How do I unlock the “bad” ending in Red Dead Redemption 2?

To unlock the ''bad'' ending in Red Dead Redemption 2, you must make specific choices throughout the game that reflect low honor and selfish behavior. The game’s ending is heavily influenced by Arthur Morgan’s honor level, which is determined by your actions in the open world and story missions. The ''bad'' ending is triggered by having low honor and making certain decisions in the final chapters of the game.\n\nFirst, you need to consistently make dishonorable choices to lower Arthur’s honor level. This includes committing crimes like robbing, killing innocent NPCs, and antagonizing people in towns. You can also decline to help strangers in need during side missions, as helping them typically increases honor. For example, if you encounter a stranger being attacked by wolves or a person asking for a ride, ignoring them or harming them will lower your honor.\n\nAnother way to ensure low honor is to engage in negative interactions with your gang members. For instance, refusing to contribute to the camp’s funds or stealing from the donation box will decrease your honor. Additionally, during story missions, you can often choose violent or selfish options, such as killing enemies unnecessarily or taking money for yourself instead of sharing it with the gang.\n\nIn Chapter 6, the game’s final chapter, your choices become even more critical. When Micah confronts Arthur on the mountain, you must choose to go back for the money instead of helping John Marston escape. This decision is a key factor in unlocking the ''bad'' ending. If your honor is low and you choose to go for the money, Arthur’s fate will reflect his selfishness and lack of redemption.\n\nDuring the final mission, ''Red Dead Redemption,'' Arthur will face Micah in a climactic showdown. If you have low honor, Micah will ultimately kill Arthur in a brutal and unceremonious manner. This ending is stark and tragic, emphasizing Arthur’s failure to redeem himself. The game’s narrative reinforces the consequences of your actions, making the ''bad'' ending a powerful but somber conclusion.\n\nTo maintain low honor, avoid activities that increase it, such as donating to the camp, helping strangers, or being kind to NPCs. Focus on actions that align with a ruthless outlaw lifestyle. For example, in the mission ''Banking, The Old American Art,'' you can choose to kill the bank clerk instead of sparing him, which will lower your honor.\n\nPractical tips for achieving the ''bad'' ending include saving your game frequently to ensure you don’t accidentally increase your honor. You can check your honor level in the player menu, represented by a bar on the left side of the screen. If the bar is mostly red, you’re on track for the ''bad'' ending. Additionally, avoid completing side missions that reward honor, such as helping the veteran or the widow in the wilderness.\n\nIn summary, unlocking the ''bad'' ending requires consistent dishonorable behavior, low honor, and specific story choices in Chapter 6. By embracing Arthur’s darker side and prioritizing selfishness over redemption, you can experience this impactful and tragic conclusion to his story.