Evil permeates the American western frontier in Hard West

From outlaws to… something else, there’s plenty to fear and fight in turn-based strategy title Hard West. Check out the launch trailer and the first 15 minutes of gameplay after the break.

Much like the time period that it’s based on, Hard West looks like a serious, rough & tumble affair. Pretty dark too, with a story that sounds like it would fit in nicely in any big western of old. Well, except for the supernatural stuff really- you don’t find much of that in a John Wayne flick.

It’s welcome here though, as Hard West manages to make itself stand out with some downright disturbing stuff. Playing out over 40 missions, you’ll face off against some typical foes in your quest for revenge, which you’ll see in the gameplay trailer below, but also “henchmen, cultists, and cannibals” as things take a decidedly twisted turn.

Available right now on the PC via Steam, Hard West hails from Gambitious and developer CreativeForge Games and writer Haris Orkin, who’s work you know well from games like Company of Heroes 2, Dying Light, and the Call of Juarez series. The soundtrack is also available to listen to (on Spotify) or purchase (on Google Play, iTunes, or Amazon), and just might be worth the listen as it’s from the composer behind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Marcin Przybyłowicz. So you know, it’s probably pretty awesome.