Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus 2 preview – It’s so good, Trazyn might come and steal it

by

Warhammer 40,000 video games are currently enjoying a fantastic period, with a surge of high-quality titles after years of mostly poor ones. Leading this improvement was the 2018 release of Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus, developed by Bulwark Studios and Kasedo Games. This game significantly boosted the popularity of the Adeptus Mechanicus and Necron factions within the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and its music has heavily influenced the sound of subsequent 40k games.

Making a sequel to a well-loved game is always a challenge, but *Mechanicus 2* appears to be even more impressive than the original!

I saw the game at Gamescom 2024 and went back to Kasedo Games’ booth this year to see how development was coming along.

The main difference between this game and the first is its much larger scope. Instead of focusing on a single faction, players will now control either the Adeptus Mechanicus or the Necrons as they battle for control of an entire planet. Plus, the conflict is expanding, with other armies joining the fight – the Leagues of Votann were recently added, and the popular Space Marines will be joining the battle as well.

The Iron Hands and Adeptus Mechanicus are working together in a campaign mission where you’ll defend against a huge Necron attack. Your forces will hold the right side of the battlefield, while the Space Marines take the left. You might expect the AI-controlled forces to struggle until you can come to their rescue, but the Space Marines are so effective that you’ll quickly realize you’re there to support *them*, not the other way around – they’re the real heroes of this fight.

Okay, so this mission was basically a tech demo showing just how powerful the Space Marines are compared to my units. The Necrons I was using kept whiffing attacks or barely scratching the Astartes, but whenever those Space Marines looked at them, it was game over for the Necrons. I was clearly struggling with it, and a developer started laughing, then showed me this massive list of abilities each Space Marine has. It was a little intimidating, honestly!

The developer says these characters have all the qualities you could imagine. It’s great to demonstrate just how powerful a Space Marine is compared to regular characters, and ultimately, they’re the heroes who come to the rescue.

Although Adeptus Mechanicus units aren’t the strongest individually, they have a lot of clever abilities. What really sets Mechanicus 2 apart from other strategy games is that you don’t have to worry about turn order. On your turn, you can choose any of your units to act, which lets you create powerful combinations and strategies to defeat your enemies. The developers emphasize this freedom forces players to think carefully about the best order to activate their units.

Each side in the game uses a special resource to become more powerful during battles, influencing how you play. The original system for gaining this resource, called Cognition, has been updated. Now, you earn it by completing specific actions with each of your units. Once you’ve collected enough, you can use it to strengthen your hero characters and unlock Canticles – abilities that boost your entire team.

Unlike the Necrons, the Dominion faction grows stronger by taking damage. This creates a dynamic where players are rewarded for actively engaging in combat. As the Dominion’s power level increases, it provides benefits to the entire team. The developers explain that this system promotes a bold, attacking playstyle while also highlighting the faction’s ability to withstand heavy punishment.

I experienced the combat system last year, including features like cover that can be destroyed and line-of-sight blocking. What’s really new in Mechanicus 2 is the planetary strategy layer – a whole new way to approach the game.

Players will fight for control of a planet broken up into different areas. As the game goes on, you’ll take over and protect these areas. Each area offers missions – some that move the main story forward, and others that are smaller, more general tasks. Finishing these missions is how you’ll get the resources you need.

This is where the real fun begins for me as a player! I love being able to tweak my heroes – changing their skills and gear, making them stronger by leveling them up, and even building out their supporting teams. It’s all about making them exactly how I want them!

The Adeptus Mechanicus and Necrons remain distinct in how they play the game strategically, each with unique abilities. Necrons, for instance, gain access to powerful Dynastic Resonances by combining specific Command Protocols and Relics. Both factions have extensive tech trees, offering players a wide range of options to customize and grow their armies during a campaign with new characters, units, upgrades, and abilities.

The game offers engaging choices when customizing your forces. As the Necrons, you earn Eminence Points that let you either enhance your heroes or unlock new unit types, letting you focus on powerful individual characters or a larger, stronger army. The developers have also made it easy to try different strategies, as you can reset your points and experiment with various builds whenever you like.

The Adeptus Mechanicus also offers extensive character customization, letting you significantly influence how your characters play. Their tech tree is organized into three main areas: upgrades for mechanical units, enhancements for biological units, and overall general improvements.

Tabletop game enthusiasts will be pleased to find that the game includes almost all infantry units from both sides.

Unlike other factions, the Necrons don’t gain advantages from holding planets. However, the Tech Priests can construct forge-temples to earn Requisition Points, which are crucial for their operations. They also have to constantly deal with newly awakened Necron tombs, rushing to suppress them before the powerful Necron empire overwhelms them.

Besides fighting battles, the game features story-driven side quests. You assign characters to these tasks for a few turns, and they return with rewards and more details about the game’s story. The developers note that sending a lord on a quest means they won’t be available for combat missions during that time.

Playing as the Adeptus Mechanicus, you can use powerful Stratagems during missions. However, using these abilities increases the enemy’s awareness, potentially giving them advantages like extra reinforcements or buffs – it’s a trade-off between gaining power and letting the enemy become stronger.

Mechanicus 2 looks fantastic! It’s packed with engaging choices, impressive attention to detail that Warhammer 40,000 fans will love, and challenging tactical combat that’s accessible to both newcomers and experienced players. I’m really excited for it – now I just need to know when it’s coming out! Unlike the long-lived Necrons or Tech-Priests, I don’t have an eternity to wait.

The developers are optimistic that their project will be finished before the end of the year, but they’re hesitant to make a firm promise.

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus 2 is planned to be released on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2025.

More features on DBLTAP:

Read More

2025-09-18 16:18