Summary
- Warhammer 40K games offer diverse genres like 4X strategy, dog-fighting, and retro boomer-shooter, satisfying a wide range of gaming preferences.
- Titles like Darktide and Mechanicus provide unique gameplay experiences outside traditional Space Marine-focused narratives, exploring different Warhammer factions.
- Space Marine 2 features satisfying third-person action, perfect for players seeking intense combat experiences within the Warhammer universe.
After taking the tabletop gaming world by storm in 1987, Warhammer 40,000 went on to spawn an innumerable collection of video game adaptations. From Space Hulk in 1993 to Space Marine 2 in 2024, the franchise has spanned decades, encapsulated more genres than many gamers even knew existed, and brought countless new players into the grim-dark world of the 41st millennium.
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This list looks at the seven Warhammer 40,000 games with the best gameplay, ranking them on how well they play in their respective genres and how well they each compare to the others on the list. Due to the huge variety in formats, it can be difficult to compare the Warhammer 40,000 games to each other. This list aims to recommend a game that best represents Warhammer 40,000's offerings in each genre.
7 Warhammer 40,000: Dakka Squadron
Take The Waaaaagh To The Skies
Warhammer 40,000: Dakka Squadron
- Released
- December 8, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action, Shooter
Warhammer 40,000: Dakka Squadron is a somewhat standard dog-fighting game in which the player takes control of the flying force of the Orks, waging war against the Imperium of Man as well as other players. While this game is far from revolutionary in terms of flight simulation, it more than makes up for this in the uniquely Warhammer tone the entire experience takes on. From the banter between Orks to the aesthetics of the planes, everything feels fitting for a game centered around flying Orks.
There aren't many vehicle-focused Warhammer 40,000 games, with Dakka Squadron being the premier example. The game may fall short in certain respects, but overall, it is a satisfying game with a decent campaign that doesn't overstay its welcome. Waging wagh from the air is simply fun, which is why this game finds itself on this list.
6 Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics Of War
The First 4X Warhammer 40K Strategy Game
Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War
- Released
- July 12, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Sci-Fi, Turn-Based Strategy
Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War was the franchise's initial expedition into the 4X strategy genre, having previously remained firmly within the Real-Time Strategy genre when making strategy games. As such, Gladius feels unique within the horde of RTS games based on Warhammer, yet it also feels unique when compared to other 4X games.
When discussing 4X games, many gamers will instantly bring up Sid Meier's Civilization franchise, possibly the greatest example of the genre. Compared to this, Gladius is a truly solitary beast, forgoing the focus on diplomacy and trade to instead push a war-at-all-costs approach, which feels befitting of the setting. Build a base, raise an army, and crush opponents. It is a quintessentially Warhammer ethos and works perfectly as an example of the 4X genre.
5 Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Grungy Co-Op First-Person Fun
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
- Released
- November 30, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Genre(s)
- FPS, Action, Science Fiction
Following the success of Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide and Warhammer: Vermintide 2, developer Fatshark was allowed to make a game set in the 40,000 universe. With this, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide was born, a brutal, grungy first-person shooter that delved into the underbelly of the world, forgoing the bright shining armour of the Space Marines to instead show the lives of a group of "regular" individuals forced to fight to survive.
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With Fatshark having a legacy of award-winning melee combat, proved by the Vermintide games, Darktide was set up to succeed in gameplay terms, and it does so with flying colors. The melee and ranged combat all feel incredible, playing spectacularly as a co-op fps with a huge amount of character customization, allowing the game to be infinitely replayable.
4 Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus
Praise The Omnissiah With Turn-Based Tactics
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus
- Released
- November 15, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based Strategy
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus has gone largely under-appreciated by the Warhammer fanbase, with only 10,000 reviews on Steam compared to Darktide's 90,000. Despite this, it sits as an overwhelmingly positively received game, thanks largely to its meticulously crafted turn-based gameplay. Once again leaning away from the fan-favorite Space Marines, here the player takes control of the Adeptus Mechanicus, a cult that lives on Mars and worships a being known as the Omnissiah, who they believe inhabits all technology.
Upgrading units, strategizing for each conflict, and making difficult narrative decisions are all standard experiences for Mechanicus, each tiny decision potentially leading to death. This game is the perfect option for any Warhammer fan who enjoys a turn-based experience without wanting a grand strategy game or for someone who simply wants to explore a faction other than the Space Marines.
3 Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
Classic RPG Experience With A Warhammer Skin
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
- Released
- December 7, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T Due To Blood, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs and Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, RPG
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is the premier example of a more traditional RPG experience set within the Warhammer universe. Developed by Owlcat Games, the studio best known for the Pathfinder games, Rogue Trader gives the player control of a ship and the task of exploring the Koronus Expanse, building up a crew and making decisions that can lead to a multitude of endings for the group of misfits.
Rogue Trader is one of the better games for those unfamiliar with the Warhammer setting, giving the player control over which factions they wish to side with and allowing them to explore a section of space at their leisure. Outside of this, the action RPG gameplay is tightly crafted and ultimately makes the game worth a playthrough for any fans of the Pathfinder games.
2 Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Satisfying Third-Person Action
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
- Released
- September 9, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Hack and Slash
The sequel to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, Space Marine 2, continues the story of Lieutenant Titus after his betrayal at the end of the first game. Once again, he is tasked with fighting the enemies of humanity, this time the Tyranids rather than the Orks, with the second game in the series taking the original's decent third-person shooter gameplay and tuning it into a hugely entertaining system that allows for hours of fun even after the campaign is finished.
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While some Warhammer fans will be looking for a more tactical experience, those looking to get straight into the action of the franchise will find this game the perfect place to start. With end-game replayable missions and a PvP mode, this game is a great opportunity for those looking to sink plenty of time into a live-service experience.
1 Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
If Doom And Warhammer 40k Had A Baby, It Would Be Boltgun
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
- Released
- May 23, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Violence
- Genre(s)
- FPS
The final entry on this list is Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, an insanely fun retro boomer-shooter that plays similarly to the original Doom games. Unlike the other FPS games in the Warhammer franchise, Boltgun aims to capture a nostalgia for a genre and aesthetic not often seen anymore, with pixel graphics and a simple yet beautifully effective gameplay loop.
While the game does have an engaging story, the narrative is less important to the overall experience than in other entries. This game is about the gameplay, and it thrives on it. Thanks to having such well-crafted gameplay elements, Boltgun can stand out among the other games set in the universe and holds itself up on the merits of its gameplay. Whether a gamer is a fan of Warhammer or not, this game is simply fun in a way that nothing else in the franchise can compare to.
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