Weird West
Fantastical Western tale contains both thrills and soul.
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Weird West
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Weird West is a downloadable single-player action RPG (role-playing game) available for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Players will play through the stories of five characters, all with unique backgrounds and goals, and discover the many strange mysteries the West has to offer. From a former bounty hunter trying to live life on the straight and narrow to a member of an Indigenous community trying to purge a great, destructive evil from the land, these stories will eventually converge, and the very fabric of the West will be determined by you, the player. Violence is commonplace, with themes of cannibalism, genocide, human trafficking, dark magic, and discrimination (and subsequent acts of violence) against certain groups being prominent within the overall narrative -- though players can ensure that such misdeeds come to a swift end. There's also a welcome emphasis on diversity within the game, with spotlights shone on issues such as the mistreatment of sex workers, as well as discrimination against women, people of color in positions of power, and specific groups. A central character's plotline showcases the culture of an Indigenous group tastefully and honestly, with a focus on spirituality and inner strength. Celebratory drinking and general drunkenness come up occasionally, but at the core of a world seemingly filled with depravity and chaos is a sense of justice, compassion, honor, redemption, and empathy.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What’s It About?
Welcome to WEIRD WEST, a game in which rules are tossed out the window, matching up with the unpredictable nature of the Wild West setting. As the journey begins, players are shown only a handful of brief scenes: a dark room with five portraits surrounding a cloaked figure sitting in a chair, encircled by unknown characters who seem to have answers they have no intention of revealing -- not yet. A hot branding iron goes into the cloaked figure's neck, and a symbol marks one of the five portraits. It's time. You're dropped into the life of the Bounty Hunter, who discovers that her husband has been abducted, and her son lies dead just outside their home. How far will you go to avenge your son and rescue your husband? Perhaps vengeance has blinded you, making you cruel and reckless, but maybe your head will be on straight enough for you to prioritize peace and compassion whenever and wherever you're able. These are the choices you'll have to make as you go through the five stories within Weird West, each one containing a different narrative with varying decisions you'll be faced with. On top of the personal journeys you'll play through, there's an overarching mystery at hand that affects not just the protagonists, but the entire West at large. Every action has a consequence, big or small. With five lives on the line -- as well as the whole of the West -- will you solve the many mysteries the West has to offer and be a beacon of hope and humanity, or will the West be lost forever?
Is It Any Good?
Oftentimes, games will push the feature of "You can do whatever you want!" when the reality is much less expansive. Weird West holds no such false promises; in this case, the world is truly the player's oyster. The game sets the stage, gives you enough tutorials so that you can get your bearings on the controls and mechanics, and then firmly backs off and tells you to have fun. There are the typical RPG (role-playing game) features when it comes to upgrading your weapons and abilities or finding golden cards that will give you permanent benefits shared between characters. But Weird West truly shines in its ambitions and the way it realizes its lofty promises. From the very beginning, there's nowhere on the map arbitrarily restricted from the player. You can completely ignore the main objectives and go exploring, potentially coming across off-track side quests, rare loot, or even random events, which keeps exploration fresh, interesting, and nerve-racking.
In this world, everything you do matters and has a purpose. There are very few people you can't condemn to an early grave, and that goes for all characters, relevant or not. You may eliminate a series of quests by ending certain characters' lives prematurely, but rather than punish you, the game takes a "Sure, let's roll with it!" approach and provides other options for you to explore to accomplish your goals without preventing you from making progress in the story. The game encourages any and all play styles as well, giving you the option stealth, action, or a combination of both. You can choose to help people out of the kindness of your heart, or demand payment for your "generous" assistance. But keep in mind that Weird West remembers, and there may be a time when you'll regret crossing certain people or traveling down certain paths. Weird West is the perfect water-cooler-conversation game where you can get together with friends and share whatever strange or unique happenings occurred during your playthrough, as no two people will have exactly the same experiences. What starts as a casual, though morbid, rootin'-tootin' cowboy story turns into something strange, sinister, and magical. The freedom and diversity of choice will hook you, but the compelling characters and world, bizarre twists and turns, and wholly unparalleled presentation will have you playing this game again and again, just to see how differently things end up next time.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about freedom of choice, one of Weird West's strongest elements. Is there such a thing as giving a player too much freedom in a game, or do games work best when there's a set direction the player is expected to take to get the most out of the experience? Is it acceptable to make choices for other people? What if you have the best of intentions? Which choices presented in Weird West would be harder to make if it were you in the shoes of the characters you're controlling and real lives were on the line? Why?
How well does the genre mashup of Old West and dark fantasy work in Weird West? What are some other genre mashups in other games, shows, movies, books, or comics you can think of? How well do they work, or if not, why don't they work as well, and what might make them better? What genres would you like to see combined, and what new stories could be told from them?
Game Details
- Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Windows
- Pricing structure: Paid ($39.99)
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Devolver Digital
- Release date: March 31, 2022
- Genre: Role-Playing
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- ESRB rating: M for Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Last updated: December 1, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Divinity: Original Sin -- Enhanced Edition
Bloody fantasy RPG rewards thoughtful decision-making.
-
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition
Challenging remake of classic minimizes mature content.
-
Ghostwire: Tokyo
Violent ghost-busting adventure scares up unique urban tale.
For kids who love role-playing games
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate