Red Dead Redemption 2 delivers a shockingly authentic Wild West experience, but one thing that it doesn't quite replicate is the difficulty of actually staying alive (one notable narrative beat aside). While there's always the chance of dying in a high-risk robbery, living off the land doesn't pose much of a challenge.
The Basic Needs mod for Red Dead Redemption 2, created by Nexus Mods user bolmin, tackles this limitation. A variety of new mechanics bolsters the survival experience, including trackers for "thirst, hunger, urination, exhaustion and equipment weight" that give players a lot more to worry about as they make their way through the story. If that sounds overwhelming, don't worry — features can be individually toggled to find the perfect balance between fun gameplay and survival grit.
Basic Needs has been around since 2020, and it's only gotten better over time. The version currently available is called the Final Cut, including a revised survival menu system that's easier to decipher at a glance. Before Basic Needs, bolmin released a fatigue and exhaustion mod for Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, laying the groundwork for Red Red Redemption 2's more expansive survival overhaul.r
Survival mods are common...
