Imagine slinging drinks for undead cowboys by day and holding off hordes of angry ghouls by night. That’s the chaotic charm of Ghoul’s Saloon, a new PvE co-op first-person shooter set in a twisted Old West where customers might bite back—literally. With its mix of base defense, resource management, and wave-based combat, this saloon sim is pouring out more than just ghostly brews—it’s serving up one wild genre mashup that could become 2026’s biggest sleeper hit.
Welcome to the weirdest saloon in the Wild West
At its core, Ghoul’s Saloon is a PvE co-op shooter that throws players into a dusty frontier town with a not-so-living clientele. Instead of mowing down zombies in an alley or surviving in some ruined cityscape, players are tasked with something far stranger—running and defending a haunted bar. The setting is equal parts horror flick and spaghetti western, with creaky wooden floors, swinging saloon doors, and patrons who’ve clearly skipped their last few heartbeats.
But this isn’t just another shooter with spooky vibes. The game pushes its over-the-top identity hard. One moment, players are polishing glasses behind the counter; the next, they’re blasting through waves of glowing-eyed monsters trying to chew through the walls. It’s as if Left 4 Dead walked into Red Dead Redemption wearing a Halloween costume—and then decided to run a business.
Managing your saloon takes more than just quick aim
The twist here isn’t just in the setting—it’s in what players actually do. Ghoul’s Saloon blends action-packed shooting with old-school resource management. Players gather supplies to keep their bar operational. That means collecting booze ingredients, fixing broken furniture, and making sure there are enough clean mugs for the next round of fiendish customers.
Between each enemy wave, there’s downtime that isn’t really down at all. Players must hustle around the bar prepping for the next ghoul rush—patching up broken barricades, crafting traps, or brewing up special drinks that grant temporary buffs. This constant balancing act keeps tension high even during quieter moments. It turns every lull into prep time instead of rest time—a smart move that keeps pace snappy.
A few rounds into an early hands-on session at PAX South, one tester was restocking liquor shelves when an alarm bell rang out from upstairs: “They’re coming through the balcony!” Dropping everything (including a bottle mid-pour), they rushed up just in time to shove back a wave of screeching banshees clawing at a broken window frame. It was messy. It was glorious.
This is not a solo rodeo—teamwork makes or breaks survival
While single-player is technically possible, Ghoul’s Saloon lives and dies on teamwork. The game leans hard into co-op design, encouraging players to divide roles like barkeep, builder, and brawler depending on playstyle or current needs. One player might focus on keeping customers happy (and not murderous), while another reinforces barricades or mows down incoming threats.
Each wave brings more trouble: faster enemies, tougher variants, and environmental chaos like fire or toxic fog rolling through the building. If one teammate fumbles their task—say they forget to repair the front doors—it can cascade into disaster fast. Strategic coordination isn’t just helpful; it’s necessary.
The social side of this setup gives it serious staying power too. Like other strong co-op titles—think Deep Rock Galactic or Killing Floor 2—the best moments come from frantic shouting matches as everyone scrambles to cover gaps in defense while still laughing at how ridiculous things have become.
Serving monsters isn’t just fun—it’s part of the game
One of Ghoul’s Saloon’s strangest ideas also turns out to be one of its most clever: actually serving drinks to ghoulish customers before they turn hostile. Some creatures enter as “neutral” guests—they want food or drink before getting rowdy—and satisfying them delays their transformation into enemies.
This mechanic adds an extra wrinkle to strategy. Do you spend time calming down customers by mixing their favorite poison—or focus entirely on barricading exits? Cleaning vomit off tables may sound like busywork (and it kinda is), but doing it right can stop chaos from erupting later.
The idea recalls cooking sims like Overcooked—but mashed together with zombie survival tactics. And it works because it breaks up the shooting rhythm without slowing momentum too much. Keeping floors clean and ghouls fed buys breathing room between fights—and sometimes that small delay means surviving another round.
Shooting alone won’t save this saloon—you’ve got to build too
The shooting itself feels punchy enough: standard FPS mechanics with revolvers that kick hard and shotguns that scatter like proper Old West hardware should. But Ghoul’s Saloon doesn’t settle for twitch reflexes alone—it pushes players to get creative with defense-building between rounds.
Crafting barricades out of scrap wood or rigging explosive barrels near windows becomes second nature fast. Players unlock better tools and traps as they progress—spiked floorboards here, flame-spewing chandeliers there—which makes each defense phase feel earned rather than repetitive.
This blend of base-building with FPS mechanics gives it more staying power than pure shooters tend to have. Instead of just reacting to waves over and over again, teams actively shape their battlegrounds across each match session—layering traps like chess pieces before watching enemies stumble into them headfirst.
A world full of charm—and undead weirdos
The game wouldn’t work half as well if its world wasn’t so bizarrely charming. The horror-Western blend hits strong right from its eerie banjo soundtrack down to cobwebbed whiskey barrels stacked behind neon-lit bars manned by skeleton bartenders (yes—actual ones). Every inch oozes style without taking itself too seriously.
The humor helps sell everything too. Whether it’s ghoul customers ordering “Eye-tinis” or ghostly piano tunes playing themselves mid-battle, there’s always some strange detail waiting around each corner that makes death feel… oddly delightful? It’s campy in all the right ways—a little Evil Dead sprinkled over your Red Dead Redemption fantasy barbecue.
This one’s made for fans who love variety alongside their gunfights
If Ghoul’s Saloon sounds like a fever dream scribbled on a napkin during Halloween—it kind of is—but that might be what makes it work so well for both casual squads and sweaty strategists alike.
Players who dig PvE shooters will love blowing apart ghosts shoulder-to-shoulder with friends in escalating shootouts filled with traps and chaos. But those who crave tactical depth will find joy in optimizing resource routes and customer satisfaction loops between firefights too.
The game refuses to sit still long enough to get boring—which is rare for anything involving wave defense these days. Each match feels different depending on team comp, enemy types pulled from RNG decks (yes—they’re random), or how well that last customer was treated before turning feral over spilled whiskey.
When does Ghoul’s Saloon come out?
Ghoul’s Saloon is currently scheduled for release sometime in 2026 according to its official Steam page and development updates circulating online videos—including early teaser footage showing off multiplayer coordination disasters worthy of any highlight reel fan channel.
The game will launch on PC via Steam first—with no word yet on console ports or early access builds—but given how much buzz it’s already stirring among niche FPS fans and indie dev communities alike, don’t be surprised if wider platforms follow after launch day carnage settles down… assuming anyone survives long enough behind the bar counters anyway.
No doubt about it: when genre-blending works this well—and looks this absurd while doing it—it deserves attention beyond just undead novelty appeal.
The question now is simple: When those doors swing open in 2026… who’ll be ready to bartend their way through hell?
F.A.Q.
What is Ghoul’s Saloon?
Ghoul’s Saloon is a PvE co-op first-person shooter set in an Old West-themed environment. It combines action-packed shooting with resource management where players run and defend a saloon frequented by ghouls. The game involves managing the saloon, serving customers, and defending against wave-based attacks.
What makes Ghoul’s Saloon different from other shooters?
Ghoul’s Saloon stands out due to its unique blend of genres, combining FPS mechanics with resource management and base defense in a horror-Western setting. Players not only fight against waves of enemies but also engage in tasks like serving drinks and maintaining the saloon, adding depth and variety to the gameplay.
Can Ghoul’s Saloon be played solo?
While it’s technically possible to play Ghoul’s Saloon solo, the game is designed with a strong emphasis on cooperative multiplayer play. Teamwork and strategic coordination are crucial for survival as players take on different roles to manage both the saloon and incoming threats.
What platforms will Ghoul’s Saloon be available on?
Ghoul’s Saloon is scheduled for release on PC via Steam in 2026. There is currently no information on console ports or early access builds, but wider platform availability may be considered post-launch based on demand and community interest.
How does the resource management aspect work in the game?
Resource management in Ghoul’s Saloon involves collecting supplies, serving ghoul customers, crafting traps, and fortifying defenses. Players must balance these tasks with combat to ensure the saloon operates smoothly and is well-defended against enemy waves.
What is the role of teamwork in Ghoul’s Saloon?
Teamwork is essential in Ghoul’s Saloon, as players need to coordinate their efforts to manage the saloon and fend off enemies effectively. Different players can take on various roles like barkeep, builder, or brawler, depending on the team’s strategy and the current situation in the game.
Is there a storyline or campaign in Ghoul’s Saloon?
While the primary focus of Ghoul’s Saloon is on its gameplay mechanics and cooperative multiplayer experience, the game is set in a rich, atmospheric world that blends horror and Western themes. The unique setting and continuous wave-based challenges provide a backdrop for player-driven stories and dynamic gameplay experiences.
