There is something glorious about the era of the wild west that makes it ripe for gaming. Games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Call of Juarez: Gunslinger showed us just how enticing the time of the outlaws can be. A setting where both humans and animals are likely to kill you and survival depends on your grit and ability with a gun. It’s a world that’s the perfect fit for a survival game.
Westlanders from The Breach Studios will soon enter early access on Steam and aims to take the very best elements from Red Dead Redemption 2 and Valheim and mash them together into something quite special. Swapping your Viking axe for a six-shooter, you’ll be tasked with hunting, crafting and generally surviving the harsh wild west. Similar to Valheim, the game will feature online co-op with an emphasis on survival and building up your outpost.
Living in the wild west isn’t just about survival though. You’ll combat the harsh elements and tackle bandits and beasts alike, but you’ll also lay the foundations for building thriving outposts and settlements. Go from customizing your small wagon which acts as your mobile base, to building large bustling communities with people who work for you. Looting, hunting, crafting and exploration also play a huge role in Westlanders, making it the ideal experience for fans of games like Valheim, The Forest or Enshrouded.
Westlanders will also feature an extensive skill tree with unlockables to help you evolve and advance your progress. New weapons, tools and blueprints will take you from a lowly survivor to a tycoon of the wild west. Outposts can eventually be automated, meaning you’ll have minions doing your bidding and gathering resources and supplies at your command. With steady progression, you’ll be less like Uncle and more like John Marston in no time!
Westlanders is marked as ‘coming soon to early access’ on Steam, with an official launch on PC and consoles also slated for later this year. The kickstarter trailer above shows off the impressive building mechanics, authentic landscapes, harsh environments and strong visuals, making Westlanders a game that’s certainly worth keeping an eye on as it progresses.
We’ve seen a few impressive games paying homage to Red Dead Redemption 2 in the past, but Westlanders focus on hardcore survival feels like something special. With Rockstar Games focused on delivering Grand Theft Auto VI right now, Red Dead Redemption 3 is definitely very far away. Perhaps Westlanders will give us cowboy-loving gamers something special to keep us busy between now and then.