West of Loathing Critic Reviews (2025)

85 91%

West of Loathing is ranked in the 93rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.

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Christopher Livingston

PC Gamer

Top Critic

88 / 100

Aug 10, 2017

The turn-based combat isn't the best, but it's a delightfully written RPG absolutely packed with humor.

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Edmond Tran

GameSpot

Top Critic

8 / 10

Jun 7, 2018

Humor courses through West of Loathing's veins, making every minute of this RPG/adventure hybrid a delight.

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Noah Caldwell-Gervais

Polygon

Top Critic

9 / 10.0

Aug 10, 2017

Asymmetric Then there's the lore. West of Loathing takes place after a major magical disaster: the Day the Cows Came Home. Portals to hell turned the cows demonic, and great darkness spread across the West. West of Loathing elicits this powerful emotional connection with stick figures. It bonds you to its world with nothing more than doodling and dialogue. There's a pretty good turn-based adventure game there, under the hood, but West of Loathing's many strengths are all personal: connections made between developer and player when you both laugh at the same time. Absurdism aside, there's something fundamentally human and direct baked into the game's whole design from aesthetic to script. On top of it, you can dunk your hand into a spittoon of caustic toxins to pull out an enchanted sword. That's the kind of player choice I didn't even know I wanted in a Western RPG.

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Alec Meer

Rock, Paper, Shotgun

Top Critic

Unscored

Aug 11, 2017

WoL is most easily described as a comedy game, and though it is indeed a prime-cut ribtickler, that can be a backhanded compliment – as if jokes are all it has. WoL does something far more accomplished, far more rare, which is to be joyful.

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9 / 10

Jul 19, 2018

West of Loathing is not your average RPG; in fact we'd go so far as to say you've probably never played anything quite like it in your life. Its combat won't blow you away but don't be lulled into believing that's what this game is about, as really the whole thing is an adventure in exploration and interaction with a bit of fighting sprinkled in. It can occasionally be a little bit difficult to decipher, but the satisfaction felt upon working out a problem totally makes up for it. The humour is as wonderfully dry as the desert you're traversing and the writing is some of the best you can find on the Switch. Unless you've not got a humorous bone in your body, this is one RPG you can't risk skipping.

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Stephanie Chan

GamesBeat

Top Critic

88 / 100

Aug 9, 2017

If the thought of flinging fava beans instead of fireballs leaves you cold, then this isn't the game for you. But if you're smiling at the idea of a world where meateors crash into the earth and distribute bits of meat — then, hey, it's time to go west.

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Tomas Franzese

DualShockers

Top Critic

7.5 / 10.0

Aug 10, 2017

West of Loathing is one of the most memorable games I have played this year. It's unique simple-yet-detailed visuals and witty writing for everything from basic dialogue to item descriptions will keep fans of both westerns and RPGs very entertained. Unfortunately, once you hop into battle, the game's cracks start to show. While there is a great feeling of progression, West of Loathing's combat never did much to stand out from the systems in countless other turn-based RPGs. While I won't forget this Western romp anytime soon, I'll be remembering the witty dialogue exchanges and unique graphics more than its gameplay.

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Kevin Mersereau

Destructoid

Top Critic

9 / 10.0

Sep 20, 2017

West of Loathing may not be perfect, but it never needed to be. What it gives us, instead, is one of the funniest goddamn games I've played all year. I may be a bit late to the party, but I'm really glad that I gave it a chance. Anything capable of making me smile this much is an absolute blessing. This is something trulyspecial, and I can't wait to see what the developers at Asymmetric have in store for us next.

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Eli Pales

Nintendo Enthusiast

Top Critic

8 / 10.0

Jul 11, 2018

West of Loathing is a great value for its price and definitely entertaining for what it is. Unfortunately, the actual mechanics lack a lot of depth that keep it from being an experience for everyone. A deep RPG experience this is not. However, if you're looking for a few hours to kill on a game with funny writing and creative environments, this one is for you.

António Branquinho

FNintendo

Top Critic

8 / 10

Jul 7, 2018

West of Loathing can be a striking, unusual experience. Its completely unassuming and bare simple art style does not reveal it immediately, but this is an adventure RPG with a plot that's full of humour and which encourages the player to always go further and to get mired in the many side quests and missions. Even if its combat system is not as compelling as one would like it to be, West of Loathing features more than enough to attract players receptive to its marvel-filled plot and events.

Review in Portuguese |

Jonathan Logan

RPG Fan

Top Critic

95%

Feb 5, 2019

One of the funniest RPGs ever made, West of Loathing combines a unique visual presentation with outstanding roleplaying.

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Sean Anthony

GamingTrend

Top Critic

85 / 100

Jun 8, 2018

West of Loathing understands the stylistic charm that a unique aesthetic can provide and that stick figures are still, at the heart of everything, rad as heck. While the combat system is lacking, hilarious storytelling and a dynamic world make up a wonderful stroll through the western-styled landscapes.

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Eric Layman

Digital Chumps

Top Critic

9 / 10.0

May 31, 2018

Imagine a Western where scouring the American frontier is as urgent as calculating the severity of a hat. This balance sustains West of Loathing's mixture of zealous role-playing and profuse outpouring of absurdity. It's proof that capable writing can not only texture eccentric maneuvers in design and presentation, but also prevail as a primary attraction. West of Loathing celebrates Western ambience and revels in disciplined goofiness.

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Gianluca Arena

Spaziogames

Top Critic

8 / 10.0

Jun 25, 2018

What a delightful and funny adventure West of Loathing is, a unique blend of a very simple turn based role playing game and an old time point and click adventure. It's a perfect companion for lazy sundays and hard day's nights.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Kim Snaith

GameSpew

Top Critic

90%

Sep 6, 2017

From the charm that oozes out of the hand drawn simple animations to the writing that is absolutely on point from start to finish, West of Loathing really is something quite special.

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Ty Arthur

GameSkinny

Top Critic

Aug 18, 2017

I'm actually having more fun playing this ludicrous RPG parody drawn with stick people than I did with the bigger budget Wasteland 2.

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Tracey

PS3Blog.net

85%

Aug 17, 2018

West of Loathing is a game I highly recommend that you get on Nintendo Switch. It has a lot of content to offer, very funny dialogue and item descriptions, solid gameplay mechanics and a minimalist art style that just works. I had a blast playing this game for my review, and I'm sure you're going to love playing it at home or on the go.

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EdEN

PS4Blog.net

9 / 10

Jun 11, 2018

West of Loathing is a charming and very fun turn-based RPG on Nintendo Switch that you should download today. The funny writing, simple but solid gameplay mechanics, and the long list of locations you can explore more than make this one worth your time and money. You'll spend 12+ hours playing this one to see everything the game has to offer, which is great for its $11 price point.

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Matt Sainsbury

Digitally Downloaded

Top Critic

Jun 1, 2018

I truly love West of Loathing. It's charming, silly, fun and, most surprisingly, offers genuinely engaging combat and questing.

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Neal Ronaghan

NintendoWorldReport

Top Critic

8 / 10.0

May 31, 2018

Treating this game like a super-serious RPG is the wrong way to go about it, as that's where the holes start to emerge, whether it's the middling combat or the mildly annoying quest and item management troubles. This is a comedy, pure and simple, and thankfully it's one that's clever and funny in a way that makes up for any lesser gameplay segments. It's a great chaser between the ample supply of serious games out there, especially if you have Stupid Walking turned on.

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