Cowboy games: The best Western games in 2025

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Western-themed video games aren’t as frequently developed by game creators compared to what one might expect. Rockstar Games has provided some exceptional titles in this genre, yet many other developers seem to have retreated, taking refuge while waiting for the cowboy drama to pass. However, there are a handful of courageous individuals who have taken up the challenge and crafted outstanding games tailored for virtual outlaws, if you’re willing to search them out.

Set your clock to high noon and let’s dive in. 

Weird West

In the peculiar world of Weird West, you’ll encounter a wide variety of uncanny phenomena, yet nothing its toughness can’t handle. Initially, it follows a conventional Western plotline for revenge, but soon transforms into an unusual tale. Before long, you’ll find yourself committing bank heists as a pigman and battling hordes of ravenous zombies. Whether you’re wielding a hammer or using your cowboy boots to kick someone through a window, Weird West offers a thrilling, action-packed experience.

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger

As a grizzled bounty hunter in the old west, I find myself immersed in the action-packed world of Gunslinger. My mission: chase down a band of notorious outlaws across dusty saloons and desolate graveyards. This isn’t your average shootout; it’s raw, intense, and as unforgiving as a gunfight in Call of Duty – but with the added thrill of dynamite and revolvers!

West of Loathing

One fun aspect of cowboy-themed games is that each one offers a unique experience. While Weird West and Gunslinger provide distinct adventures, West of Loathing offers an unusual twist. Instead of carrying a traditional double-barrel shotgun, you’re a stick figure cowboy who must confront beefy adversaries. Rather than shooting them, you simply punch these stick cows in their silly stick heads.

Blood West

In a genre-blending twist, Blood West combines the intense firefights of Doom with the strategic choices of Deus Ex, all set against a hauntingly supernatural Wild West backdrop. Despite its vintage visual style, it creates an immersive atmosphere of tension and occasional terror. The game allows you to choose between stealthy maneuvers or all-out gunfights, giving you control over your playstyle.

Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath

It seems only the creators of these games can explain their unusual nature. There’s a certain quirkiness in the local water supply that somehow influences their design. For instance, Stranger’s Wrath, an FPS set in the same universe as Abe’s Oddysey, replaces traditional shotgun ammunition with guns that discharge live slugs instead.

Hunt: Showdown 1896

As a gamer, I’d describe Hunt: Showdown as being reminiscent of Escape from Tarkov – it’s an adrenaline-pumping extraction shooter. In each game, you and a few other teams are dropped onto a map with the goal of taking down fearsome boss creatures and snatching the valuable bounty they offer. The catch? Everyone else on the server is after that same prize! It’s a nerve-wracking experience where a single misstep – like stepping on hidden glass shards – could mean getting shot dead by a bolt action rifle. There aren’t many games as heart-stoppingly intense as this one.

Fallout: New Vegas

Bypassing the mutants and the backdrop of post-apocalyptic Las Vegas, focus on the tumbleweeds instead. Pay attention to the narrative, where you find yourself buried alive, then embark on a quest for vengeance. Notice the dilapidated shacks and weathered weaponry. Essentially, Fallout: New Vegas is a game reminiscent of the Wild West, and it’s exceptionally good.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2, a game that outshines all other cowboy-themed games, is a brilliant work brimming with tributes to classic spaghetti Westerns. It flawlessly replicates the thrilling action scenes found in cowboy movies, where toppling enemies over railings after a well-aimed shot remains exhilarating. However, it’s not just about the high-octane action; it also beautifully encapsulates the tranquility of the vast, untamed wilderness. Riding through this expansive landscape is therapeutic and immersive.

Hard West

Cowboys and the supernatural share an unusual pairing, much like lemons and fish, but it’s this very unique blend that makes Hard West such a delightful gaming experience. If you’ve dabbled in games like XCOM, consider Hard West as a mystical cowboy adaptation of those strategies. It nails turn-based tactics perfectly.

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2025-04-16 14:16