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

Wow, so I was bumbling around this humongous desert canyon in my clunky mech called the Desert Raptor MKII—like a giant metal critter just trying to figure life out. Rockets flying everywhere, and these hover bots with as many weapons as a bad mood, and I couldn’t help but feel like Bounty Star is about to pull off something crazy good. My mech? Looks like someone pieced it together in their garage one late night—because they kinda did. Anyway, after a bunch of trial and error and some chaotic melee action, I found myself, oddly enough, itching to dive back into that dusty world when it hits Xbox Series X|S.

The whole game’s about this character, Clem—she’s a badass pilot dealing with past trauma, trying to make up for who knows what. The story kicks off in the Red Expanse, which, I mean, picture the American Southwest, but post-apocalyptic. It just screams adventure.

Okay, quick detour—I remember standing in Sedona, Arizona once, looking out over the red rocks and thinking, “Dang, this would make a cool video game setting.” Apparently, Creative Director Benjamin Ruiz had the same thought. He mentioned he was so inspired by those views, he started sketching out this whole concept of Bounty Star right then and there. Took a couple years before the production really kicked off, but hey, I guess good things simmer for a while.

Ruiz was always into Westerns. (Side note, who isn’t?) So, it’s like he combined this love of Westerns with a kinda lighter take on mech gameplay like Armored Core. He talked a lot about capturing the nitty-gritty life of a bounty hunter, which by the way, includes raising chickens. Like, survival in the desert and all that jazz. Bounty Star is really about blending these elements—the classic Western vibe, a little bit of everyday mech chaos, and yeah, desert life.

So, Clem’s garage? Think run-down but kinda cozy. Wires everywhere, a makeshift kitchen somewhere in the corner. You can whip up some food for stat boosts in combat and stash munitions like they’re candy. It’s got these “Firefly” vibes—like, you make do with what you got, and somehow, it’s perfect.

Customization’s a big deal here. Ruiz said there’s all sorts of ways you can tinker with your mech. Want to be a walking tank or a speedy havoc maker? Take your pick, really—mix up your melee and firearms the way you like. I’m guessing it makes for some wild strategies. Oh, and some crazy testers are apparently just ditching healing altogether for the thrill. Gives you a lot to play around with.

Bounty’s not just all about blasting things to bits (though there’s a lot of that). You’ve got these NPCs, like a Marshall who’s a buddy and a shady merchant with top-tier gear. They’re not a huge bunch, but those interactions? They stand out.

You can’t be a bounty hunter without bounties, can you? There’s a juicy variety here, all against the backdrop of a day-night cycle. Ruiz says missions will have you darting across maps that vary more than my attention span—either capture some rogue or just clean house as required. Optional objectives keep things spicy if you’re all about replay, you know?

Man, much like Clem’s janky garage, Bounty Star’s brimming with promise and honestly, I can’t wait to see how it all pans out on Xbox Series X|S. Bring it on, desert life.