Summary
For the last decade or so, theRed Dead Redemptionseries has had a bit of a monopoly on the Wild West video game genre. While it certainly wasn’t the first Wild West series, and it definitely won’t be the last,Red Dead Redemptionoffers a complete package that only a few other Western games have, combining a riveting story with compelling characters, excellent gunplay, and a vast, realistic open-world to explore. But while they are admittedly rare, there are other Wild West games out there offering an equally compelling experience.
A genre all about gunslinging, horse riding, bounty hunting, and law-keeping,the Wild West genrenaturally lends itself to certain gameplay archetypes. But while the vast majority of Wild West games are shooters of some sort, they almost always have a unique twist or hook, and that’s exactly the case for these other excellent Western games.
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Weird West
Developed by a studio helmed by Arkane’s founder and ex-president,Weird Westis an action RPG that initially launched back in March 2022, making it the most recent entry in this list. A top-down action RPG with a healthy helping of immersive sim components,Weird West’s big hook is its integration of supernatural elements. As players take control ofWeird West’s five incredibly distinct characters, they’ll come face-to-face with werewolves, wendigos, sirens, and many more spooky otherworldly creatures.
Gun
An absolute classic of the Wild West video game genre,Gunis a third-person action-adventure shooter that first released all the way back in 2005 for the original Xbox and PlayStation 2. Coming just a year afterRed Dead Revolver,Gunwas clearly heavily inspired by the old Rockstar title, though it surpassed it in almost every way. Featuring an open-world environment filled with RPG elements such as side missions and upgrades,Gunwas essentially the most complete Wild West action-adventure experience untilRed Dead Redemption’s release in 2010, and it still holds up surprisingly well today, though its content doesn’t come close to eitherRed Dead Redemptiongame.
Call of Juarez
This is a bit of a cheat entry, but the vast majority oftheCall of Juarezseriesis well-deserving of a spot on this list. Aside from the dismalCall of Juarez: The Cartel, which swapped the Wild West setting for a Wild West-inspired modern-day L.A., the other threeCall of Juarezentries are all top-notch Western first-person shooters. All developed by Techland - a studio now best known for itsDying Lightseries -Call of Juarezbegan life in 2006 as a relatively simple but fun Wild West FPS.
The 2009 sequel,Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, was received a little better than the first entry, with many critics and fans praising the game’s highly cinematic nature. But according to the critics, it’s the most recent entry,Call of Juarez: Gunslingerthat’s technically the best title in the series. Released in 2013,Call of Juarez: Gunslingercontinues the series' trend of simple but fun gameplay, but refines it to the point of near-perfection, giving players an extremely enjoyable Spaghetti Western shooting gallery to blast through.
Desperados 3
The latest entry in a series that debuted all the way back in 2001,Desperados 3is technically the most critically acclaimed game on this list, earning a great deal of praise upon its initial launch back in 2020. A real-time strategy game,Desperados 3puts a more tactical spin on the Wild West genre, and with a surprising emphasis on stealth, it becomes one of the most unique games on this list. The perfect blend ofXCOMandRed Dead Redemption,Desperados 3is worth checking out for those who want a fresh Wild West gaming experience.
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