Best Warhammer 40,000 games that please the God Emperor

In the top-notch Warhammer 40k games, you won’t find serenity or unity; instead, the 41st millennium is a battlefield. If you happen to be a simple green creature, you might call it WAAAAAGH, and believe that red makes vehicles faster. It can be challenging to grasp this universe’s essence. There are no heroes, only potential threats to your life, and your home could be destroyed by your own rulers over a trivial disagreement about revering a deceased leader as a god. And remember, it’s merely a means to acquire highly desirable plastic toys. So, appreciate its absurdity and don’t get too worked up about it.

Whether you’re piqued by Henry Cavill’s latest ventures in the Warhammer 40k universe or have found yourself drawn to the God Emperor after watching Astartes, these video games will offer an immersive way for me to delve into the bleak grandeur of the 41st millennium.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Prior to Space Marine 2 by Saber Interactive, Relic Entertainment’s initial Space Marine game was the epitome of power fantasy, allowing you to wear the renowned power armor. This third-person shooter series offers combat action on Warhammer 40k battlefields unlike any other. As Titus, a lieutenant from the legendary Ultramarines, your mission is to repel a Tyranid attack, but sinister Chaos forces interfere in the conflict to further their own objectives. Similar to the first game, you rush into battle, firing your Bolter, then close in for melee combat with a chainsword and various other weapons.

In Space Marine 2, you’ll find breathtaking graphics and an engaging campaign that takes place approximately a century after the original game, offering answers to some lingering questions from the past. Plus, for those seeking more, there are cooperative PvE missions and a multiplayer PvP mode available.

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters

In this game reminiscent of XCOM, you assume control over the Grey Knights, a Space Marine unit boasting Templar-style aesthetics and specialized in eliminating daemons. You’re tasked with unraveling the source of an enigmatic disease, which leads to a nefarious plot orchestrated by the worshippers of the chaos god Nurgle. As you voyage through the sector aboard your customizable mothership, you dispatch small squads of Space Marines for combat operations. The effectiveness of these missions relies on the strategic use of their gear and psychic powers to overcome adversity. Environmental factors such as cover and terrain significantly impact your success, requiring you to manage resources meticulously in every mission.

In the game, DLC introduced a new class and formidable warships known as Dreadnaughts, expanding your choices while customizing your team.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2

As a passionate gaming enthusiast, I’d have to say that Dawn of War 2 stands out as one of the most exceptional Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games ever created. What sets it apart is its focus on intense squad-level battles, where every unit matters and can be tailored with unique upgrades or gear.

In the campaign, you need to adapt swiftly to changing situations. Lead a diverse array of factions in multiplayer matches, or test your mettle in an engaging horde mode, complete with a personal hero character. The game offers a compelling cover system and destructible environments that significantly enhance the gaming experience. Notably, base-building is scarcely present in

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Hailing from the same developers behind Vermintide and its sequel, Darktide smoothly transitions the cooperative gameplay formula from Warhammer Fantasy to Warhammer 40k. You’ll join an inquisition penal battalion, select one of four distinct characters, and endure perilous missions that pit you against every nightmare conceived by Grandfather Nurgle. Engaging melee and ranged combat await you and your three allies as you progressively delve further into the jaws of chaos, all while managing resources and harmonizing your individual goals with those of the team.

Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War

Initially released in 2018 with some initial issues, Proxy Studio has since significantly improved Gladius, transforming it into an exceptional strategy game through regular updates and numerous downloadable content packs. Blending aspects from games like Civilization and Age of Wonders, Gladius offers strategic complexity alongside intense combat. Maintaining the survival and sanity of your units, particularly your powerful heroes who acquire gear and experience by discovering artifacts and defeating enemies, is crucial in this game.

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2

The individual who selected Gothic cathedrals as the main design for spaceships within the Imperium of Mankind in Warhammer 40k displays exceptional creativity – simply take a look at them! Here’s an interesting tidbit: these spaceships can actually collide with other vessels! Yes, that’s right. Battlefleet Gothic started as a spin-off from the tabletop game and served as inspiration for Tindalos Interactive in creating Armada and Armada 2, two fantastic tactical space combat games. In these games, you can select various factions, each offering distinct ship classes, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as playstyles. Position your ships for broadsides, utilize nebulas and asteroid fields for surprise attacks, deploy Space Marines to infiltrate the enemy, or speed up your engines for a full-on ramming attack – it’s all up to you.

As a space-faring gamer, diving into Armada 2’s campaign feels like stepping right into one of the most pivotal moments in Warhammer 40,000 lore – the Fall of Cadia. Characters as iconic as Belisarius Cawl and Trazyn the Infinite make their presence known in this epic tale.

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus

Mechanicus, similar to XCOM, is a tactical RPG that deviates from the typical Space Marine narrative and concentrates on the Adeptus Mechanicus, the tech-priests of Mars who worship the Omnissiah. In this game, you’ll encounter an unusual adversary: the Necrons, an ancient species that abandoned biological life and transferred their consciousness into robots. This is a concept the Adeptus Mechanicus aspire to achieve, adding depth to the narrative. As you enhance your Tech Priests for better combat efficiency, they start to resemble their enemies, creating a thought-provoking dynamic. The game offers challenging decisions, an engaging storyline, tactical gameplay that’s sharp as a razor, and one of the finest soundtracks in gaming – hail the Omnissiah!

This one has a sequel on the way as well, giving you all the more reason to check it out.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War

Absolutely, I’m talking about the original “Dawn of War” from 2004, one of the finest Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games ever created, thanks to Relic Entertainment’s genius at that time. While its sequel focused more on action and less on base-building, Dawn of War still retains some elements of it, making it a great choice for those who enjoy a bit of strategic control over resources and troops, reminiscent of the original “Company of Heroes.” It delivers intense battles involving huge numbers of units with stunning visuals that truly capture the essence of its combat-focused universe. Over time, several expansions were released, adding new factions and features to enrich the gameplay experience even more. And guess what? You can still find some fantastic mods for it today!

2025-04-18 18:17