Hard West

So it’s nice to visit the Ol’ West and do some gun slinging… I wouldn’t have thought to make it an isometric turn based game but it works.

Hard West is a turn-based strategy game that gives you an authentic western experience whilst pushing you to the limits of your ability.

If you don’t mind discovering a game under your own steam, Hard West is a truly unique title that you can really sink your teeth into. With some 10 hours of gameplay, it’s perhaps a little short but what is there is interesting enough to give another try on a higher difficulty level after you see the credits scroll by.

Grim, brutal, otherworldly. Rock solid turn based mechanics and incredibly tense shootouts frame a story dripping with an oppressive, wrong, weird West atmosphere. Beyond the enjoyable mechanics, Hard West takes on a life and dark spirit of it’s own. This is one ride you are not apt to forget anytime soon.

It's more than just an XCOM clone. Hard West is Wild West mystery with tactics, depth and death. It only fails with regard to long-term motivation.

Lovecraft meets John Ford and they duke it out in a turn-based western-style shootout. Cowboys and demons for a game with a strong narrative bent and solid, if a little too by-the-numbers, tactical combat.

Welcome to the Weird West. The turn based tactics inspired by XCOM work surprisingly well with the mysterious story that is filled with decisions and consequences.

Though not without shortcomings Hard West is nevertheless an especially interesting alternate take of the Wild West. It’s a game that takes many risks, especially in terms of storytelling, and manages to succeed more times than not.

It’s not the longest or the most in depth RPG, but for the price, the theme, and unique style, Hard West is clearly worth your time in gold and offers a fairly authentic western experience, well besides the demon and supernatural overtones that is

Quotation forthcoming.

If everything about Hard West was as great as its combat and strategic layer, it would easily sit near the top of a list of memorable Old West-themed games. Take away the cowboy costumes and it’s still an excellent turn-based game with some clever mechanics to mess with.

With a solid blend of strategy and RPG elements, this game does a good job of putting you in your character’s shoes. It’s refreshing to find a strategy game with this much customization, allowing you to upgrade each character the way you want to, not simply unlocking a new, more powerful unit.

Hard West delivered exactly what I wanted – a dark atmosphere and a decent story with a twist. If only AI and the interface were more polished... [01/2016, p.58]

If you love westerns, you might consider this one. The gameplay is surely not original, but the turn based strategy is indeed well crafted.

Hard West is one of those games made for people looking for a challenge. If you're looking for a hard strategy game, this might be a interesting option.

Hard West deserves attention despite some flaws. It is not a western version of XCOM, there aren't many similarities to Might & Magic: Heroes. It is its own game with an interesting idea that suffers from technical issues and a bland ending. The game itself is far from presenting the story in a cinematic way - if you don't have a problem with that, you'll be pleased.

Hard West is a good example of how a smaller team can take some already proven ideas and then tweak them to create an innovative experience that gives fans of a genre a morsel to enjoy while they wait for a bigger meal.

No, it’s not a bull’s eye by any means, but Hard West will certainly hit close enough to provide you with hours of Wild-West fun.

Quite a pleasant surprise in this autumn filled with “big” games. It has a classic and functional structure, but it doesn’t lack originality and can be tactical and fun, even with some shortcomings here and there.

In the end, I found myself staying up late for strategy not story. That’s the heart of Hard West. It’s not the richest game out there, but it is a great entry point for players new to tactical RPGs. When I finished the game, instead of going to bed, I immediately turned to Steam to find more of what Hard West had to offer. If that’s not a sign of success, I don’t know what is.

While it lacks a gripping story and more tactical depth, Hard West's mix of XCOM-style missions, light RPG elements and Wild West mystery still comes as a pleasant surprise.

Hard West isn’t the deepest game of its kind, but it does a good job of walking the line between cold, hard tactics, and Weird West-style personality.

Satan and six-guns make a great partnership in Hard West. While the game mechanics and scenario design are somewhat predictable, the aura of high strangeness on the lonesome prairie does a lot to freshen up what could have otherwise been a little dated and formulaic. Tactical combat fans and horror buffs alike will find a lot to like here in both the spooky surroundings and the shoot-em-up scenarios.

If you aren’t a big fan of turn-based combat, then Hard West is probably not a game for you. If, however, you have played through the XCOM series, Wasteland 2, or even the Shadowrun reboot RPGs, then Hard West will provide something a little different if you are still looking for more turn-based combat.

Hard West is a great example of a turn-based tactical strategy game that blends both the Old West and the supernatural together seamlessly. Though it’s fairly derivative of games that we’ve already played, the intriguing way that the narrative plays itself out makes it worth a look, even for veterans.

Hard West tactical strategy game shows Wild West without any frills, but in the same time it does not lose elegance. It is rough, raw, but yet very stylish and motivating. Besides shootouts you will enjoy it´s adventure part. Too bad there are some unsuitable ideas.

Hard West has flavor and grit in spades, but it's hard not to wonder what it could have been had its Kickstarter campaign been even more successful. It's not a game for anyone who wants to foster a posse through a single campaign, or who cares about individuals over the demands of the conglomerate plot. Analytic-minded hombres who appreciate unforgiving battles, step right up.

Hard West destroys its characters in such a spectacular manner that you can’t take your eyes off this dazzling drama. If only the ending wasn’t so subdued…

If you’re hankering for a million ways to die in the west, I’d say this is worth a look.

Aside from its dark themed Wild West setting, the game shares a lot with XCOM. We won’t complain much about the technical shortcomings of an indie title. The atmosphere and gameplay will keep you entertained at least until you finish the game.

Hard West surprises with creative gameplay systems, neatly written group of characters and interesting, well-realized ideas - but not without some strange choices.

Hard West gets a lot of things right, with a number of clever ideas that help to broaden the scope of the standard turn-based formula it draws upon, but a lack of checkpointing and other game design faux pas can spoil the fun.

Hard West is a very brilliant tactical game with a magnificient western/esoteric theme marred by some very poor design choices on the strategic level.

Hard West may not reinvent the wheel, but it’s a visually imposing title that brings tactical combat to a new and intriguing setting. Gamers are unlikely to be playing Hard West for the long haul, but it’s a good blast whilst it lasts.

With a little bit more cohesion and fewer drastic system changes over the course of the campaigns, Hard West could have been amazing. Instead, it's merely quite good.

Introduction of Luck parameter, coupled with other mechanic novelties, turns familiar XCOM combat into something rather unique. Other differences aren’t so positive – there’s no procedural generation of missions, and the playthrough will be a breeze on any difficulty other than hard. [Issue#204, p.74]

Overall, I didn’t like Hard West as much as I thought I would. The campaign is interesting, but developer CreativeForge spent so much time on “flashback” scenarios that it was difficult for me to connect with anybody or care what happened.

Hard West is monotonous and short in options... but has a great story, unexpected, fresh, that is the only reason you will continue playing.

The presentation is aced, but Hard West’s turn-based combat is too rote to be engrossing.

Excellent story mixes horror, western and turn-based clone of XCOM. Unfortunately Hard West lacks the option to move aside from the preset story line same as it lacks the freedom in turn-based battles. [Issue #259]

A decent enough turn-based tactical game with a genuinely excellent atmosphere, let down by limited tactical options, poor mechanic explanations, and a number of issues that make it seem as though the lofty ambitions outstripped either time, money, or ability.

What I'd really like to see is a tabletop game in this setting, because it honestly feels like it might be better suited in that realm.