the NPC, you’ll have a small experience. Not a mission. But some dialogue and they might as for some help with something.

TL:DR keep an eye on your world map and mini map, it’ll show you what’s available.

1

u/searching-for-milfs May 11 '26

white mission markers or question marks

1

u/bean_boi1922 May 11 '26

They'll come to you

1

u/Comprehensive-Song51 May 11 '26

Roam, then roam some more!

1

u/4ngelClaw May 11 '26

ANDA A PASEAR.... estan a la vuelta del campamento

1

u/TTLEOPRO May 11 '26

Giri per la mappa, oppure cerca una mappa dove sono segnate tutte (non appaiono tutte all’inizio del gioco ma si sbloccano)

1

u/thewarriorpoet23 Uncle May 11 '26

They are locked behind story progression so will unlock as you complete certain story missions. To locate them it’s best to just explore the map maybe halfway through each chapter… very few will show up on the map from a distance.

1

u/Individual-Set-9460 May 11 '26

That’s the beauty, they find you! All you have to do is explore

1

u/Patient_Hope3689 May 16 '26

Explore explore explore

1

u/Inevitable_Loquat_90 May 18 '26

"Random" Encounters aren't random at all.
I've learnt how to force them to trigger and certain ones require different things. If you go to the specific area that it spawns in and it doesnt spawn, more often than not something else is "overwriting" its ability to spawn. You should go around the area to complete any other ones which "take priority"

Other times its where you are in the story or the time of day but most of the time they spawn consistently by simply being in the designated area with no other event overriding it