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

As I’m whipping this big ol’ Desert Raptor MKII mech through a canyon packed with rockets and blaster-happy bandits, I can’t shake the feeling Bounty Star’s got something good brewing. My mech, which looks like it was slapped together with spare parts found at a garage sale (and, well, it kinda was), goes all out on these foes with heavy melee and cannon fire. Took me a few swings to get it right, but by the end of this brief ride, I’m itching to jump back in when Bounty Star hits Xbox Series X|S later this year.

In Bounty Star, you’re Clem—a warrior mech pilot working through some gnarly personal trauma. She’s a vet, trying to make up for past deeds in the Red Expanse. Imagine an American Southwest gone wild—yeah, it’s like that.

Benjamin Ruiz, the brain behind this ride, tells me he’s always had a Western dream on his mind. Sitting in Sedona, Arizona, he figured those landscapes were begging to be in an action game. One thing led to another, and five years plus some change, Bounty Star was born, inspired by those mind-blowing views.

Now, Ruiz and his team aren’t just reinventing the wheel. They wanted to dig into the everyday of being a bounty hunter. It’s not just about blasting things away—it’s about cooking meals that give you a fighting edge, managing water supplies, even raising chickens—yes, chickens! They’re mixing the essence of a Western, the bounty hunter lifestyle, and the thrill of mech fighting in the desert.

Already explored Clem’s junky garage—power lines hanging, makeshift kitchen in one corner (stats from meals, anyone?), ammo barrels out in the open. I’m soaking up those Firefly vibes—home is what you make of it.

Customization is king here, and Ruiz backs me up on that. You can tweak every last bit of your mech, though you’re gonna need a melee weapon and a gun. Do you armor up and bulldoze through? Or zip around all nimble-like? Up to you.

There’s a whole host of characters, too. The Marshall—an old pal assigns you bounties, and then there’s this shady merchant workin’ their own angle. Small cast, but they’ve got big personalities.

And oh, the bounties! Mix of missions backed by a day-night cycle keeps you on your toes. Ruiz spills the beans on how bounties can range from nabbing wanted criminals to clearing enemy-infested zones. Optional challenges for repeat thrill-seekers, too.

Bounty Star—raw, rough, and full of what could be. Let’s see how it rolls out on Xbox later this year.