Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 38
  2. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. Sep 19, 2022
    71
    In no way would I ever recommend Hard West 2, but I have to be honest and say that I enjoyed myself. I just wish it didn’t come with a heaping bowl of curses. The developers should swallow their pride and listen intently to their customers, as I am sure I am not alone in my grievances. The team is clearly full of talented people who know how to create a good game, as long as they don’t get in their own way. As for me, I’m in need of some whiskey after this ordeal.
  2. Edge Magazine
    Sep 8, 2022
    70
    None of this matters too much when you're taking one gamble after another and they're all paying off. [Issue#376, p.108]
  3. Aug 26, 2022
    70
    A good game with a few great new ideas, but this follow up remains a bit too timid.
  4. Aug 8, 2022
    70
    Hard West 2 has some refreshing ideas to consider, such as perks based on your deck of cards, and consistently refreshing action points by way of kills. Unfortunately, its over-reliance on a puzzle-like, kill-all-in-one-round concept also leads to a repetitive and tedious romp as time wears on.
  5. Aug 8, 2022
    70
    Hard West 2 is a solid experience despite some shortcomings and missed opportunities. Ice Code Games crafted a unique and action-packed combat system while retaining much of what makes this type of strategy game so engaging. It may not have the production values or depth of either XCOM or Gears Tactics, but Hard West 2 still manages to be an addicting and satisfactory turn-based strategy experience.
  6. Aug 7, 2022
    70
    I’d recommend Hard West 2 to just about anyone, even if you’ve never played the genre before. Some early growing pains are easily overcome and there’s just the right amount of tactics, exploration, story, and atmosphere. While not a revolutionary take on the mechanics, it’s a solid offering on all fronts.
  7. Aug 5, 2022
    70
    Hard West 2 is a classic game at heart with a progression system that is lacking. However, the fantastic western atmosphere, coupled with a neat narrative and combat that is both satisfying and varied in tactical situations, make the game a good pick up, both for fans of the genre and for those who would like to learn about turn-based strategy games.
  8. Aug 4, 2022
    70
    Robust mechanics and some interesting ideas make Hard West 2 an enjoyable sequel, even though it does have its flaws. If you can look past the shallow character development and the occasional trial & error design, it's a solid recommendation, especially if you consider the low price tag.
  9. Aug 4, 2022
    70
    Quotation forthcoming.
  10. Aug 4, 2022
    70
    Hard West 2 has plenty of little annoyances, but it's a supernatural western tactics game with a lot of style and the substance to back it.
  11. Aug 4, 2022
    70
    Hard West 2 comes with an enjoyably aggressive twist on XCOM-like turn-based combat, and with a fun way of upgrading your characters alongside, but it's wrapped up in world exploration and characterisation that just leaves me wanting to get back in the fight. There’s a lot of fun to be had in Hard West 2, even if it’s not blowing minds as a complete package.
  12. Aug 4, 2022
    65
    Although Hard West 2 delivers on some awesome visuals and sound design, its gameplay didn’t hook me and its characters never grew on me. For those looking to scratch the itch of a turn-based tactics game until a wave of games releases in the fall of 2022, then this could be right up your alley.
  13. Oct 22, 2022
    55
    Hard West 2 lives in the same weird supernatural world and displays the same shoddy workmanship as the original game, but lost a lot of variety. One boring playthrough is the limit.
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  1. Aug 10, 2022
    I had a great time with Hard West 2, especially with its supernatural western setting and XCOM-like combat, but the RPG elements overshadow the end result. A third part with clearer ideas could be terrific.
  2. Aug 4, 2022
    Clever tweaks to a brilliant formula make this a tactics game just built for experimentation. [Eurogamer Recommended]
  3. All told, I like Hard West 2. It's not as easy to get into as Gears Tactics, and it's obviously a less comprehensive experience than your XCOMs. But its revisions to the familiar tactical formula do ultimately work, giving you the tools to face down some seriously stern opposition in spectacular fashion. Taking a slug of whiskey to heal yourself before bouncing a bullet off the liquor store sign into an enemy's back is a delightful synthesis of mechanics and theme, and when you combine that with a brain-tangling network of moves that leaves every enemy in sight sprawled in pools of viscous scarlet, boy howdy, there ain't no better feeling.
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 32 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 32
  2. Negative: 5 out of 32
  1. Aug 11, 2022
    5
    The game might be fun, but the current state of the balance is just out of place. It's either you are going one-shotting everything around orThe game might be fun, but the current state of the balance is just out of place. It's either you are going one-shotting everything around or it's just frustrating. There is no sweet spot in between. How can enemy be able to heal to full 18hp every two rounds, while you are capped to 4-6hp ONCE PER FIGHT??? What with the bleeding bomb spam **** How many bandages should I equip to counter that? In case of melee characters without bandages they are stuck for 4 rounds lol. Fix the balance, and it might be really fun to play, but right now it is just pain to go through. Full Review »
  2. Aug 17, 2022
    3
    If you thought "xcom in the old west, awesome!" you are very wrong...
    This is not a turn-based tactics game, it's just a mediocre puzzle game
    If you thought "xcom in the old west, awesome!" you are very wrong...
    This is not a turn-based tactics game, it's just a mediocre puzzle game with poor balancing and atrocious difficulty spikes.
    Voice acting, music, and settings are not enough if the gameplay is fundamentally broken.
    Even at the lowish price they are selling it (€25 at the moment) this is a hard pass, maybe for €5 when it goes on sale.
    Full Review »
  3. Aug 7, 2022
    10
    Finally a high quality tactical RPG that emphasizes player skill and creativity over some arbitrary RNG systems.
    Definitely a must-have for
    Finally a high quality tactical RPG that emphasizes player skill and creativity over some arbitrary RNG systems.
    Definitely a must-have for all fans of the genre!
    Full Review »