One of the coolest strategy games in recent memory is Desperados 3, a Wild West adventure that combines the tactics and stealth of XCOM with the real-time strategy of Commandos and the superb Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun from the game’s creator, Mimimi Games. It is a precursor to the legendary Desperados video games and follows a group of five distinct outlaws as they journey across the Old West, getting into all kinds of mischief and scrapes. If you didn’t get Desperados 3 back then, you should absolutely purchase it now while it’s on sale through Steam.
Sitting at a 96% ‘overwhelmingly positive’ rating on Steam, it’s clear that Desperados 3 delivers on its premise of a “story driven, hardcore tactical stealth game.” It certainly draws from Shadow Tactics before it, which itself gave me a feeling I haven’t had since I was introduced to the classic Commandos games of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s as a youngster; one of my first real tastes of tactics.
With your squad of five each bringing a rather unique set of tools to the frontier, you’ll have to make smart use of their abilities to succeed. In the quickdraw world of the Wild West, after all, you’re not going to survive long if everyone sees you coming. Fortunately, this crew is more than capable, starting with sharpshooter and leader John Cooper, a master of silent but deadly takedowns.
Joining him are Hector, a burly strongman with a bear trap and axe; bounty hunter McCoy and his box of tricks including lures, poison syringes, and knockout gas; master of disguise and deception Kate, who can change outfit to fool and mislead her foes, or sneak her hidden gun into action; and the mystic Isabelle, capable of enlisting the help of wild animals or alluring enemies with her charms to do her bidding (or even walk unknowingly in front of an oncoming train, if you’re feeling particularly dastardly).
While there’s certainly a little XCOM in Desperados 3’s blood, this is a real-time strategy game – albeit one with a handy pause to let you keep on top of things and queue up your next moves if you’re not a quick thinker. That said, robust keyboard shortcuts let you pull off a lot in a short time once you get the hang of things, and if you’re feeling particularly confident, you can tackle the game’s toughest difficulty setting, where pauses are expressly forbidden.
If you love strategy games that force you to think on your feet and find clever ways to solve combat puzzles, Desperados 3 is a must-play. If you’re just a fan of the Western setting generally, it’s approachable enough that you can pick it up pretty quickly and enjoy its colorful cast, on-point atmosphere, and pitch-perfect soundtrack.
Desperados 3 is 75% off on Steam until August 17, 2023 – expect to pay $9.99 / £8.37, down from $39.99 / £33.50. If you want even more, the Digital Deluxe edition, which includes the soundtrack and season pass, is 80% off – that’s $12.42 / £10.74, down from $62.97 / £54.48.
If you’re interested, you can buy Desperados 3 on Steam.
Rustle up even more cowboy adventures with the best Western games, or browse more of the best tactical RPGs on PC if you’re looking for additional ways to test your skills.