Video games have the power to take players back to a time that would otherwise have been lost to history books and narratives in movies. Games like Assassin's Creed not only provide a fictional retelling of crucial historical moments but also give a sense of the tangible experience for people playing the game.
One such timeline lost to the books of history is the period when the American frontier was at its peak. Although these games have fictional stories, the various characters they introduce bring something that took a different route with the gameplay. One of them is the gunslinging, horse-riding cowboys who became iconic and memorable.
5 Cole Cassidy - Overwatch
The 2016 team-based multiplayer first-person shooter game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment was a sensational hit and won the game of the year, beating down top contenders like Uncharted 4. In addition, the game opened gates to some of the most iconic "heroes" (as they are called), one of which is the gunslinging cowboy Cole Cassidy.
Cole Cassidy takes pride in being the game's top duelist and can kill almost anyone at close quarters with his garish Peacekeeper agility. Although the game doesn't allow the gunslinger to sport the old traditional cowboy attire, one can find him wearing a pair of boots, the old Clint Eastwood style blanket around the torso, and a matching cowboy hat showing off the wild wester in him.
4 John Marston - Red Dead Redemption
With the GTA franchise working wonders, Rockstar games hit the home run again with its 2010 action-adventure game Red Dead Redemption. The game takes to the 1910s during the times when the American frontier was on the decline and follows former outlaw John Marston. Despite giving up his old life, John is forced to hunt down three members of his old gang in exchange for his wife and son, who are being held hostage by government officials.
John Marston can be seen sporting a gray shotgun coat with a black shirt, white union suit, an orange vest, and light gray striped trousers with a worn gambler hat. Although the game changes his appearance through the chapters, the gunslinger often sticks to his long brown hair and a moderately grown stubble at the max. He also makes an appearance in Red Dead Redemption 2
3 Arthur Morgan - Red Dead Redemption 2
After the unanimous success of Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar studios treated fans of the game to another exciting installment with the 2018 action-adventure Red Dead Redemption 2. Although the game has a progressive number on the title, the game serves as a sequel to its predecessor and is set in 1899, following yet another iconic outlaw named Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van Der Linde gang. The game sees the bandit struggle through the perils of the declining west and survive amidst bounties, rival gangs, and much more.
The game had all sorts of new things, from horse genitalia shrinking from the cold of the mountains to the weathering of Arthur's clothes. Hence, players were free to alter and change the outlaw's appearance - cutting his hair, trimming his beard, getting a new set of clothes and shoes, and more. However, the bandit was often seen sporting a blue shirt, grey trousers by default, and a black cowboy hat (if it wasn't lost in a gunfight)
2 John Cooper - Desperados
When taking a break from the action-adventure genre, the list dives into the most underrated genre of the current era. The Desperados series, spanning four titles, is a stealth-oriented real-time tactics video game series developed by Spellbound and Minmini games. The series is set in the 1800s and follows the life of a bounty hunter named John Cooper and his team.
In terms of his appearance, John wears the most authentic cowboy attire of popular video game cowboys. A brown leather jacket covering a pale-colored shirt, paired with a pair of cowboy trousers and boots, makes him the perfect role model of an animated cowboy. The cowboy hat adds more to the feel. However, some fans have speculated as to whether the character model may have been inspired by Harrison Ford of the Indiana Jones series.
1 Buck Crosshaw - Six Guns
Moving on to a more compact gaming experience, Six Guns is a 2011 open-world action-adventure game developed and published by Gameloft for Android, iOS, and Windows phones back in the day. The game follows the lead character Buck Crosshaw, an innocent man found guilty through false accusations who had to fake his own death and escape to Oregon and Arizona.
The narrative follows a path to redemption, with Buck trying to clear his name and make it out as the free man he once was. He is yet another baseline model for a perfect, wild western cowboy. However, his character arc and backstory make him a little different from most of the entries on the list. Sometimes featuring a cowboy hat, Buck is otherwise seen wearing a waistcoat, a full-sleeved pale shirt, and matching colored trousers.