Free on Steam: New Western shooter launches with 93% positive reviews

In Sands of Skullcreek, players take on the role of the sheriff of the titular Western town of Skullcreek. The lawman hasn't exactly taken his duties too seriously so far, prompting a group of unhinged bandits to seize the opportunity and stir up plenty of trouble. When the situation finally spirals out of control, he picks up his weapons and sets out to restore his battered reputation. Armed with a revolver, rifle, shotgun and knife, players fight their way through dusty streets before facing the inevitable showdown at the end.

In terms of gameplay, Sands of Skullcreek goes back to the roots of the FPS genre. Instead of character classes, skill trees or extensive gear systems, the focus is firmly on gunplay. The revolver serves as an all-purpose weapon, the rifle is suited to longer distances and the shotgun deals devastating damage at close range. Visually, the game also takes inspiration from the early 3D era, combining a blocky retro look with more modern hit feedback. Accordingly, the system requirements are very modest: The minimum requirements call for just 2 GB of RAM and a GeForce 9800 GT or comparable graphics card. Whether Sands of Skullcreek also runs smoothly on the Steam Deck is currently unclear. There is no official compatibility rating yet, although the shooter from Fallen Sun Arcade was only released on August 15.

A single playthrough does not take particularly long, however. According to the Steam reviews posted so far, the credits often roll after just 10 to 30 minutes. Hidden secrets and a high-score system are intended to encourage additional runs. Cutscenes and interludes featuring live actors add some extra retro charm.

Despite the limited amount of content, Steam players seem quite impressed so far. The satisfying gunplay, punchy weapon and hit sounds and live-action cutscenes are particularly frequently praised. Headshots, in particular, are said to feel satisfyingly impactful. Unsurprisingly, the short playtime is by far the biggest criticism. Some players would like to see additional levels and bosses, while there are also occasional reports of bugs, freezes and somewhat clunky controls.

Overall, 93% of user reviews are positive, although that figure is not particularly meaningful with only 16 reviews so far. Even so, Sands of Skullcreek may well be worth a look – after all, the game is completely free on Steam.