Wolfeye Studios' isometric action-RPG begins like so many western yarns we've seen unfold on the big and small screens: An ex-bounty hunter is forced to abandon her peaceful farm-life existence when a crew of unsavory sorts come knocking, which sets the retired gunslinger on a blood-soaked path of vengeance.

And while the journey's also dotted with genre staples—from bounty missions to treasure hunts—Weird West's take on the wild frontier is refreshingly more fantastical than familiar. This is apparent early on when the bandit camp you're clearing isn't occupied by black-hat bad guys, but cleaver-wielding pigmen eager to carve you up.

But it gets weirder. The game features five separate—albeit intertwined—stories, each starring its own protagonist. Upon wrapping the bounty hunter's absorbing tale, you'll find yourself walking on the hooves of one of those blade-bearing swine I mentioned earlier—a surprisingly sympathetic character on a quest to find the witch who cursed him.

Over the lengthy campaign, you'll also assume the role of a Native American warrior, a magic-slinging member of a secret society, and, obviously, a werewolf. But you'll want to check your confidence at the saloon doors, as you'll face an equally powerful assortment of nightmare-conjuring creeps. Wraiths, sirens, and zombies are among the monsters just begging to bring your quest to a gruesome end.

Many of the more imaginative—and terrifying—threats include former humans that apparently awoke on the wrong side of some maleficent force's spell. Mine Crawlers, for example, are former prospectors who dug for riches, but discovered something far more corrupting than a pan full of gold. These possessed, hulking figures have seemingly lost their minds, but have little trouble remembering how to blow things up with a fistful of dynamite.

While Weird West's narrative and characterizations nicely trade western tropes for dark fantasy, body horror, and other elements not typically found among the open range, its clever gameplay similarly subverts expectations. Crafted by a team that includes former Arkane Studios staff, it leans heavily into immersive sim territory, complementing its action-RPG foundation with emergent, choice-driven elements that'll be  familiar to fans of Arkane favorites like Dishonored and Prey.

In Weird West, this approach strongly encourages experimentation to find creative solutions to problems that you'd typically tackle with a loaded chamber of bullets. Rather than, say, wasting ammo on a group of enemies, you can send a single slug through a barrel of oil, then ignite the black pool with a second shot, subjecting nearby foes to a fiery death.

But the focus on dynamic, systems-driven solutions goes far deeper than barbecuing baddies to conserve bullets. If you're accidentally consumed by that same blaze, for example, you can douse yourself with water from a nearby tank or stream. Of course, your soggy state now makes you more susceptible to lightning damage.

Coupled with a striking, comic-book-come-to-life visual style and haunting soundtrack, Weird West's engaging gameplay and dark fantasy vibe make it well worth saddling up for. Purchase or wishlist the game on Epic Games Store.