It is refreshing to see a Souls-like game that does not deal with a medieval type of scenario. Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but why not a Western style? That is what Tombwater is putting together. The story is set in a cursed mining town filled with eldritch beings and other cowpokes trying to gut you alive. A lone gunslinger is investigating the disappearance of the local sheriff.
You can choose from various different classes at the beginning, with different playstyles focusing more on quickness, strength, or spells. And it wouldn’t be the Wild West without a gun, shotgun, or even a damn cannon. More specifically, you’ll get your hands on weapons like a cavalry saber, mining pickaxe, six-shooter, and a shotgun crackling with eldritch fire. There are many different types of weapons or spells to grab around. While the game has a lot of inspiration from Bloodborne, you can also equip charms in slots like in Hollow Knight.
The madness meter mechanic plays a central role in the gameplay, requiring you to monitor your sanity as the horrors of Tombwater consume you. Exceeding your madness cap prevents you from casting spells and using special weapon abilities until you rest at a campfire.
It is a 2D Metroidvania style. Damn, this is checking all the [insert genre]-like boxes, right? You will be navigating through desert wastelands, canyons, and mines. While I haven’t explored the full map yet, my research indicates there will be nearly 20 distinct biomes to discover, which should make for some impressive exploration. The developer did a fantastic job of getting that spaghetti western feel throughout the map. Even down to the music with the lone guitar in the background.
This is for sure a wishlist I recommend on Steam. I played it on the Steam Deck as well and didn’t see any issues with it so far. Right now, you can play the demo on Steam.
