Best Games Set in the Wild West (Not Part of the Red Dead Franchise)

The Red Dead Redemption franchise is exceptional, having gained a global reputation for its stunning open worlds and mature stories. Even the first one Red Dead Redemptionwhich many argue pales in comparison to its price-choked successor, still holds up extremely well as a piece of interactive storytelling. In any case, both that and Red Dead 2 effectively set the standard for the western genre in the medium.

That said, it has come to my attention that not everyone likes Red Dead Redemption series. I've heard them called many negative adjectives, with perhaps the most prominent being “boring”. While I absolutely love both Red Dead Redemption game, I have to admit I see where some of these critics are coming from. Red Dead are certainly slower than many other franchises, and as the de facto face of the Wild West in gaming, they can feel a little plain or restrained in some ways. Again, I don't necessarily agree with this, but I can see how such an idea would play out, especially when considering taste. Thankfully, there are plenty of other great Wild West games worth checking out, as they offer their own distinct depictions of the mythologized setting.

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The 12 Greatest Open World Adventure Games of All Time, Ranked

There are so many ways to approach adventure in the open world genre, and these titles do it differently, but equally well.

Wicked West

A game that feels straight out of the Xbox 360 era of beat-em-ups, Wicked West has a special place in my heart. It's not high art – don't expect it Red Dead Redemption 2 levels of immersive, nuanced storytelling – but it's definitely fun in a specific, campy way. It's more or less a bog-standard vampire hunter story, but its wild west feel sets it miles apart from the likes of Van Helsing. You really don't lose that coolness factor. In fact, it shines through stronger than ever, when you get the hard-hitting skills of a professional vampire slayer crossed with the gruff elegance of a cowboy, and it's a mix that goes down pretty well.

Select cover image to complete the equations.

Easy (15s) Medium (10s) Hard (5s)

Released: November 22, 2022
ESRB: M for mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intent Violence, Strong Language
Publisher: Focus entertainment

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger

After the big fumble that was Call of Juarez: The CartelTechland decided to take its Wild West franchise back to basics with the 2013s Call of Juarez: Gunslinger. It's a fairly streamlined and light-hearted experience by Western standards, with plenty of baked-in fourth-wall breaks, crude jokes, and gratuitous cartoonish violence that work in its favor. Really, Gunslinger is a blisteringly fast, stylish, and satisfying first-person shooter with a playful framing device that revolves around the protagonist telling stories about his reputation to drunken saloon owners. It's linear and doesn't have much gameplay variety, even compared to its own predecessors, but it never fails to impress with its frenetic pace and mechanics.

Techland would continue to develop the well received Dying light games, through which it further developed its distinctive approach to first-person action design.

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger Tag Page Cover Art

Released: 22 May 2013
ESRB: m
Engine: chrome engine

Gun

This third-person action-adventure game from 2005 feels a little odd to play in the wake of Red Dead Redemption game. Released five years before the first Red Dead Redemption (but a year later Red Dead Revolver), Gun feels like a necessary precursor to Rockstar's legendary Wild West duology. Players take on the role of Colton White, a rugged yet tragic hero navigating the ethically ambiguous world of 19th century North America. It's also open world and has a time-delayed shooting mechanic called Quickdraw. I'll end by saying that it directly inspired Red Deadbut it definitely feels cut from the same cloth, in a good way.

Released: November 8, 2005
ESRB: M for mature 17+ due to blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, strong language, alcohol use
Multiplayer: Online Multiplayer

Desperate 3

From the creators of the highly regarded Shadow tactics the series is coming desperados trilogy, all of which are excellent real-time stealth tactics games. While the first two desperados still holding up, it is widely agreed that the third game, released in 2020, is the pinnacle of the series. It's a modernized version of the original's tough and unforgiving stealth gameplay, but with a much greater attention to detail regarding its visuals, sound design, and immersive sim elements. Its methodical puzzle-like mechanics are definitely more niche and “gamer-coded” than the straight gunslinging of Red Dead or Call of Juarezbut if you take the time to learn them, they are incredibly rewarding. Even better, they support clever, charming storytelling that punches way above its weight.

Released: June 16, 2020
ESRB: M for adults 17+ due to blood, strong language, suggestive themes, violence
Developer: Mimimi game

Samurai Western

Samurai Western is the kind of game we rarely get these days: a ridiculous, nonsensical premise that works against all odds. It's not that hard to guess what Samurai Western is about – its title is extremely literal – but the gameplay itself is far from predictable. It's more or less a character action game a la Devil May Cry and Bayonettabut takes place in an otherwise authentic western world. Admittedly the star of the Samurai Western is its combat, which is balletic, smooth and satisfying despite its imperfections. If you're looking for an unusual Wild West video game, Samurai Western is well worth dusting off the old PlayStation 2 (or emulator) for.

System

Released: June 7, 2005
ESRB: M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, intense violence, partial nudity
Developer: Acquire

West of disgust

If Samurai Western is too straight-laced for you, so maybe reconsider West of disgust. Easily overlooked for its deliberately rudimentary graphics, this game is a success if only for its comedic chops – it's definitely one of the funniest games I've ever encountered. But beyond its comic density, West of disgust is a surprisingly rewarding and complex adventure game with turn-based RPG elements. It is related to something similar South Park: The Stick of Truthwhere the absurdist overtones of the game actually help facilitate unpredictable or unusual game mechanics. West of disgust is a real treat if you're into wild west references as well, as it's more or less a satire of the entire western genre.