Summary
Warhammer 40Kis one of the most unique science fiction universes ever created. Overzealous humans fight for survival in the dark ages of the far future against a wide range of aliens and demons. It’s a franchise that seems perfect for video games, yet the number of40Ktitles available is shockingly few.
Many know of thefantastic tabletop game of the same name, but finding greatWarhammer 40Kgames can be a challenge. Fortunately, there have been a few developers who did this franchise justice. Whether they ooze the game’s grimdark setting or replicate the visceral gameplay the books portray, here are thebestWarhammer 40Kgamesever.
Updated Jun 13, 2025 by Mark Sammut:Warhammer 40K has had a busy few years, and the franchise’s recent games have been relatively consistent. However, are they among thebest Warhammer 40,000 gamesof all time?
Retro first-person shooters are a dime-a-dozen in 2023, so it is difficult to get too excited about a new release. However,Warhammer 40,000: Boltgunmanaged to be an exception as it might quite a splash upon its debut. In the grand scheme of things,Boltgunis a fairly conventional old-school shooter, albeit one that makes good use of theWarhammer 40Klicense to bring to life some great locations and weaponry.
While the campaign threatens to overstay its welcome in its later stages,Boltgunis, at its core, a blast to play. There are also not all that many single-playerWarhammer 40KFPS games, so this release can be a breath of fresh air.
It’s worth noting thatWarhammer 40,000 Deathwatch - Enhanced Editionis a rerelease of the popular iOS gameDeathwatch - Tyranid Invasion. The game has been enhanced to look more comparable to most turn-based strategy PC titles, although it is still apparent this isbased on a mobile title. That said, the game’s turn-based roots on mobile have translated beautifully on PC.
Deathwatchtakes many queues fromSpace Hulkby having players control a squad of Space Marines down narrow corridors while fighting Tyranids in turn-based combat. UnlikeSpace Hulk,Deathwatchhas a much larger emphasis on progression with various skills and wargear that players can earn. It does carry over its mobile variant’s grindy nature, but the core combat is more than adequate to make replaying levels a fun experience.
Building uponVermintide’s rock-solid foundation,Darktideis another co-op-driven action-romp, albeit one that adds ranged weaponry to the mix rather than prioritizing only melee. Launching toward the end of 2022, the game has been slowly developing since then, and the project is now at a much better place than it was during its opening weeks.
At the moment,Darktidehas seven mission types, each of which comes with its own maps. The game comes with four character classes that can be leveled up, and players will need to replay missions over and over again. Fortunately, the core gameplay is intense and fun enough to keep things interesting for the long haul.
It’s not every day that a40Kgame focuses on the Adeptus Mechanicus.Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicusis a turn-based strategy game where players control members of the infamous machine cult. As with most40Kstrategy games, customization and tactics are key to victory.
Brilliant design decisions with exploration and abilities setMechanicusfar above its peers in terms of gameplay alone. Alongside the game’s brilliant art style and excellent score,Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicusis a masterfully made strategy title that is further elevated by its source material.
CallingDawn of War 3a divisive game would be an understatement. Critics enjoyed the simple strategy and storytelling in this installment while fans loathed how different this game was from the past two entries.
Dawn of War1and2are vastly different than each other, but both games strived to be authentic to theWarhammer 40Klicense.Dawn of War 3’scolor palette, mix of MOBA heroes and fodder units, as well as the game’s lack of a classic Annihilation mode until months after launch left many fans in a disgruntled and disappointed state. Those who weren’t so invested in the previous games or40KIP were much more forgiving of this title, hence the massive divide between critic and user review scores.
Taking some ideas from games likeXCOM,Daemonhunterswas a more than worthy addition to theWarhammer 40Kuniverse. The turn-based strategy game puts players in charge of the Grey Knights, and they will find themselves working through a bloody but engaging campaign against the Nurgle.
Daemonhuntersis a fairly difficult experience, although it still manages to make the Grey Knights feel powerful. Along with solid combat, the game features a decent progression system that ensures the characters frequently unlock new abilities that help add a new dimension to the gameplay.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marineperfectly depicts the combat style and discipline of a Space Marine in a high-octane shooter. Relic Entertainment did a great job balancing the need to mow down Orks from a distance with Bolters and getting up close and personal with a melee weapon.
Its story is mostly forgettable but the game’s setpieces are anything but. Massive industrial cathedral buildings and ruins of a forge world make for a jaw-dropping single-player experience. Unfortunately, the game’s campaign is rather short and thegame’s multiplayer modesdid little to keep players engaged shortly after its launch.
Dawn of War 2was a major turning point for the series. Base building was removed entirely, research trees were simplified, and the army cap was dramatically reduced to be closer tolore depictionsof each faction. These changes seem horrible at first glance until players try the game for themselves.
For everything Relic removed inDawn of War 2, they added something in return. Single-player saw the inclusion of customizable loadouts and many more abilities that makeDawn of War: Dark Crusade’scampaign seem shallow in comparison. These changes were notable in multiplayer as well with a much larger emphasis on synergizing abilities and flanking targets with good positioning.Dawn of War 2might have changed much of the core mechanics of the franchise, but the new tactical elements madeDawn of War 2’svisceral combat all the more satisfying.
Dark Crusadeis a standaloneexpansion for the originalDawn of War. Since the game didn’t require the originalDawn of Warto play, this was a fantastic entry point for real-time strategy fans. The changesDark Crusademade to the overall game are worthy of calling it a lite sequel.
Not only were Necrons and the Tau Empire added as playable factions, but the 5 existing factions got new units as well. The game’s single-player mode was overhauled from a linear campaign to a conquest mode similar toRISKorStar Wars: Battlefront 2’sGalactic Conquest mode. Multiplayer saw many new maps and balance changes as well while preserving the chaotic matches the main game is known for. Not only isDark Crusaderegarded as one of thebestWarhammer 40Kgamesof all time, many fans hail it as one of the best casual RTS games ever made as well.
The baseWarhammer 40,000: Dawn of Wargame is also fantastic and should be considered as equally the best project in the franchise alongside itsslightlysuperior expansion.
