Warhammer 40,000 has the unique privilege of being one of the most iconic board game and video game franchises out there, with hordes of loyal fans and a multitude of critically acclaimed and commercially successful games to go along with it. Warhammer 40K has featured dozens of games, spanning across multiple genres, meaning there’s something in there for nearly everyone.
The vast and expansive Sci-Fi fantasy world of Warhammer has a lot to offer to newcomers, be it fans of the books or tabletop games, or just newcomers who want to see what the hype is all about. While the franchise is very established in certain gaming genres, it has branched out to the likes of hack-and-slash, turn-based strategy, and first-person shooters as well. With the diversity of this historic franchise in mind, here are a few Warhammer games spread across multiple genres that are ideal for newcomers or players who aren’t longtime fans of the universe.
5 Space Marine 2
A Premier Third-Person Shooter With Incredible Combat
This is the latest (and easiest) suggestion for newcomers to the Warhammer 40K universe. Space Marines 2 has only just come out — and to massive critical and fan praise. Space Marines 2 is a unique blend of hack-and-slash, action RPG, and third-person shooter mechanics. It does a lot of things, and it does them quite well. Space Marines 2 has effortless and extremely satisfying combat that anyone can jump into, as well as a variety of multiplayer and co-op modes for players to check out.
The game has a strong combat system with tons of weapon diversity and satisfying gameplay. The customization options are incredible for any RPG game in this day and age. Despite being a sequel more than a decade in the making, players can jump right into Space Marine 2 without having touched the first game. For newcomers looking to understand the world of Warhammer 40k, Space Marine 2 delivers a solid, straightforward, and well executed story for prospective fans to check out.
4 Warhammer 40K: Boltgun
A Throwback Game With A Warhammer Twist
Boltgun is a nostalgia-driven FPS game in a similar vein to Doom. The most impressive thing about this game is how the retro-style visuals have been executed. The colors are vibrant and eye-catching, and the graphical style blends into the game beautifully. For newcomers or those wary of the dense Warhammer 40,000 lore, this game has a simple, somewhat barebones story that is easy to get into.
Boltgun features tons of cool weapons that feel unique and are fun to use. There’s actual weight to the combat, and enemies aren’t just bullet sponges. The game isn’t exactly hard, but it’s filled to the brim with action and swarms of enemies for players to gun down in service to the Imperium. While Boltgun doesn’t exactly tread new waters, it’s an excellent boomer shooter blended into the 40K universe in a commendable fashion, and FPS fans are sure to enjoy it as their first foray into the franchise.
3 Warhammer 40K: Darktide
An Adrenaline Fueled Co-op Experience
Darktide is similar in concept to Warhammer: Vermintide 2, with the biggest differences being how the game is enshrined in the 40K universe through its narrative — and how players can fully customize their characters, rather than customizing a preset class. In Darktide, players can team up with up to 3 friends to take on swarms of infested enemies. The game involves the player joining the Inquisition atop the Mourningstar and attempting to fight back against a chaotic plague.
Barraging through hundreds of enemies with an incredible soundtrack playing in the background alongside a couple of friends is an amazing experience, and while the game isn’t too complex, it does the basics very well. Moreover, it’s super easy for any newcomer to the series to jump into as the game doesn’t rely on any previous knowledge of the 40K universe, nor is it a direct sequel to anything.
2 Warhammer 40K: Mechanicus
Power Fantasy Meets Turn-Based Tactics
For fans of the strategy or turn-based strategy genres, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is the best game for newcomers to try out, especially considering the recent announcement of a sequel coming up soon. Players take control of a squad of tech priests that they can heavily customize, in terms of items, weapons, and their role in the squad. The story revolves around this elusive faction that has been well characterized and is deeply enjoyable.
The combat is polished to a fine shine, and there are tons of different missions, each with their own unique map design coupled with some great visuals and an incredible soundtrack to tie it all together. Unfortunately, Mechanicus is perhaps a bit too simple for a strategy game. If players get the right skills early on, the game can be very easy, with the fun diverting from tactical nuance to satisfaction at just steamrolling every enemy. Despite this one caveat, it’s a solid game for fans of the genre — or for newcomers looking to dip their toes in the world of Warhammer 40,000.
1 Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 2
A Brilliant Strategy Game
Dawn of War 2 made the controversial decision to remove some important features from the original game. However, it proved to be the right call as the game is considered one of the best under the Warhammer 40K umbrella. Playing as the Space Marines, players can fight through multiple interplanetary campaigns in this real-time strategic setting. While Dawn of War 2 doesn’t feature any base buildings, it makes up for it through a litany of other RTS features: a variety of different game modes, including co-op and multiplayer, four different army factions, and dozens of hours of content to boot.
Dawn of War 2 is an excellent RTS game that interweaves a fantastic Warhammer 40,000 story with some classic, polished RTS gameplay. Players, as always, have access to tons of customization options, weapon variety, armor pieces, and items to go around for the whole army. Coupled with a deep skill system and the game’s large scale, it’s very easy to sink dozens and dozens of hours into this game. Dawn of War 2 is a great game regardless of the Warhammer 40K moniker, and one well worth trying out to this day for anyone even remotely interested in this grimdark setting.
