Best Western Games

Red Dead Redemption 2 is the best western on PS5 and PS4, with the original Red Dead Redemption and the tactical Desperados III right behind it. Every pick here actually runs on PlayStation and is a genuine western, not the off-platform retro filler or sci-fi mislabels that other lists pad their counts with. I ranked the eight on whether the frontier is worth the ride, weighed against what players actually say, not just critic scores.

Updated Jul 27, 2026

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8 games found

1Red Dead Redemption 2
Best overall

Red Dead Redemption 2

4.8(443,735)2018
PS+ ExtraPS Plus ExtraESRB Mature 17+western
GreatReview analysis

Overall player feedback for Red Dead Redemption 2 is overwhelmingly positive, with many praising its immersive storytelling, stunning visuals, and rich gameplay. However, some players express frustrations with certain gameplay mechanics and the lack of updates for online content.

Why it's here: The most complete western ever made, and the reason this list exists. Rockstar builds a living frontier where weather, wildlife, and your own reputation shape every ride, all anchored to Arthur Morgan's slow, tragic fall. Players flag the deliberate pacing and long horseback treks as a barrier, and it genuinely is one, but it is also the point. If you play a single western on PlayStation, make it this one.

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2Red Dead Redemption
Best classic

Red Dead Redemption

4.7(38,299)2023
PS+ ExtraPS Plus ExtraESRB Mature 17+western
GreatReview analysis

Overall player feedback on "Red Dead Redemption" is overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the game's engaging narrative, memorable characters, and immersive world, even years after its original release. Many players appreciate the emotional depth of John Marston's story and the improved performance on modern consoles. However, there are some criticisms regarding the game's age and certain mechanics that feel outdated compared to its sequel.

Why it's here: The 2010 original that set the template, now running smoothly on modern consoles. John Marston's hunt for his old gang across a sun-bleached frontier still lands emotionally, and reviewers say the story has aged better than almost anything from its era. A few mission structures feel dated next to the sequel, but as a self-contained western it remains essential. Start here if you want the saga in order.

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3Desperados III
Best tactical

Desperados III

4.3(4,356)2020
PS+ ExtraPS Plus ExtraESRB Maturewestern
GreatReview analysis

Overall, player feedback for Desperados III is overwhelmingly positive, with reviewers praising its intricate level design, rewarding gameplay mechanics, and engaging stealth tactics. The game's ability to encourage experimentation and strategic planning has resonated with players, although a few criticisms regarding repetition and some aspects of the story were noted. Despite these critiques, the majority of players regard it as a masterpiece in the tactical stealth genre.

Why it's here: The finest tactical western going, and a genuine high point of the stealth genre. You direct a five-strong outlaw crew through intricate sandbox levels, chaining takedowns in a freeze-frame planning mode that rewards experimentation over reflexes. Players note the trial-and-error loop can feel repetitive across long sessions, but the generous quick-save system is built for exactly that. If you like puzzles with six-shooters, nothing else here comes close.

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4Weird West: Definitive Edition
Best off the beaten path

Weird West: Definitive Edition

4.0(5,528)2022
PS+ TrialPS Plus PremiumESRB Mature 17+fantasy
MixedReview analysis

Overall, player feedback for 'Weird West: Definitive Edition' is highly polarized, with a significant number of reviewers praising its unique setting, storytelling, and gameplay mechanics, while others criticize its control issues, repetitive elements, and inventory management. Many players find it deeply engaging and enjoyable, leading to a mixed but generally positive sentiment overall.

Why it's here: A dark-fantasy frontier where five interlocking origin stories bend the western into an immersive sim. Set the prairie alight, kidnap a witness, watch choices ripple across campaigns: the systemic freedom is the whole draw. Reviews are split, and the culprit is consistent, clunky controls and fiddly inventory that fight the ambition. Look past the friction and it is one of the most inventive westerns on the platform. Recommended for players who prize systems over polish.

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5Evil West
Best co-op

Evil West

3.7(14,000)2022
Co-op: 2ESRB Mature 17+fantasy
MixedReview analysis

Overall feedback for Evil West reflects a split between enjoyment and frustration. Many players praised the fun combat mechanics and engaging gameplay, while a significant portion of reviews noted persistent bugs and a lack of depth in story and level design. The experiences vary widely, with some players recommending the game while others found it nearly unplayable due to technical issues.

Why it's here: A loud, over-the-top vampire-hunting western built for two, and the most purely fun action pick here. You clear supernatural hordes with a six-shooter and a lightning gauntlet, solo or in online co-op, across a linear upgrade-driven campaign. Player sentiment splits on bugs and a thin story, and the level design really is a straight line, but the combat itself satisfies. Grab a partner and treat it as a B-movie you get to play.

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6Hard West Ultimate Edition
Best turn-based

Hard West Ultimate Edition

4.2(219)2020
ESRB Mature
MixedReview analysis

Player feedback for Hard West Ultimate Edition is sharply divided, with many praising its unique setting, engaging narratives, and mechanics while expressing significant frustration over persistent technical issues such as bugs and freezes. While some find it a deeply enjoyable experience with excellent atmosphere, many criticize the game for its flaws affecting gameplay.

Why it's here: A haunted, occult spin on turn-based tactics across eight story scenarios and forty battles. A Luck mechanic and poker-card bonuses give its shootouts a personality most XCOM-likes lack, wrapped in a genuinely eerie frontier atmosphere. Reviews are divided, and the recurring complaint is technical, bugs and freezes that interrupt otherwise sharp combat. If you can weather the rough edges, its interconnected revenge tales are worth the ride. Best for tactics fans hunting something stranger.

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7West of Dead
Best roguelike

West of Dead

3.9(1,335)2020
PS+ ExtraPS Plus ExtraESRB E10-T
MixedReview analysis

Overall, player feedback on "West of Dead" is mixed, with many praising its unique visual style and atmosphere, while others criticize its repetitive gameplay and various technical issues. The presence of Ron Perlman's voice acting is frequently highlighted as a strong point, yet significant criticisms revolve around grindy mechanics and clunky controls.

Why it's here: A stylish twin-stick roguelike set in a purgatory Wyoming, narrated by Ron Perlman's growl. The graphic-novel art and cover-based gunplay give each run real atmosphere, and the dark mythos keeps pulling you back in. Players call the loop grindy and the cover system fussy, and both critiques hold up over long stretches. Taken in shorter bursts it is a moody, distinctive western. Recommended if you want the genre filtered through roguelike repetition.

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8El Hijo - A Wild West Tale
Best for newcomers

El Hijo - A Wild West Tale

3.7(237)2021
ESRB Everyone
MixedReview analysis

Overall, player feedback for *El Hijo - A Wild West Tale* is polarized, with many praising its charming visuals and engaging art design, while numerous others criticize the game's numerous bugs and unresponsive controls, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience. While some players thoroughly enjoyed the puzzles and story, many argued that technical issues and repetitive gameplay marred their enjoyment.

Why it's here: The gentlest western here: a non-violent stealth game about a boy slipping through shadows to find his mother. Its spaghetti-western storybook art and light puzzle-solving make it the rare pick that suits kids and newcomers. Reviews are polarized, with the loudest complaints aimed at bugs and imprecise controls rather than the design itself. Go in for the charm and the mood, not a stiff challenge. A calm, family-friendly detour through the frontier.

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About Western Games

A western game earns a spot here by being set on a real frontier and playable on PS5 or PS4 today, which rules out much of what competing lists count. What is left is a genuine spread: open-world sagas in the two Red Dead games, freeze-frame tactics in Desperados III and Hard West, a dark-fantasy immersive sim in Weird West, loud supernatural monster-hunting in Evil West, a roguelike shooter in West of Dead, and a non-violent stealth story in El Hijo. For every game on this list, I went through player reviews from Steam and the PlayStation Store and summed up what players consistently praise and consistently complain about, so a pick with rough edges is flagged as one instead of sold as flawless. Whether the platinum is worth chasing is decided per game, not assumed.

Curated by Ugur Saritepe. Rankings weigh aggregated player ratings and review sentiment collected from Steam and the PlayStation Store, with catalogue data from IGDB. How we rankPlayStation StoreSteamIGDB

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Best Western Games Compared

  • Red Dead Redemption 2
    Best overall4.75 / 5PS Plus Extra

    A meticulous open-world frontier where weather, wildlife, and your reputation react to how you ride and shoot.

  • Red Dead Redemption
    Best classic4.7 / 5PS Plus Extra

    The 2010 revenge saga of John Marston, remastered to run smoothly on modern PlayStation hardware.

  • Desperados III
    Best tactical4.29 / 5PS Plus Extra

    Real-time tactical stealth where a five-strong posse chains synchronized takedowns across intricate sandbox levels.

  • Weird West: Definitive Edition
    Best off the beaten path4.01 / 5PS Plus Premium

    An immersive sim in a dark-fantasy West where systemic choices carry across five separate character stories.

  • Evil West
    Best co-op3.72 / 5

    Fast, loud monster-hunting with a lightning gauntlet, and the only pick here with two-player online co-op.

  • Hard West Ultimate Edition
    Best turn-based4.18 / 5

    Turn-based occult shootouts driven by a Luck meter and poker-card bonuses across interconnected revenge scenarios.

  • West of Dead
    Best roguelike3.88 / 5PS Plus Extra

    A graphic-novel twin-stick roguelike in purgatory Wyoming, narrated by Ron Perlman and built around cover shooting.

  • El Hijo - A Wild West Tale
    Best for newcomers3.73 / 5

    A non-violent stealth tale of a boy using shadows and puzzles to find his mother across the frontier.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best western games on PS5 and PS4?
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the top pick, followed by the original Red Dead Redemption and the tactical Desperados III. The full list of eight also includes Weird West, Evil West, Hard West, West of Dead, and El Hijo: A Wild West Tale, covering open-world, tactics, roguelike, and stealth takes on the frontier.
Are there good western games besides Red Dead?
Yes. Beyond the two Red Dead games, Desperados III is a standout real-time tactics western, Weird West bends the genre into a dark-fantasy immersive sim, and Evil West adds supernatural monster-hunting. Hard West and West of Dead cover turn-based and roguelike angles, and El Hijo is a non-violent stealth story.
Are Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2 on PS Plus?
Both are in the PS Plus Extra game catalogue, so an Extra or Premium subscription lets you play either without buying it separately. The rest of the list, including Evil West and Weird West, are standalone purchases rather than PS Plus catalogue titles.
Is there a co-op western game on PS5?
Evil West is the only co-op pick here, with two-player online co-op that runs through its whole story so a partner can join as a second vampire hunter. Every other game on the list, including Red Dead Redemption 2, is single-player.
Which western game has the best story?
Red Dead Redemption 2, by a clear margin. Player reviews single out Arthur Morgan’s arc and the writing as its strongest quality. The original Red Dead Redemption is the other standout, and players say John Marston’s revenge tale has aged better than most games from its era.
Are any of these western games suitable for kids?
El Hijo: A Wild West Tale is the family pick, rated ESRB Everyone with non-violent stealth built around shadows and puzzles rather than gunfights. The two Red Dead games, Evil West, and most of the rest are rated Mature 17+ for violence, so they are aimed at adults.

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