Video games have become one of the best ways to escape to another world and indulge in different kinds of genres. Horror or sports can be easy to break down into video games, but other worlds have taken longer to become the norm. It’s taken some time, but games that center around cowboys and indulge in the Western genre are now big hits.
Western video gamesare a great filter to put overfirst-person shooters or action games. There are many excellent video games that fans can check out if they like Westerns and cowboys, and they’re not limited to these two genres either! It’s a testament to how creative the gaming industry is that they’ve managed to craft so many unique and delectable titles with this particular backdrop that are hard to resist.
Updated June 28, 2025, by Hamza Haq:While the idolization of Western culture, cowboys riding horses, and shootouts in front of the saloon have long been popular in films and TV shows, the concept only gained mainstream traction in the gaming industry after the standout success ofRockstar’s Red Dead Redemption series. Of course, that is not to say that fans of cowboy games had no representation in video games beforehand. Fans of the genre have plenty of options to choose from if they’re looking for a new Western game to invest dozens of hours into
The Oregon Trailis one of the mostlegendary edutainment games, with the title popularizing the act of dying from dysentery for many fans. The struggle of trying to help as many settlers survive during a harrowing journey where death awaits them at every step of the way makes for a surprisingly compelling time.
Not only can players learn about the trials and tribulations that many real-life people faced, but they’re also compelled to make the best decisions possible that make each run better than the last. This classic video game is surprisingly tense, making it clear why it has attained such an illustrious reputation within the gaming community.
Wild Armsis an underrated JRPG series that more fans of the genre need to check out. The games feature a loving ode to the Wild West setting, coupled with familiar turn-based combat and a fun story that fans will have a great time with. If players don’t mind the somewhat slow-paced combat, then they’ll findWild Arms 3to be a fun game that scratches their Western itch.
Using magical firearms to take out the many enemies that stand in the party’s way makes for a great time.Wild Arms 3may feature some dated systems, but the engaging story and compelling gameplay more than make up for its minor flaws that are easy to ignore in the grand scheme of things.
Fallout: New Vegasis considered by many to be one of the greatest RPGs ever made, and the best title in the series by a country mile. The combination ofRPG elements from previous gamesin the series coupled with Bethesda’s modern innovations in the genre have done a great job of modernizing the series for many.
The Western elements in this game are as clear as day, even if players aren’t playing as cowboys per se. The combination of this genre’s tropes withFallout’s established world is a joy to witness firsthand and does a great job of makingNew Vegasstand out even more.
Steamworld Digis a 2D platformer indie game featuring cowboy robots digging for treasure and mining for resources in the town of Tumbleton, straight out of a western flick. The world setting is a mix of western andsteampunk elements. While gunfighting is part of the game, it isn’t the main focus; no, the main point is mining.
Steamworld Digis for players who are looking for a different flavor of western than the standard fare, something of a palette cleanser. The gameplay is addictive and replayable because the location of resources is randomized in each run, keeping the game feeling fresh.
A turn-based RPG that takes players on a comedic adventure in the Wild West,West of Loathing’sstrengths are many and make it clear why this game has become such an underground hit.
It’s not the deepest game by any stretch of the imagination, but that does nothing to take away from the mindless joy players can enjoy with it. The simple stick figures and hilarious writing makeWest of Loathingway more memorable than anyone could’ve imagined.
Surprisingly enough, there were two games released in 2022 that used the background of the Wild West to tell a riveting tale and were named similarly too. WhileWeird Westended up being more memorable for the majority of players, another title that players still enjoyed despite the combat being slightly unbalanced wasEvil West.
The game is certainly not deep or thought-provoking in any way… but it doesn’t need to be!Evil Westis just a fun, light-hearted romp where players utilize a wealth of weapons to wallop their enemies to kingdom come. The best part is that this game can also be enjoyed in co-op, making for a great game to enjoy with friends!
Few games tap into the cowboy fantasy as blatantly asSunset Riders. Released in 1991, it is aclassic side-scrolling arcade shooterin the same vein asContra. It’s an unapologetic Wild West fantasy, with the players assuming the role of bounty hunters looking to bring down renowned outlaws and claim their bounties as rewards.
There are four playable characters, each with a different main weapon and playstyle, with the shared goal of taking down an outlaw boss at the end of the stage after mowing down his underlings along the way. It can also be played co-op, with players taking control of different characters and competing to see who can shoot up the most outlaws. The gameplay is surprisingly punishing, as getting shot even once results in losing a life, requiring a little bit of skill to clear the stages.
The Wii is certainly one of the most successful consoles of all time, but there’s no denying that this system was meant to appeal to a more casual audience. This made it a great hub for party games and imaginative platformers… butmature action games were always going to struggle on this platform. A great example of this isMadWorld, a stylistic action game that should’ve been a huge success but ended up being a commercial disappointment.
This was the fate that awaitedRed Steel 2as well. The game utilized the Wii’s motion controls in a pretty intriguing way, and people who did check out this game for themselves loved how visceral and satisfying the combat was. Unfortunately, the game’s incredible set-pieces and great setting didn’t boost sales in the slightest, making it one of the best games on the Wii that was criminally overlooked by the masses.
Blood Westis aretro stealth FPSsteeped in horror. Players assume the role of the Gunslinger, a dead western cowboy who is brought back to life by eldritch forces in order to cure the land they call home. As the Gunslinger, players go around a variety of biomes, talking to the dead, investigating what happened to the land, and, of course, shooting up monsters. A key way this game is different from most others based on Western culture is that instead of a blazing all-in style of gameplay, players are encouraged to take the slow, methodical approach and understand what they’re facing before bringing their guns to bear. Despite being undead, the Gunslinger is surprisingly fragile and needs to make his bullets count.
Blood West: Dead Man’s Promise DLCintroduces a brand new campaign where players take on the role of the Shaman, a character different from the Gunslinger. Although the gameplay loop remains largely the same in this DLC, it promises new enemies, weapon types, and quests for fans, giving players more reasons to stay in this brutal, strange west setting for a bit longer.
TheFalloutseries has evolved from its isometric CRPG roots to become one of the most beloved post-apocalyptic RPGs of all time. However, many hardcore fans miss the golden era of this series. Thankfully,theWastelandseries has done a great job of filling up this vacuum.
While the world of this post-apocalyptic CRPG can feel quite derivative, there’s no denying thatWasteland 3is an absolute blast to play through. The gameplay is more refined than ever before, and the unique mix of Western elements and the aftermath of a brutal nuclear war makes for a great time as players fight both bloodthirsty humans and nightmarish mutants!
