5 Cowboy Games That You Forgot Were Awesome

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The Wild West is a surprisingly uncommon setting for video games, even though titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 have proven incredibly popular. It’s strange that more developers haven’t explored this potentially rich period in history. Luckily, a handful have, resulting in some excellent, lesser-known games for those craving a Western adventure. If you’re looking for a fun, old-fashioned shootout, these games are worth checking out.

Here are five great cowboy games you forgot about.

5) Darkwatch

Games such as Weird West, Evil West, and Hard West 2 have recently put a fantastical spin on the Wild West, but they aren’t the first to blend the genre with the supernatural. Back in 2005, High Moon Studios released Darkwatch, which combined traditional Western gunslinger action with horror and vampires.

In this fast-paced shooter, you take on the role of Jericho Cross, an outlaw who becomes a vampire while hunting them. As he transforms, he gains powers like the Vampire Jump and Blood Vision. You can shape Cross’s abilities by choosing a good or evil path. A sequel was originally planned to take place in a different time period, but it was cancelled when the developers shifted their focus to licensed titles such as Transformers: War for Cybertron and Deadpool.

4) Wild Guns

Wild Guns is a fun, over-the-top cowboy game that doesn’t bother with historical accuracy. Instead of a realistic Western, it’s a shooting game where robots roam the Wild West. Despite the robots, it still feels like a classic Western adventure.

The game’s visuals clearly take inspiration from classic Western movies, but with a futuristic science fiction feel. The shooting action is top-notch for the genre, keeping things exciting and fast-paced. It’s even more fun with local multiplayer, letting you team up with a friend during intense battles. Luckily, an updated version called Wild Guns Reloaded came out in 2016, so it’s readily available now.

3) Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive

Many popular cowboy games focus on shooting, which fits the classic image of the Wild West. But Desperados took a different approach, creating a strategy game where you carefully plan out each move. Each character in your gang has unique skills, so thoughtful planning is key to winning.

Characters like Doc have unique abilities – he can use knockout gas to create diversions, while Kate can distract enemies by seducing them. The series stumbled with a disappointing sequel, but in 2020, Mimimi Games successfully revitalized it with the fantastic Desperados III. It’s a brilliant improvement over the original and a definite recommendation for longtime fans.

2) Call of Juarez: Gunslinger

The Call of Juarez series experienced a mixed reception over time. The initial game was just okay, but Bound in Blood was a significant improvement and hinted at a potentially fantastic Western franchise. Unfortunately, The Cartel, released in 2011, disappointed many by shifting the setting to the present day. While Gunslinger returned the series to its Wild West roots, it wasn’t enough to revitalize the overall franchise.

This isn’t a criticism of Gunslinger; it’s a great game with exciting, arcade-style action, and it sold well. However, the developer, Techland, chose to focus on their new Dying Light series instead. While Techland took over publishing Gunslinger from Ubisoft in 2018, there haven’t been any new releases since 2013.

1) Gun

Most people remember the game studio Neversoft for creating the popular Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series. While they also worked on games like Guitar Hero and a Spider-Man title, it was Tony Hawk that really made them well-known in the 2000s. Interestingly, during the height of the Tony Hawk games, Neversoft took a detour and created a highly-regarded cowboy game.

Gun is an exciting action game that was among the best of its time, rivaled only by Red Dead Revolver. That is, until Rockstar released the incredible sequel, Red Dead Redemption. Critics often compared Gun to Grand Theft Auto, but set in the Old West, praising its wide range of activities. With fast-paced action and a memorable cast, the game kept players engaged from start to finish.

The game sold pretty well, exceeding one million copies throughout its lifespan. However, sales weren’t high enough to compare to the Tony Hawk series, so Neversoft didn’t get the chance to make a follow-up. A version was released for the PSP with added side missions and multiplayer, but with Neversoft closing down in 2014, another game in the series is unlikely.

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2026-03-01 01:40