Introducing the X-Com Inspired Cowboy RPG, Hard West

There aren’t enough games set in the Wild West, and yet almost every single one that makes it to release is hailed as the best thing since Buffalo Bill said “let’s take all this hardship and violence and turn it into a family friendly show.” Hard West, developed by CreativeForge Games, is the next big game to tackle the topic, and it looks like it’s going to continue the tradition of knocking our collective socks off.

Set during the era best known for the Cowboys and Indians that have so long been the topic of pulp novels, Hard West adds an element of horror to freshen the mix. On top of that, you can expect usual RPG elements like exploration and difficult decisions. The press release puts it best: “remember – in “Hard West” it is better to stay alive than right.”

Living to the letter of the law will be difficult, and you’ll find yourself struggling to avoid making an easy buck out of burning down a church or destroying a city. 

But while the exploration is most like Might and Magic, the combat is pure tactical X-Com. There’s no spending hours knocking down an opponent’s HP, instead you’ll be setting yourself up for the perfect shot and cleverly taking out an enemy in a single blow. Sounds easy, until you realize that the exact same thing can happen to you. Tread carefully, keep to cover and only raise your head when you absolutely need to. And it’s not always about finding the right cover either; the best shooters in the world can bounce bullets off walls and finish you even if you’re sure you can be seen.

Exploration will give you a glimpse at the best and worst that the Old West has to offer. With side quests at every turn, you’ll have an entire world to discover, along with secrets to dig out and caves to wander. In a country where weapons are the only thing not being destroyed by the scorching sun, it’s easy to decide to take what you need by force.

Hard West is being developed for PC. It’s currently more than half way through its Kickstarter campaign and with 20 days to go and such a strong idea, it’s bound to smash the needed $70,000 CAD. To add to the funds or check out more details on the game, check out their Kickstarter page.