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Hard West 2

Gin Carter and his posse chase down the devil himself using all the supernatural powers at their disposal to do so.
Hard West 2 Game Cover
81%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
replayability, grinding
82% User Score Based on 1,428 reviews
Critic Score 79%Based on 21 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Hard West 2 Game Cover

About

Hard West 2 is a single player tactical role playing game with horror and historical themes. It was developed by Ice Code Games and was released on August 4, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Hard West 2" is a tactical turn-based strategy game set in a supernatural wild west world. Lead a gang of outlaws on a quest for riches, while battling undead enemies and making moral choices that affect the story. Use gun skills, supernatural abilities, and environmental interactions to outsmart and outshoot your foes.

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Hard West 2 screenshot
Hard West 2 screenshot
Hard West 2 screenshot
Hard West 2 screenshot
Hard West 2 screenshot
Hard West 2 screenshot
Hard West 2 screenshot
Hard West 2 screenshot
Hard West 2 screenshot
Hard West 2 screenshot
Hard West 2 screenshot
+21
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82%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,428 reviews
story264 positive mentions
replayability9 negative mentions
  • Engaging combat mechanics with the 'Bravado' system that allows players to regain action points after each kill, encouraging aggressive play.
  • Interesting storyline with well-developed characters and a unique supernatural Western theme.
  • Polished visuals and sound design, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The game is relatively short, with many players feeling it lacks depth and replayability.
  • Some mechanics, such as the card system for character progression, can feel limiting and less impactful compared to traditional RPG systems.
  • The linear mission design and lack of variety in enemy encounters can lead to repetitive gameplay.
  • story
    955 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Hard West 2" is a linear narrative centered around a posse's quest to reclaim their souls from a devil named Mammon, set against a supernatural western backdrop. While the plot maintains a steady pace and features interesting characters, it lacks depth and complexity, often prioritizing combat mechanics over intricate storytelling. Players can expect a mix of engaging dialogue and episodic missions, but the overall narrative may feel simplistic and somewhat forgettable, with limited player agency affecting the outcome.

    • “The story unfolds across a series of episodic encounters, each taking the posse deeper into a twisted frontier filled with witches, undead creatures, and corrupted lawmen.”
    • “While its challenge level and structural simplicity may not appeal to every player, those who embrace its risk-reward mechanics and atmospheric storytelling will find a rich and satisfying experience.”
    • “The story follows a gang of outlaws as they try to retrieve their souls from a swindling demon who commands the feared ghost train.”
    • “The story is more ridiculous and never takes itself seriously, aside from some side quests.”
    • “The simplicity of the game's plot doesn't lend itself either, so I really struggled to keep myself engaged with the game in the long run and uninstalled it.”
    • “The story is largely linear, although you are occasionally given the option to choose the order in which to complete the main missions.”
  • gameplay
    627 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Hard West 2" is characterized by its innovative "bravado" mechanic, which allows players to reset action points after each kill, encouraging aggressive play and strategic chaining of actions. While the game introduces unique elements like ricochet shots and a card-based character progression system, some players feel it leans more towards puzzle-solving than traditional tactical gameplay, leading to a mix of enjoyment and frustration. Overall, the game offers a fresh take on turn-based tactics, though its reliance on specific mechanics may not appeal to everyone.

    • “The bravado mechanic is one of my favorite additions to the genre I have ever played.”
    • “Hard West 2 is an impressive improvement over its predecessor as well as a fresh take on turn-based games, it offers unique mechanics that make it stand out to your average turn-based combat, and man is it so fun to play.”
    • “Bland writing, low enemy variety, middling to terrible voice acting and direction, and mechanics that feel closer to a puzzle game with how you have to chain kills than any kind of typical turn-based tactics.”
    • “The gameplay simplifies the luck system that was central to the previous game, and instead focuses on a new system called bravado.”
    • “The bravado mechanic rewards playing aggressively and allows you to chain kills.”
  • graphics
    150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in "Hard West 2" have received generally positive feedback, with many reviewers praising the improved art style and atmospheric visuals that effectively convey the game's western theme. While some noted minor graphical bugs, the overall presentation is described as polished and engaging, with a vibrant aesthetic that enhances the gameplay experience. The visuals are often compared favorably to other titles, showcasing a blend of charm and detail that contributes to the game's unique identity.

    • “The graphics are excellent and the overall mechanics are simple and easy to use.”
    • “The immersion is great, with good ambient sounds and music; the scenery and graphics are perfect for the theme.”
    • “Everything about the game is polished, the visuals are stunning and thematic, and even though I should be going to bed half an hour ago, I just can't stop myself from playing one more mission.”
    • “Hard West 1 had an amazing theme and art style; 2 is rumbling around, trying but sadly not delivering.”
    • “The story, gameplay, graphics --- everything is just so much worse than I expected.”
    • “Ugly graphics (nothing like the videos; I think they are fake or modified).”
  • music
    80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance immersion and fit the western theme, featuring somber melodies and effective sound design. However, some players feel it lacks the memorable quality of the original game's soundtrack, describing it as generic and less impactful. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the atmosphere, it may not stand out as much as in previous installments.

    • “Voice acting and soundtrack further deepen immersion, blending somber western melodies with ominous undertones.”
    • “The music picks up as you push forward in the maps, so it never feels too repetitive.”
    • “The supernatural western theme is sold wonderfully with great music, art, and voice acting, including the late Kevin Conroy, a favorite from my childhood as the voice of the animated Batman.”
    • “Improvement in the sfx department, a complete downgrade in the dialogues and music.”
    • “Lastly, the soundtrack is unfortunately a huge step down, substituting in generic, unobtrusive 'wild westy' motifs to replace Marcin Przybyłowicz's powerful Mad Max-meets-Ennio Morricone bombast from the first game.”
    • “The music is especially dull compared to the original.”
  • atmosphere
    74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and stylized depiction of a "weird west," combining dark visuals, engaging sound design, and a rich narrative that enhances the overall experience. While many players appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and character design, some note that the depth and complexity of the narrative can vary, with certain elements feeling simplistic or less engaging compared to its predecessor. Overall, the atmosphere remains a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some criticisms regarding the writing and story execution.

    • “The result is a dark, stylized tactical RPG that merges strategic depth with a distinctive 'weird west' atmosphere.”
    • “The game’s atmosphere is one of its strongest elements.”
    • “The art is positively metal, one-liners land perfectly, the music and ambience are just right, creating a rich, distinctive western atmosphere.”
    • “First of all, it does not come near the first game’s grim atmosphere and story.”
    • “This game contains quite a few improvements in terms of gameplay mechanics in comparison with the first game, but in terms of storytelling, atmosphere and soundtrack, I consider it a downgrade.”
    • “And that is sad, because from a sequel of Hard West 1 I was expecting the same level of atmosphere which was the strongest point of the previous game.”
  • humor
    61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is largely centered around the character "Laughing Deer," whose antics and dialogue provide a mix of charm and cringe, often eliciting laughter from players. While some find the humor to be hit-or-miss, with references that may not resonate with everyone, the overall writing is praised for its cleverness and ability to create amusing scenarios, particularly during combat. However, the character's portrayal has drawn criticism for relying on negative stereotypes, which detracts from the humor for some players.

    • “Brilliant game! I was bored with the 165 games in my library, and when I came across this on Steam, it made me laugh, cry, and almost put my fist through the monitor.”
    • “However, the dialogue is generally well written and contains the occasional humorous line that adds charm.”
    • “While Hard West is still gritty, there are scenarios that I found really hilarious, though not all of that may register with everyone.”
    • “The story is not captivating, as the main villain, Mammon, is a joke of a character and not funny.”
  • replayability
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game exhibits low replayability due to its linear design, lack of procedural elements, and repetitive gameplay experiences. While some players find potential in tackling challenges or achieving 100% completion, many express that the limited variety in maps and character interactions diminishes the incentive for multiple playthroughs. The consensus suggests that while the game may be enjoyable, it does not offer significant replay value, especially compared to its predecessor.

    • “This will give much more replay value.”
    • “There's some replayability potential as I'm tempted to go play hard ('nightmare'), hunt for the missing achievements and use Cla'lish and Bill more than in my first playthrough.”
    • “It feels like the difficulties are there to give added replayability, and I wouldn't recommend starting your first playthrough on the hardest difficulty for these reasons.”
    • “30€ might be a bit too much for the 20-25 hours of playtime since the replayability is not that high.”
    • “Zero replayability, but it's required to get 100% achievements, so the second playthrough is just a tiresome chore.”
    • “It doesn't have much replayability because nothing is procedural and every playthrough will be the same.”
  • grinding
    27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium associated with grinding in the game, with many players finding missions and combat encounters repetitive and frustrating, particularly on harder difficulties. While some appreciate the strategic elements, the overall consensus is that the gameplay can become a slog, with excessive grinding and punishing mechanics detracting from the experience. The tutorial and resource gathering are also criticized for being unnecessarily tedious, contributing to a lack of enjoyment as the game progresses.

    • “A very solid turn-based strategy game with fun mechanics to keep pushing forward, making battles dynamic and not tedious like in some other turn-based games.”
    • “I thought the game and setting had potential, but it got tedious very quickly.”
    • “Updating it to a 'not recommended' as the end of the game is totally full of HP sponge mobs with auto-return fire while you have barely one healing item healing only 6 of maybe 18-30 HP one time and then depleted, and the mobs grinding like 8-12 HP each hit on your party.”
    • “Combat is a tedious slog where you'll have one or two bad rounds and have to start over, because there are 10 times as many enemies as you, they're almost as tough as you and in some cases tougher.”
  • optimization
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth performance and no crashes, while others report significant issues such as low frame rates, long loading times, and crashes during critical moments. While graphical improvements and stability have been noted, particularly on higher-end systems, lower-end configurations may struggle with performance, leading to a less favorable experience. Overall, the game's optimization appears inconsistent, with some players enjoying a polished experience and others facing frustrating technical challenges.

    • “The game looks good, feels polished, and I encountered no optimization issues.”
    • “Performance was top notch on my system (Ryzen 5600, RTX 3700, 32 GB RAM, SSD).”
    • “Now, more polished and with optimization to some aspects of mechanics that were not the best, it is great then ever!”
    • “Badly optimized game, sadly cannot recommend it.”
    • “Performance or gameplay falls significantly below the passing mark.”
    • “Warning: game is made with Unity engine, it is not optimized and it keeps crashing at important story moments.”
  • stability
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing frequent crashes and freezes, particularly during loading screens, while others report a relatively smooth experience with minimal bugs. Troubleshooting efforts have yielded varying results, with some users successfully resolving issues, while others continue to face significant stability problems. Overall, the game appears to be less buggy than its predecessor, but stability remains a concern for many players.

    • “It's polished, bug-free, plays without any glitches, and has great sounds and music.”
    • “On the bright side, the game isn't that buggy, and the look and feel are pretty good.”
    • “Game crashes for every little thing you do; every loading screen freezes, so you're forced to just wait it out. It's no wonder that only 21% beat the game, because less than a fourth could even get past the constant crashing!”
    • “Not worth $30 - $20 at most - but probably a $15 game - short, buggy, and it's basically a save game manager - you are going to be reloading game saves more than playing the game.”
    • “Under Proton experimental, the game shows video but freezes when loading a new game.”
  • character development
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is generally viewed as simplistic and limited, with some players noting that it lacks the depth found in AAA titles. While the character design and atmosphere are praised, the writing does not support nuanced growth, and most development is primarily seen in companions rather than the main characters. The card system adds an interesting layer, but many feel it does not compensate for the overall lack of substantial character progression.

    • “Between the set dressing, the voice acting (admittedly, some characters feel so much more grandiose than others), the story, and the character design; I think Hard West 2 did a really good job of giving you characters to fall in love with, and cheering them on as they get their revenge.”
    • “+ got some interesting character development, but mainly from your companions.”
    • “The characters are entertaining, and even though it certainly does not reach the depths of AAA titles in character development, it's still great value for the money.”
    • “The writing is not sufficiently strong to maintain nuanced character development, but for the genre it may not be so necessary.”
    • “Unbalanced, very limited character development, only a handful of side quests most of which are terrifically easy and just a waste of time, little reason to play through more than once.”
    • “Character development is pretty simplistic, but the card system allows for some hard choices, but also leans into the pre-meditated puzzle nature of the game.”
  • emotional
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express mixed feelings about the emotional aspect of the game, highlighting a disconnect between its heartfelt presentation and the lackluster main story, which fails to create a strong emotional connection. While some appreciate the emotional rewards in tactical gameplay, many criticize the shallow characters, dull mechanics, and a sense of linearity that detracts from genuine emotional engagement. Overall, the game struggles to balance emotional depth with its tactical elements, leaving players feeling unsatisfied.

    • “I'm hoping for more in the future, and I hope other games can learn from this sort of 'emotional reward' system for their tactical games, which for me was a constant joyful ride.”
    • “And what I don't understand the most is how such heartfelt presentation, atmosphere, lit voice-overs, and cool, gritty side-stories come with such cheesy and uninspiring telling of the main story.”
    • “Some players enjoy that their strategy matters more than good dice; others find the game feels too puzzly because actions having deterministic results makes it feel like there's a single right answer (there isn't, there are videos of people playing the same level different ways, but emotionally it feels like there is).”
    • “Dull and annoying characters, shallow puzzle-like mechanics, boring storyline, and poor voiceover.”
    • “This game is full of poor tactical combat, unbalanced gameplay, partial voice acting, glitchy controls, horrible mapping that makes it difficult to see where you're going unless you spin your camera around 50,000 times, cheesy dialogue, and a pretty boring story that did nothing original.”
  • monetization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users criticizing the presence of microtransactions and labeling the game as a cash grab, especially in light of its bugs and balance patches. While some appreciate the engaging gameplay, they express disappointment that the game feels more like a commercial venture than a genuine sequel, despite the absence of microtransactions in certain versions. Overall, the monetization strategy has detracted from the game's perceived value and integrity.

    • “It is not because the game is outright nonfunctional, bugged into oblivion, or has some scummy monetization - like plenty of modern AAA titles do (that's why I don't buy them).”
    • “At least it did not go Epic exclusive and has no microtransactions!”
    • “The game is fun, but I cannot recommend a game that really just feels like a cash grab of a cult hit game, especially when it has bugs in it that are game-breaking yet patches come out for 'balance'.”
    • “Very disappointed in this game after playing the first sequel and loving the story and free open world movement with tactical gameplay; it looks like just a cash grab riding on the first game's cocktail.”
    • “It is not because the game is outright nonfunctional, bugged into oblivion, or has some scummy monetization - like plenty of 'modern gaming' AAA titles do (that's why I don't buy them...).”
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79%Critics’ scoreBased on 21 critic reviews
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19h Median play time
18h Average play time
10-25h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 13 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Hard West 2 is a tactical role playing game with horror and historical themes.

Hard West 2 is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 18 hours playing Hard West 2.

Hard West 2 was released on August 4, 2022.

Hard West 2 was developed by Ice Code Games.

Hard West 2 has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Hard West 2 is a single player game.

Similar games include Hard West, Druidstone: The Secret of the Menhir Forest, Colony Ship: A Post-Earth Role Playing Game, Miasma Chronicles, Classified: France '44 and others.