Bounty Star: A Charming, Cozy Mech Brawler Set in a Post-Apocalyptic World

Drifting through a desert canyon, surrounded by a chaotic dance of hover bots and bandits, I couldn’t shake the feeling—Bounty Star’s got something. My mech, like a garage project assembled on a Sunday afternoon, battled the madness with brute force and cannon blasts. It wasn’t easy, but you know, when I finally emerged victorious, I was all in. Xbox Series X|S—later this year—can’t wait.

So, who do you play? Enter Clem, a fighter with a story. Picture a war vet wrestling with the skeletons in her past, hoping to make things right. Her playground? The Red Expanse. If the American Southwest took a dive into a post-apocalyptic theme park, this would be it.

Quick detour—met Benjamin Ruiz, the mastermind here. Sedona, Arizona, he says, was the muse. Imagine standing surrounded by those red rocks, thinking, “This would kick ass in a game.” Five years ago, he scribbled the first notes on a napkin or something—dreaming up this Western-slash-mech hybrid, blending unexpected elements in a sandbox of ideas.

Alright, back to Clem. You get to hang out in her scrappy garage-slash-home, jury-rigged power lines dangling, the scent of something cooking wafting through. Amidst the chaos, there’s order, sorta. A bit like “Firefly”—just enough to get by, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Customization? Oh yeah, have at it. Your mech, your rules. Heavy armor and guns blazing, or zipping around like a caffeinated squirrel—it’s your call. Talking to Ruiz, it was clear: freedom in play style is the name of the game.

So, who’s in this rodeo with you? A Marshall, a buddy with bounties and an agenda. A shady merchant who seems to have the best toys for your mech. Not a huge cast, but Ruiz assured me, memorable encounters are the goal.

And let’s talk bounties—because, what’s a bounty hunter without them? Missions change it up—capture this guy, clear that area, maybe some optional objectives if you’re feeling fancy. Ruiz calls it a third-person arena vibe—each mission a sandbox of mayhem and fun.

Ultimately, Bounty Star’s got all the messiness of Clem’s desert home—potential bursting at the seams—waiting to see how it all clicks when it finally launches. Can’t say I’m not excited to dive back in.