Black Hand announces The Dark West, a hardcore action-RPG set in an occult western frontier

Black Hand has revealed The Dark West – a hardcore action-RPG for PC set in a cursed frontier. The game combines occult abilities and poker mechanics for build customization, letting players blast through dark magic-fueled enemies in an attempt to be the last one standing.

The game looks quite promising, though it's clear work is still ongoing.

Black Hand aims to bring the community along at every step of development.

We made The Dark West because we love ARPGs and wanted to create the kind of game we have always wanted to play," the team said. "From the start, we've included the community in every step of development. Their feedback is shaping the combat, the story, and the world. This is a game made with players, not just for them.

At the heart of The Dark West lies a grim setting of a cursed western frontier beneath a sun that refuses to rise. The land bears the marks of human desires and what people were willing to do to achieve them. Progression is built on careful selection of skills and gear, with power coming slowly and player choices leaving a lasting mark on the character. A unique poker card mechanic forms combinations of abilities and bonuses, while alcohol grants strength but dulls the senses.

Black Hand positions the game as a challenge for fans of Diablo and Path of Exile, promising to test both skill and sanity. Survival demands keeping your nerve, choosing the right moments to strike, and knowing when to move and when to hold your ground.

The game offers deep character customization through dynamic skills and legendary weapons, plus a conflict between two factions – The Order, which wears justice like armor while refusing to see the rot growing within, and The Damned, already claimed by dark magic and unapologetic about what it has made of them.

The Dark West will release on PC at some point in the future.