Virtuous Western

About

"Virtuous Western" is a strategy game set in the Old West, where you must eliminate enemies in each stage with a limited amount of bullets to recover your stolen horse. The game features interesting puzzles, various ways to beat each stage and eliminate foes, and charming pixel art graphics. It includes 30 stages in the main campaign and a speedrun mode with a stopwatch.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews

music4 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The gameplay is engaging with well-sequenced level progression and a satisfying challenge-to-reward curve.
The pixel art graphics are charming and consistent, adding to the overall appeal of the game.
It's a short, fun, and affordable experience that serves as a great palate cleanser between larger narrative-driven games.

The soundtrack becomes repetitive and lacks variety, which can detract from the overall experience.
Some controls are unintuitive, and there is no option to rebind keys, leading to frustration during gameplay.
The game has limited replay value and a straightforward story, making it feel short-lived after completing the levels.

gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The gameplay is a standout feature, offering a mix of enjoyable mechanics and puzzles that enhance the platforming experience. However, some players find the controls frustratingly sticky, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. While the art and music are appreciated, they are secondary to the gameplay, which remains the primary focus of the game.
- “The gameplay is definitely the main focus, but I still think the art is cute enough to be a selling point.”
- “An enjoyable simple platformer game which incorporates a number of different mechanics to overcome each set of levels (puzzles).”
- “Various mechanics, which are placed throughout the game.”
- “The soundtrack is cute at first, but perhaps a little grating towards the later stages because it lacks the same variety and development as the gameplay.”
- “Puzzles are like a fine bourbon, but the gameplay is moonshine.”
- “With controls stickier than spilled sarsaparilla on a saloon floor, you’ll navigate terrain so treacherous, you’ll wonder if you're in an obstacle course designed by a cowboy with a grudge.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
22%
33%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the cute and well-designed soundtrack that complements the gameplay, others find it repetitive and grating in later stages. Overall, the upbeat tunes are enjoyable but may lead some to prefer playing with the music turned off.
- “I really liked the soundtrack.”
- “Very well designed puzzle and the music is also well chosen.”
- “The soundtrack is cute at first, but perhaps a little grating towards the later stages because it lacks the same variety and development as the gameplay.”
- “It's a minor nitpick, but I'd maybe recommend playing with the default music off.”
- “🎶 [cue ridiculously upbeat wild west music, the kind that makes you want to tap your foot but also question your life choices]”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The graphics feature a charming and consistent pixel art style that enhances the game's cowboy aesthetic. While simple, the visuals effectively capture the whimsical nature of the storyline, making them a delightful aspect of the overall experience.
- “The graphics are as charming as a tumbleweed doing a little jig 🌵”
- “Step into the boots of our trusty protagonist, whose only mission in life is to recover a horse that was probably stolen by a gang of outlaw cows.”
- “The graphics are simple, but the pixel art assets have a pretty charming and consistent style throughout.”
- “The graphics are as charming as a tumbleweed doing a little jig.”
- “And don’t get me started on the graphics!”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The story is simple and linear, focusing on the protagonist's quest to recover a stolen horse from a gang of outlaw cows, with no hidden routes or additional content. The charming graphics enhance the cowboy aesthetic, but the narrative lacks depth.
- “The story is straightforward—there's no hidden routes or extra content.”
- “Step into the boots of our trusty protagonist, whose only mission in life is to recover a horse that was probably stolen by a gang of outlaw cows.”
- “The story is straightforward—there are no hidden routes or extra content.”
- “There is no story.”
- “The protagonist's only mission in life is to recover a horse that was probably stolen by a gang of outlaw cows.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized for frequent glitches and problematic controls, leading to a frustrating experience for players. Many users have noted that these issues detract significantly from overall enjoyment.
- “The glitches and controls got me saying 'adios.' 🤷‍♂️”
- “Virtuous Western: where glitches are as common as tumbleweeds, but none of them are as graceful.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
"Virtuous Western" offers limited replayability, primarily relying on self-competition through its speedrun mode, with few other incentives to revisit the game.
- “Aside from self-competition with the speedrun mode, 'Virtuous Western' has very little replay value.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there isn't much incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of diverse endings or branching paths makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel well-earned.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics encourage exploration and experimentation with different strategies.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”