Video Games Set in Texas
Texas is massive, bold, and brimming with personality, so it’s no wonder game developers can’t resist using it as a backdrop. Whether you’re galloping through dusty deserts, surviving a post-apocalyptic wasteland, or sneaking around on a futuristic mission, Texas has made its mark in some seriously unforgettable games. Let’s break down the games that show off the Lone Star State in all its gritty, adventurous glory.
Why Texas Is Perfect for Games
So, what makes Texas such a great setting for video games? Simple, it’s huge, it’s diverse, and it’s packed with personality. You’ve got deserts, forests, cities, and everything in between, giving developers endless possibilities to create immersive worlds.
From the cowboy adventures of Red Dead Redemption to the eerie horror of the Texas Chain Saw Massacre and the chaotic humor of Borderlands, Texas adds something special to every game it touches. And let’s face it, this is just the beginning.
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Red Dead Redemption 2: A Love Letter to Texas
Let’s talk Red Dead Redemption 2. This masterpiece from Rockstar Games dropped in 2018, and it’s a prequel to the iconic Red Dead Redemption (2010). If you haven’t played it, you step into the boots of Arthur Morgan, an outlaw trying to make sense of his life as the American frontier starts fading into history in 1899. It’s one of those games that pulls you into its world so deeply, you forget you’re holding a controller.
Now, here’s the fun part: while the game is set in a fictional version of the United States, it’s dripping with Texas vibes. From the landscapes to the lore, Texas clearly had a seat at the creative table when this game was made.
The Texas Touch
New Austin: A Straight-Up Texas Tribute
Let’s start with New Austin. If you played the original Red Dead Redemption, you’ll remember this region, it’s basically Rockstar’s love letter to Texas. You’ve got those dry, arid deserts, sweeping plains, and rugged canyons that feel like they were lifted straight from West Texas.
Then there’s Armadillo, one of the standout towns in New Austin. Picture a small, dusty frontier town with wooden saloons, dirt streets, and that classic Wild West vibe. It screams Texas in every way. Even the wildlife in this region, think armadillos, cougars, and rattlesnakes, adds to the authentic Texan atmosphere.
Cultural and Historical Parallels
The game doesn’t just look like Texas; it feels like Texas. Ranching, for example, is a big deal in the game. You’ll find yourself herding cattle and working ranches, which were the backbone of Texas’s economy in the late 19th century. It’s a small but important nod to how Texas was built on livestock and agriculture.
Then there’s the outlaw lore. Texas had its fair share of infamous outlaws like Jesse James and Sam Bass, and Red Dead Redemption 2 channels that history. The game captures the end of the outlaw era as lawlessness fades and civilization takes over, a theme that Texas knows all too well.
The Spirit of the Texan Frontier
The game nails the feeling of freedom that Texas is known for. Its open world is massive, filled with endless plains, sprawling deserts, and river valleys that beg to be explored. You can practically feel the adventure calling as you ride your horse through the wilderness, just like the settlers and cowboys who made Texas what it is today.
Towns like Tumbleweed and Valentine add to that Texan feel. They’re bustling with saloons, general stores, and the kind of rough-and-tumble charm you’d expect from a frontier town in the late 1800s. These spots aren’t just places to restock, they’re where the Old West comes alive, filled with characters and stories that make the game feel real.
Themes of Change
The game also touches on big-picture themes that Texas experienced in real life. The spread of railroads and the rise of industry are woven into the story, mirroring how Texas transformed in the late 19th century. You also get glimpses of the tensions between settlers and Native Americans, handled with some nuance, that reflect the complicated history of Texas’s frontier days.
Gameplay That Feels Texan
Rockstar didn’t just create a world that looks like Texas, they made sure the gameplay feels like it too. Riding your horse across New Austin’s vast open spaces is pure Texas. Hunting is another huge part of the game, with deer, wild boar, and even bison roaming the wilds, just like the state’s real-life frontier days.
And let’s not forget the gunplay. The game’s duels and shootouts are classic Wild West moments that call back to the legends of Texas gunfighters. Whether you’re taking on a gang in a saloon or having a tense showdown in the middle of the street, it all feels perfectly Texan.
A Massive Success
It’s not just fans who love Red Dead Redemption 2. Critics raved about it too, and for good reason. The game has sold over 67 million copies (and counting!), making it one of the best-selling games ever. A big part of its appeal is how it captures the essence of places like Texas. From the detailed landscapes to the cultural and historical touches, it immerses players in a world that feels both familiar and extraordinary.
Texas Brought to Life
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to experience Texas during the late 1800s, Red Dead Redemption 2 is as close as it gets. From the vast, untamed wilderness of New Austin to the ranching and outlaw lore, this game doesn’t just borrow from Texas, it celebrates it. It’s a love letter to the state’s frontier legacy, packed with adventure, history, and that undeniable Texan spirit.
Whether you’re wrangling cattle, exploring wide-open plains, or having a standoff in a dusty town square, Red Dead Redemption 2 delivers an experience that makes you feel like you’ve stepped right into the heart of the Lone Star State. It’s no wonder this game has become a legend in its own right.
Additional Texan Wild West Games
Don’t sleep on Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood either. This western classic follows two brothers wandering through Texas and Mexico, tangled up in bandits, betrayal, and some serious gunfights. It’s gritty, action-packed, and has sold over 1 million copies, proof that the Wild West never goes out of style.
Desperados III is basically a love letter to the Wild West, and it leans heavily on Texas vibes to bring its world to life. The game’s set in the late 1800s, and you’ll find yourself sneaking through dusty deserts, bustling frontier towns, and sprawling ranches that feel straight out of West Texas. Whether it’s saloons with swinging doors or sun-soaked plains, the environments are not just gorgeous, they’re your strategic playground. Every mission is a puzzle where you use stealth, ambushes, and clever tricks to outsmart enemies in true cowboy style.
What makes it feel so Texan is the combination of freedom and danger, just like life on the frontier. You’ve got gunslingers like John Cooper and sharp characters like Doc McCoy, taking on missions that involve ranching, railroads, and saloon showdowns. It’s packed with all the action and grit you’d expect from a Wild West adventure, and it nails the Texan frontier spirit. If you’re into Westerns or just love clever strategy games, Desperados III is a ride worth taking.
Post-Apocalyptic Texas
Cowboys are great, but Texas is just as compelling when the world has gone completely off the rails. Take Wasteland 2, for example. It drops you into a version of Texas that’s been wrecked by disaster, and surviving here is no joke. With its tough-as-nails characters and scrappy settlements, the Texan vibe is undeniable. This RPG has sold over 1.5 million units, and it’s easy to see why, it’s gritty, strategic, and completely immersive.
And let’s not forget Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel. Sure, it’s a little more niche, moving about 200,000 units, but it’s got that classic Fallout feel with a Texan twist. Think crumbling towns, mutant creatures, and radioactive chaos. Stepping into this reimagined Texas is like entering a twilight zone, strange, unsettling, and utterly fascinating.
Modern-Day Texas
Texas isn’t all about saloons and survival, sometimes it gets to flex its urban side. Just look at The Crew. You can race through Dallas and Houston in this open-world driving game, speeding past landmarks and tearing up highways. It’s fast, fun, and has sold over 5 million copies, proving that Texas cities can bring the heat.
Then there’s Hitman (2016) with its "Freedom Fighters" mission. Set on a fictional Texan farm, this level is a stealthy playground full of barns, silos, and wide-open fields. It’s a great mix of rural charm and action-packed espionage, and it helps explain why the Hitman series has sold over 13 million units.
Sci-Fi in the Lone Star State
Texas isn’t just about looking back, it’s also about looking forward. In Deus Ex: Invisible War, you get a futuristic take on Denton, Texas, complete with cyberpunk vibes and tech-heavy intrigue. While it wasn’t everyone’s favorite Deus Ex game, it still sold over 1 million copies, thanks to its bold ideas and ambitious world-building.
Then there’s Prey. The 2006 original starts near Texas before diving into alien chaos, while the 2017 reboot takes the sci-fi up a notch on a space station. In the gaming universe, a staggering 2 million copies of these titles have been snatched up, and the nods to Texas roots amount to a storytelling coup that resonates deeply.
Horror in the Heart of Texas
Texas can also be downright terrifying, and the Texas Chain-Saw Massacre games are proof. These horror classics lean into the state’s eerie rural settings with creepy backroads, abandoned houses, and, of course, Leatherface. The latest adaptation has already sold over 1 million copies, and it’s no wonder, it’s spine-chilling in all the right ways.
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