'Guns of Eschaton' was a title that caught my attention from its very first reveal. The concept alone is peculiar. For starters, it is a shooter set in the frontier West—albeit a twisted version of it. That was already a winner in my book. The feel of revolvers and spin cocking is always right on the mark. After all, why else would players still pick Cassidy and Ashe in Overwatch when it's filled with automatic weapons?

On top of that, it adds an occult layer. Unhinged locals for reasons unknown, equally crazed gunslingers, and even angels shaped metastasized or metaphysically like those in biblical descriptions (composed of floating eyeballs). Of course, I didn't care much about the added occult aspect at first—I had already signed up for a hands-on demo the moment I heard "Western" and "shooter."

So, with little information other than knowing it was a Wild West FPS, I arrived at Gamescom 2026. Stepping into the modest demo booth, I finally got my hands on 'Guns of Eschaton.'

Gameplay Feel Forged by Intricate Firearm Mechanics

First, let's establish one thing: 'Guns of Eschaton' is a Soulslike game. I will explain step-by-step how Soulslike mechanics were translated into a first-person shooter where you fight with guns in hand. Suffice it to say, you won't see any power fantasy where a gunslinger rushes out with a single revolver to casually wipe out everything in sight.

The game is set in the American West—or more precisely, an American West struck by a calamity known as "The Burning." The protagonist, having lost everything, embarks on an Odyssey-like journey in an attempt to return home.

In the aftermath of this disaster, most inhabitants have become twisted. The locals and gunslingers alike have gone strange—some people move around normally without heads, while biblical angels appear in corrupted forms. One might think you could just shoot everything in your path, but it isn't that simple. This is due to the surprisingly authentic weapon mechanics in 'Guns of Eschaton.'

Despite its surreal setting, weapon mechanics in 'Guns of Eschaton' are remarkably realistic. While each character relies on different primary weapons, the standard single-action revolver requires you to manually cock the hammer after every shot. If the weapon is uncocked, aiming down sights will obscure the sight alignment. You must click once more to cock the hammer before the sights line up and the gun is ready to fire.

Once you fire all six rounds in the cylinder, you have to eject the empty shell casings one by one. This also requires manual input, complete with animations for ejecting spent casings and inserting fresh cartridges into empty chambers. Breech-loading rifles similarly require opening the chamber to extract spent casings after each shot, and you can forget about convenience items like speedloaders.

When you acquire different ammo types, you can even load each of the cylinder's six chambers with distinct cartridges. Naturally, this allows you to rotate the cylinder mid-combat to select specific rounds for each shot. It feels completely different from typical video game revolvers, where you fire six shots, swing out the cylinder, dump the casings, and swiftly reload with a speedloader.

This is because the combat scope that 'Guns of Eschaton' aims for encompasses not just the fighting itself, but the preparation beforehand.

In actual gameplay, rather than blindly revealing yourself to enemies, you must start by scouting enemy compositions and numbers from high ground or gaps, and inspecting your chambers. This means planning ahead how many rounds of which ammo type to spend on each foe. A single misstep during this process unravels your plan—and I'll explain next why that happens.

Codex and Parrying: Unique Mechanics of 'Guns of Eschaton'

'Guns of Eschaton' features a truly distinctive system. The protagonist records enemy behavior patterns and weak points in a notebook called the "Codex," which serves as the primary method for tackling combat encounters. For instance, according to the Codex, against a "Twisted Gunslinger" (exact name subject to confirmation), you must shoot the right leg first, followed by the head. Doing so places the enemy in heavy stagger while dealing bonus damage, sending them straight to the grave in a single combo.

However, instinctively aiming for the head as you normally would in shooters carries little value here. Every enemy has explicit weak points, and maximum damage is dealt only when you hit those weak points in the exact sequence detailed in the Codex. Some enemies require a sequence of left leg – right arm – abdomen, while others require left arm – head. The weak point locations and sequences vary across every enemy type.

Combining this with the previously mentioned firearm complexity shapes the core combat of Guns of Eschaton. You must survey enemy counts and layouts in advance, check the Codex for weak points and required rounds, review weapon status and remaining ammo to formulate a plan in your head, and execute that plan flawlessly to take down targets. If a single bullet misses or fails to match the Codex sequence, chaos immediately ensues.

There is, however, a mechanic to help bail you out: the "parry," familiar to Soulslike players. Enemies in Guns of Eschaton will not stagger from attacks unless hit according to the Codex, continuing their assault while flashing a brief visual cue right before attacking. Pressing the parry button at this precise moment allows you to deflect both melee and ranged attacks, creating an opening.

When combat goes awry, you can use parrying to buy precious time. Buying time doesn't necessarily mean delivering lethal blows, but rather gaining the room needed to clear chambers and load fresh rounds amid high-pressure situations. While using parries offensively feels out of place, in a game designed around pre-battle preparation, parrying helps eliminate variables and grants the breathing room needed to realign your tactical plan.

On top of this, Guns of Eschaton adds another distinct feature.

Fitting its Western backdrop, enemies will occasionally challenge you to a 1-on-1 duel. Unreasoning foes will suddenly strike a posture and glare at you, creating intense tension. Trying to quick-draw and shoot the moment the enemy draws is nearly impossible, so the safest option is to reliably parry before putting a bullet through their head.

A Well-Made Shooter Driven by a Unique Pace

To share my hands-on impressions, 'Guns of Eschaton' is certainly not a shooter for everyone. Its pace feels vastly different from conventional shooters that rely on high-octane combat and real-time spatial awareness. Requiring meticulous investigation, preparation, and execution of a planned attack without error, the combat delivers a unique experience akin to executing a precise real-world special operation.

If you were to weigh its elements on a scale between shooter and Soulslike, it tips ever so slightly toward Soulslike. However, because target precision matching the Codex is crucial, core shooter fundamentals remain an indispensable part of the experience, meaning it doesn't lean entirely one way. Even if the game design centers around Soulslike philosophies, its core foundation is still that of a first-person shooter.

While it may not appeal to everyone, Guns of Eschaton is undoubtedly a valuable game in how it offers a unique experience hard to find anywhere else. Though not detailed above, Guns of Eschaton features five distinct characters—including one who primarily uses magic—each with unique signature weapons and progression systems.

Though the demo version offered only a glimpse, it was clear that this is not a game lazily benchmarking others or chasing trends without thoughtful design. While its true worth will become clearer when the full version launches, one thing is certain: it possesses a distinct spark that shines through.