Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy preview – Innocence proves nothing, the video game

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The announcement of Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy came as a surprise to many, especially since Owlcat Games is still releasing new content for their popular game, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. However, Dark Heresy isn’t just a rehash of old material – it’s a fully-fledged sequel aiming to build upon the strengths of Rogue Trader with significant improvements, while staying true to what players enjoyed in the first place.

The game is set in a bleak and violent universe where humanity’s main empire is a decaying, oppressive, and constantly warring regime. It’s under attack from even more terrifying enemies. In Dark Heresy, you take on the role of an Acolyte, an investigator working for the Imperial Inquisition – a powerful and secretive police force that trusts no one and believes even the innocent could be guilty.

You’re like a detective, investigating those who commit heresy and treason. And because the planet is under attack by a dangerous Chaos force known as the Tyrant Star, your mission is vital to the world’s survival.

At Gamescom 2025, a developer explained that their game, Dark Heresy, isn’t focused on morality. Instead, it’s about survival – doing whatever it takes to ensure the planet’s continued existence. The game challenges players by setting a personal moral boundary and then forcing them to confront difficult choices that push them to break it.

A chilling quote from the Eisenhorn novels perfectly captures the fear-inducing power of the Inquisition: “My patience is limited, unlike my authority.” While Owlcat’s developers didn’t necessarily need to read Eisenhorn specifically, they were definitely influenced by crime and horror novels set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

The developer explains the game as a unique blend of classic pulp and noir detective stories, set within the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

Similar to Rogue Trader, Dark Heresy really captures the grim and intense feeling you’d expect from a story about the Inquisition. You’ll be seen as frightening, distrusted, and constantly under suspicion. The game creates a real sense of paranoia, as anyone you meet could be a secret enemy or worshipper of forbidden powers – or think *you* are.

The game looks significantly better thanks to improved graphics. While building on the foundation of Rogue Trader, Dark Heresy features completely new textures and models, resulting in a much sharper and more detailed visual experience. Movement has also been refined – simple actions like jumping are now seamless and don’t rely on skill checks, making exploration feel more natural.

Dark Heresy blends spy intrigue with detective work, focusing heavily on solving crimes. You play as an Acolyte – a kind of apprentice and assistant to a powerful Inquisitor – and spend your time gathering evidence and piecing together the truth. The game lets you visually organize clues – like using a whiteboard to connect them and identify contradictions – allowing for deductions similar to Sherlock Holmes. However, as it’s an Owlcat CRPG, you have many choices, and most of them will likely lead to someone’s demise.

Consider the Eisenhorn quote and our organization’s core principle again. Don’t worry about making the ‘wrong’ decision – as an Inquisitor, you are the judge. Owlcat explains it perfectly: you decide what’s acceptable, and you’re the one who evaluates the actions of everyone else in this story.

Owlcat incorporates storytelling methods commonly found in crime fiction, like reconstructing events based on the evidence you discover. This creates a uniquely immersive experience, setting it apart from games like Rogue Trader and fully drawing you into your character’s journey.

Of course, things will get tough, and combat is where Dark Heresy really improves on Rogue Trader, fixing some of its biggest problems.

Okay, so the cover system feels way better now. They simplified it – it’s just cover or no cover, no more fiddling with half or full. It’s actually pretty good because cover protects you more, but here’s the catch: everything can be blown apart! That means you can’t just camp behind the same wall forever. You’ll have to decide whether to run around it or just destroy it completely, which adds a lot more action to every fight. It’s forcing me to move around a lot more, and I’m digging it.

Owlcat has introduced a new system for actions like throwing grenades. Instead of happening instantly, these actions are now added to the turn order. You signal your intent to throw a grenade, and it will happen when that character’s turn arrives. However, if your character is interrupted – by taking damage or becoming stunned, for example – the throw won’t happen. This creates a strategic interplay where players and enemies can react to each other’s planned actions.

You can also target specific body parts during attacks. If you can’t finish off an enemy this turn, aiming for their arms is a good way to stop them – it’s hard to throw a grenade without arms!

Battles now include a morale system that affects both your characters and the enemies. By lowering an enemy’s morale, you can make them fight amongst themselves or even run away, which is especially helpful when facing overwhelming odds.

The new surrender option helps shorten battles in Rogue Trader by letting players quickly end fights they’ve already clearly won, saving them time spent finishing off remaining enemies. This addresses a common complaint about the game: battles often drag on for too long.

As a player, I’ve got my own personal ship to zip around the planet and even check out its moon – that’s where the higher-ups hang out! It’s also kind of like my mobile office, but honestly, it doesn’t feel *as* important as the ship you get in Rogue Trader, and that’s good. It makes sense given the different circumstances and what we’re doing here.

I’m really excited that companions have their own stories now, and you can even build relationships with some of them! It’s a bit risky though, because your choices can actually lead to a companion’s permanent death. Plus, character customization is way better than in Rogue Trader – I can finally make my Acolyte look truly unique.

Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy appears to be an excellent sequel to Rogue Trader. It builds upon the strengths of the original while also refining various aspects and establishing its own identity. Owlcat seems to be handling this delicate balance very well, and anyone who enjoys CRPG games or the Warhammer 40,000 universe should definitely keep an eye on Dark Heresy when it releases in 2026.

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2025-10-16 14:47