I have mixed feelings about RDR2. The production value was top notch, but for an open-world game it was excessively linear and narrative-driven rather than game

I have mixed feelings about RDR2. The production value was top notch, but for an open-world game it was excessively linear and narrative-driven rather than gameplay-driven. The gameplay that was there was also a bit clunky/slow. People defend it as a "cowboy simulator", but all of the interesting outlaw/cowboy stuff you can do is mostly relegated to tightly orchestrated missions. I can't just ride my horse into a town and rob a bank if the story deemed it inappropriate at that time. I also didn't like that the narrative was about getting enough money to escape the law, but no matter how much I accumulated through the open-ended activities I COULD engage in, I could never move the needle unless the narrative dictated. Not simulator-ish at all.