Hard West

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,618 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Hard West Game Cover
Hard West is a turn-based strategy game that gives you an authentic western experience whilst pushing you to the limits of your ability.
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"Hard West" is a tactical turn-based strategy game set in a supernatural, Wild West universe. Lead a posse of outlaws, settlers, and survivors in a brutal, unforgiving frontier filled with danger and opportunity. Make difficult choices, manage resources, and engage in strategic gunfights to survive and prosper in this unforgiving land.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Gog Com
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,618 reviews
story666 positive mentions
stability111 negative mentions
  • Great tactical gameplay with a unique luck system that reduces RNG frustration.
  • Interesting dark western story with intertwining narratives and character perspectives.
  • Engaging card system that allows for customization of character abilities and bonuses.
  • Frequent game-breaking bugs, including characters getting stuck in movement loops.
  • No manual save option, forcing players to restart entire missions if they encounter issues.
  • Combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with limited enemy variety and AI behavior.
  • story2,092 mentions

    The story in "Hard West" is a dark and engaging narrative set in a supernatural version of the Wild West, featuring themes of revenge, demonic pacts, and moral choices. Players navigate through multiple scenarios that intertwine, each with its own unique mechanics and character arcs, although the episodic structure can lead to a disjointed experience. While the storytelling is praised for its atmosphere and depth, the lack of character progression and the inability to save mid-mission detract from the overall experience, making it frustrating at times.

    • “The story is very well written and builds an amazing fiction for the game's backdrop.”
    • “The story is dark, but shallow, which also describes the game as a whole.”
    • “The story is a mixture of Frankenstein and slave liberation, the main protagonists are the aptly named 'libertee', a wounded ex-slave, and the doctor that turns her into his 'monster'.”
    • “The story makes no sense.”
    • “The story is a mess.”
    • “The story is very dark, but shallow, which also describes the game as a whole.”
  • gameplay1,204 mentions

    The gameplay of "Hard West" is a blend of turn-based tactical combat reminiscent of the XCOM series, featuring unique mechanics such as a luck system that influences hit chances and special abilities. Players navigate through various scenarios, each introducing distinct gameplay elements, which keeps the experience fresh but can also lead to a sense of repetitiveness. While the combat mechanics are generally solid and engaging, some players find the overall gameplay experience marred by bugs, lack of depth in certain mechanics, and a disjointed narrative structure.

    • “Several campaigns with different base mechanics add variety, and the campaigns are liberally sprinkled with supernatural elements.”
    • “The combat mechanics are fairly basic but offer some neat tricks, such as ricochets to hit a person out of direct sight.”
    • “The gameplay has a solid loop and always keeps you nervous and on your toes.”
    • “The gameplay becomes instantly repetitive and the mobs lack variety.”
    • “Good idea, interesting world but has average gameplay and it gets repetitive to the point of not being fun at all in the end.”
    • “The gameplay is so bad... I can only play 90 minutes... I had to uninstall.”
  • graphics315 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the unique art style and atmospheric visuals that effectively capture the "weird west" theme. While some describe the graphics as decent or even beautiful, others note issues with optimization and performance, leading to crashes and overheating on certain systems. Overall, the visuals are generally considered satisfactory for the genre, though they may not meet modern standards for all players.

    • “The art style is simply gorgeous - it looks like an old sepia-toned photograph come to life!”
    • “Hard West is graphically gorgeous and it seriously captures the western feel.”
    • “The graphics are pleasing, the tactical combat is a lot of fun, character customization is intriguing, and the weapons are a kick.”
    • “The graphics are very last gen; the various stories in the form of vignettes have somewhat interesting concepts but are poorly written and don't really pull you into the world, and the acting is nothing to look at.”
    • “Graphics: characters are dull-looking standard models and most character portraits seem recycled copies of one another.”
    • “The game is not optimized and if you play the game too long it will overheat your graphics card.”
  • music231 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its excellent production and atmospheric qualities, effectively blending horror and western themes. Many reviewers highlighted the soundtrack's ability to enhance the game's immersive experience, although some noted that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music, composed by Marcin Przybyłowicz (known for his work on The Witcher 3), is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.

    • “The music was excellent and has a great mix of horror/western vibes to it.”
    • “It has an amazing soundtrack that perfectly sets the tone; the composer is the one who made the Witcher 3 soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack, the voice-over, and the script are all executed masterfully and work hard together to fully immerse you in the bleak, barren southern gothic realm.”
    • “The music feels a bit repetitive, but definitely gives off an eerie and dark tone, especially the demonic organ tracks.”
    • “The music, while done well, gets quite repetitive because there simply isn't enough of it.”
    • “Couple that with the fact that there are only about five or six tracks in the game and you will be sick to death of the music by the game's end.”
  • atmosphere218 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of dark, gritty western themes infused with supernatural elements, creating an immersive experience that captivates players. Many reviews highlight the excellent writing, voice acting, and music that enhance the overall ambiance, making it a standout feature despite some criticisms of gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game's atmospheric storytelling and artistic direction are considered its strongest attributes, appealing particularly to fans of the western genre and tactical gameplay.

    • “The atmosphere is phenomenal.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, and graphics are all really immersive and you would be daft to miss this little gem :)”
    • “The atmosphere and story, greatly enhanced by the narrator, is well worth the price of this game.”
    • “Everything is written so thinly, despite all the atmosphere.”
    • “I really want to like this game, I love the setting and atmosphere, but the combat is frankly extremely frustrating.”
    • “In the ~5 hours I've spent playing this game, I've had at least a dozen crashes, twice as many glitches and graphical artifacts, and experienced countless less detrimental bugs that jolt the player out of the game's atmosphere.”
  • stability113 mentions

    The game is widely reported to be extremely buggy, with frequent freezes, crashes, and AI issues that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players have experienced game-breaking glitches, particularly during combat and menu interactions, leading to frustration and the need to restart missions. While some enjoy the core concept, the overall stability issues make it difficult for many to recommend the game until substantial fixes are implemented.

    • “Runs great on my iMac with Big Sur.”
    • “It really felt like a polished, bug-free game, although I did play it almost a year after release.”
    • “A promising looking modern XCOM clone that glitches out enough to be unplayable.”
    • “Extremely buggy, almost every mission had to be restarted multiple times because of AI getting stuck in an infinite walking animation.”
    • “Unfortunately, this game is a buggy mess.”
  • replayability91 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the variety of choices and outcomes that can be explored through different playthroughs, while others find it limited due to a lack of significant story branching and repetitive elements. Many highlight the appeal of unlocking new cards, weapons, and challenges, which can enhance the experience for those interested in achievement hunting or experimenting with different strategies. Overall, while there are elements that encourage replay, such as difficulty settings and secondary objectives, the consensus suggests that it may not sustain long-term engagement for all players.

    • “You can make choices throughout the game that will affect the story's outcome, so there's replayability.”
    • “There is a ton of replayability for this title if you're one who likes to replay and see different outcomes.”
    • “The whole system ends up feeling a lot like those old choose your own adventure novels I used to read; I found it very charming and it adds a ton of replay value to each campaign.”
    • “On the downside, I don’t think there’s much space for replayability.”
    • “Overall, the game is absolutely great to play through but it lacks any form of endgame or too much replayability value.”
    • “Given the structure/design of the game, there's limited replay value.”
  • grinding62 mentions

    Reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often perceived as tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over lengthy combat setups, monotonous tasks, and the lack of meaningful progression. The strategic map and pre-battle mechanics contribute to a sense of boredom, leading some to uninstall the game or seek alternatives. While some aspects of gameplay can be enjoyable, the overall experience is marred by the grindy nature of missions and the slow pace of non-combat sections.

    • “The mini games are not too tedious, fortunately (much less than in Phantom Doctrine, another fine XCOM clone). The story, characters, and narration are great - as long as you like the wild/weird west archetypes (I do).”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The combat is slow and tedious.”
    • “This game is just plain tedious and pointless, given that the campaign is scripted with minor choices being made now and then; it is a wonder why this is even in the game.”
  • optimization59 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting severe stuttering, lag, and crashes even on high-end systems. Many users experienced memory leaks and performance drops, particularly during menu navigation and prolonged play sessions, leading to frustration and a diminished gaming experience. While some players noted occasional smooth performance, the overall consensus is that the game requires significant optimization improvements to be enjoyable.

    • “Game runs smoothly, and while there is a bit of a learning curve and frustration as you learn exactly how some of the combat works, Hard West is a pretty well-polished experience for those looking for a unique story and tactical gameplay.”
    • “It's well coded, runs smoothly, looks great, sounds western, and has all-around solid gameplay.”
    • “Also, the game is very well optimized (runs very well on the 2015 MacBook Pro) .. kudos to the devs for releasing it on Mac :)”
    • “For starters, terrible performance on a high-end PC (RTX 4070, i7, 32 GB RAM) and I mean terrible.”
    • “The game also suffers from poor optimization and some pretty severe memory leak issues that don't seem to have ever been fully fixed even though the developers are aware of them.”
    • “The game is poorly optimized and will likely run very hot even well above recommended specs.”
  • character development27 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the modular system and unique mechanics like playing cards that influence abilities, while others criticize the lack of meaningful progression between missions and the absence of a traditional upgrade system. Many reviews highlight that character customization keeps players engaged, but the overall sense of attachment and growth is diminished due to the episodic nature of the gameplay, where progress does not carry over. Ultimately, while there are elements of character development, they often feel superficial or disconnected from the overall narrative experience.

    • “I enjoyed the character development through the use of playing cards that you collected and arranged into hands.”
    • “Gritty atmosphere, new but elegant and refreshing mechanics, layers of character design choices, from weapons to gear, to abilities, and bonuses.”
    • “Customisation of characters kept players hooked and attached to specific soldiers in a game that otherwise had no real individual character development.”
    • “There is no character development or upgrade system in the game.”
    • “A poor man's XCOM, not that it's a bad thing, decent game, good storyline, just a shame there is no real character development through the levels.”
    • “Your progress and character development do not carry over to the next, so you tend to not care very much about the items and upgrades you obtain.”
  • humor16 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its dark, sarcastic narration and quirky character interactions, particularly through the use of a poker hand system that adds both comedic and tactical elements. Players appreciate the blend of wild west themes with supernatural elements, resulting in a unique and entertaining experience filled with funny bugs and character development. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with strategic gameplay, making it a memorable and enjoyable title.

    • “When I picked it up at a later point in time again, what finally sold the game to me actually wasn’t its XCOM-like combat system but rather its weird mix of genres (wild west + supernatural/demons) and the story told through an in-game, dark-humored and sarcastic narrator with just the most wild west voice out there.”
    • “I find the story hilarious but in the same way Jonah Hex, Ghost Rider, and Cowboys & Aliens made me laugh.”
    • “It's poker hand system is both funny and tactically important; I would say it's a nice touch.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as a mix of impactful storytelling and cliches, with some players feeling a lack of attachment to the characters despite the game's serious themes and dark atmosphere. While it successfully evokes a sense of tragedy and emotional weight, particularly in its western and horror elements, some reviewers found the experience repetitive and questioned the intentionality behind its emotional moments. Overall, it offers a strong emotional narrative but may not resonate with all players.

    • “The point of a good western and vengeance story is to make you feel the emotional gravitas of these people and in this particular tale, the Cormac McCarthy-like unfair world they live in.”
    • “I thought that it would be something like an absurd, gory, humorous western about demons and zombies, but instead it appeared as a serious tragedy with high emotional impact.”
    • “Hard West is dark, emotionally strong, and it gives you the freedom to write your path with role-playing present.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization model of the game is well-received, as it avoids microtransactions and cash shops, offering a DLC that enhances gameplay with a new campaign for a reasonable price. However, some players express frustration with misleading advertisements and suggest that animated cut scenes should be more integrated into the gameplay rather than serving solely promotional purposes.

    • “The game features no microtransactions or cash shop, and its DLC is a perfect add-on, providing a whole new and challenging independent campaign/storyline, along with about 20% more playtime for a single, small fee.”
    • “I don't mind playing pure strategy games, but I don't like to be hooked by the fake ads.”
    • “Hard West tells its story and has fun animated cutscenes, but they should be more a part of the action and not just for ads or intros.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

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Play time

18hMedian play time
19hAverage play time
3-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 36 analyzed playthroughs

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