Hard West 2

Hard West 2 is a turn-based tactics game set in a supernatural version of the Wild West. Instead of a single gunslinger, you control a group of outlaws who use firearms, occult powers and unusual combinations of their abilities.

A key difference from ordinary tactics battles is Bravado: lethal hits give back action points and allow long chains of attacks. A well-prepared turn can take out several enemies without your group being immediately unable to act.

Hard West 2 was released on August 4, 2022 for PC. It was released via Steam for Windows. A specially adapted console version is due on November 10, 2026 for PlayStation 5. A native version for Xbox Series X|S has also been announced.

The console version comes from Klabater and has controls tailored to gamepads. The original game was developed by Ice Code Games and published on PC by Good Shepherd Entertainment.

The original PC version runs on Windows and is sold via Steam. A native PS5 version follows on November 10, 2026. Klabater is also developing an optimised version for Xbox Series X|S. For the console releases, the menus and tactical controls have been adapted for controllers.

The PS5 version lists single-player, Remote Play and options for more readable text. The Xbox Store page mentions Xbox Series optimisation, single-player and support for high frame rates. A separate PS4 version has not been announced.

Combat takes place in turns. Units move across the battlefield, seek cover and use action points for weapons and special abilities. Gunfire, explosives, tricky firing angles and supernatural attacks all need to be coordinated.

Unlike many defensive tactics games, Hard West 2 rewards offensive chains: if you take out an enemy, Bravado gives you new action points and lets you extend your turn. The order of targets often matters more than the damage of a single attack.

For Windows, Steam lists at least 8 GB memory, a GeForce GTX 750 or Radeon RX 550 and 35 GB of free storage space. Processors mentioned include Intel Core 2 Duo E4700 or AMD Phenom 9950. The game requires Windows 10 in the 64-bit version.

Recommended are an Intel Core i5-2320 or Ryzen 3 3200 and a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or Radeon RX 570. The same entry also lists 8 GB RAM and 35 GB storage.

Gin Carter plans a robbery with his gang on a mysterious train that supposedly carries federal gold. The raid, however, turns into a journey through occult dangers, in which Carter fights for his soul.

Along the way, the group encounters abandoned landscapes, border towns and enemies that cannot be explained by ordinary duels. Western motifs, curses and supernatural figures drive the story.

Bravado is the heart of the battles. After a fatal hit, the action points of the acting character are refilled. This lets you set up enemies so that one character can carry out several attacks in a row.

The mechanic rewards the teamwork of the whole gang: first one member weakens a dangerous enemy, then another uses the kill to reach further targets. With poor timing, the chain ends early.

Over the course of the adventure, the gang finds playing cards. These form poker hands, whose combinations strengthen the characters in different ways. The cards complement weapons, explosives and individual supernatural abilities.

The combination affects which roles the members take on in battle and how well their special actions work together.

The companions react to Carter's decisions. Certain answers and actions increase their loyalty and unlock additional abilities. Other decisions weaken trust within the gang.

As a result, conversations and events outside the shootouts affect the tactical options of later missions.

The group includes gunslingers, witches and other characters with unusual abilities. Not every character solves a problem with an ordinary shot: some use teleportation or magic, others are stronger with certain weapons.

Strengths can be combined with Bravado chains and the cards you collect. Those who coordinate their abilities can solve difficult situations with a few targeted turns.

The journey leads through dusty border towns, snowy regions and other locations of the eerie West. Alongside classic shootouts, there are fights on moving vehicles, ambushes and pursuits.

Many fights are shaped by the conditions of each location: movement paths, cover and the position of enemies change which chains of hits are possible.

Hard West 2 is a single-player game only. On PC it offers English voice audio. Menus and subtitles are available in German, English, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese and Simplified Chinese, among others.

The Xbox Store lists ten supported languages for the console version. Language support depends on the platform version.

The PS5 version supports particularly legible menu and HUD text as well as enlarged font, according to the PlayStation Store. Individual volume ranges can be adjusted separately or muted.

Remote Play is also available. The game is designed for one player only.