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Yes—play El Paso, Elsewhere first if you care about the story, James Savage’s character arc, or the sequel’s emotional stakes. El Paso, Elsewhere 2 is explicitly set after the original, brings James back as its protagonist, and follows the consequences of what happened in the first game. Starting with the sequel would mean entering an ongoing supernatural romance and personal tragedy after its crucial setup has already occurred.
You can start with the sequel if you only want to try its shooting when it launches, but that is the weaker choice. The original is already available, while the sequel’s release date remains unannounced, so there is no practical reason to skip the first chapter.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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El Paso, Elsewhere - PlayStation 5 | $24.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Nighthawk Interactive El Paso, Elsewhere - PS5 | $36.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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El Paso, Elsewhere - PS5 | $49.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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El Paso, Elsewhere - Compatible for PS5 - UK PAL | $47.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Elsie - Magitek Edition - PS5 - UK | $36.35 | Buy on Amazon |
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The direct answer: start with El Paso, Elsewhere
The games are not merely connected by a name or a shared combat system. The official description of El Paso, Elsewhere 2 places it after the events of the first game and returns James Savage to the center of the story. The sequel begins with James newly transformed into a vampire and dealing with the consequences of the original’s ending.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →That makes the recommended order straightforward:
- Play El Paso, Elsewhere.
- Then play El Paso, Elsewhere 2 when it releases.
This order lets you understand who James was before his transformation, why the supernatural conflict matters to him personally, and how his relationship with Draculae shapes the stakes. You will also learn the series’ unusual rules and tone without having to reconstruct them from references in the sequel.
#1 Best Overall
- Each physical edition comes with an exclusive Poster and digital soundtrack
- A fully-voiced neo-noir story campaign set in a reality-shifting motel full of monsters.
- Destructible props that can be transformed into vampire-slaying stakes
- A thrilling love story between a monster hunter and the lord of the vampires, exploring the complexities of their relationship as reality crumbles around them.
- Non-Stop action, including “bullet time” and tons of enemies to defeat.
What the first game establishes
A reality-shifting setting
El Paso, Elsewhere is a third-person shooter set inside a motel whose reality keeps changing. The environment is not just a backdrop for combat; the shifting location gives the game its surreal, unstable atmosphere. Steam describes James fighting werewolves and vampires while moving through this hostile space, with slow-motion dives as a defining part of play.
James Savage and Draculae
The central conflict is personal. James Savage is a narcotics-addicted monster hunter pursuing Draculae, his former girlfriend and a vampire attempting to end the world. That premise combines a supernatural threat with a damaged relationship, so the action is tied to James’s history rather than being a detached monster hunt.
Nighthawk Interactive presents the game as a Max Payne-inspired third-person shooter about complicated love, addiction and self-worth. Those themes explain why the first game matters to the sequel: James’s decisions, failures and relationship with Draculae are the foundation for what happens after the original.
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The series’ combat language
The original establishes the basic rhythm that the sequel is expected to expand: third-person shooting, high-pressure encounters, supernatural enemies and slow-motion movement. Dives let James turn a dangerous firefight into a brief moment of control, making positioning and timing as important as simply aiming at targets.
Rank #2
- Original hip-hop soundtrack. Each physical edition comes with an exclusive Poster and digital soundtrack.
- A fully voiced neo-noir story campaign set in a reality-shifting motel full of monsters.
- Destructible props that can be transformed into vampire-slaying stakes.
- ·A thrilling love story between a monster hunter and the lord of the vampires, exploring the complexities of their relationship as reality crumbles around them.
- Non-Stop action, including “bullet time” and tons of enemies to defeat.
If you begin with the sequel, you may understand its controls quickly, but you will miss the context in which that combat style was introduced. Playing the first game shows how the series uses gunplay to express James’s desperation and momentum, not just to provide a conventional shooting gallery.
Why the sequel is a direct continuation
The sequel’s official listing says that, after the events of El Paso, Elsewhere, newly converted vampire James Savage travels through the United States, slaying monsters and sealing away supernatural forces unleashed on the world. That wording answers two common questions at once: it is a direct sequel, and James’s transformation is a consequence of the first story rather than an unrelated reboot premise.
The change in James’s condition also creates a before-and-after structure:
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| Story element | El Paso, Elsewhere | El Paso, Elsewhere 2 |
|---|---|---|
| James Savage | A monster hunter confronting a personal and supernatural crisis | A newly converted vampire living with the consequences of the first game |
| Relationship to Draculae | The former couple’s history and conflict are established | The emotional and supernatural fallout continues after that conflict |
| Story position | The beginning of the series’ main arc | A continuation set after the original |
| Combat foundation | Slow-motion third-person shooting against supernatural enemies | An announced expansion of that action, with more weapons and abilities planned |
The table is not a claim that every sequel mechanic has been tested. The sequel’s weapons, levels and abilities are announced features, while the first game’s combat is already available to play.
Rank #3
- Original hip hop soundtrack. Each physical edition includes an exclusive poster and digital soundtrack.
- A fully set neo-noir story campaign set in a reality-changing motel full of monsters.
- Destructable props that can be turned into vampire killing stakes.
- A gripping love story between a monster hunter and the lord of vampires that explores the complexities of their relationship as the reality crumbles around them.
- Non-stop action, including "Bullet Time" and a lot of enemies to defeat.
Can you skip the original?
If story is your priority
Do not skip it. The first game supplies James’s history, his connection to Draculae and the circumstances that lead to his transformation. A sequel can explain some of that through dialogue or exposition, but learning it secondhand would weaken the impact of scenes built around consequences you were meant to experience directly.
If you only want to test the shooting
You could begin with the sequel once it is available. The announced feature set suggests that it will stand as a playable shooter, and a player interested only in movement, weapons or enemy encounters may not need every piece of backstory before trying it.
That is still a compromise. The original is the game that establishes the slow-motion third-person loop, so playing it first gives you a baseline for judging what the sequel changes. You will also avoid assuming that a character, location or supernatural rule is new when it actually comes from the first chapter.
If you dislike playing older entries
The original is a focused game rather than a sprawling series with several prerequisite installments. You do not need to work through a long franchise history. One complete playthrough gives you the relevant narrative context before the sequel arrives.
Rank #4
- UK PSN account may be required for any online features
What to expect from the original
Presentation and tone
The game combines neo-noir atmosphere, supernatural horror and a tragic romance. Its story is voiced, and its identity is reinforced by a hip-hop-oriented soundtrack. The result is intentionally stylized rather than a realistic military shooter: the motel bends reality, the enemies are drawn from horror fiction, and James’s internal struggles remain part of the action.
Scope
The original is built around a single, concentrated story about James’s pursuit of Draculae. That focus is useful preparation for the sequel because you can finish the central arc without having to learn a large cast or a complicated chronology.
Availability
Steam lists the original with a September 26, 2023 release date. It is also available on PlayStation 5, including a physical edition that contains an exclusive poster and a digital copy of the original soundtrack. The exact price and regional stock of the physical release can change, so check the storefront or retailer serving your region before buying.
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| Game | Confirmed availability | Release information |
|---|---|---|
| El Paso, Elsewhere | Steam; PlayStation 5, including a physical edition | Released September 26, 2023 on the Steam listing |
| El Paso, Elsewhere 2 | Coming to Steam and Xbox Series X|S | Release date listed as to be announced; additional platforms are not confirmed |
What is known about El Paso, Elsewhere 2
The sequel is officially listed for Steam with no announced launch date. Strange Scaffold also identifies Steam and Xbox Series X|S as platforms for the upcoming game. Because the date is still unannounced, there is no deadline forcing you to rush through the first game or settle for a summary.
Best Value
- UK PSN account may be required for any online features
The listing advertises the following planned features:
- More than 20 handcrafted levels.
- 15 weapons.
- Fully voiced cutscenes.
- Additional slow-motion action and supernatural combat.
- A new hip-hop horror-rap album.
These are announced plans, not independent hands-on findings. Final content, performance, pricing and any additional platforms should be checked when the publisher confirms launch details.
A practical play order for new players
- Choose your platform. Buy the original digitally on Steam or use its PlayStation 5 release. If you prefer a physical copy, the PS5 edition includes the poster and digital soundtrack noted above.
- Play the complete original story. Do not treat the opening hours as a tutorial to abandon once the shooting makes sense. The relationship between James and Draculae, and the events that produce the sequel’s starting condition, develop across the full campaign.
- Remember the personal stakes. Keep track of James’s addiction, his history with Draculae and his role as a monster hunter. Those details explain why the sequel’s version of James is not simply a new playable character with a different power set.
- Wait for confirmed sequel information. The sequel’s launch date is still listed as to be announced. Use the intervening time to finish the original rather than relying on unverified dates or platform rumors.
- Start the sequel without expecting a reset. It is presented as the next chapter, so approach its opening as a continuation of James’s story rather than an introduction to a separate cast.
What you should know before starting the sequel
After completing the original, the essential preparation is simple:
- James Savage is the returning protagonist.
- Draculae is his former lover and a vampire whose actions drive the original conflict.
- The first game takes place in a motel where reality shifts while James fights werewolves, vampires and other supernatural threats.
- Slow-motion dives and third-person gunplay are central to the series’ action identity.
- The sequel begins after James has been converted into a vampire and is dealing with the consequences.
You do not need to memorize every encounter or weapon. What matters is understanding the relationship, the transformation and the supernatural rules established by the first story.
When starting with the sequel makes sense
There are a few legitimate reasons to reverse the order. You might not own a platform that runs the original, you might be borrowing the sequel, or you might care only about trying its expanded combat systems. In those cases, begin with the sequel if that is the only practical option.
If you do, expect some emotional context to arrive after the fact. A recap can tell you that James and Draculae were connected and that his condition changed, but it cannot reproduce the experience of discovering that arc in sequence. If the sequel offers a story summary, read it before playing rather than assuming the opening will explain every reference at the ideal moment.
Final verdict
Play El Paso, Elsewhere before El Paso, Elsewhere 2. The original is the narrative entry point, it is already available, and the sequel is explicitly built around the aftermath of its events. Only skip ahead if your interest is limited to testing the sequel’s combat or access to the first game is genuinely impractical.
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