15 Western And Cowboy Games You Don't Want To Miss
It's pretty difficult to not dream of being a cowboy. Thankfully, cowboy games allow us to live out those fantasies, whether those fantasies lie in shoot outs in saloons or simply riding a horse through the Wild West. The most popular western games are well known, with games like Red Dead Redemption and its sequel dominating the market, but there's also a bunch more that can help you satisfy your cowboy cravings. From big action RPGs to indie hits and a few stranger offerings, there are a lot of cowboy games out there. It might not be easy to find those cowboy video games, so we've corralled this list of the best that you won't want to miss out on.
Top Western Games
Most cowboy and western games fit into two categories, or are in some way a combination of those two categories. Those categories are shooters, where you get to act out the life of a gunslinger, or adventure games, where you can role play the life of a cowboy in the wild west.
That said, there are alternatives to those times of games, with more tactical games and side-scrollers both represented within the western video game genre. Cowboy games also come at a variety of price points and hardware requirements, too, so no matter what you're playing on, there's definitely going to be something that you'll be able to pick up. This list covers the best of the best based on critical and fan consensus and a bit of personal bias.
Platforms: PC
Made in 1985 by MECC, this is an educational strategy where the player controls a wagon travelling the Oregon trail in 1848. Surprisingly tense despite its educational nature, making it great for those looking to learn, it is a game that puts value in smart choices and makes you feel the consequence of bad ones.
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Platforms: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
It might not be a true western game, but Bethesda's 2010 classic will make you feel like a real cowboy. One of the most beloved RPGs of all time, Fallout: New Vegas sets you off in an open world dystopia, and for those that like a heightened challenge, has a seriously difficult hardcore mode.
Platforms: 3DS, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
How about something that isn't quite so action heavy? Released in 2013 by Image & Form, SteamWorld Dig is a 2-D platformer that sees players digging for treasure and resources as a cowboy robot. Addictive due to its randomly generated map, SteamWorld Dig is great for players who don't need gunfights to have fun.
Platforms: PC, PS3, Switch, Xbox 360
If shootouts are what you're after then look no further than Techland's 2013 release, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger. You take on the role of Silas Greaves, a bounty hunter with a bit of a mean streak and a penchant for a gunfight shooting everyone in sight. This one is great for action fans.
Platforms: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox, Switch
If you're someone wanting something Western with a twist, then Oddworld Inhabitants' 2005 action-adventure Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath is perfect for you. Another game in which you play as a bounty hunter, Stranger's Wrath will drop you into a dangerous world unlike any other in the cowboy genre that you won't forget quickly.
Platforms: PC, Switch
For a much more light-hearted approach to the wild west, you're going to want to play Asymmetric's 2013 game, West of Loathing. A turn-based RPG with a clear focus on comedy, this is a great game for those that aren't fussy about graphics but who are very keen on fun and adventure.
Platforms: SNES, PS4, Switch, Sega Genesis
Coming from Konami in 1991, Sunset Riders is a classic side-scrolling arcade shooter within the western genre. With four playable characters, each with unique weapons and play styles, this co-op shooter has plenty of replayability and is also perfect for anyone looking for a challenge, as getting shot even once will cost you a life.
Platforms: PC
For a horror twist on cowboy games, look no further than Hyperstrange's 2022 stealth FPS, Blood West. A slower, more methodical game, Blood West sees you play as a revived gunslinger, investigating and slaying monsters. It's one for genre fans, but if stealth is your thing, this is a lesser known gem.
Platforms: PS4, Wii, Wii U, PC, Switch
A remaster of a Super Nintendo title, Wild Guns Reloaded is an arcade shooter released by Natsume Atari in 2013. Telling the classic cowboy revenge story, Wild Guns Reloaded is perfect for players who want to experience simple but skillful gameplay in a very classic style.
Platforms: PS2, Xbox
Cowboys and vampires, what more could you ask for? High Moon Studios' 2005 survival horror game delivers all that and more, setting players off in a western-steampunk hybrid world as a vampire cowboy looking to rid the world of evil. This one is perfect for people looking for something unique from a western game.
Platforms: Wii, Wii U, 3DS
A game with a completely unique look and feel within the cowboy genre, Horberg Productions' 2012 platformer Gunman Clive provides an aesthetic unlike any other western game out there and sees players fight to save the mayor's daughter. One for people who love quirky art styles, but there is a lot to enjoy here.
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Mimimi Games' 2020 release Desperados 3 is a RTS game that has players hunting down bandits while utilising stealth and a collection of characters with different skill sets. Slower paced than a lot of the games on the list, it's great for people who like their action to not be quite so explosive.
Platforms: GameCube, PC, PS2, Xbox 360, Xbox
Developed by Neversoft and released in 2005, Gun is an ambitious action-RPG with an impressive voice cast. Playing as Colton White, Gun takes players on a classic cowboy adventure: looking to get revenge for a deceased loved one. Great for anyone looking for both action and story depth.
Platforms: PC, Switch, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360
Rockstar's 2010 title is a revolutionary open world game that sees players assume the role of John Marston, a cowboy who needs to hunt down his former gang so he can enjoy a more peaceful life. This one is perfect for those open world fans and a must play for any cowboy fans.
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
If Red Dead Redemption revolutionised the western video game genre, its sequel perfected it. A fantastic and huge open world with another deep and gut-wrenching story, Rockstar's 2018 title can only be considered a masterpiece and provides just as much fun and sorrow as its predecessor.
If you've played the first one, this one will blow you away with a bigger open world, greatly modernised gameplay and a story that certainly rivals if not outperforms the original. There simply is no finer cowboy game, and chances are until the next game in the series arrives, this one won't be unseated. Quite simply one for all gamers, and cowboy fans, no matter what your tastes are.
Bottom Line
Although the time of the wild west may be over, you can still live out those fantasies through western video games. With options available regardless of the genre of game you're looking for, there's something for everyone, and they'll all leave you feeling like a true cowboy.
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