Far Far West gives robot cowboys guns, spells and bounty contracts, then introduces a ghost train to make absolutely sure nobody mistakes this for a respectable historical recreation. Evil Raptor's cooperative shooter understands the value of a ridiculous job description. You accept work from the sheriff, head into hostile territory and return to town to improve the equipment responsible for your continued employment. Presumably the benefits package covers rust, but draws the line at being flattened by supernatural public transport.
Available on Windows PC in Early Access since April 28, 2026, this is a game about repeatable expeditions, shared trouble and tinkering with builds. Its strongest ideas give that familiar structure a pleasingly specific cowboy-shaped malfunction.
Reasons to look closer
Guns and combinable spells give a crew more to coordinate than four separate streams of bullets.
The released Frostburn update adds melee weapons, defensive Frost abilities and meaningful changes to progression.
Solo support and up to four-player co-op accommodate different group sizes, while the upgrade systems reward an appetite for experimentation.
Please bring the correct instrument to the gunfight
The basic combination of shooting and magic is a strong foundation because those tools can serve different purposes. Headshot-focused perks, spell damage and healing support distinct priorities without requiring everyone to approach a contract identically. A party can discuss how its abilities fit together instead of holding the traditional shooter meeting, in which everybody agrees to shoot more accurately and immediately fails to do so.
Frostburn, released on August 27, makes that division of labour more interesting. Knuckles and a lasso occupy the primary weapon slot; the banjo is a secondary melee weapon with an area heal. That last option is particularly inspired. Somewhere, a very tired combat medic has finally found a reason to keep attending bluegrass practice.
These weapons replace existing slots rather than arriving as free extra tools. The choice therefore has consequences: leaning into close combat means thinking about which ranged capabilities remain in the loadout. Frost abilities and temporary shield points support that commitment, including spells that freeze enemies or protect allies. Shields also decay, so they encourage active use rather than becoming permanent padding. The design gives melee a supporting system, which matters more than simply adding something funny to hit skeletons with.
Radioactive accounting, surprisingly sensible
The most persuasive Frostburn changes concern decisions between fights. Blueprints became a shared unlocking currency, replacing the need to track fragments for individual items. Unlocking a weapon now purchases it directly, removing the separate gold payment. That trims a layer of administration from a game whose principal qualification should remain “can aim while wearing a hat.”
Uranium now pays for in-mission purchases and modifications instead of consuming gold used for longer-term progression. Unwanted Joker upgrades can be broken down into it, and leftover uranium converts to experience at the end of a mission. This is a good structural distinction. Spending on the current run no longer competes directly with the same gold reserve used for persistent unlocks, so experimenting has a clearer place in the economy.
There is still plenty to manage: weapon upgrades, perks, Jokers, spells and several resources all want attention. Players seeking a shooter with no homework may find the workshop busier than the saloon. For build enthusiasts, though, those interlocking decisions provide reasons to return beyond merely earning a larger number beside the same gun.
Exploration needs a reason to leave the road
Haunted mines, skeletons, storms and that enormous ghost train give the western setting a useful disregard for historical accuracy. The contrast makes room for both threatening scenery and ridiculous equipment without either seeming imported from another game. Customizable robots and horses add another outlet for a crew's questionable taste. Nobody needs a coordinated posse outfit, which is precisely why someone will insist on arranging one.
Optional objectives also have a clearer purpose under the revised economy, since activities such as quests and secrets can award uranium. Lighthouses reveal the map and its special locations after a climb and minigame, helping turn exploration into a legible choice rather than a hopeful wander. That is valuable in a cooperative game: a visible destination gives the group something concrete to agree on before one person discovers a completely different direction.
The frontier is still under construction
Early Access remains an important part of the recommendation. Changes this substantial can improve an evolving game, but they also mean today's progression rules should not be mistaken for a finished design. Anyone wanting a settled campaign and a complete package should approach it differently from a group happy to revisit contracts as the toolkit grows.
As of October 19, the Halloween update is scheduled for October 22. It is upcoming content, not part of the available game being weighed here. Frostburn already provides concrete additions to discuss; future seasonal plans do not need to do imaginary work on its behalf.
Verdict
Far Far West makes its strongest case to friends who enjoy coordinating builds and turning an ordinary objective into an unnecessarily elaborate incident. Solo play is supported, but combining roles gives the cooperative setup its clearest appeal. The evolving systems and repeatable contracts will suit that crowd better than players seeking a fixed, story-led western. Its best design move is giving the absurdity practical consequences: the banjo is funny, certainly, but choosing to bring one also means deciding how your team intends to survive. Finally, a group project with a defensible banjo budget.