Warhammer 40,000 has achieved its videogame golden age — and it’s all thanks to these 10 amazing Xbox and PC titles

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Games Workshop, a British company specializing in miniature wargames, launched Warhammer 40,000 in 1987. It’s a tabletop game of futuristic warfare set in a bleak, war-torn future where humanity is struggling to survive against alien and demonic enemies.

Games Workshop didn’t realize that their small hobby, after almost forty years, would become incredibly popular worldwide. It’s grown into a huge community with fan-made movies, lots of products, a vast collection of books, and, naturally, video games.

When Warhammer 40,000 first appeared in video games, it focused on strategy and action titles that closely followed the tabletop game’s rules. These games were enjoyable and put players in the middle of intense, violent conflicts against terrifying enemies like savage Orks, followers of Chaos, the planet-eating Tyranids, the ancient Necrons, and many other monstrous foes.

Lately, Warhammer 40,000 has expanded beyond its traditional strategy game roots, exploring genres like racing and role-playing games. This allows players to experience the grim and complex world of the 41st Millennium in new and immersive ways.

Warhammer 40,000 is currently very successful in gaming, with popular titles such as Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader leading the way.

Today, we’re celebrating the best Warhammer 40,000 video games ever made! We’ve put together a list of ten fantastic titles – and they’re all great, so the order doesn’t matter.

1. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

Okay, so if I had to kick off a list of my favorite Warhammer 40k games, it *has* to start with Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. It’s easily at the top for me!

This game is a role-playing game where you play as a Rogue Trader – a powerful figure who explores, trades, and conquers new worlds for the Imperium of Man and the God Emperor. You’ll be charting unknown regions of space and claiming them for the empire.

As you explore the dangerous Koronus Expanse, you’ll trade with different groups to build your wealth, hire skilled fighters – human and alien alike – to join your crew, reveal hidden plots, and fight against monstrous aliens and traitors in strategic, turn-based battles.

Throughout the game, you’ll face difficult choices with significant consequences, impacting both your allies and the fate of the entire Koronus Expanse.

Will you loyally serve the God Emperor and enforce His will with strength? Will you show mercy and break Imperial laws to save lives, even those who aren’t human? Or will you be corrupted by Chaos and dedicate yourself to galactic destruction?

I could talk endlessly about what I love about Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, but simply put, it’s a fantastic story. It’s packed with dark and gritty adventures, full of political scheming, corruption, and the thrill of exploring the unknown, all brought to life by a memorable cast of characters with rich histories and personalities.

One of the best things about this game is how it eases new players into the Warhammer 40,000 universe. It’s a fantastic way to experience the franchise’s deep backstory without needing to spend hours researching it online or in rulebooks.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader really focuses on bringing the game’s detailed universe to life for players, more than any previous Warhammer 40,000 game has.

The game delves into the deep corruption and oppressive nature of the Imperium of Man, offering a glimpse into the everyday lives of its citizens within this bleak and dangerous universe. Players will also discover the fascinating and often tragic cultures of alien races, such as the Aeldari and the ruthless Drukhari, and much more.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader offers extensive character customization both during and outside of combat. The game features a compelling turn-based combat system where winning relies on smart strategy and how well your team works together.

The combat is incredibly rewarding, letting you tear enemies apart with powerful weapons like Bolters, Chainswords, and Meltas. It’s a very visceral and destructive experience.

Plus, this game offers incredible replayability. Your choices in conversations and the moral decisions you make significantly impact the story, leading to different paths and multiple endings.

If you enjoy strategic, turn-based RPGs such as Baldur’s Gate 3 and are a fan of the Warhammer 40,000 setting, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader offers a unique experience beyond traditional combat.

2. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is an action game played from a third-person perspective. You play as Titus, a powerful Space Marine of the Ultramarines, and must protect an Imperial world from a massive Tyranid invasion. As you fight, you’ll also uncover a sinister plot brewing within the forces of Chaos.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is currently the most popular video game based on the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and it’s easy to see why.

This game boasts the highest production quality of any on the list, featuring stunningly detailed graphics. The story is engaging and full of action, with plenty of memorable scenes. Long-time fans of Warhammer 40K will especially appreciate the nods to classic characters and moments from the universe.

The biggest draw of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is its intense combat. It’s a really tough game that rewards playing aggressively and penalizes being cautious. You’ll face dangerous enemies – both Tyranids and Chaos forces – who can quickly stun you or even defeat you in a single hit.

The game really comes into its own once you become skilled with its many weapons and learn how to block attacks effectively, and understand what your enemies are going to do. Successfully countering a massive enemy’s attacks, and using that to recover health when you’re almost defeated, is incredibly rewarding and makes you feel powerful as a Space Marine.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marines offers a robust campaign that you can play by yourself or with up to three friends in co-op. Beyond the campaign, there are several multiplayer options, including co-op missions for three players, 5v5 player-versus-player battles, and a Siege mode where you defend against never-ending waves of Tyranids.

If you enjoy fast-paced, third-person shooter action and prefer constant, close-quarters combat over hiding behind cover – like in games such as Gears of War – then Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is for you.

My colleague, Samuel Tolbert, really enjoyed Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, giving it a 4 out of 5 star rating. He described it as a fun game that feels like a classic, but with modern improvements like larger enemy groups and better graphics.

3. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War

Before recent Warhammer 40,000 games like Rogue Trader and Space Marine 2, *Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War* was widely considered the best in the series.

This popular strategy game put players in command of the Blood Ravens, a unique group of Space Marines. They had to liberate the planet Tarturus from an Ork invasion, all while fighting against the forces of Chaos and the Aeldari (known as the Eldar at the time).

Games like Age of Empires and StarCraft require players to carefully manage resources while also attacking opponents. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War did things differently – it simplified resource gathering almost entirely. This allowed players to quickly build armies and jump straight into intense combat, which was a huge part of why I enjoyed it so much.

The first Dawn of War was a thrilling, action-packed real-time strategy game. Players built powerful armies equipped with incredibly destructive weapons to dominate the battlefield.

This was the first Warhammer 40,000 game designed to easily introduce new players to the universe, without requiring them to research the backstory beforehand to understand what was happening.

The game offered a captivating single-player story with diverse and difficult missions. Players could also battle each other in several player-versus-player modes, using the armies they preferred.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War stood out for its incredibly satisfying and brutal combat. It was one of the first strategy games to show units finishing off enemies with dramatic, visually impactful animations.

Fans can now experience the beloved 2004 game with updated visuals and several enhancements in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War’s Definitive Edition.

If you enjoy strategy games and prefer intense battles over collecting resources, try Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War. It lets you jump right into commanding large armies.

4. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a fast-paced first-person shooter where you take on the role of Malum Caedo, a powerful Space Marine. You’ll be sent across the galaxy to destroy dangerous enemies like cultists, Daemons, and traitor Space Marines all on your own.

This game is a fast-paced, action-packed experience inspired by classic 90s shooters like Doom, Duke Nukem, and Wolfenstein 3D. It features pixelated graphics, large levels filled with hidden bonuses, and plenty of intense combat and gore.

I really enjoyed playing Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun in 2023, giving it a 4 out of 5-star rating. In fact, I personally had more fun with it than with Space Marine 2!

The game boasted a delightful old-school look that perfectly captured the dark and imposing atmosphere of Warhammer 40,000. It featured a good mix of tough enemies and incredibly rewarding, intense combat.

If you loved fast-paced, violent shooters from the 90s and enjoy destroying enemies with powerful weapons like Bolters, Chainswords, and Plasma Pistols, you’ll probably have a lot of fun playing Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun.

5. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a cooperative first-person shooter where you and up to three friends play as prisoners tasked by the Inquisition with a desperate mission: to reclaim the city of Tertium from followers of the Chaos god Nurgle, including heretics and Daemons.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a challenging and frantic co-op shooter where teamwork is essential to survive against hordes of terrifying enemies corrupted by Nurgle.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide had a rough start, but it’s now a much-improved game thanks to updates and the addition of new classes – the Arbites and Hive Scum – offering players a lot to enjoy.

The game features a diverse range of classes, each with their own quirky personality and a unique set of skills, weapons, and customization options. You’ll encounter a huge variety of enemies, from simple zombie swarms to terrifying, monstrous creatures straight out of a nightmare.

If you love team-based zombie shooters like Left 4 Dead and want to blast enemies with friends in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, then Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is for you. Join the battle for Tertium now!

6. Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector

Warhammer 40,000: BattleSector is a strategy game played in turns. You command the Blood Angels Space Marines, sent to a faraway planet to wipe out a swarm of Tyranids.

This game successfully translates the classic tabletop experience into a video game, taking inspiration from modern strategy games like Gears Tactics and XCOM to create a fresh and engaging experience.

The game’s solo campaign offers diverse missions, letting you customize your army’s weapons and armor extensively. It also features tough battles that demand smart planning, careful preparation, and a lot of firepower to defeat your opponents.

I remember when I first checked out Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector back in 2021, one of the biggest drawbacks was the limited multiplayer options. You could only play as either the Blood Angels or the Tyranids, and even in the single-player campaign, you were stuck with just the Blood Angels. It really felt restricting at launch!

Over time, the game has been greatly improved with expansions that introduced exciting new factions like the Orks, Necrons, T’au, Sisters of Battle, Khorne Daemons, and the Astra Militarum. A new single-player campaign was also added, letting players take control of the Sisters of Battle.

7. Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is a strategy game where you make turn-based decisions, similar to the popular game XCOM. You take on the role of the Adeptus Mechanicus, a group within the Imperium of Man who revere technology.

Led by Magos Dominus Faustinius, an expedition from the Adeptus Mechanicus discovered a planet called Silva Tenebris while searching for ancient knowledge and technology. During their exploration, the tech-priests realized the planet was a Necron tomb world, and the Necrons were beginning to awaken.

You are now in charge of a critical mission: a desperate race against the clock to gather resources, strengthen your army, and find a way to defeat the Necrons before they can devastate the galaxy.

In Adeptus Mechanicus, you progress by selecting missions that offer different rewards. Each mission involves leading a team of Tech Priests through a dungeon-like environment. As you explore, you’ll encounter places where you can interact with objects or fight against enemy Necrons.

As you explore, your actions gradually raise the Necron Awakening meter. If it fills completely to 100%, the game ends. You’ll need to be cautious while navigating this ancient tomb and find a way to defeat the Necrons for good before they fully awaken.

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is a compelling tactical game featuring deep, turn-based battles. You have extensive options to customize your troops, but exploration and decision-making are fraught with risk – a good choice can yield valuable rewards, while a wrong one could trigger deadly traps and awaken the ancient Necrons.

Watching your tech-priest improve is really rewarding. As they gain new upgrades and equipment, they dramatically transform from a relatively normal cyborg into a terrifying mechanical creature – think spider legs and robotic tentacles like Doctor Octopus!

If you enjoy the Adeptus Mechanicus and strategic, turn-based gameplay, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is a game you’ll likely enjoy.

8. Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef

The team behind Guns, Gore, & Cannoli has created Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef – a wildly funny and incredibly violent Warhammer 40,000 video game.

You take on the role of an Ork, a famously fierce warrior from the Warhammer 40,000 universe. You’re leading a massive attack – Orks call it a WAAAGH! – to save your beloved pet Squig, who’s been stolen by the powerful Warboss Ogruk Gutrekka. Your goal is to show the entire galaxy that you’re the toughest Ork around.

Okay, as a fan, let me tell you, this game is seriously fun! It’s a fast-paced, side-scrolling shooter in the style of classics like Cuphead, Contra, and Metal Slug. Basically, you’re running and gunning through tons of levels, blasting and slashing anything that moves with ridiculously oversized weapons. It’s also hilarious – the over-the-top action and weapons are just a blast!

The Orks’ silly conversations are surprisingly fun to hear, and the game offers tons of different classes and equipment to customize how you play. Battles are over-the-top, chaotic, and really violent, and defeating the tough bosses feels incredibly rewarding.

If you enjoy playing as Orks and just want a fast-paced, action-packed game where you can shoot everything that moves, Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef could be perfect for you.

9. Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters is a strategy RPG where you command the Grey Knights, an elite group of Space Marines who specialize in fighting the forces of Chaos.

In this game, you’ll journey across the galaxy to fight corruption and prevent Chaos from unleashing The Bloom – a deadly plague that threatens to wipe out entire planets if left unchecked.

Explore the galaxy to find and add new Grey Knights to your team. Customize them with strong weapons, different classes, and equipment to change how they play, then lead them in challenging turn-based combat. Winning depends on smart positioning, massive firepower, and skillfully using the Precision Targeting system to weaken your enemies.

As you progress, you’ll have to make tough choices about which planets to save and how to best use your base to research upgrades and gather resources. This will ensure your team is prepared for battles against the powerful Daemons of Chaos.

While Adeptus Mechanicus took some cues from XCOM, Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters openly embraces that influence. This isn’t a drawback, though – the game successfully replicates XCOM’s core gameplay, but adds the intense action, heroic moments, and dark atmosphere that define the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

Grey Knights offers a lot of fun customization options, letting you experiment with different builds and strategies. It also stands out with its distinctive comic book art style. The turn-based battles are challenging but rewarding, featuring complex systems and satisfyingly intense action.

10. Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freaks

If you enjoy the Orks from Warhammer 40,000 and like fast-paced, destructive racing games such as Twisted Metal, you’ll probably love Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks. The game is all about showing off your customized Trukk and proving it’s the most powerful and quickest vehicle in the galaxy!

The key to success is dominating your rivals in fast-paced, competitive races. Winning means eliminating your opponents. These player-versus-player races come in different formats, like 8v8 Death Rallies and Killer Convoys, or custom free-roam races. In modes like Killer Convoys, you’ll race your Stompa to the finish line while trying to stop the opposing team’s Stompa.

Racing fans who enjoy a bit of destruction will absolutely love this game. The combat is wild and over-the-top, and you can choose from a variety of powerful Trukk classes – like Tanks, Buggies, and Battle Wagons – to create chaos in a way that suits your style.

These games are worthy of the God Emperor’s praise.

So, those are my picks for the ten best Warhammer 40,000 video games out there! I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on things and updating this list as new games come out. I’m particularly excited about titles like Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy and Adeptus Mechanicus 2, but they’ll have to really deliver on both the Warhammer 40K feel *and* be genuinely fun to play before they earn a spot here.

Now, experience the best Warhammer 40,000 games and fight to destroy the enemies of the Imperium – the heretics, mutants, and all that is unclean – in its name.

2025-12-10 15:46