Hardtack Games
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Progress Report

HARDTACK GAMES PRESENTS:

WESTWARD!

— A Frontier Survival Sim · Anno 1848 —

Each step is a story — every mile a struggle for survival

About the game Follow on itch.io Join the Discord Press kit
Coming to Steam Early Access!

Westward!

Writing History

WESTWARD! is a historically-authentic frontier survival simulation that puts you in charge of a pioneer's wagon train on its journey two thousand miles west in 1848 along the Oregon Trail. Easy, Medium (historically-authentic) or Hard modes & six unique storytellers offer players a highly varied experience. Attributes, personal interests, temper and growth aptitude are all tracked before the trail leaves its mark; each trial bringing you one step closer to the end of the line. Choose from ten professions — each with their own unique bonuses to aid you in your journey. Localized topography maps and weather data recreate the details necessary for an immersive environment sim. Systems for tracking members' morale, fatigue and relations enrich the storyline, giving depth and meaning to every decision. Exhaustion feeds mental breaks and illness/injuries leave permanent scars which a 'grit' system tracks and accounts for. A disorganized and worn down wagon train risk desertion… or worse. Can you make it to Oregon City with your team intact?

Work in progress: Screenshots are from an in-development build and not representative of the final product.

Simulating the Western Frontier

The engine that generates the terrain you'll travel is derived from real-world science! This includes: Rainfall averages, cloud & plant species, seasonal changes, wind patterns and environmental hazards.

Fort Laramie on a fall evening, snow on the range and the grass gone dun, under a three-tier sunset sky.
The sky, the season and the light are all procedurally generated.

Play It Your Way

As Wagon-master you must lead your company, controlling: pacing, rations, camp routine and more. Adjust pre-launch settings individually or select a scenario. Picking your Storyteller, launch period, party-size and composition allows players to experiment and explore WESTWARD.

The pre-launch settings page: the road ladder from Easy to Custom, the jumping-off season and the save.
Every call is yours to make.

Pioneering 101: Surviving is Thriving!

Bonds form fastest between those who work closest, and grief runs as deep as the bond. Push the company too hard and they tire, quarrel and break. A happy wagon train is a healthy wagon train, so be sure to properly equip them and allow sufficient rest as the trail is as long as is it is difficult.

One traveler's sheet open beside the road: attributes, gear, skills and relations, with the company walking on.
Every pioneer has a story to tell.

Featuring:

  • Cats & Dogs!
  • Eight minigames with more on the way!
  • Procedurally Generated Pixel-art
  • Experience fifty events, with multiple choices giving you maximum control over your wagon's fate.
  • Select from 6 Wagons and various Staging options
  • Historically accurate ingame locations and events
  • WESTWARD! Original soundtrack by JN Works
  • More than 100 achievements and easter eggs!
The hunt minigame.
The hunt, one of eight minigames.

Coming soon to

Join the mailing list to get updates on release dates and content-drops.

Kept: this address and when (and on which page) it signed up, for WESTWARD! news only, never shared.

Platforms

Press and Inquiries:

hello@hardtackgames.com. A press kit can be found here.

Discord server for staying updated: discord.gg/7mmmq9BY3d.