Martin JørgensenCall of Juarez is dusty, brutal, and still full of Western atmosphere
Call of Juarez is a Western action game where you alternate between the young Billy “Candle” and the vengeful preacher Ray McCall in a gritty story about guilt, escape, and revolver duels.
It still feels like one of the most atmospheric Western shooters from the PC era, before the Red Dead Redemption series truly took over the genre. There are frontier towns, dusty mountain passes, old rifles, Bible quotes, horseback chases, and plenty of moments where you half expect Ennio Morricone to start playing in the background.
We tested Call of Juarez on a modern Windows 11 PC, and while the game naturally shows its age, there’s still something charming about the slower, more theatrical Western action. It’s not a perfect game, but it has personality—and that’s something many newer shooters actually lack.
Two protagonists give the game its unique rhythm
The most interesting thing about Call of Juarez is that the story is told through two very different characters. Billy “Candle” is young, quick, and more vulnerable. His missions often focus on sneaking, climbing, using a bow, and avoiding direct confrontations. It can feel a bit uneven today, but the idea still works because the pacing shifts dramatically.
Ray McCall, on the other hand, is the game’s heavy gunslinger-preacher. When you play as Ray, Call of Juarez gets more direct: kick in the door, draw your revolvers, and clear the saloon, street, or mine of enemies. His sections are easily the most satisfying, especially because this is where the game best captures classic Western action.
The contrast between Billy and Ray keeps Call of Juarez from being just another linear shooter. It becomes a chase where you feel both the fugitive’s desperation and the hunter’s fanatical conviction.
The Western atmosphere is the game’s biggest strength
Call of Juarez shines most when it leans fully into its Western identity. The revolver duels, frontier towns, weathered wooden buildings, and dramatic cutscenes give it a cinematic quality that still works surprisingly well.
The graphics are obviously no longer modern, but the environments still have character. There’s something special about riding through dusty landscapes, sneaking across mountain trails, or walking down an empty street with your hand hovering over a revolver. The game doesn’t try to be realistic in every way—it tries to be a playable Western movie, and that’s exactly why it’s still worth remembering.
Gameplay swings between strong and clunky
At its best, Call of Juarez is intense and atmospheric. Gunfights have weight, Ray’s weapons feel satisfying, and missions often build to strong dramatic peaks.
But the game also has its weaknesses. Billy’s stealth and platforming can feel stiff, especially if you’re coming straight from newer action games. Some sequences demand overly precise movement, and a few missioner can feel like you’re fighting the game’s old controls more than the enemies.
It doesn’t ruin the experience, but it’s worth knowing beforehand. Call of Juarez is best when you play it for the mood, story, and Western feel—not because you expect modern, ultra-polished FPS gameplay.
Call of Juarez today – still worth playing?
Yes—especially if you enjoy Western games, older PC shooters, or want to try a piece of gaming history from before open-world Westerns became the standard. Call of Juarez isn’t as elegant as later entries in the series, but it has a raw energy and storytelling style that still stands out.
It’s also a great pick if you’ve already played Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood or Call of Juarez: Gunslinger and want to see where the series began. Just expect a game that requires a bit of patience, especially in the stealth-heavy missions.
Top 5 tips for Call of Juarez
Ray is strongest in direct firefights, so play aggressively. Use cover, but don’t be afraid to pressure enemies when you’ve got two revolvers ready. His missions are often the most satisfying if you keep the pace up.
Billy isn’t built for big firefights. When you play as him, it pays to scout the surroundings, use elevation, and avoid being detected. It may feel slower, but it fits his role in the story.
The duel mechanic demands timing and calm. Watch your opponent’s movements and don’t panic. Once the rhythm clicks, duels become one of the most atmospheric parts of Call of Juarez.
Call of Juarez is an older game, so spend a couple of minutes on graphics settings, mouse sensitivity, and keybinds. It matters more than you’d think, especially in stealth scenes and precision shooting.
Call of Juarez shows its age, but the atmosphere holds up. If you go in expecting a gritty, linear Western tale with shifting tempo, you’ll get much more out of it.
An older Western game with more soul than perfection
Call of Juarez isn’t the most polished shooter you can install today, but it’s still an interesting Western with a clear identity. It shifts between stealth, revolver action, horseback rides, and dramatic cutscenes, and even when the gameplay stumbles, the atmosphere is strong enough to carry the experience.
For new players, it’s especially worth a look if you want a more linear, story-driven Western. For nostalgists, it’s a return to a time when PC shooters weren’t afraid to be a little offbeat in both pace and structure.
