The thing that initially intrigued me about Wild Bastards lies primarily in its gameplay premise. I had initially missed Void Bastards—another in a long list of games I always meant to play but never got around to—and while that game caught my eye for its stylish visuals and similarly unique premise, Wild Bastards reminded me of another game I genuinely loved, namely StarFox Command.
The criminally underrated DS game combined the series’ iconic ship-based combat with turn-based strategy for an experience that was incredibly gripping. It was this game that piqued my interest in games that could combine action and strategy in a way that was both complex and fun. Thankfully, I got to experience a small preview of Wild Bastards and immediately reminded me why this sub-genre of action/strategy is so appealing.
Wild Bastards puts players in the role of a group of space Outlaws known as the “Wild Bastards” as they move from system to system one step ahead of Johnny Law. They’re set on finding a galaxy known as the “Homestead,” full of lush, beautiful planets where your name and deeds don’t mean diddly squat. However, in order to do that, they’ll first need to round up the ol’ gang who were taken out by the vicious family of Lawmen: the Princes.
The game does a great job of delivering its story in small pieces—due in large part to the game’s roguelike nature, but we’ll get into that later—while still providing the world with so much detail and life. The galaxies of Wild Bastards feel like dangerous, hostile places, all stylized in interesting and unique ways.
But it’s Wild Bastard’s gameplay that really sets it apart and helps it stand out. With every new galaxy, players will use turns to decide how to proceed through it—deciding when to land on planets to fight and loot, or take safer routes for potentially less rewards. When landing on a planet, players are given a certain number of moves each turn to navigate its hostile roads so they’ll need to plan effectively in order to succeed.
“But the action gameplay is where the most fun is to be had in Wild Bastards. While this preview version only gave me a taste, it was clear it’s going to shape up into something special.”
Players will encounter rouge rangers, hunters and varmints as well as unavoidable Roadblocks they’ll need to shoot their way through in order to reach key targets—be they cash, upgrades, or recovery items. There’s a decent amount of complexity to deciding how to spend your turn that compliments the narrative of living as an Outlaw. Players are constantly outnumbered and outgunned, so knowing when to loot and when to shoot is key to getting on and off a planet.
Furthermore, players only have a limited number of turns until one of the Princes shows up to hunt you down—essentially acting as elite bosses that are incredibly difficult at lower levels. It doesn’t punish you for playing somewhat underhanded and not taking on every enemy. You’re not the hero in this game, and not playing like one is part of the strategy.
But the action gameplay is where the most fun is to be had in Wild Bastards. While this preview version only gave me a taste, it was clear it’s going to shape up into something special. As I mentioned, Wild Bastards is an FPS roguelite where players fight across randomized worlds, gaining temporary and permanent upgrades with every run. However, the game shakes things up in interesting ways that really add to the tension and action.
Due to the…let’s say science of how Hyperjumps work in Wild Bastards, every time players successfully make it to a new galaxy, they will lose all their money and gear. Luckily, the Wild Bastards trade in a more useful currency: “Infamy,” which can be traded with galactic rebels at the start of each new galaxy for upgrades. The more Infamy you get—from killing enemies, completing tasks or trading items at specific stores—the better prepared you’ll be at the start of each run.
Of course, there are permanent buffs called “Aces,” that aren’t destroyed with each jump that can be found on planets or earned through levelling up Outlaws. If players should be defeated during a run, the Wild Bastard’s trusty ship will bring them back to the start of the galaxy fully healed. On the surface, it seems pretty simple: clear out small arenas of enemies and randomized worlds, but much like with the game’s strategy elements there’s an incredible amount of depth to it.
“Wild Bastards is a game I didn’t know I wanted until I played it.”
For starters, players can take a number of different Outlaws to a planet—for the preview the max was three, whether or not it’ll be more as the game progresses is yet to be known. Outlaws can be placed in groups of two, and swapped between during battles, providing a wide range of potential weapons and special ability matchups. What’s more, each Outlaw’s special ability can have additional effects based on who their partner is, so who you pair up can radically change the flow of battle.
But it’s not so simple. See, these Outlaws have a history with each other. Some good, others not so much, and some Outlaws might refuse to fight alongside others until fences are mended. It’s an interesting system that utilizes gameplay in order to add to the story and worldbuilding. Add to this the incredible visual design of each Outlaw and the incredible voice acting that brings each one to life and you’ve got a cast of characters that oozes charm.
Wild Bastards is a game I didn’t know I wanted until I played it. What little I got to experience had me champing at the bit for more and I genuinely can’t wait until it releases later this year—hopefully this is optimized for the Switch, because that would be a treat.
