Evil West is one of those surprises that seems to have come straight from the golden era of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. At a time when many games bet on gigantic open worlds, dozens of interconnected systems, and hundreds of hours of content, Evil West follows a much simpler philosophy: drop the player into a sequence of intense fights, hand them absurdly fun weapons, and let them destroy monsters throughout a linear campaign with no distractions. And honestly, it works far better than it might sound.
The story puts us in the shoes of Jesse Rentier, a vampire hunter working for a secret organization responsible for protecting the United States from a supernatural threat. The narrative doesn't try to reinvent the wheel or present grand philosophical twists. It's a straightforward adventure, inspired by classic westerns, blended with dark fantasy and science fiction elements. The result is a peculiar but personality-filled universe where cowboys face giant vampires, grotesque creatures, and every kind of supernatural horror.
Although the story isn't the experience's main focus, it manages to do its job competently. The characters have enough charisma to keep you interested, and the campaign's pace rarely slows down. There's always a new threat to face or a new location to explore, which helps maintain a constant sense of progression.
But it's in combat that Evil West truly shines. The inspiration from series like God of War is evident, especially in the way it mixes melee attacks, firearms, and special abilities. Jesse isn't just a gunslinger; he's a veritable machine of destruction equipped with an electric gauntlet capable of launching enemies into the air, pulling them close, or unleashing devastating attacks.
Every fight quickly turns into an aggressive dance of dodges, strikes, gunfire, and special moves. There's enormous satisfaction in chaining combos, interrupting enemy attacks, and using the entire available arsenal to clear an arena full of monsters. The game constantly encourages an offensive approach, rewarding those who take risks and master the combat systems.
As we progress, new abilities and upgrades are unlocked, allowing for slightly different playstyles. Although the progression system isn't particularly deep, it offers enough variety to keep combat fresh throughout the campaign.
Visually, Evil West impresses more than you might expect. The environments show a good level of detail and manage to capture the atmosphere of a supernatural western very well. From abandoned towns and haunted mines to gloomy forests and monster-infested fortresses, there's an interesting diversity of settings along the adventure.
The enemies also deserve a mention. The creature designs are creative and grotesque, helping to reinforce the game's unique identity. The animations are solid, the visual effects during combat are spectacular, and the bursts of electricity, blood, and destruction help make every battle visually striking.
The soundtrack accompanies the action well, mixing typical western elements with more aggressive themes during confrontations. It isn't a particularly memorable score when compared to some of the industry's biggest names, but it serves its purpose perfectly, reinforcing the intensity of combat and the world's atmosphere.
Naturally, Evil West isn't a game for everyone. Its linear structure may push away those looking for free exploration or extremely deep narratives. Some sections can become repetitive, especially for players who don't connect with the constant cycle of fight after fight. On top of that, the simplicity of some systems makes it clear we're looking at an AA production rather than a blockbuster with a gigantic budget.
Even so, it's precisely that simplicity that ends up being one of its greatest strengths. Evil West knows exactly what it wants to be and never pretends to be something different. It's a focused, fun game, confident in what it does best.
In the end, Evil West is an excellent love letter to the more direct action games of past generations. It offers satisfying combat, a world with personality, memorable bosses, and a campaign that respects the player's time. It may not be a masterpiece or revolutionize the genre, but it delivers exactly what it promises: pure, intense, uncomplicated fun.
For anyone who misses the days when video games didn't need to be gigantic to be fun, Evil West is a very easy recommendation to make.
out of 10
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Game Evil West Released 2022 Available on PC · PlayStation 4 · PlayStation 5 · Xbox One · Xbox Series X|S Reviewed on Xbox Series X|S |  Cover: IGDB |
| PL | Pedro Lopes Writer · Portugal |
A games writer from Portugal running on a highly irresponsible amount of coffee — his blood type is officially "espresso". He has been a content creator at Lisbon Games Week, a jury member at Over & Out ’25 and an attendee of DevGAMM Lisbon 2025 (mostly for the free coffee). He has a Pac-Man tattoo on his finger, which contractually obliges him to chase ghosts forever.