Return to the Wild West with Desperados III

Look out, fans of Wild West-themed tactical games; Desperados is getting a revival! Publisher THQ Nordic has announced a new game in the series, set to be released in 2019 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. Desperados III will be developed by German developer Mimimi, also known for their Feudal Japan-themed strategy game Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun.

Whilst the announcement trailer is light on actual gameplay footage, it gives us a good idea of what to expect in Desperados III. Like Shadow Tactics, it appears to contain a mixture of stealth and tactical gameplay. Gameplay involves having your units surrounded, with options on how to proceed. For instance, do you take the stealthy route and take out foes one by one? Or do you cause maximum chaos and go in guns blazing? The choice is all yours.

The game incorporates many cowboy tropes to incorporate the Wild West theme. For instance, when the player is discovered in stealth, they get an opportunity to shoot the enemy first if their reflexes are fast enough. Players control a varied squad of characters, whose different skills must be used effectively to ensure your survival. The emphasis on stealth, and the fact that it is not turn-based, sets it apart from other prominent strategy titles. One thing that the gameplay footage demonstrates, however, is that you will want to be quicksaving frequently.

The original Desperados released in 2001, with a sequel, Cooper’s Revenge in 2006. Since then, many games have taken some inspiration from it, including Hard West and Wasteland 2. Be sure to keep an eye on Mimimi’s official website for further updates.