Nobody Drinks Water in Red Dead Redemption 2, Sparking Debate Among Players

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Red Dead Redemption 2 does not explicitly show any character drinking water, and a Reddit post by user CringeyDeeds69 has reignited discussion about the omission. Saloons offer beer and whiskey, shops do not sell water, and roadside taps and wells offer no option to drink. The post has received more than 2700 upvotes, with players discussing the omission in the comments.

The omission stands out in a game so focused on everyday detail. Arthur can eat, wash his face, smoke, and drink, while camp residents follow their own routines. Yet nobody appears to stop for a simple drink of water. That focus makes the missing interaction especially noticeable.

Some players have offered a historical explanation. They argue that water quality in the 19th-century American West may have been unreliable or unsafe, making alcoholic drinks more common. They also suggest that drinking habits could have been connected to the belief that alcohol could kill germs. That remains a player interpretation, however, rather than an explanation established by the game.

Arthur may drink water after all. Some players mention an occasional loading-screen animation in which he kneels beside a river, cups water in his hands, washes his face, and drinks. Another mission lets players shove a drunk man into a horse trough, which could just about count as a drinking scene, though it is hardly a normal hydration routine.

The more convincing answer is that this was a design choice. Drinking water and using the bathroom could add more everyday detail. Put every routine into the game, though, and Red Dead Redemption 2 could quickly start feeling more like a life simulator. For players who simply want to ride across the frontier, eating and drinking occasionally already provide enough routine without adding another one to manage.

Years after Red Dead Redemption 2 launched, players are still debating whether its characters drink water. The fact that players still notice details like this speaks to the game’s high density of detail. Some players would welcome a proper drinking interaction for the sake of completeness. Others prefer the simpler design as it stands.

Did you notice that the characters almost never drink water? Would adding the feature make the world feel more complete, or would it simply make the game more tedious?