New Hanover is the better fit if you want to explore a state introduced in Red Dead Redemption 2 during the main story. New Austin is the pick if you want to revisit the frontier from the original Red Dead Redemption—but safe story-mode exploration there is a late-game prospect. Neither state is officially ranked as better; the choice comes down to timing, franchise history and the kind of exploration you want.
New Austin vs. New Hanover at a glance
| Factor | New Hanover | New Austin |
|---|---|---|
| Series history | Introduced in Red Dead Redemption 2 | Returns from the original Red Dead Redemption |
| Story-mode timing | Available in the main-story context | Safe exploration is available only after completing Chapter 6, according to RDR2.org’s points-of-interest guide |
| Wildlife and climate | Part of the game’s overall range of habitats and climates; no state-specific species total is established | Part of the same game-wide ecological variety; no state-specific species total is established |
| Best fit | Players who want a state new to the series and an earlier story exploration destination | Players drawn to the returning frontier and willing to wait until late in the story |
| Official state-area comparison | Not stated | Not stated |
The franchise-history distinction comes from RDR2.org’s map guide, an unofficial fan reference. The timing distinction is the more practical one for a first story playthrough: New Hanover is part of the main-story setting, while New Austin’s safe exploration is described as post-Chapter 6.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Red Dead Redemption 2 PS4 Brand New Factory Sealed | $23.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Red Dead Redemption 2 (XBox One) | $25.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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X1 RED DEAD REDEMPTION 2 | $23.34 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Red Dead Redemption - PlayStation 4 | $24.39 | Buy on Amazon |
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Which state should you explore first?
Choose New Hanover for a first-time story playthrough
New Hanover suits players who want to explore somewhere new to the Red Dead series without treating the region as a late-game destination. It was introduced in Red Dead Redemption 2, alongside Ambarino and Lemoyne. If you are asking “which state is better in RDR2?” and mean “which one is more practical to explore during the main story?”, New Hanover is the more straightforward recommendation.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Choose New Austin for a return to the first game’s frontier
New Austin returns from the original Red Dead Redemption, so its appeal is partly about recognition: it gives returning players a chance to revisit a familiar part of the series’ world. The trade-off is timing. RDR2.org’s points-of-interest guide says New Austin can be explored safely in story mode only after Chapter 6. That makes it a better fit for players who are prepared to reach the late game rather than prioritizing it early.
#1 Best Overall
- From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption
- The deepest and most complex world Rockstar Games has ever created
- Covers a huge range of 19th century American landscapes
- Play as Arthur Morgan, lead enforcer in the notorious Van der Linde gang
- Interact with every character in the world with more than just your gun;Engage in conversation with people you meet. Your actions influence Arthur's honour;Horses are a cowboy's best friend, both transport and personal companion;Bond with your horse as you ride together to unlock new abilities
These are preference-based recommendations, not an official quality ranking. Rockstar has not supplied a New Austin-versus-New Hanover verdict in the cited material.
How the states fit into RDR2’s world
Red Dead Redemption 2’s map contains five fictional states: New Hanover, Ambarino and Lemoyne were new to the series, while New Austin and West Elizabeth returned from the original Red Dead Redemption. This context explains why the two states can feel like different kinds of destinations: one is part of the series’ expansion in RDR2, and the other carries a connection to the earlier game.
Rank #2
- From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption
- The deepest and most complex world Rockstar Games has ever created. 4K Ultra HD not available on Xbox One or Xbox One S consoles
- Covers a huge range of 19th century American landscapes
- Play as Arthur Morgan, lead enforcer in the notorious Van der Linde gang
- Interact with every character in the world with more than just your gun
That distinction should not be mistaken for a complete description of their landscapes or activities. Rockstar’s release-era wildlife feature describes a world with diverse habitats and climates and around 200 species of animals, birds and fish. That is a whole-game figure, not a count for either state. Rockstar says the species behave and respond to their environments in unique ways; the number does not establish which state has more wildlife.
PlayStation.Blog’s October 1, 2018 article gives broader release-era context for the game’s range of environments and activities, including plains, mountains, swamps and towns, as well as hunting and crafting. Those examples describe the game overall, not a standardized state-by-state comparison. They can help set expectations for RDR2’s varied world, but they do not prove that New Austin or New Hanover offers more to do.
Rank #3
- Get exclusive access to a bank robbery mission
- A collection of exclusive story mode boosts, bonuses and discounts
- Get three weapons Free at gunsmiths
What the available comparisons do—and do not—establish
The evidence supports a useful decision based on story timing and series history. It does not support a definitive ranking based on state size, activity count or wildlife totals. No official comparative state-area figure or state-by-state species tally is established in the cited material, so claims that one state is larger, denser or richer in wildlife would go beyond what is known here.
- For earlier story exploration: New Hanover is the clearer choice because New Austin’s safe story-mode exploration is described as available only after Chapter 6.
- For franchise nostalgia: New Austin has the direct connection to the original Red Dead Redemption.
- For wildlife: Use Rockstar’s around-200-species figure as a whole-game description, not as a state comparison.
- For map size or activity variety: There is no established state-by-state figure or standardized activity comparison in the cited material.
Bottom line: timing or nostalgia?
Pick New Hanover if you want a state new to the series and a destination that fits the main-story experience. Pick New Austin if revisiting the first game’s frontier matters more and you are willing to wait until after Chapter 6 for safe story-mode exploration. Neither choice is objectively superior; the strongest difference is when each suits your playthrough and what its place in the series means to you.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- When federal agents threaten his family, former outlaw John Marston is forced to hunt down the gang of criminals he once called friends.
- Experience Marston’s journey across the sprawling expanses of the American West and Mexico as he fights to bury his blood-stained past in the critically acclaimed adventure.
- Also included is Undead Nightmare, the ground-breaking horror story expansion that transforms the world of Red Dead Redemption into an apocalyptic fight for survival against a zombie horde.
- Experience the epic western adventures that defined a generation
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