Red Dead Redemption 2 Players Horrified By John Marston's Real Age

7 hours ago 1

John Marston holds two pistols and fires one of them at night in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Bruno Yonezawa is a Gaming Senior Writer for Screen Rant. He's been practicing professional journalism for over 10 years, and is also a communications specialist. He's played games all his life and turned that passionate hobby into a passionate career, in an industry where he's worked as a writer, editor, analyst, and more.

John Marston’s real age in Red Dead Redemption 2 has shocked players who were unaware of how old he is, especially in comparison to how old he looks in the open-world action-adventure game. Marston is the protagonist of the first entry in the series, though he plays an important secondary role in the second title, which is a prequel. Red Dead Redemption 2’s protagonists echo each other, even if a lot is open to interpretation.

Even though Marston isn’t the main character in the second installment, he is still extremely relevant and beloved, especially to fans of the original title who get to see him under a new light. While there are several details that are revealed about him in the game, there is one that has left players in awe. As seen in a post made by Reddit user NotExactlyIrish, John Marston’s age in Red Dead Redemption 2 is surprising, given his visible constitution.

How Old Is John Marston In Red Dead Redemption 2?

The Character Is Younger Than He Looks

John Marston with a rifle over his shoulder in RDR 2

As is highlighted by the Reddit post, John Marston is 26 years old in 1899, when the second game takes place. This means that the outlaw is just a young adult by today’s standards – and it is precisely because of that the Reddit user made the post to begin with. In it, they showcase how unbelievably young Marston is in Red Dead Redemption 2 in comparison to how old he looks.

Evidenced by the screenshot centered around Marston’s face, his demeanor is that of someone who has aged beyond what you would expect from a 26-year-old man. His skin is dry, he has some heavy wrinkles around his eyes, and both his poorly tended hair and beard make him look much older than he really is. The scars on John Marston’s face also add to how he is perceived as someone more mature.

Gamers Are Finding It Hard To Believe

A Lot Could Explain Marston’s Premature Aging In RDR2

Sadie Adler and John Marston firing their pistols just outside of a building

Fans of the game have shown surprise in learning his age in the Reddit post, but a few do go on to explain why he may look older than he is. Reddit user Holiday-Farm3684 highlights that Marston may have prematurely aged because of smoking, drinking, and living a hard life. In response to their comment, user Harry_Saturn also mentions the large intake of sunlight without sunscreen.

This actually makes a lot of sense. Excessive sunlight can help age a person, drying their skin and making wrinkles more evident, and the Van Der Linde gang in RDR2 were always on the road. Moreover, at the time, it wasn’t even known how much exposure to sunlight could be a problem aside from potential sunburns from UV radiation, and sunscreen wasn’t as much of a priority as it is nowadays, despite being a centuries-old invention.

Considering Marston’s rough way of life and how much he was exposed to UV rays and bad habits, it comes as no surprise that he looks a lot older than he truly is in the game. It’s still shocking to learn that he is only 26 years old during Red Dead Redemption 2, but it does make sense when you analyze how poorly the final years of the Wild West expansion treated its explorers.