Welcome to the 41stmillennium! Things are a
bit tumultuous here - the Emperor of Mankind decays on his golden throne, requiring the
sacrifice of billions of human lives to maintain his state of living death, because the
only thing enabling interstellar travel through the demon-infested hell dimension known
as the warp is his psychic beacon. Also, said demons are constantly pouring out of a
gigantic space tear known as the Eye of Terror, devouring and corrupting entire planets for fun. There are fungus-based psychopaths that can pop
up on any planet at any time and form violent hordes capable of conquering entire systems,
raiding parties of torture-crazed space elves, and unflinching robot skeletons who serve
terrifying star gods. Oh, and then there's the small problem of an all-devouring swarm
of hive mind-connected insectoid horrors encroaching from all directions of space,
threatening to devour all biological matter in the galaxy. What's that? You want to go back
to your own time? But you only just got here! The universe created for the Warhammer 40,000
tabletop game has an incredibly rich, varied, and frankly terrifying lore that has been built
up and expanded upon since the release of Rogue Trader back in 1987, but for now we're
more interested in what happens when dice, terrain, and meticulously-painted and
detailed miniatures make the jump into the digital realm. A great many licensed
video games have dipped into the wealth of content offered by the 40k universe over
the years, and in this video, we're ranking, judging, and then arranging all of them from
downright heretical to the true a-star-tes. This ranking is based on an overall weighing up
of critical reception, as well as other factors like sales, legacy, and how impressive the game
was at the time of release. We're not including mobile-only titles or collectible card games,
but we are including games based on products that have spun-off from the 40k universe, so fans
of Necromunda, Inquisitor, Battlefleet Gothic, and the like can rest easy. No Warhammer Fantasy
or Age of Sigmar, though, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of futuristic, tabletop-based
mayhem to sink your big, Orky fangs into. We should also note that there are two
Warhammer 40,000 games that simply don’t have enough information available that
would allow us to rank them, so we'd like to take this time to apologise to fans of
Warhammer 40,000: Glory in Death and Space Hulk, both for the Nokia N-Gage. Sorry, N-Gage fans,
but I heard that the Emperor actually deemed that console to be heretical, xenos technology
anyway, so it's probably for the best. Right, with all that said, it's time to
gird your loins for battle, prepare your ears for lots of gratuitous Latin, and strap
yourself in for a long Land Speeder ride, because in the grim darkness of the
far future, there is only games. Let's rank 'em! I'm Inquisitor Lord, Ben, and
I'm Chapter Master, Peter, from TripleJump, and here is every Warhammer
40,000 Video Game Ranked from Worst to Best. 46. Warhammer 40,000: Storm
of Vengeance – PC – 2014 Warhammer 40,000: Storm of Vengeance, like
many titles at the lower end of our list, originated as a mobile game before
making planetfall on the PC, and in this example especially,
that fact is painfully evident. Looking a bit like Warhammer
40,000 meets Plants vs. Zombies, this lane-based strategy game sees players
placing buildings along the left-hand side of the screen, which generate units to
march across to the right-hand side, engaging in combat with enemy units who
are doing the same thing, but in reverse. Featuring the mysterious and sinister Space
Marine chapter known as the Dark Angels facing off against the endless greenskin hordes of infamous
Ork Warlord, Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thraka, Storm of Vengeance does nothing to encapsulate how epic
that confrontation should be, and instead offers a slow-paced and uncompelling strategy experience
with abysmal AI and very few redeeming features. The iOS version got a mixed reception, and
some reviewers did find things to appreciate, like a detailed tech tree and
some interesting unit abilities, but PC gamers, who expect far more from
their desolate, futuristic battlefields, absolutely lambasted the game, and rightly pointed
out that it was basically a reskin of developer, Eutechnyx's, previous offering,
Ninja Cats vs. Samurai Dogs. That kind of laziness just isn't going to cut
it in the 40k universe, and Storm of Vengeance was left to go twisting off back into the warp
along with all the other eldritch abominations. 45. Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf
– PC/PS4/Switch/Xbox One – 2017 A combination of X-Com-style squad-based
tactics and deck-building, Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf certainly had the potential to
be an interesting title, but alas said potential was squandered as the underhanded, pay-to-win
mechanics from its mobile roots manifested themselves as a tremendous, progress-blocking
grind wall in the other versions. In 40k lore, the Space Wolves are a chapter of
Space Marine Viking berserkers with sharp fangs, fuzzy manes, and other such wolf-like
attributes. Iconic and instantly recognisable, these interstellar warriors are certainly
deserving of a video game adaptation to call their own, but unfortunately,
they've been stuck with a clunky port of an uninspiring mobile game.
Honestly, Leman Russ would be enraged. In Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf, players must
attempt to turn the tide against the forces of Chaos that have invaded an Imperial planet. As
the Space Wolves' ship emerges from the warp, it is immediately destroyed by the
Chaos fleet, and the story follows a small group of battle brothers who manage
to survive and reach the planet's surface. Combat is turn-based, and players collect and
combine cards to build a deck, which they use to perform actions, choose equipment, and
move around the battlefields. It sounds and looks fine for a mobile port, but lacklustre
gameplay and awkward mechanics hold it back, and the unfair difficulty level caused
by its mobile game origins ultimately make this lupine adventure a tough one to
get through. A bit of a howler, really. 44. Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade – PC – 2015 In 40k lore, a Freeblade is an Imperial Knight who
has forsaken their house and taken on their own mission across the galaxy. An Imperial Knight
is an enormous, heavily-armed and armoured walker with a single integrated pilot that’s
packing enough ordnance to level a small city, and Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade wires players into
the pilot’s seat of one of these monolithic mechs, yet somehow still manages to be
a thoroughly humdrum experience. We’d like to blame this on the fact that it’s
a port from a mobile game again, and so we will absolutely do just that. Originating on iOS,
Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade was one of the first games to utilise Apple’s 3D Touch technology,
which allows touchscreens to distinguish between various levels of applied force using
capacitive sensors in the device's Retina display to read microscopic changes in pressure
between the cover glass and the backlight. This all sounds very nice and technologically
impressive, but doesn’t help much when it comes to the PC version. PC gamers looking for an
action-packed blast through war-torn landscapes in an enormous Imperial mech are left with a somewhat
basic on-rails shooter that has an “energy” system that feels specifically designed to syphon
your hard-earned Credits, Crowns, and Aquilas. At the end of the day, if your product can’t make stomping around in a tooled-up war titan
exciting for more than twenty minutes, there’s something not quite right with
your approach to making video games. 43. The Horus Heresy:
Betrayal at Calth – PC – 2020 The Horus Heresy is an event in the
Warhammer 40,000 timeline in which the Emperor of Mankind was betrayed by one
of his most trusted and powerful followers, the Primarch known as Horus. This resulted in
the creation of the Chaos Space Marine chapters; hosts of absurdly powerful, corrupted, undying
super-soldiers furiously dedicated to the downfall of mankind. As you might
imagine, it comes up quite a lot. The Horus Heresy: Betrayal at Calth is
a VR-compatible video game adaptation of the Games Workshop board game of the
same name, which allows players to take part in epic confrontations between
the loyal Ultramarines Space Marines, and their fallen brothers, the
traitorous Word Bearers legion. It all sounds pretty good on paper; the board game is made by Games Workshop so
you know the mechanics are going to be solid, all the over-the-top 40k lore and imagery is
present and correct, and the optional VR support should allow players to get satisfyingly
up, close, and personal with proceedings. Unfortunately, a quick scan of the Steam reviews
section will reveal the main problem that this game suffers with, and that’s the fact that it was
abandoned in an unfinished state, after many early adopters spent good money on it. The potential
for a great, social, immersive digital board game experience was there, but it was squandered
in a betrayal on par with that of Horus himself. 42. Eisenhorn: Xenos – PC – 2016 According to 40k lore, Inquisitors are supremely
capable and devoted agents of the Emperor with the power to do whatever they deem necessary to
protect the Imperium from “the alien, the mutant, and the heretic”, up to and including the
annihilation of entire planets. One of the most famous (or should that be infamous?)
Inquisitors is one Gregor Eisenhorn, who originated in the excellent Eisenhorn
novels written by respected author, Dan Abnett. These gripping books tell the story of
Eisenhorn and his retinue of fascinating companions as they come face-to-face with
humanity's most immediate and terrifying threats. It's a shame, then, that the video
game adaptation of these demon-infested, science fiction crime stories
turned out to be a bit of a mess. Releasing on mobile devices first (yes,
we're back to those again), Eisenhorn: Xenos was developed by Pixel Hero Games and
attempted to convey the grandiosity and mystery of the Inquisition through the medium of
a third-person action-adventure title. Unfortunately marred by numerous, uninspired
quick-time events, overly simple combat mechanics, visuals that lacked polish, and monotonous voice
acting, Eisenhorn: Xenos took the mountain of delectable ingredients that its source material
offered, and served up something completely half-baked and uninteresting. Some reviewers
saw fit to throw words like “disastrous” around, and all agreed that even fans of the books would
struggle to enjoy this unfavourable adaptation. It's surprising that the Inquisition
itself didn't come after Pixel Hero Games for this heresy. Actually,
has anyone heard from them lately? 41. Aeronautica Imperialis:
Flight Command – PC – 2020 The 40k tabletop game doesn’t
really explore in-atmosphere, airborne combat. Flying units exist, but their
use is somewhat limited thanks to the scale of the game and factors like space constraints
on the tabletop, and the spin-off game, Battlefleet Gothic, takes the combat out of
the atmosphere and into the dark void of space. A developer known as Binary Planets decided
that there was a gap in the market here, and attempted to fill the space in between,
pitting the heavily-armed aircraft of the Imperium against the ramshackle-but-deadly Ork
air-force. Aeronautica Imperialis: Flight Command undoubtedly has a cool premise, but unfortunately
it didn't translate into a top-flight title. Attempting to represent airborne clashes
through a turn-based combat system, Aeronautica Imperialis has players
issuing orders to their various craft, and setting up their movement and actions while
the gameplay is paused, before committing to the move. Once both players have done this, all units
will enact their orders simultaneously, meaning that attempting to second guess and outmanoeuvre
the enemy becomes the focus of the game. This all sounds very fascinating and strategic in
theory, but in practice it’s confusing and easy to miscalculate, often resulting in frustration
when ingenious and daring plans fail spectacularly because you misjudged the altitude a bit. The game
also lacks visual flair and feedback, meaning that the brutal impact we’d expect from the grim
darkness of the far future is sadly missing. Aeronautica Imperialis was a cool idea
that translated into a forgettable and often boring experience. You might
have fun commanding your squadron of aerial war machines, but
it’ll probably be fleeting. 40. Warhammer 40,000: Kill
Team – PC/PS3/Xbox 360 – 2011 Up until this point in 40k gaming history,
tie-in titles tended to be strategic, turn-based affairs that reflected the tabletop
game. 2011, however, spawned a couple of 40k games with a more action-orientated gameplay style. One
was Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, which we’ll talk about later, and the other was Warhammer
40,000: Kill Team, a top-down shooter with twin stick controls, and a game that existed solely
to promote its aforementioned bigger brother. Offering would-be intergalactic
super-soldiers the chance to play as Space Marines of the Blood Angels chapter,
Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team was released on PS3, 360, and PC, and told the story of
the apostles of Sanguinius’ attempt to stop both Ork and Tyranid forces
from causing a ruckus in the galaxy. Another title that sounds quite good, Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team was beset with a number of
issues that held it back from being a game that's easy to recommend. Reviewers pointed
out shallow gameplay, cheap difficulty, and frustrating checkpoint placement, and many
labelled the game as boring, which is something that exploding hordes of violent space-yobs and
quivering, insectoid horrors should never be. Perhaps the biggest gripe, however,
was the fact that the game was clearly designed for multiplayer gaming, yet
doesn't feature any form of online multiplayer. Released well into the era of
online play, this omission was unforgivable, and resulted in Kill Team becoming just
another forgotten relic of the Imperium. 39. Talisman: The Horus Heresy – PC – 2016 We're back with old Horus again, and
this time the heretical one is putting his cursed name to a board game adaptation.
Talisman: The Horus Heresy is tough to rank, because there's nothing terribly wrong
with it, but it doesn't really offer much, either. It's a 40k (or 30k, considering
we're back in heresy times) reskin of a digital version of the boardgame, Talisman,
and that’s basically all there is to it. If you're familiar with the boardgame
and have enjoyed it in the past, and have an interest in 40k lore, then you might
enjoy this adaptation. The base game gives players access to 9 space marine legions, some loyal, some
traitorous, and tasks them with building armies, recruiting armadas, and amassing strength,
with the goal of turning the tide in the battle for Terra. It captures one of the most
epic and turbulent times in the 40k timeline, and adequately replicates the gameplay
of the board game, but that's about it. There were some complaints levelled at the
game, however, that have caused us to drop it down our list a bit. Many players
reported a harsh learning curve thanks to inadequate tutorials, some pointed out
terrible AI, and others lamented a boring end-game. The title was also called out for
removing characters and selling them as DLC, which is always something that
leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Alas, Talisman: The Horus Heresy is not
actually available to purchase anymore, so the whole thing is moot anyway. Right, what's next? I hope it's not another
boardgame reskinned with 40k imagery. 38. Warhammer 40,000: Regicide – PC – 2015 Oh, hello there, Space Marine Chess. Indeed,
developed by Hammerfall Publishing, Warhammer 40,000: Regicide is what happens when the pawns, rooks, and knights of Chess are
replaced with tactical marines, terminators, and librarians (which are
much cooler than they sound, I promise). The game features two gameplay modes; “Regicide”,
which is inspired by Chess, but adds factors like equipment, initiative points, and objectives other
than capturing the king, and “Classic”, which is basically reskinned Chess. The Regicide mode is
a welcome addition, and definitely gives the game more of a reason to exist, but some reviewers
did lament the fact that the additional rules added an element of luck to the game that worked
against the pure strategy of its inspiration. As for Classic mode, it's literally 40k Chess,
which is something you could easily replicate with a Chess board and the appropriate number of Space
Marine and Ork models or adequate proxies thereof, meaning that the only unique selling points
that Classic mode really has going for it are the frequent, gory death animations that
occur when one game piece takes another, and even these can get extremely repetitive. At the end of the day, then, if you've ever felt
that the only thing the classic and respected boardgame of Chess was really missing was
a hefty dose of gratuitous dismemberment, then this is the 40k spin-off for you. The rest of us could probably find something a bit more
interesting to pass the time with, though. 37. Necromunda: Underhive
Wars – PC/PS4/Xbox One – 2020 Necromunda is a Warhammer 40,000 spin-off
set in the depths of a colossal hive city, in which various armed gangs battle for
riches and territory in a lawless and brutal environment. It's a cool setting, and provides
an opportunity for tabletop players to collect and paint a miniature gang that develops
and evolves over the course of a campaign. Said gang will acquire its own personality
and history as missions are won or failed, new recruits are added, and valued
gang members are killed or injured. Transferring the mechanics of Necromunda
into video game form seemed like a no-brainer and an easy win, but Necromunda:
Underhive Wars developers, Rogue Factor, fiddled too much, and ended up with a title
that disappointed fans of the tabletop game, and failed to capture the interest of
those who weren't already invested. While Necromunda: Underhive Wars has some nice
map design, the majority of players felt that the mix of turn-based strategy and third-person
shooter gameplay styles simply didn't work. The shooting gameplay lacks impact and any kind
of visceral reward for skilful play thanks to the fact that units are still hitting or missing
based on behind-the-scenes dice rolling, and the boardgame-style strategy element suffers from
the limitations of the third-person viewpoint. The result is a game that more-or-less
looks the part, but flounders due to a mismatch of gameplay styles that simply
don't work well together. We hoped that it would be Escher-lent, but unfortunately
it was found to be Delaque-ing. Sorry. 36. Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior – PC/PS2 – 2003 Released on the PS2 and PC in 2003, Warhammer
40,000: Fire Warrior represents the first time the 40k IP strayed from the strategy genre when
it came to video game adaptations. It also marks a rare occasion where the main character of a
Warhammer 40k game was not a Space Marine or some other agent of the Imperium, as players take
on the role of a Fire Warrior of the T'au Empire, a multi-species alien faction dedicated to
expanding in the name of the greater good. When the game was released, the T'au were still a
relatively new addition to the tabletop universe, and Fire Warrior developers, Kuju Entertainment,
had the opportunity to surf the wave of excitement brought by this new and expanding
empire. It did get certain things right; an FPS set in the Warhammer 40k universe was a
breath of fresh air from all the strategy fare, and the game had an interesting premise
concerning a T'au Fire Warrior battling an Imperial faction suspected of Chaos corruption,
before eventually coming face- to-face with actual Chaos forces in the form of Word Bearers
traitor marines and their daemon allies. Alas, Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior
failed to live up to any of this promise, with reviewers and paying customers alike
agreeing that the game lacked polish and suffered from lacklustre combat, coming
across as a mediocre shooter at best. Still, surely it would only be a matter of time before
40k fans got a great first-person shooter, right? Right, guys? Guys?! 35. Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus – PC – 2021 Some of the most feared weapons of war
in the particularly war-torn Warhammer 40,000 universe are the titans. Games
Workshop's Titan Legions game deals specifically with these enormous, mechanised
war platforms, and is part of the Epic Warhammer 40,000 spin-off system, in which larger scale
Warhammer 40,000 battles are presented using adorably tiny miniatures. Adeptus Titanicus:
Dominus takes inspiration from Titan Legions, and presents this epic-scale combat
in tactical, turn-based form. The titans depicted in Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus
dwarf the already-massive Imperial Knights previously seen in Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade.
Basically walking cathedrals toting terrifying amounts of weaponry, these colossal ordnances are
also known very appropriately as god-machines, as they are seen as physical embodiments of
the Machine God of the Adeptus Mechanicus. Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus, despite being a
serviceable tactics-'em-up, completely fails to capture the terrifying majesty and awesome
destructive power of these war machines, and instead provides a somewhat bland and very dated
experience that lacks visual flare and suffers from immersion-breaking glitches, like units
firing after they've been destroyed or titans getting stuck on terrain. Silly game, titans
don't get stuck on terrain, they smash through it. The game is currently unavailable to buy from
the Steam store and, despite some reviewers describing a positive experience outside of
the bugs, ropey-ness, and lack of content, it's unlikely that Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus is
going to be missed. You'll just have to get your skyscraper-dwarfing god-machines clashing in
blasted, futuristic hell-scapes fix elsewhere. 34. Space Hulk: Deathwing – PC/PS4 – 2016 One of the earliest Warhammer 40,000 spin-off
games, Space Hulk focuses on a squad of Space Marines as they board and investigate the
titular space hulks. If you're picturing an angry, muscle-bound, green fella in
space, then you're well off the mark, as a space hulk is actually a gigantic
and ancient derelict craft that is found drifting through the void. These
things are seen as a danger to mankind, as they are often infested with insidious
Genestealersor bands of war-lovingOrks. Hmm, I suppose “angry, muscle-bound, green fella”
wasn't as far off the mark as I thought... Anyway, this spin-off game proved ripe
for conversion into video game form, and 2016's Space Hulk: Deathwing took
an FPS approach to the traditionally turn-based affair. Unfortunately, while
the very premise of Space Hulk lends itself nicely to a corridor shooter, Space Hulk:
Deathwing is a very limited example of one. A lacklustre story, poor AI, muddled mechanics, and broken multiplayer all get in the way
of those fleeting moments when clanking around in Terminator armour dismembering
alien scum is as fun and engaging as it should be. Huge potential, this one, but it
just didn't translate to a great experience. With all that said, we would
like to applaud Space Hulk: Deathwing for absolutely nailing the visuals and
atmosphere of the 40k universe. The ambience and personality of the grim darkness of
the far future has been captured here perhaps better than in any other game on this
list, and that is something to be celebrated. 33. Necromunda: Hired Gun –
PC/PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series – 2021 We're going back to the Hive World of Necromunda
now for another Warhammer 40k FPS that failed to live up to its potential. Developed by
Streum On Studio, the same studio responsible for Space Hulk: Deathwing, Necromunda: Hired
Gun suffered from many of the same problems. Moving away from Deathwing's chunky
Space Marine protagonist, Necromunda: Hired Gun instead puts players in the shoes of
a mercenary who opposes a powerful, underworld gang known as the Silver Talon. Borrowing
gameplay elements from the recent Doom games, like health-replenishing melee executions,
and from more movement-based shooters, with its grappling hook and wall-running,
Necromunda: Hired Gun tries to be a fast-paced, all-action thrill-ride, but there are numerous
factors that halt the flow and stifle the fun. Reviewers pointed out finicky controls, a
confusing and uninteresting plot, poor AI, and numerous bugs as reasons to pick some other
shooter over this one. At the end of the day, things like missing heads-up-displays, enemies phasing through walls, players sliding
around and teleporting during melee animations, and good old-fashioned crashing, are
always going to break the immersion. It's a shame, because Necromunda: Hired Gun
does a great job of capturing the gritty and unforgiving yet wild and over-the-top
atmosphere of the Necromundan Hive Cities, proving once again that Streum On Studio really
know how to capture a universe. If they could only nail the gameplay to the same level,
we'd have some all-time greats on our hands. 32. Warhammer 40,000: Squad
Command – DS/PSP – 2007 Right, we've had a brief, FPS interlude, and now
it's time to get tactical again with Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command. This turn-based, handheld
affair was developed by Ubisoft RedLynx and released on the PSP and DS, marking it as the
first handheld Warhammer 40k experience unless you count the aforementioned N-Gage games, but we
already told you what the Emperor thinks of those, so stop talking about them unless
you want to be branded a heretic. Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command offers single and
multiplayer gameplay, in which squads of loyal Space Marines face-off against their Chaotic
former-compatriots on a beleaguered Imperial planet. The turn-based gameplay is intended to
mimic its tabletop inspiration, and units make use of action points to blast their enemies
and perform various battlefield operations. While all the ingredients are there for an
interesting and gratifying handheld experience, Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command failed to
achieve much beyond uninspired averageness. Reviewers cited awkward controls, useless
camera modes, and needlessly difficult mechanics as reasons to approach this one
with caution. The story was also deemed as more-or-less non-existent, although the CG
cut-scenes did at least offer some punch. Overall, Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command
was something of a missed opportunity, as it could have been a great way to carry
your Space Marines around with you in your pocket without breaking them or getting stabbed in
the thigh by little, plastic chainswords. Shame. 31. Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon – PC – 2014 Armageddon, like Necromunda, is
actually an Imperial Hive World, but the biblical meaning – a final, apocalyptic
battle between good and evil – is something that happens daily in the 40k universe. The
game known as Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon, is a hex-based strategy game published by
Slitherine Software, who are also responsible for the World War II-based Panzer Corps games.
Why do we bring this up? Because the Panzer Corps titles are also hex-based strategy games, and are
markedly similar to Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon. Pitting the armies of the Imperium against the
endless hordes of Ork invaders, Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon offers a deep and complex tactical
experience for those of a strategic mindset, and if you're willing to put the time in, you'll
find that the game throws up plenty of tough, strategic decisions to keep your
tactical servos whirring. It does, however, lack the depth of Panzer Corps,
and suffers from some other issues, too. Obscure mechanics, a lack of balance,
and a failure to fully explain its gameplay to newcomers are all things
to consider before taking the plunge, and a general lack of visual and audio flare
add to a somewhat static and stodgy experience. If you like to imagine yourself thoughtfully
stroking your chin while standing over a map strewn with figures and data, then
this might be the game for you. If you'd rather witness the carnage from
a slightly more cinematic perspective, then your best strategy
would be to look elsewhere. 30. The Horus Heresy: Battle
of Tallarn – PC – 2017 If you don't mind, we're going to keep things hexy
for a bit, as The Horus Heresy: Battle of Tallarn is another hex-based strategy title. This one is
developed by HexWar games, a spot of nominative determinism there, and once again takes things
back a few thousand years to the time of Horus and his treacherous ways. Should we have called
this list “Every Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer 30,000 Video Game Ranked?” Nah, too many numbers.
40,000 is enough; 70,000 would just be daft. Despite coming from a different developer and
possessing a somewhat different graphical style, The Horus Heresy: Battle of Tallarn
offers a similar brand of chin-scratching, hex-based gameplay to Warhammer
40,000: Armageddon, but uses the first and most devastating civil war
in Imperial history as its backdrop. Unfortunately, it also has its problems, but where
Armageddon was overly stuffy and complex at times, The Horus Heresy: Battle of Tallarn comes
across as a little basic compared to its hex-based peers. It also has some AI issues,
and some balance problems, especially when playing as the traitor legions, but if you play
as Chaos then expect chaos, that's what I say. Silliness aside, The Horus Heresy: Battle
of Tallarn doesn't really offer anything that Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon can't offer in
greater depth and with more finesse, but it is a hell of a lot cheaper, so you'll be a bit less
disappointed when you quickly get bored of it. 29. Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade – PC – 2016 A posthumous entry now, as online,
multiplayer shooter, Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade, is no longer with us. Developed by Behaviour Interactive, the game was
released only for the PC, and allowed players to choose from a number of classes and engage
in competitive, third-person, online battles. For anyone wondering, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One
ports were planned but were ultimately cancelled. Players could choose from Space
Marines, Chaos Space Marines, Orks, and Eldar, and then from the
various factions within each race, before taking to arena-like battlefields
and engaging in frantic combat. While the game was alive, it was buggy, janky, and
hilariously unbalanced, but nevertheless, there are numerous historical tales of players embracing
the broken-ness and just having a heck of a lot of fun. The Steam reviews are still filled with fans
lamenting the loss of the game, saying how much they miss it, and telling old combat stories.
The review scores are firmly rooted in “mixed” territory, but it seems that this was a game
that truly touched a lot of people's hearts. Still, all of this is kind of irrelevant
now, as the Eternal Crusade proved to be decidedly un-eternal when the developers pulled
the plug on the game's servers on 10th September, 2021. The flags on the Imperial Palace must
have been flying at half-mast that day. 28. Battlefleet Gothic: Armada – PC – 2016 Alright, we've purged the xenos on
foot, we've blown them out of the air, and annihilated heretics from the pilot's seat of
gigantic war machines. Now, at last, it's time to pummel the enemies of the Imperium in space,
where no one can hear their heretical screams. Another video game based on one of Warhammer
40,000's numerous tabletop spin-offs, Battlefleet Gothic: Armada is a real-time
tactical space fleet combat game based on a gigantic conflict in the Gothic System.
Players are put in command of starships belonging to the various races of the 40k
universe, with Imperial and Space Marine fleets available, alongside Chaos,
Eldar, Ork, and T'au representation. The game presents these space battles
on inspiring, galactic backdrops, and features accurate representations of
Games Workshop's iconic warship designs doing battle with starcannons, boarding torpedoes, and other such futuristic weaponry. The
ships are customisable, and for those with a penchant for tactical space combat, there
is a wealth of strategic content to enjoy. However, Battlefleet Gothic: Armada is
not without its faults that drag it down the list a bit. Excessive microscopic details
that serve only to bog down the gameplay have been called into question, and that old
interstellar anomaly known as “balancing issues” has made an ominous appearance
on Battlefleet Gothic: Armada's radar. Still, we're in the realms of relatively decent
games now, and overall, the idea of Imperial starships clashing with xenos fleets in the vast
nothingness of space was a hit with 40k fans. 27. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide – PC – 2022 One of the more recent
games on our list, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is heavily inspired by
multiplayer-only action survival game, Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide, which is based
on the Warhammer Fantasy tabletop games. After Vermintide, which pits various Human, Elf, and
Dwarf heroes against swarms of murderous rat-men, made a decent name for itself in co-operative
multiplayer circles, developer, Fatshark, thought that they'd try their luck in the
41st Millennium, and if we were basing this rating on gameplay alone, Warhammer 40,000:
Dartkide, would find itself much higher on this list. Unfortunately, there are certain
other factors that have to be considered... The backdrop of the game concerns a number of
inquisitorial agents investigating a hive city suspected of harbouring the taint of Chaos, and
sees four players cooperate to fend off waves of enemies throughout various locations in the
compromised city. The story is a good 'un, too, as it was penned by the renwoned 40k novel
scribe Dan Abnett, who knows how to spin a good sci-fi yarn. It also features some great
presentation and thrilling, fast-paced combat. What's wrong with it, then? Alas,
the game lacks content, stability, and polish in its current state, and its Steam
review average reflects this adequately. No one summed it up quite so eloquently as
Rock Paper Shotgun, however, who described it as “a fantastic FPS ruined by a rubbish
MMO”. I hate it when acronyms don't get on. 26. Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War – PC – 1999 Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War is one of
the earliest 40k video game adaptations, and provides an interesting glance back
into the tabletop game's more colourful and cartoony past. It's also based on a World War
II strategy game, that being Panzer General 2, but contains far more in the way of pointy ears,
spirit stones, and avatars of ancient murder gods. In the campaign, players command the majestic
and deadly forces of the Eldar (now known as the Aeldari), who are attempting to reclaim
one of their ancient worlds from Imperial forces - and later on those ravenous rascals,
the Tyranids, show up. The game also offers a skirmish mode and a multiplayer mode, where
all three races are available to command. Another turn-based strategy with
an abundance of hexagons on screen, Rites of War offers similar tactical gameplay
to other hex-based 40k titles, only with added glare from that late-'90s paint-job.
Reviewers were very split on the quality, with some praising an engrossing campaign,
and an agreeably bold art-style and interface, while others complained of a lack of
polish, poor AI, and obnoxious difficulty. Most who played the game back in the day remember
it fondly, though this may be a case of them looking back with rose-tinted spectacles,
but to be fair, considering the somewhat vivid armour worn by '90s Eldar, we can't blame
them for needing some kind of eye protection. 25. Space Hulk: Tactics – PC/PS4/Xbox One – 2018 There have been a number of tactical adaptations
of Games Workshop's Space Hulk board game over the years, and Space Hulk: Tactics is, at the time
of recording, the most recent. It presents the Space Marine-on-Genestealer action from a top-down
perspective, and has a decent amount of content to offer, including multiple Space Marine chapters
to play as, and even a Genestealer campaign. In the tabletop game, the aforementioned gigantic
amalgamations of floating space-junk known as space hulks are split into a grid, so that players
can move their units around, encountering the enemy and dealing with various events as the
game progresses. Space Hulk: Tactics offers this same experience in digital form, mixing
turn-based strategy with limited deck-building elements as players can equip various cards
to their units, granting desirable effects. So, if the board game is good, and this game is
basically a digital version of the board game, why isn't it higher up the list? Well,
unfortunately, it was severely hampered by a number of issues that'll make you want to
clear the dining table and invite some friends over for a night of Space Hulk-ing, rather
than blasting roaming Genestealers online. The added Genestealer campaign and card
mechanics, and some very authentic visual design, are all factors that will no
doubt delight its target audience, but problems like a confusing interface,
questionable AI, and a lack of polish means that, while players will definitely come out the other
side satisfyingly covered in Genestealer goo, they'll probably still feel a
little empty inside, as well. 24. Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 – PC – 2019 It's time to head back into the void again, as
the next game on our list is Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2, a sequel that is
almost universally seen as an improvement on its predecessor. The
visuals are somehow more impressive, with those galaxy-scapes having even more dizzying
depth to them, resulting in Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 being quite the looker,
but what else has it got to offer? More board game-inspired tactical space battles,
of course, but this time all twelve factions from the tabletop are present, including the forces
of Chaos, three varieties of Imperial fleet, three separate Aeldari factions, and multiple
flavours of miscellaneous xenos. The sequel offers bigger battles, refined gameplay, and more
customisation options so that fleet commanders can personalise their frigates, cruisers,
and dreadnoughts to their heart's content. However, many claimed that this souped-up sequel
still failed to offer the interstellar firefight experience it promised, with complaints of poor
balancing and unwieldy user interfaces rearing their ugly heads. The twelve factions
were obviously a welcome addition, but this unit variety doesn't mean all
that much when battles still manage to feel repetitive no matter whose squadron of
heavily-armed starships you're controlling. At the end of the day, Battlefleet Gothic:
Armada 2 is a tough one to fairly assess, since there are as many observers who lauded it
as a spectacle as there are those who labelled it as decidedly humdrum. As such, we've stuck it
more or less in the middle. That's fair, right? 23. Space Hulk – Amiga/PC – 1993 As only the second Warhammer 40,000 video game,
and the first to be focused on the Space Hulk spin-off board game, 1993's Space Hulk, developed
by Electronic Arts, is quite the revered veteran. The grid-based gameplay is presented in
charming, 2D style, with impressive-for-the-time first-person sections where brave Space Marines
explore the dark halls of derelict vessels, encountering the hated xenos in all their
pixelated glory. Being the classic Space Hulk experience, Space Hulk '93 features the
Dark Angels Space Marine chapter facing off against the infamous Genestealer enemy, and is
all the more nostalgic and authentic for it. This may seem like an entry
based purely on sentimentality, but Space Hulk '93 offered an incredibly
atmospheric experience for its time, and handled the transition of the board
game's mechanics with finesse. The limited visuals added a sense of dread and intrigue
to the process of gradual exploration, and encountering threatening blips on the
radar always sent a shiver up the spine. The Genestealers came across as truly
terrifying, just like their clear inspiration, the xenomorphs from the Alien movie franchise,
and many a strategy gamer from 1993 knew that seeing one of those purple bugs up close meant
near-certain death for your precious astartes. Still, many players found that Space Hulk '93
was just too difficult, and that attempting to control your entire squad at the same time as
being assailed by Genestealers from all directions made for a stressful and frustrating experience.
Pretty darned good for a first try, though. 22. Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood
Angels – 3DO/PC/PS1/Saturn – 1995 Two years after their first
crack of the Space Hulk whip, Electronic Arts tried again with the more
advanced Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels. Taking advantage of the technological
strides the industry was making at the time, this follow-up provided more impressive 3D
environments, allowing players to control their squad of marines directly in first-person mode or
via the appropriately sci-fi-looking map screen. The Blood Angels chapter take the leading
role this time, with players controlling a squad of elite Blood Angels Terminators as
they clank through the derelict spaceship, disturbing all the hibernating Genestealers.
These fellows definitely wake up cranky, and one of the classic Warhammer
40,000 face-offs ensues. Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels was
seen as an improvement over its 1993 predecessor in nearly every way, but still split reviewers,
who were as likely to praise the game's amazing atmosphere and tactical gameplay as they were to
lambast its confusing mechanics and sluggish pace. In the end, it would appear that Space Hulk:
Vengeance of the Blood Angels is one of those games that had plenty to offer, but only
if you were willing to learn the mechanics and hike up that steep learning curve.
There was a great experience in there, but it was about as accessible as a
three inch-thick adamantium bulkhead with multiple threatening radar blips
on the other side, and by that, I mean; if you knew how to use your squad of Terminators
properly, it was rather darned accessible. 21. Space Hulk – PC/PS3/PS4/Wii U/Vita – 2013 After an 18-year hiatus following Space
Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels, the series came back with a bang in 2013.
This is obviously again not counting the N-Gage Space Hulk game, but we’ve already told
you to stop bringing that thing up. Seriously, agents of the Inquisition are everywhere. Anyway, Space Hulk 2013 was more of a
straight port of the board game compared to its FPS-flavoured predecessors, offering
a faithful rendition of the tabletop rules from a top-down viewpoint. That doesn’t mean
it completely loses the atmosphere though, as the passageways, corridors, and crevices
all look suitably dreary and techy from a birds' eye view. Also, the first-person
video feeds in the corner of the screen add that required dose of Aliens-inspired
atmosphere for a true Space Hulk experience. With its neat visuals and faithful
recreation of the board game's mechanics, Space Hulk 2013 was definitely something
of a crowd pleaser for 40k fans. However, certain board game mechanics didn't necessarily
translate well to the video game world, and the clandestine dice rolling could cause
newcomers to become frustrated when their elite-of-the-elite Space Marine Terminators
repeatedly miss at point-blank range. Space Hulk 2013 was far more accessible than
its '90s predecessors, but it could have done a bit more to endear itself to fans.
It's also currently unavailable to buy, anyway, but luckily there is still
one more Space Hulk adaptation that we haven't spoken about yet.
Stay tuned, Space Hulk fans. 20. Warhammer 40,000: Battle
Sister – PC/Oculus – 2022 It's time to move away from those
chunky Space Marine boys for now, and step into the boots of 40k's
resident white-haired warrior women. The Adepta Sororitas is an all-female wing
of the Imperial church, and the Sisters of Battleare their military. They basically purge
the galaxy of heretics, mutants and aliens in a similar fashion to their Space Marine
brothers, but with a more feminine touch. Warhammer 40,000: Battle Sister, which was
developed solely for VR, aims to present as immersive an experience as possible. Containing a
galaxy-spanning campaign that plunges the player head first into a clash between the Adepta
Sororitas and the forces of Chaos, Warhammer 40,000: Battle Sister's goal is to absorb players
directly into the 41st millennium, and give them a smattering of traitor Space Marines and
scary daemons to smash while they're there. The game gets a lot right, and interacting
with colossal Black Templars Space Marines, mooching around gloomy tech-shrines,
and getting poked by skull-emblazoned, needle-armed bio-scanners all feels
very authentic. Unfortunately, the combat is generally far less
genuine, with the iconic boltgun, a shockingly powerful automatic weapon that
rapid-fires miniature rocket-propelled grenades, feeling unforgivably weak and failing to quickly
dispatch even lightly-armoured Chaos cultists. For this heresy alone, it fails to climb higher
on our list, but it is otherwise a capable and immersive 40k experience, and the best way
of getting truly up-close-and-personal with the universe without getting primer, plastic
glue, and static grass under your fingernails. 19. Space Crusade – Amiga/Amstrad CPC/Atari
ST/Commodore 64/PC/ZX Spectrum – 1992 Call us sentimental, but it just felt right
to give the very first Warhammer 40,000 video game adaptation a decent ranking on our list,
however it's not just nostalgia and a respect for those that came before us that got it here,
as Space Crusade was a solid digital debut, too. The Space Crusade board game used
many of the concepts from Space Hulk, but streamlined things a little, and
this simplified tabletop option was chosen for Games Workshop's first
foray into the video game world. The simplified take on Space Hulk resulted in
an experience with less tactical depth but with a faster pace, and this translated well through
its various home computer releases. The limited visuals did a good job of representing the
sprawling complexes the Space Marines were exploring, and the controls were entirely adequate
to allow for thoughtful, turn-based squad control. The versions of the game that released on the more advanced platforms also featured isometric
sections for some added cinematic appeal, and unlike Space Hulk, which only offered
Genestealer enemies for the player to encounter, Space Crusade brought some Ork and
Chaos forces along for the ride, too. It's definitely not going to hold up
against modern tactical combat games, but for the time it offered an ample,
board game-equivalent experience with some cool effects and nice, visual touches
that raised it above basic adaptation status, opening the gigantic, hissing bulkhead door
for many more of its ilk. A holy relic indeed. 18. Warhammer 40,000: Chaos
Gate – Daemonhunters – PC – 2022 You see, you can tell Games Workshop are
super serious about their daemons, because they spell it with an “a”. Somehow, it just
makes them seem all the more occult, you know? The Grey Knights in Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate
– Daemonhunters are super serious about daemons, too; super serious about putting them to the
sword and sending them back to the swirling hell-dimension of the warp, that is. These
Grey Knights are a secretive and incredibly elite Space Marine chapter tasked specifically
with the elimination of all things daemonic, and they are the stars of Complex
Games' 2022 turn-based tactics title, in which they battle daemonic minions aplenty. It's a thankless task, but Warhammer 40,000:
Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters does its best to ensure that players are having fun throughout.
Borrowing quite liberally from the XCOM series, it gets a lot right, and offers a wealth
of strategic options, with the addition of terrain effects like destructible cover and
flammable areas adding nice, tactical touches. Not everything is rosy, though, with some
overly-complicated skill trees and interface issues occasionally marring the experience,
with the abundance of battlefield visual effects sometimes making it difficult
to see what's going on. It's 40k XCOM, but XCOM does XCOM better, meaning only
40k-heads will find value here that they can't find elsewhere. It's also a reboot
of a classic 40k game from the olden days, making it seem even more derivative.
Have we talked about that game yet? 17. Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – PC – 1998 Ah, here it is! Released in 1998 and developed by Random Games,
Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate was the first game to be a direct adaptation of Warhammer 40,000 as a
whole, rather than a port of one of its spin-offs. This time it was the classic, vanilla Space Marine
Chapter, The Ultramarines, that took centre stage, and they were up against the Word Bearers
traitor marines and their daemonic allies. The game was heavily influenced by the developer's
previous title, Soldiers at War, a World War II turn-based tactics title, and offers similar
gameplay. Observers noted a marked improvement, however, pointing out that Warhammer 40,000:
Chaos Gate boasted a much better user interface, larger maps, and more streamlined
gameplay compared to its progenitor. As such, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos
Gate proved to be an immersive, strategic experience that was a great
representation of the tabletop game at the time, with a mission randomizer and editable
scenarios that added plenty of longevity. The lack of a Chaos campaign was
seen as a bit of a let-down, though, and a few mild complaints were
levelled at the sound quality, but these slight hiccups weren't enough to stop
this turn-based strategy game from being a hit. Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate
sounded quite decent, too, with the soundtrack often cited as one
of the game's main strengths. Sometimes, the final ingredient needed for a compelling,
strategic warfare experience is that suitably rousing soundtrack, and Chaos
Gate delivered in epic fashion. 16. Final Liberation: Warhammer
Epic 40,000 – PC – 1997 Our next game is epic in a very different
way, as Final Liberation: Warhammer Epic 40,000 is based on the previously cited tabletop
game spin-off Epic, in which far smaller-scale miniatures are used to represent much larger
armies clashing in planet-shaking warfare. Pitting the immovable might of the Imperium
against the unstoppable Orkish hordes, Final Liberation features an
abundance of Titans, Gargants, and other such military monstrosities
that are rarely seen in the standard scale games. Are you starting to
understand why they called it Epic? Having said all that, Final Liberation
isn't exactly what you'd call action-packed, being a turn-based, hex strategy game from
the late '90s. The gameplay once again takes its cues from its tabletop origins, with
players deciding the actions of each of their units in turn before sitting back
and watching the AI-controlled opponent make a mess of their best-laid plans. The
goal of all of this tactical manoeuvring is to capture territory in the battle for the
planet Volistad, with available territories determining how effectively players can
repair and replace units between battles. Despite its archaic appearance, Final Liberation:
Warhammer Epic 40,000 is seen as something of a gem by those in the know, and at the time only
minimal complaints were directed at its gameplay, with the only aspect of the game that
received any real criticism being the somewhat flat and lifeless visuals. We don’t
think it looks so bad though, for an oldie. 15. Warhammer 40,000: Gladius
– Relics of War – PC – 2018 The last of the hex-based,
Slitherine-published 40k games, Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War has more in common
with Civilisation than it does with Panzer Corps, looking and playing like a 4X game where
options like diplomacy are thrown out of the window and the only option for expansion
is open war. Definitely on brand, then. Developed by Proxy Studios, Warhammer 40,000:
Gladius – Relics of War gives players the opportunity to choose between Imperial Guard,
Space Marine, Ork, or Necron forces, and then use the unique units and tactics that each faction can
muster in a bid for total domination. Each race has its own campaign, and a hot-seat multiplayer
mode is added for competitive generals, making the game a go-to for 40k fans with a mind
for grand strategy, and Civilisation fans who don’t have time for things like peaceful
trade and mutually beneficial agreements. As far as hex-based 40k games go, it’s probably
the best one out there despite some criticisms levelled at its pace, tutorials, and complexity,
and if your Warhammer 40,000 strategy games absolutely have to have hexagonal grids in them,
then this is probably your best modern option. Having said that, the game’s Steam average has
taken a hit thanks to some highly-priced DLC that rubbed people up the wrong way, so if you want the
complete experience, you can expect to be parting with quite a lot of pocket money, making it one
expensive hobby. Again, definitely on brand, then. 14. Legacy of Dorn: Herald of Oblivion – PC – 2015 Right, take a seat in the Imperial library, put
your reading visor on, and pick up a data slate, because Legacy of Dorn: Herald of Oblivion is
one of those games that wants you to read a lot. Basically a digital version of a
choose-your-own-adventure game book, Legacy of Dorn: Herald of Oblivion offered a deep
and branching storyline concerning a Space Marine of the Imperial Fists chapter trapped on the
extremely ominously-named Herald of Oblivion space hulk. The bad news is that; said Space Marine is
the only survivor of his squad, but the good news is; he's equipped with Terminator armour and some
of the most devastating weaponry that a pumped up, eight-foot-tall super soldier could possibly
carry. Sounds like a recipe for adventure to me. The game is presented in a very
thematic green-on-black visual style, and draws you in with well-written accounts of
the beleaguered Space Marine's tribulations on the dark and dreary ship. While short, it offered
multiple routes and legitimate player choices, as well as a simple combat system
based on digital dice rolls. When it comes down to it, Legacy of Dorn: Herald
of Oblivion is not the kind of thing that everyone is going to like, but if you're the sort of
person who enjoys this style of experience, then by all accounts, this is a
really good example of said thing. So, 14th place seems fair, right? It’s
not available to purchase any more, anyway, so consider this a legacy entry. 13. Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch – PC/PS4 – 2015 We haven't seen a game that started
out on mobile devices for a while, and that's because most of them are pants.
Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch, however, mostly bucked the trend of mobile ports
not translating well to other platforms, and offered a fun and deep strategic experience
with a meaty campaign to get stuck into. The story concerned a squad of Deathwatch Space
Marines facing off against the ever-growing threat of a Tyranid invasion, and the action played out
in turn-based, tactical style, with a card-drawing mechanic that granted additional units and gear
adding a bit of random chance to the proceedings. The graphics were enhanced
greatly from its mobile origins, but it still didn't look as polished as PC
and PS4 players would likely have expected, and some players did decry the occasional
frustrating mechanic, like units losing XP if you quit to the main menu, but the
positives generally outweighed the negatives. The quick-fire missions meant that players
could safely load it up even if they didn't have hours of game time set aside, and the
element of chance when it came to gear and squad-members meant that missions
needed to be approached differently on repeated play-throughs. Warhammer 40,000:
Deathwatch's mobile origins were plain to see, but if you could look past all that, there
was a deep and replayable experience on offer. Shame it's another one that's unavailable
to purchase, then! Games Workshop really like taking their licenses away, don't they. 12. Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach – PC – 2017 Another turn-based strategy title, and another
offering from Slitherine Software, Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach does away
with all those complicated hexagons, and replaces them with
good, old-fashioned squares. The game pits the implacable Ork hordes against
Space Marines of the Space Wolves chapter in a truly savage confrontation that will decide
the fate of the Sanctus Reach region of space, where world after world has fallen to
the billions-strong Ork menace. The gameplay is tactical in nature, once
again reminiscent of the XCOM series, but with whole armies being controlled rather
than small squads of elite specialists. It received a lukewarm reception from critics, with reviewers claiming that the game was
somewhat basic, lacked content, and that the presentation left much to be desired. The player
reception has been far more positive, however, and Sanctus Reach is seen by many as an excellent
representation of the feel of the tabletop game. Meaningful tactical choices aplenty, an ample
variety of units with different battlefield roles, a deep experience system, and the
ability to tailor your forces before each battle are all factors that add up to
a satisfying tabletop-adjacent experience, and two lengthy campaigns
ensure plenty of longevity. Despite its somewhat bare-bones appearance
and lack of 40k flair, Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach has quietly become a favourite for
fans of turn-based combat, and specifically those who like their Space Marines zealously religious
and their xenos spread into a fine paste across the battlefield. Does that sound like you?
Come on, own up, the Emperor is watching. 11. Warhammer 40,000: Dakka
Squadron – PC/PS4/Xbox One – 2020 Right, now we're talking! It's about time
the undisputedly best faction in Warhammer 40,000 took centre stage. Sorry,
the biases of our greenskin-loving writer are showing through here.
We'll try to keep this impartial. Warhammer 40,000: Dakka Squadron (the word
“dakka” being a representation of the sound of automatic weaponry), is an airborne
action game in which players take on the role of a crack Ork pilot in aerial battles
on various planets. In true, Orky fashion, the game doesn't concern itself too much with
realistic flying physics, and instead offers flashy dogfighting and explosive combat that is
easy to get to grips with but tough to master. When not blasting Necrons,
Imperials, and, of course, other Orks, players will be able to spend
accumulated “teef”, which Orks use as currency, to upgrade their ramshackle flying machines,
and are then able to transfer these craft into multiplayer deathmatch modes to
truly test their Orky piloting skills. While not completely universally adored,
Warhammer: 40,000: Dakka Squadron received a thoroughly positive reception from
fans, who pointed out great controls, great visuals, extensive customisation and
good, Ork voice-acting as reasons to strap into the pilot's seat, with only occasional
accusations of too much battlefield debris to crash into and constant, repetitive radio
chatter bringing things down a little. At the end of the day, if you're not enjoying
Warhammer 40,000: Dakka Squadron for some reason, then you probably just need more dakka. More
dakka fixes everything. It is the Ork way. 10. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III – PC – 2017 We start off our top ten with the third entry into
what is probably the most well-known Warhammer 40,000 strategy game series. With Warhammer
40,000: Dawn of War III, developers, Relic, decided to drastically evolve the series
that had brought them so much success, and this decision, while commendable,
probably ended the franchise. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III continued
the story of the enigmatic Blood Ravens Space Marine chapter as they descended upon a
planet thought to hold a catastrophic weapon, only to find Ork and Eldar
forces standing in their way. Reviewers were generally very positive about
the game, and said that it did a great job of capturing the feel of the 40k universe, and
successfully melded the traditional real-time strategy gameplay of its predecessors
with almost MOBA-like combat mechanics. Production values were high, voice acting
was on point, and the Space Marine, Ork, and Eldar forces on offer presented satisfyingly
distinct and balanced tactical options. The game attempted to combine the
large-scale battles of the original Dawn of War with the more squad level focus
of the second title, and did a good job of it, but Dawn of War III took a verbal kicking from
players who didn’t like the story and felt that, compared to its predecessors, Dawn
of War III had been dumbed down. Warhammer: 40,000: Dawn of War III
absolutely is a really good game, but it's not really Dawn of War, and in the
eyes of the most zealous franchise acolytes, this snub was a practically heretical sin. 9. Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood and Teef –
PC/PS4/PS5/Switch/Xbox One/Xbox Series – 2022 Right, back to the real heroes of the
41st millennium again. This next title, Rogueside's Warhammer 40,000:
Shootas, Blood and Teef, presents the glorious greenskins
in 2D, side-scrolling, run-and-gun, platforming action, and is about as
destructive and anarchic as it sounds. Despite Imperial and Genestealer enemies
showing up throughout the campaign, the main conflict in Warhammer 40,000:
Shootas, Blood and Teef is, fittingly, between rival Ork warlords. The player character,
a powerful Ork warrior who can be customised into multiple classes, is basically torching an entire
planet so that he can retrieve his “hair squig”. Hmm? You don't know what a hair squig is?
Well, then you're obviously not Orky enough. Offering a riotous cooperative campaign,
fast-paced, Metal Slug or Contra-inspired gameplay, and an appropriately metal
soundtrack, this over-the-top shooter reportedly delighted both Gork and Mork alike,
with Gork appreciating its explosive shootiness, and Mork appreciating its shooty explosiveness.
Reviewers and consumers also praised the game, with the art style, combat mechanics, and
replay value all managing to hit the target. The Switch version dropped the overall score
a little thanks to some performance issues, and the brevity of the campaign was pointed out
by some critics, but for sheer fun and wholesome, Orky goodness, Warhammer 40,000:
Shootas, Blood and Teef is hard to top. Oh, and if you're still wondering;
a hair squig is a hairy squig that you wear on your head. Glad we
could clear that up for you. 8. Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr
– PC/PS4/PS5/XboxOne/Xbox Series – 2018 It took until 2018, but Warhammer
40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr is the result of someone finally deciding that 40k
and Diablo might be an interesting mix. This mostly-successful amalgamation was developed
by NeocoreGames, and puts players back in the very important shoes of the Imperium of
Man's most powerful agents, the Inquisitors. Playable in single player and co-op modes,
Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr expands somewhat on its Diablo-inspired gameplay with
a cover system and destructible environments, and a story that concerns a “ghost ship” that has
appeared from nowhere in the Caligari Sector of Imperial space. It soon becomes clear that the
ship may have picked up some unwanted passengers while travelling through the Warp, and a battle
against the insidious forces of Chaos erupts. Stomping around dark and hostile environments
as an Imperial Inquisitor or other Imperial agent proves to be a rewarding experience in
Inquisitor – Martyr, with a captivating story, a well-balanced skill tree and progression system, an authentic atmosphere, and
addictive, traitor-blasting, loot-finding gameplay that'll compel
players to keep plugging away until the end. The stand-alone, expansion, Inquisitor – Prophecy,
also adds positively to the overall experience. Some bugs were reported in early reviews,
but hopefully the Inquisition have rooted them out by now, meaning that Inquisitor –
Martyr's only real downfall in the eyes of many is its hefty price tag if you're looking
for the full experience with all DLC. Still, no one ever said that service to the
Emperor comes without great cost. 7. Space Hulk: Ascension – PC/PS4/Xbox One – 2014 Developed by Full Control, the same team
responsible for the 2013 Space Hulk title, Space Hulk: Ascension took practically
everything its predecessor did and made it better, and it did this by being a little
bit less like the board game it's based on. As heretical as this may sound, the changes made
by Full Control maintained the spirit of the tabletop while refining it for the PC and console
experience. This included removing a lot of the random chance found in the board game and enabling
players to upgrade their Space Marines using an experience system, a decision that reduced
instances of fickle dice gods causing your squad of battle-hardened, tooled-up killing machines to
fold like wet paper at the first sign of a xenos. The game also made an effort to make weapons
more interesting, such as offering a choice of different flamethrower templates and including
an overheating mechanic for bolters, and there were also three Space Marine chapters
to play as, each with its own campaign. The pricing of the various DLCs, as
well as some nasty bugs and glitches, did result in a couple of black marks on
an otherwise squeaky clean record sheet, but all in all, Space Hulk: Ascension is the
ultimate, digital, Space Hulk experience that respects the board game it came from but still
remembers that it's actually a video game. Wait, this one isn't available to
purchase any more, either? Seriously, Games Workshop, let us buy your games.
6. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – PC/PS3/Xbox 360 – 2011 In the very appropriately-named Warhammer
40,000:Space Marine, Relic Entertainment switched the focus of gameplay from the top-down, strategic
view of their previous work with the Dawn of War games, to the more visceral combination of
third-person shooter and hack-and-slash genres. The result is a bombastic hybrid adventure
that has earned itself quite a following, despite being somewhat derivative of
a few more-successful contemporaries. Moving away from their Blood Ravens
Space Marine chapter, Relic called in the aid of the reliable Ultramarines for
this mission, and pitted main character, Captain Titus, against Ork and Chaos forces
in a campaign involving compromised forge worlds and Warp portals spewing
forth terrible, daemonic entities. The game was praised for its genre-blending
gameplay, fast-paced combat, and variety of enemies to cut down with bolter fire or slice up
with chainswords. Particularly bloodthirsty gamers were also delighted with the sheer amount of
carnage this hero of the Imperium was capable of, and the brutality of the game's combat
was seen as a gore-soaked highlight. Just like Captain Titus himself, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine wasn’t without its imperfections,
with some critics decrying the linearity of the campaign and some bland and uninspiring
environments, but in the eyes of most, the accomplished manner in which it put players
in control of an eight foot tall, armour-clad, righteously zealous killing machine more
than made up for any minor transgressions. Let’s hope the upcoming sequel builds on this groundwork and achieves a crushing
victory worthy of the Ultramarines. 5. Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector –
PC/PS4/Xbox One/Xbox Series – 2021 If you’ve only seen the critical reception
of this turn-based strategy title, you might be thinking that Warhammer
40,000: Battle Sector is sitting far too high in these rankings. However,
dig a bit deeper, and you’ll see that the player base has passionately embraced
this Slitherine-published tactical affair. Providing a fast-paced take on
turn-based combat, Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector attempts to replicate the
scale and feel of its tabletop inspiration, but accusations of monotonous mission design
were levelled at it by critics, and the most praise many of them could muster was to refer to
it as a “solid turn-based strategy experience”. In direct contrast, players have lavished
superlatives upon this Black Lab Games-developed title, calling it the best digital representation
of the tabletop game to date, and a compelling and vibrantly-presented strategy game in its
own right. Aspects singled out for recognition include its tactical depth and unit variety,
its faith to the lore upon which it’s based, exciting multiplayer skirmishes,
and great customisation options, with some even referring to Warhammer 40,000:
Battle Sector as a dream come true for 40k fans. The base game features Blood Angels Space Marines
taking on the Tyranid swarms, but, at the time of recording, Ork, Necron and Sisters of Battle
forces are all available via DLC. If Warhammer 40,000: Battle Sector remains a fan favourite
and continues to be supported, it may end up exhibiting a depth of content that rivals a
certain other fan-favourite 40k strategy title. 4. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – PC – 2009 With Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II, Relic
Entertainment, took a big risk. They singled out the traditional real-time strategy
base building mechanics of the first game, and took a meltagun to them, focusing instead on
the detailed control and customisation of smaller, elite forces. It was a controversial choice,
and initially alienated many series fans, but when the superheated vapours
cleared, Relic were still standing tall. Players are asked to carefully select their
forces pre-battle, and no new units are available to build once the mission begins.
With limited reinforcement options available, Dawn of War II demands that you think about
how you're going to approach each stage, and pre-battle squad choices have game-changing
consequences. The sergeants of each squad can also earn experience and equip wargear,
giving the game a subtle RPG twang. At launch, Dawn of War II included Ork, Eldar,
and Tyranid forces, as well as Relic's own Blood Ravens Space Marine chapter again, and subsequent
DLC added the timeless power of the Chaos Space Marines and the hardware and manpower of the
Imperial Guard into the excessively violent mix. A popular, cooperative game mode called The
Last Stand, where single characters battle hordes of AI-controlled enemies, was also added
post-launch, resulting in a full package that's absolutely stuffed with thrilling content.
Save for some minor gripes about reusing maps in the single player campaign, and the Tyranid
threat feeling a little underwhelming, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II ingratiated
itself with fans and critics alike. It was never quite able to dethrone its hallowed
predecessor, though. More on that momentarily. 3. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun –
PC/PS4/PS5/Switch/Xbox One/XboxSeries – 2023 When it comes to the whole FPS power fantasy
thing, the 40k Space Marine feels like the ideal candidate, yet numerous past 40k games
have completely failed to capture how it should feel to be clad in that hallowed armour,
wielding those sacred weapons. The pixelated, retro-styled 3D shooter, Warhammer 40,000:
Boltgun, however, absolutely nails it. Set on the same planet as Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, players take on the role of
a powerful Ultramarines Sternguard Veteran, and do battle with the pixelated forces
of Chaos, including cultists, daemons, and Chaos Space Marines. The blood and carnage
left in the player's wake as they stomp around the corridors and sanctums of the forge world
is both spectacular and satisfying, and the range and impact of weapons on offer should
please even the pickiest of would-be astartes. Criticism was levelled at some bland
level design and ropey enemy AI, but the overwhelming sentiment towards this
'90s-style FPS was pleasingly positive. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun knew exactly what it needed
to be; an unflinchingly violent, fast-paced, lore-packed blast through a satisfying variety
of familiar foes, with the added bonus that the retro aesthetic makes those more venerable 40k
fans out there feel all warm and fuzzy inside. From Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior in 2003, and
the likes of Space Hulk: Deathwing and Necromunda: Hired Gun along the way, it took twenty
years for a great 40k FPS to surface, and it looks like it predates the lot
of them. Funny how things work out, eh? 2. Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus
– PC/PS4/Switch/XboxOne – 2018 Our number two title, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus, focuses directly on the cult of
heavily-augmented tech-priests, servitors, and fabricators known as the Adeptus
Mechanicus, and their encounters with Necron forces on an eerie Tomb World. This clash
of machine-worshipping cyborgs with ancient, immortal techno-skeletons provides quite the
colourful backdrop for a turn-based tactical video game, and said video game proves
to be an excellent example of its genre. Most who experienced Warhammer
40,000: Mechanicus reported deep, tactical gameplay that's not dissimilar to
that of XCOM, but mixes in that irresistible 40k flavour while not losing any of the balance
and quality. Battles are consistently tense, with tactical choices having a huge impact on
battlefield success, and the combat mechanics do away with RNG and background dice-rolling, meaning
that the player's fate is entirely in their hands. While the game can feel difficult and unfair at
first, this trickiness makes for a satisfyingly challenging experience once you get the battle
system's intricacies through your servo-skull. Where the game really shines, though, is in
the way it draws you in. Using the developer, Bulwark Studios', clear passion for the setting,
the visual design, the brave choice of featured factions, and some of the finest musical
accompaniment to ever grace a strategy title, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus envelopes you in the
eerie techno-catacombs of the Necron Tomb World, and implants your consciousness directly
into the cybernetically-augmented cortex of a machine cult tech-priest. Truly,
this one is blessed by the Omnissiah. 1. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – PC – 2004 In September of 2004, Relic Entertainment and
THQ released their Warhammer 40,000 RTS title, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, and saw the
newly-created Blood Ravens Space Marine chapter taking on Ork, Eldar and Chaos forces
on the planet Tartarus. Over the next few years, three hefty expansions were released, meaning
that by 2008 the Imperial Guard, T'au Empire, Necrons, Dark Eldar, and the Sisters of
Battle were all available to command, making Dawn of War the most complete 40k
experience to date (sorry Tyranid-admirers). With its aggressive take on
traditional RTS mechanics, where capture points must be taken and
held to accrue resources, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War impressed critics and received
an overwhelmingly positive response from players, quickly becoming the game of choice for those
who wanted a digital Warhammer 40,000 experience. The detailed graphics and impressive
animations, at-the-time mind-blowing intro cinematic, enjoyable storyline, and
some thrilling and competitive multiplayer skirmish gameplay all added up to an
absolute treat for 40k enthusiasts who had thus-far been used to clunky Space
Hulk clones, slow-paced hex strategy, and an underwhelming shooter. Dawn of War had mass
appeal, and the quality to back it up, spawning a long-running franchise and bringing the tabletop
experienceto the forefront of strategic gaming. Of course, it's visually dated
by today's standards, and the RTS genre in general has taken a back seat of
late, but for its impact alone, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War deserves to be revered,
and the fact that this 2004 RTS is still one of the most-played 40k games to this
day, is a testament to its staying power. Like the Emperor of Mankind, Warhammer 40,000:
Dawn of War remains undying on its golden throne, providing a beacon for 40k-loving gamers lost in
a dimension of underwhelming-ness and mediocrity. What future title could possibly challenge
its might? We can't wait to find out.
