Rustler (Grand Theft Horse)

The medieval GTA parody Rustler (Grand Theft Horse) is currently available for free, for Windows, 100% free to keep, during a time-limited Epic Store’s giveaway offer! Take advantage of it while you can, as Rustler normally costs US$ 24.99!

Rustler (Grand Theft Horse) is an independent open-world action game inspired by the first two Grand Theft Auto titles — including the top-down perspective — but set in a historically farcical version of the Middle Ages. It was developed by Jutsu Games and originally released on February 18, 2021.

What is presented here is a transposition of the classic urban action structure to a satirical medieval setting, featuring castles, villages, tournaments, horses replacing cars, and knights taking on the role of law enforcement. The game also features an isometric-style visual presentation and combines anachronistic humor with traditional sandbox mechanics, allowing players to explore the environment, commit crimes, complete missions, and progress through the main narrative in a relatively freeform manner.

Published by Games Operators and Modus Games and available for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles, Rustler received mixed reviews from critics. On Steam, however, it holds thousands of very positive user reviews, while on GOG it is rated 3.4 out of 5, at least as of the time of this publication.

You can get the game here!

Trailer

Gameplay

Rustler is an action game with a top-down perspective, inspired by the structure and gameplay of the early entries in the Grand Theft Auto series. The player controls a character in an open-world medieval setting, moving either on foot or mounted on horses, which function in a manner analogous to vehicles in the games that inspired it.

On-foot movement allows the character to walk and run, while melee combat includes basic attacks, charged strikes, and blocking, with the ability to move around enemies during encounters. The game features an aiming system for ranged attacks, controlled by one of the analog sticks, offering greater precision compared to the reference titles.

The game world is navigated using a mini-map, which indicates the approximate position of objectives rather than providing exact routes. Progression is achieved through the completion of short missions, involving tasks such as combat, theft, escort objectives, and interactions with non-player characters. Completing missions unlocks new activities and areas of the map.

When crimes are committed, the player is pursued by law enforcement forces represented by mounted guards, using an alert system similar to the wanted level found in urban action games. The player can evade pursuit by leaving the area or avoiding enemy attention.

The game includes progression elements, such as the ability to develop character skills through options accessed in the pause menu. During gameplay, it is also possible to hire auxiliary characters, such as bards, who accompany the protagonist in certain situations.

The mission narrative leads the player toward a broader objective that involves participating in a tournament reserved for the nobility, requiring the initially common-born character to perform tasks such as forging documents and accumulating resources in order to gain access to restricted areas of the game world.

About the game

Grand Theft… Horse

Rustler is an open-world, top-down action game paying tribute to the good old GTA style and gameplay, fusing it with a historically inaccurate medieval setting. Play as The Guy, whose parents apparently were too lazy to give him a proper name. Experience feudal injustice, inquisition, witch-hunting, and join The Grand Tournament. Meet valiant, yet incredibly stupid knights. Complete a wide variety of twisted missions and quests, or don’t give a damn about the plot and bring mayhem in the villages and cities. Choose to go on foot, or by a stolen horse. Fight with a sword or pick a fancy automatic crossbow. All that, spiced up with an inappropriate Monty Python inspired sense of humor.

Be a bold, bald thug in a medieval sandbox

Rustler’s world is filled with humor, anachronisms, and pop culture references. Ever been towed for parking in a “NO HORSE ZONE”? Wanna do some cage fights in Medieval Martial Arts Arena? Or maybe pimp-a-horse a little? How about joining the Round-Earthers sect?

Wreak havoc in top-down, old-school combat

Use swords, spears, turds, and crossbows. Want to get more efficient? Try holy hand grenades or… horses. Nothing’s more deadly than hooves galloping in your direction. Or drifting a cart.

Screw everyone over to win half the kingdom

As a poor peasant, you really need to get creative in order to win the Grand Tournament™. Form weird alliances, double-cross your foes, and dig up dinosaur skeletons in a light, easy-to-understand, and hard-to-empathize-with story.

Hire bards to aid you musically in battle

A bard can be your sweaty personal radio. Not only will he not leave your side, even in the midst of the bloodiest of conflicts, he will also change the song’s dynamic depending on the action on-screen. Moreover, you can express a desire to change the tune by punching him in the face.

A lot of horsin’ around

Shoot cows into the sky, dress up as a guard or even Death himself, burn entire piles of weed, draw fancy shapes with a plowing cart, survive a full-on guard onslaught after killing half the city… And that’s only a few of the many crazy things you can do in Rustler.