Earlier this year, Arkane Studios disappointed on Xbox Game Pass withRedfall, a game that dropped much of the studio’s immersive sim expertise for an underbaked multiplayer adventure. But what if I told you that the person who founded Arkane and helped create series like Dishonored had left the studio prior toRedfalland made an excellent immersive sim that is also available on Xbox Game Pass?
Well, that actually happened, and the game in question isWeird West.
In March 2022, former Arkane Studios founder Raphaël Colantonio releasedWeird Westunder the newly formed WolfEye Studios. While it swaps out a third-person perspective for an isometric one,Weird Westis a joyfully odd supernatural Western game that manages to tap into the immersive sim design philosophy that made many of the games Colantonio worked on excellent.
Unfortunately,Weird Westisleaving Xbox Game Passon September 30, so we recommend you give it a shot before it’s gone.
Embracing the weird
Surprisingly, there aren’t a lot of games set in the Wild West, and even fewer that lean into creepy, supernatural elements likeWeird Westdoes. The game’s world is full of supernatural cults, magic, and creatures like pigmen, zombies, and werewolves. Its story is told across five distinct campaigns, starting with one about a retired bounty hunter whose child is killed and husband kidnapped, setting her off on an adventure to get them back.
The individual stories of all five ofWeird West’splayable characters are emotionally captivating and quite distinct from each other. That’s very noticeable as soon as you jump over to the second story, which follows a human turned into a Pigman. Still, it’s a living and reactive world, so decisions made and characters killed in an earlier character’s journey do have an impact on subsequent characters’ adventures; you can even find and recruit characters that you previously played as.
It’s here whereWeird West’simmersive sim roots start to shine, as a lot of emergent narrative moments with impact feel crafted by the player. This carries over into gameplay, which is done from an isometric perspective. LikeArkane’s best games, there are always multiple solutions to any objective, and going in with guns blazing isn’t always the best option. Instead, players are encouraged to stealth around, sweet-talk characters, and even use some magical abilities if the playable character can learn them as they progress through a character’s journey.
With these more dynamic elements, the isometric perspective, and the narrative focus,Weird Westcan feel like as much of a CRPG as an immersive sim at times. As such, it might be an enjoyable follow-up toBaldur’s Gate 3for players finally coming off that lengthy RPG. At the very least, if you enjoy games that emphasize player freedom and also find novel ways to make it influence the game’s broader narrative, then you’ll enjoyWeird West.
The game had some technical issues and rough edges when it was first released, so it has flown under the radar. Most of those have all been smoothed over by now, though. Post-launch updates have fixed most of the major bugs and improved the character progression, aiming, and companion and stealth systems by adding more depth and UI clarity to them.Weird Westis in the best state it has ever been in, but still feels as distinct and strange as ever.
In a year with great games that prioritize giving players a unique-feeling journey, likeThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomandBaldur’s Gate 3,it’s one of the best indies you may play on Xbox Game Pass — and much better than Arkane Studios’ last game. That’s why it’s a shame that the game won’t be on the service for much longer, as it’s a must-play for immersive sim fans.
