'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 alone was enough to win me over. The feel of revolvers and spin cocking is always right on the mark. After all, why else would players choose Cassidy and Ashe in Overwatch, a game overflowing with automatic firearms?

On top of that, it adds an occult twist. Townsfolk who have lost their minds for unknown reasons, gunslingers who are equally insane, and even angels designed with a biblical, metaphysical look—composed of flying eyeballs. Of course, I did not mind this added occult flavor at all, as I had already signed up for the demo as soon as I heard "Western" and "shooter."

And so, with little prior information beyond the premise of "frontier West + FPS," I arrived at Gamescom 2026. Stepping into the modest demo booth at last, I played 'Guns of Eschaton.'

Gameplay Texture Shaped by Complex 'Gun Mechanics'

First, let us 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. Suffice it to say, you will not see any power fantasy where a gunslinger rushes out with a single pistol 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." Having lost everything, the protagonist begins a journey home following an Odyssey-like narrative arc.

In the aftermath of this calamity, most people have been twisted. Residents and gunslingers alike have turned strange; some people move around fine without heads, while biblical angels appear in corrupted forms. You might think you can just shoot them all down, but that is easier said than done. The reason lies in the peculiar realism of 'Guns of Eschaton's' firearm operation mechanics.

Even though 'Guns of Eschaton' is set against a surreal backdrop, its weapon mechanics are remarkably realistic. While each character has a different primary weapon, a standard single-action revolver requires you to manually cock the hammer before every shot. If the gun is not cocked, aiming down sights will not even display the front sight. You must click once more to cock the hammer before the sight becomes visible and the gun is ready to fire.

Once you fire all six rounds loaded in the cylinder, you must eject the spent casings one by one. This also requires manual action, with distinct animations for clearing each casing and loading a new bullet into the empty chamber. Breech-loading rifles similarly require opening the chamber and removing the shell casing after a single shot, and speedloaders are completely out of the question.

When you acquire different ammo types, you can even fill each of the cylinder's six chambers with distinct rounds. Naturally, this means you can cycle through the cylinder to select specific bullets during combat. This is a far cry from the conventional handling of revolvers in video games—where you fire six shots, pop the cylinder out to dump the casings, and swiftly reload with a speedloader.

This is because the scope of combat in 'Guns of Eschaton' extends beyond engagement itself to include 'preparation.'

In actual gameplay, rather than blindly rushing out in front of enemies, you must start by assessing their composition and numbers from high ground or openings, then checking your chambers. You need to decide in advance which ammo type and how many rounds to use on each target before engaging. Any slight mistake in that process will unravel your plan. Let us look into why plans fall apart so easily.

The Codex and Parrying: Unique Elements of 'Guns of Eschaton'

'Guns of Eschaton' features a truly unique system. The protagonist records enemy behavior patterns and weak points in a notebook called the 'Codex,' which serves as the primary tool for solving combat encounters. For instance, against a 'Corrupted Gunslinger' (exact name subject to confirmation), the Codex indicates you should shoot the right leg first and then the head. Doing so inflicts heavy stagger and bonus damage, sending most enemies straight to the grave in a single combo.

However, instinctively aiming for the head as you would in other games does little good here. Every enemy has distinct weak points, and maximizing damage requires shooting those weak points in the exact sequence outlined in the Codex. Some targets require a left foot – right arm – abdomen sequence, while others demand left arm – head. The locations and order of weak points differ for every enemy.

Combined with the aforementioned weapon complexity, this defines combat in Guns of Eschaton. You must identify enemy compositions and numbers, check each enemy's weak points and required round count in the Codex, verify weapon condition and remaining ammo, formulate a plan in your head, and execute it flawlessly. If a single bullet misses or if you fail to hit enemies according to the Codex, things spiral out of control immediately.

Fortunately, there is a supporting feature: the 'parry' common in typical Soulslikes. Enemies in Guns of Eschaton do not get staggered unless attacked according to the Codex, and they will attack right back—displaying a flashing effect right before striking. Pressing the parry button at this moment deflects both melee and ranged attacks, opening up an opportunity.

When combat goes awry, you can use this 'parry' to buy time. Buying time does not automatically allow for an effective counterattack, but it gives you precious seconds to clear chambers and reload new rounds in tense situations. While parrying is not suited for offensive play, the game design's emphasis on pre-combat preparation makes it invaluable for eliminating variables and buying time to re-execute a calculated attack.

On top of this, 'Guns of Eschaton' adds another unique mechanic.

Fitting the Western setting, enemies will occasionally challenge you to a 1v1 duel. Mindless foes suddenly take a stance and glare at you, creating intense tension. Since outdrawing an enemy the moment they draw is virtually impossible, the safest approach is to execute a reliable parry and follow up with a shot through the head.

A Well-Made Shooter Driven by a Unique Pace

To share my impressions from the demo, 'Guns of Eschaton' is certainly not a shooter for everyone. The feel is vastly different from typical shooters that rely on high-octane combat and spatial awareness. Requiring thorough reconnaissance, preparation, and flawless execution of calculated battles, the combat delivers a distinct experience akin to conducting a high-precision spec-ops mission in real life.

If you put shooter and Soulslike on a scale, it would tilt ever so slightly toward Soulslike. However, because targeting weak points according to the Codex demands solid shooting fundamentals, it cannot be said to tilt entirely. Even if the game design aligns with Soulslike principles, its core framework remains an FPS.

Even if it is not for everyone, Guns of Eschaton is undeniably a worthwhile title because it offers a unique experience rarely found in other games. Though not mentioned above, Guns of Eschaton features 5 distinct characters—including one that relies primarily on magic—each with unique signature weapons and progression mechanics.

While the demo version was limited in scope, it was clear that this is not a game lazily benchmarked from others or built to chase trends without deep consideration. Its true value will become clearer upon full release, but one thing is certain: it possesses something genuinely special.