With the world's renewed interest in Dungeons and Dragons, more people have begun delving into the world of tabletop gaming in general. This has led to more people diving into the money pit that is Warhammer 40K.
Now don't get it confused; Warhammer and Warhammer 40K are different. Both of these titles originated with Games Workshop but follow different lore. One key difference is just how many more guns there are in Warhammer 40K. But the games have some commonalities, too.
Every Warhammer 40K and/or Warhammer fan can name their favorite factions within the world. They might also be able to rattle off a game title or two. But, since Games Workshop allows any studio to make a game in the universe, there are many games to choose from. Which Warhammer 40K games should fans play? Should they also play Warhammer games?
This list will get new fans started and surprise veterans.
10 Total War: Warhammer 2
The biggest difference between this game and its predecessor involves the factions. Basically, Total War: Warhammer 1 follows the Old Kingdom factions. This game uses the Vortex Campaign and features factions like Dark Elves, Lizardmen, and more.
For fans of Warhammer lore, the sequel of this series is a more in-depth experience. The games utilize turn-based and real-time strategy mechanics for varied gameplay. The maps are fantastic to look at and the factions feature many different playstyles. It’s also one of the preferred Warhammer 40K games of Henry Cavill, noted Warhammer nerd and live-action Geralt of Rivia.
9 Warhammer: Vermintide 2
What’s better than pairing up with friends to smash bad guys? Doing so as ancient fire mages and hat-wearing gunslingers against gigantic rats of course! Vermintide 2 is a pretty straight-forward horde attack kind of game. But the visuals are s-tier with a distinct variety in enemy type.
There’s plenty of flying blood and visceral gore for fans of the most brutal of melee combat. The unique class options also keep the gameplay diverse and nimble. It is one of the best games to play with friends and bears the thoughtful finish of games that come from studio Fatshark.
8 Warhammer 40K: Mechanicus
Mechanicus launched in 2018 and features turn-based squad tactical gameplay. Players take on the role of Adeptus Mechanicus tech-priests who use skitarii soldiers and servitors like meat shields. The game pits players against Necron enemies — a faction Warhammer 40K fans will definitely be familiar with.
What’s most unique about this game is the fact that the AdMech are more at the forefront of this title. Instead of focusing on Space Marines or even Tyranids, Mechanicus puts a more unique spin on its story and characters. It’s also a must-play for fans of titles like XCOM 2.
7 Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 2
Almost any veteran Warhammer 40K fan knows about the Dawn of War series. For new fans, this is one of the best introductions to the lore via a traditional RTS setup. The main difference between Dawn of War 1 and 2 is the scope of units. 1 is more of an endless unit experience whereas 2 has the player build up powerful squads and plays similarly to Company of Heroes.
Unfortunately, Dawn of War 3 just didn’t live up to its predecessors in terms of quality and engagement. Just reading Steam reviews will tell people why they should pick up the other two games over the most recent one.
6 Warhammer 40K: Space Marine
This might be an older game with the release year of 2011, but it remains one of the best solo experiences. Despite being a third-person cover shooter, the game incentivizes players, in true Space Marine fashion, to get up-close and personal with enemies. Players regain health when they take out enemies in close quarters. So that really makes it easy to just bash faces with a chainsword, Gears of War style.
The campaign takes Captain Titus from the Ultramarines against a variety of enemies including Orks. There’s that whole theory about the species being powerful psychics, but it isn’t quite canon per se.
5 Blood Bowl 2
This might be a contentious inclusion, but it’s a great option for people who want to switch up their normal game rotation. This isn’t an RTS per se nor is it a turn-based strategy game... kind of. It’s an American football game simulator starring the factions of the Warhammer universe.
The tabletop version allows players to build custom teams and so does Blood Bowl 2. The solo campaign is a bit less intuitive than many fans prefer. But the graphics are great and it’s worth picking up nonetheless. Also, rumor has it that Blood Bowl 3 is in the works.
4 Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2
The original game in this series only released in 2016, so it’s worth a play, too. But Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 really hones in on what makes the experience worthwhile. The game sees the player pitted against the dangers of Chaos and demonic servants.
The campaign lets players view things from different faction perspectives such as the Necrons and even the Tyranids. The ship combat still feels intuitive, but grandiose. Moreover, it is really obvious just how screwed everyone is in the Warhammer 40K realm with almost the entire universe in disarray at best.
3 Warhammer 40K: Space Wolf
Warhammer 40K lore and turn-based strategy games are a match made in Warp. Many games that use Warhammer lore seek to bottle the lightning that is XCOM 2 and Space Wolf is yet another attempt.
While the levels are nowhere near the level of detail in XCOM 2, it’s a fun, somewhat relaxed experience in a Warhammer setting. That doesn’t happen often. Many reviewers recommend picking the game up on sale or even playing it on a tablet. The solo player campaign does require an always-online connection, however.
2 Warhammer 40K: Inquisitor Martyr
This action RPG launched in 2018 from Neocore Games and is a bit like Diablo, but with guns. Also like Diablo, the game features a live element which means seasonal content, limited-time merchants, dailies, and more. It isn’t quite an MMO, but it has many similar traits.
That said, the solo campaign does not have a co-op mode. Despite this, the game is imbued with a feeling of “keep going, keep growing, and defeat the bad guys.” In a time when many games are punishing such as Demon’s Souls, the comfort of a grinding experience might be a welcome change-up.
1 Space Hulk: Deathwing Enhanced Edition
First off, it must be said that this game has some serious problems. There is little sound design, some serious bugs, and it relies very heavily on door mechanics. That’s right: deciding whether to lock a door, leave it open, or destroy it forever is a very important combat factor. But the Enhanced Edition fixes some of the other problems inherent with the game.
It is basically a huge fetch quest but with a Space Marine troupe traversing an abandoned Space Hulk. That’s Warhammer 40K for a giant mass of ancient space debris and asteroids that can contain forgotten technology. But this one is mostly full of genestealers and xenos. The first-person shooter features unique classes but is best with a full four-person complement. The AI for solo play can be... lacking.