Blood West is a paid adventure game from Hyperstrange. This stealth-focused first-person shooter (FPS) is set in the Wild West, combining cowboys, magic, and monsters for an immersive, fast-paced action experience. Explore the world, scavenge for resources, and find salvation in a broken afterlife. With a healthy dose of nonlinear quests, trait-based character progression, and a complex farming mechanic, this game is as rewarding as it is difficult.

Its content and approach to the FPS genre make Blood West a surprisingly fun game. Think of it as a single-player spin-off for Hunt: Showdown or a fantasy-infused Red Dead Redemption II.

Cheat death and paint the world red

Basically, the premise behind Blood West is about a soul denied passage to the afterlife. Doomed as a revenant, you wander around a cursed world. Where the double-barreled shotgun comes from is anybody’s guess, but it does create a partly blank slate that allows for a lot of the gameplay developments to occur. For example, the quests can be completed based on which you find first, giving an open-world feel.

As mentioned, it focuses on stealth and reiterates this message by giving you extremely difficult enemies that feel unrewarding to face head-on. Additionally, successful takedowns with stealth are rewarded. Aside from this gameplay mechanic, the game also offers a trait-based character progression, which slightly affects your capability and the story to some extent. These factors will definitely make you think twice before acting rashly.

The game, unlike most of its contemporaries, suffers from a markedly short playthrough. It’s understandable, though, since the main story is far from over, giving the idea that more content can be expected from this game. Also, the stealth aspect might feel dragging and frustrating for players who are used to Doom or Wolfenstein games, especially when they rush headfirst and find the enemies get too overwhelming too fast.

A twist on the genre

FPS games are usually action-packed and fast-paced, and Blood West surprisingly takes a step away from that. By focusing on stealth, it becomes a more strategic approach to the otherwise mindless action the genre usually offers. This makes it a fun, challenging experience that is refreshing. However, it could understandably upset fans because of its pacing. Still, you should try it at least once.