Developers of Steam Next Fest’s wildly popular robot wizard cowboy shooter say its cowboy robots are also wizards because ‘magic is always cool’
Far Far West, a robot wizard cowboy co-op first-person shooter, has become one of the biggest surprises of Steam’s most recent Next Fest. Developed by Evil Raptor, a France-based indie studio with just eight employees, the game captured significant attention during the festival, ranking among the event’s five most-played demos.
The demo’s reception far exceeded expectations. By the end of Next Fest, Far Far West had garnered over 6,000 reviews with an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating—a remarkable achievement that surprised the developers. Nicolas Meyssonnier, Evil Raptor’s studio head, noted the response was “way, way above” what the studio anticipated. The small team’s previous experience with “very niche” 3D platformers had not prepared them for such mainstream success.
The game’s success stems from its unique fusion of cowboy gunslinging and wizard spellcasting mechanics. The developers deliberately embraced the wizard-cowboy robot concept, believing that “magic is always cool.” This creative design choice resonated with players, providing both novelty and engaging gameplay that stood out among the festival’s other entries.
The overwhelming response has accelerated Evil Raptor’s timeline. The studio is preparing to launch Far Far West into early access within days of the festival’s conclusion, riding the momentum of the demo’s success. The Next Fest performance has transformed the indie studio’s prospects, providing substantial community support heading into the game’s early access period.