Blood West

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,883 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Blood West Game Cover
Blood West is a fantastic stealth FPS with some light immersive sim elements. The world feels incredibly bleak, yet super atmospheric, definitely worth the pickup!
Starting at €24.99Buy now
Get on Steam

"Blood West" is a horror-themed, action-adventure game set in a Western environment. Play as a bounty hunter with supernatural abilities, facing off against undead creatures and solving puzzles. With a blend of gunplay, melee combat, and stealth, players must navigate a creepy frontier town while uncovering its dark secrets.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,883 reviews
gameplay267 positive mentions
grinding75 negative mentions
  • Engaging stealth mechanics that reward careful planning and exploration.
  • Unique setting combining Western themes with horror elements, creating a captivating atmosphere.
  • Variety of weapons and artifacts that allow for different playstyles and character builds.
  • Punishing death mechanics that can lead to frustrating gameplay, especially with stacking debuffs.
  • Inconsistent enemy AI that can undermine the stealth experience.
  • Lack of meaningful story progression and character development, particularly in later chapters.
  • gameplay801 mentions

    The gameplay of "Blood West" is characterized by a blend of stealth mechanics, RPG elements, and a punishing difficulty reminiscent of souls-like games. Players appreciate the atmospheric setting and the satisfying gunplay, though many note that the gameplay can become repetitive and frustrating due to steep learning curves, clunky mechanics, and a lack of variety in enemy design and combat options. While the core gameplay loop of exploration, looting, and tactical combat is engaging, some players feel that the mechanics need further refinement to enhance the overall experience.

    • “I loved the gameplay (thief and hunt showdown combined), I loved the setting and this game gave me a very refreshing experience.”
    • “The gameplay is solid and simple, like westerns.”
    • “The gameplay loop is rock solid, the atmosphere is moody and dark, the monster designs are excellent, the campy voice acting is 100% reminiscent of blood.”
    • “The gameplay gets so repetitive that you want to call the game a douchebag and throw it out the window.”
    • “Gameplay is fine but there are steep learning curves and the stealth gameplay and purposeful clunk makes large enemy encounters and boss fights very frustrating.”
    • “But from my perspective, almost every mechanic is seemingly designed to be the complete antithesis of fun, and the hour I spent in the game was so frustrating that it wasn't worth it to try any longer.”
  • story444 mentions

    The story in "Blood West" is generally described as intriguing yet simplistic, often serving as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate the environmental storytelling and the dark, western-themed narrative, many criticize the plot for being linear and filled with fetch quests, leading to a lack of depth and engagement. Overall, the game offers a compelling atmosphere and interesting lore, but the execution of the story leaves much to be desired, particularly in later acts where it feels disjointed and anticlimactic.

    • “The story is engaging and interesting with a few unexpected, and expected twists.”
    • “The game's narrative unfolds through environmental storytelling, cryptic messages, and encounters with haunting NPCs, creating an immersive and unsettling experience.”
    • “Being cursed after death and trying to find a way to free yourself from the horrors of the undead is a pretty fun story plot that is executed greatly.”
    • “The only part that I'd say is 'bad' is the story.”
    • “I assume it's a side effect of early access development, but the story has major plot holes or continuity issues.”
    • “The story is almost non-existent, but it doesn't really matter because the atmosphere and world-building work well.”
  • graphics400 mentions

    The graphics of "Blood West" are characterized by a nostalgic retro aesthetic, reminiscent of 90s and early 2000s games, particularly those with low-poly designs. Many players appreciate the unique art style, which effectively complements the game's dark, eerie atmosphere and wild west theme, despite some initial reservations about its dated appearance. While the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they are praised for their charm and ability to enhance the overall immersive experience.

    • “The graphics are suitably creepy but maintain a retro feel.”
    • “The retro visuals create a bleak yet vibrant overall atmosphere, while many charming elements of the art will keep your eyes busy, namely the weapons and enemies.”
    • “I love the low-res art style and the heavy atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are disgusting.”
    • “The game is so dark that I set gamma to a fairly high level, and even then I'm supposed to melt my eyes in order to search for collectibles among this dirty mess which pretty much defines the whole game visuals.”
    • “The graphics seem primitive on the first look but it delivers the alien, barren, bizarre, and unknown feeling right on the spot.”
  • atmosphere278 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Blood West" is widely praised for its dark, eerie, and immersive qualities, effectively blending horror elements with a unique wild west aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the game's impressive sound design, music, and retro visuals, which contribute to a thick sense of tension and exploration. While some note that the gameplay mechanics can detract from the overall experience, the atmospheric world-building and creative enemy designs are consistently recognized as standout features that enhance player engagement.

    • “The biggest praise I can give this game is how thick and oppressive the atmosphere is.”
    • “Blood West drips with atmosphere and you can tell the devs put a lot of care and work into the game.”
    • “The atmosphere is really quite something, and I never tired of traversing dusty canyons, old mines, abandoned towns, nasty swamps and foreboding woods, some moments even provided really subtle visual storytelling, which enhanced the spooky mood even more.”
    • “The soundtrack got old quickly and honestly ruined the atmosphere a bit, so I turned that off pretty early.”
    • “The pacing can be pretty slow, but that honestly helps the atmosphere breathe and gives more immersion for a game like this, in my opinion.”
    • “The game is very raw, and moving away from invisible walls ruins the atmosphere.”
  • music135 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric and eerie qualities, effectively enhancing the dark, western setting. However, many players noted issues with repetitive tracks and limited variety, leading to moments where the music felt stale or absent. Despite these criticisms, standout elements like the end credits song and overall sound design contribute positively to the immersive experience.

    • “The sound design is equally impressive, with a haunting soundtrack that perfectly complements the game’s dark tone.”
    • “The music is killer, and the main menu theme is especially great.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, and sound design are top-notch.”
    • “First of all, the music controller is bad; it mainly just loops a track after a certain location trigger is walked through. This is a complete waste of the great music the game has because if you clear an area with stealth from afar before you walk in, you'll find yourself only ever hearing spooky tone-setting music once you're in a looting frenzy.”
    • “The soundtrack got old quickly and honestly ruined the atmosphere a bit, so I turned that off pretty early.”
    • “Only cons I really have about the game as a whole are: the soundtrack, which is underwhelming, as most of the time you'll hear scary ambient background noise, which is good, but it's not really music and can get old after a couple of hours.”
  • grinding78 mentions

    The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly due to enemy respawns and the need for constant resource management. While some players appreciate the fast-paced gameplay and generous resource distribution that minimizes grinding, others feel that the mechanics lead to a frustrating cycle of re-clearing areas and managing inventory, ultimately detracting from the overall enjoyment. The game's design choices, such as limited weapon slots and slow ammo acquisition, contribute to a sense of tedium that can overshadow its more engaging elements.

    • “It helps that the inventory system isn't too tedious to tackle.”
    • “Buying large amounts of ammo can be quite tedious since you have to wait to sleep to reset the NPC's inventory, and each reset only nets you a couple of bullets.”
    • “It's just tedious to constantly clear out the same areas again and again.”
    • “The game is held back by poorly implemented souls-like mechanics that make the game boring, frustrating, and tedious rather than tense, challenging, and fun.”
  • optimization57 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing occasional stuttering and performance dips, particularly in later chapters. While many users report smooth performance on high-end systems, others highlight significant optimization issues that detract from the experience. Recent patches have improved performance for some, but many still feel that further optimization is needed to fully enhance gameplay.

    • “In terms of performance, runs great, optimization is very good.”
    • “A recent patch has added a slew of fixes, including multiple backup saves, a prompt on save deletion, and somehow massive performance increases up to +30fps and +70% performance overall, which is basically something you never hear of these days... a finely optimized game?”
    • “I really like the setting and performance was great - no real technical issues.”
    • “Optimization is lacking.”
    • “Optimization is a joke.”
    • “I love this game a lot, but it's really poorly optimized.”
  • replayability39 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag. While some players appreciate the potential for exploration and varied playstyles, many criticize the lack of features like New Game+ and difficulty settings, which limits replay value. Despite this, certain titles within the genre offer enough content and hidden secrets to encourage multiple playthroughs, though the experience may feel repetitive for some.

    • “With its branching paths and open-ended exploration, Blood West offers considerable replay value.”
    • “A great mix of stealth and shooting, with several possible playstyles depending on what gear you find, adding replayability value.”
    • “Pros: good story, great scenery, fluid combat, excellent portrayal of darker themes, monsters are numerous, and are scary and fun to fight, monsters range in difficulty every area, the boss fights are all distinctly unique in their own way, lots of collectibles/weapons to be found, numerous RPG perks when leveling up, rewarding for the exploring type, difficulty is based on your patience as a gamer, but most importantly this game has serious replay value; you will play through it once, and again, and again... and again!”
    • “I don’t think there is much replayability here in my opinion, especially since there are no difficulty settings or any endgame content.”
    • “What you're getting up-front is a roughly 15-hour singleplayer experience with very limited replayability.”
    • “As far as I know, there isn't a new game+ which is unfortunate because a lot of this game's replay value is going back through the game to complete achievements, build a new character, and find unique items you may have missed the first time.”
  • humor29 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it genuinely funny through clever character banter and dark humor, while others criticize it as unfunny or repetitive. The voice acting ranges from amusingly bad to cringe-worthy, contributing to a comedic atmosphere that some enjoy but others find detracts from the experience. Overall, the humor is hit-or-miss, appealing to those who appreciate its quirky charm but leaving others unimpressed.

    • “Secrets in every corner, gallows humor, smooth gameplay, good story, and countless deaths along the way.”
    • “I just love it, the story is solid, humor is great, the portrayal of cryptids and scary creatures in new fun ways.”
    • “All in all, I would heavily recommend Blood West to practically everyone - I love the vibe of the game, the art style, the boomer shooter inspirations, and just having a really great and solid western/horror game with a great sense of humor.”
    • “If reproducing a deeply unfunny version of Keystone Cops sounds like a great time, this is the game for you.”
    • “If he's supposed to be funny, then well done, don't listen to me.”
  • stability21 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report a generally smooth experience with minimal crashes and good optimization, others encounter significant glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, particularly with NPCs and weapon mechanics. Some users appreciate the game's potential despite these issues, suggesting that it remains enjoyable for those willing to overlook the rough spots. Frequent updates from developers are noted as a positive sign for future improvements.

    • “Little to no glitches and well-balanced items all around.”
    • “In terms of performance, it runs great; optimization is very good.”
    • “It's also very stable and relatively bug-free for an early access title.”
    • “I will write a separate review for the DLC, but the glitches deleted my NPCs and I couldn't continue.”
    • “I had a considerable amount of glitches while running through this map, several enemies did not spawn until they were within 15 meters of me, the end boss got stuck in a tree and I couldn't shoot or damage it, and some enemies appeared seemingly out of nowhere even in cleared areas.”
    • “Bugs, performance issues, and glitches all around, although not game-ruining so far.”
  • monetization12 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with players expressing frustration over the clunky aim-down-sights (ADS) mechanics that hinder combat effectiveness. While some players appreciate the introduction of toggleable ADS and feel that leveling up provides a sense of balance, others argue that the weapon mechanics, including projectile visibility and damage output, need improvement to enhance overall gameplay. Additionally, there are concerns about the utility of certain items, suggesting that better weapon performance could improve the game's monetization appeal.

    • “The amount of wobbling with aim-down-sight (ADS) is, in my opinion, completely overkill, considering how much nearly every enemy's head moves around just from them running at you.”
    • “Haven't run into any bugs or issues other than sometimes the guns in ADS are off-center, making it hard to aim using the iron sights - this mainly happened with the new pistol in chapter 2.”
    • “That being said, the ADS is a little clunky and can make combat more difficult than it needs to be.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players find the emotional experience of "Blood West" to be a mix of fun and nostalgia, appreciating its wholesome elements alongside the thrill of adventure. The game's unique blend of genres and retro aesthetics evoke strong feelings of comfort and excitement, while the challenge it presents can lead to frustration, ultimately enhancing the emotional investment in the gameplay. Overall, it is seen as an underrated gem that elicits a range of emotions from joy to challenge.

    • “Blood West is a super underrated game; it's a gem lost in the waves of other releases. The blend of genres and expression the game offers is a breath of fresh air. The aesthetics of a PSX game made me feel right at home. I just wish more people would discover this masterpiece.”
    • “I thought it was a retro FPS game; I did not read that it's a stealth game... I want to cry... it's too hard, but overall, a great and unique game ;)”
    • “It's pretty fun and wholesome compared to the real thing, but still leaves room for plenty of adventure.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted as lacking depth, with players expressing a desire for more progression and exploration of the protagonists' backgrounds. While the gameplay offers engaging mechanics and choices, the limited character development detracts from the overall experience, leaving some players feeling that it undermines the game's credibility.

    • “The gameplay is fun and features nice horror character design, but I would like to see more character development.”
    • “And that's about it for the protagonist's character development; nothing else is done with it for the rest of the game, really.”
    • “It's just a pity that character development and somewhat outdated mechanics occasionally disrupt the credibility of the entire experience.”
    • “Three big chapters, lots of enemy variations, inventory management, character development, your decision whether to go stealth or shooting around - there are items and perks for every playstyle.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

84% average critic score

Buy Blood West

Play time

17hMedian play time
16hAverage play time
6-28hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 25 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News