Why ‘Far Far West’ is the Sci-Fi Co-Op Shooter You Need to Play Right Now

Every once in a while, a game comes along that feels like it was engineered in a lab specifically to steal my sleep schedule. If you mixed the chaotic team coordination of Helldivers 2, the cell-shaded loot-hunting of Borderlands, and the frantic “one more run” dopamine loop of a roguelike, you’d get Far Far West.

Developed by Evil Raptor and published by Fireshine Games, this 1-4 player PvE extraction shooter launched into Early Access just a couple of months ago, and it has already captured an “Overwhelmingly Positive” status on Steam with over 17,000 glowing reviews. After sinking an embarrassing number of hours into it with my friends, I completely understand why.

Robot Cowboy Wizards. Yes, Really.

The setup is brilliantly absurd: you play as a squad of bounty-hunting robot cowboys who take on dangerous contracts for the local Town Sheriff. But you aren’t just slinging lead across traditional dusty saloons. This version of the frontier is heavily cursed.

You’ll drop into procedurally shifting sandscapes, haunted mines, and supernatural storms to blast apart legions of reanimated skeletons and mechanical monsters. The absolute best design choice here is the combat system—it lets you seamlessly switch between traditional Western six-shooters and high-powered magic spells. Launching a massive fireball into a crowd of robotic undead before fanning the hammer on a revolver feels exactly as satisfying as it sounds.

Get In, Get Paid, Get Out (Mostly Alive)

The core gameplay loop centers around high-stakes extraction. You and your crew pick a contract, ride out into the cursed lands, complete your objectives, and try to escape before you are completely overwhelmed.

The teamwork required here is incredibly tight. One player can focus their build entirely on heavy spell damage, another on long-range headshots, and a third on keeping the squad patched up with support skills. The game does an excellent job of throwing chaotic variables at you mid-run—including a terrifying ghost train that can completely upend your positioning if you aren’t paying attention.

Game AspectWhat to Expect
Price$19.99 (Early Access pricing)
Squad Size1 to 4 players (Very solo-friendly, but best with a crew)
PerformanceVerified on Steam Deck right out of the gate
ProgressionHighly customizable guns, perks, magic spells, and robot skins

Is it Worth it in Early Access?

A lot of people are naturally skeptical of Early Access titles, but Evil Raptor (a small team of just 8 talented people) has delivered something remarkably polished. The core loop is fully intact, the servers are stable, and the balance between gunplay and magic feels incredibly fluid. They’ve mapped out a 12-month roadmap to add deeper progression, more bosses, and extra game modes before hitting 1.0, and they are actively using feedback from their Discord to shape the game.

If you have even one or two gaming buddies looking for a fresh co-op obsession, the $19.99 entry fee is an absolute steal for the amount of fun packed in here. Just don’t blame me when it’s 2 AM and someone yells, “Just one more bounty!”

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