West of Dead

Other games have explored the same themes and mechanics as West of Dead, but rarely has it all come together with such cohesion. The fight's always fair in West of Dead, however brutally difficult it may be, and it always feels like you're enduring it for a reason. The drip-feed of information's expertly judged, and the haunting Purgatory, Wyoming backdrop it plays out on has a way of getting under your skin.

The aesthetic beauty of the game helps keep me going as well as the music but I only wish some more tweaking had been done to some of the shootout mechanics. If you pumped hours upon hours into Enter the Gungeon then chances are you'll find a similar grab in West of Dead, but be fair warned that there isn't as much polish here. If it helps, it is launching day one on Xbox Game Pass so if you have that you can try it as soon as it launches.

Thankfully, West of Dead never lingers outside of combat too long. While it is a thoughtful game, the main crux is all about learning to line your shots and stay behind cover, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. It's an experience that's not found elsewhere in the roguelike genre, and it will fit right in with veterans looking for a new checklist to fill out.