Last Updated on February 17, 2022 by OoS
Not only is Warhammer 40K great with its tabletop and board games, but it has an amazing selection of video game titles too. From the 15 video games we researched, here are the top 3 best Warhammer 40K games, with Dawn of War II as our #1. Check out the rest here.
Contents
Best Warhammer 40K Game: Dawn of War II
- Dawn of War II
- Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising
- Dawn of War II - Retribution
Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War was already an amazing game especially back in 2006 to 2007 but when Dawn of War II came out in 2011, nobody was prepared for how much it became better. Sure, there may be a handful of WH40K fans who didn’t like the sequel due to its more streamlined approach, but with the inclusion of the Tau Empire in the fight, things have gotten more interesting. Not only did the battlefield look better from afar and zoomed in, but Dawn of War II was one of the last great RTS before the genre started dying out.
Pros
- The best in the trilogy
- Improved combat
- Tons of new content
Cons
- Some elements from the first game did not return
- Story of first game is arguably better
- Physical copy is hard to find
Best Action Warhammer 40K Game: Space Marine
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine PC Game
- Action / Adventure - Rated Mature
Space Marine is Warhammer 40K’s “answer” to other popular action shooters like Gears of War and Uncharted. You get to play as – obviously – the Space Marine as you uncover dark secrets and enemies in your journey. While the story is pretty decent, the combat is brutally satisfying. Guns are beefy, the sword combat is great to control and the battles are always intense. We did wish it had a proper sequel because we honestly think it is a very underrated game, let alone a Warhammer 40K game.
Pros
- Lots of enemies on-screen
- Responsive 3rd person combat
- Embodiment of the violent board games
Cons
- Grey in some areas
- Some characters are forgettable
- Predictable story
Best Strategy Warhammer 40K Game: Gladius: Relics of War
- eXplore: Play as one of four iconic Warhammer factions (Astra Militarum, Space Marines, Orks or Necrons), each with their own unique playstyle and technology tree. Explore a randomly generated world filled with special features and threatening wildlife that can crush your troop's morale. Secure control of powerful ancient artefacts to grant you an edge against rival factions.
- eXpand: Construct cities, buildings and fortifications to expand your empire and produce an army to vanquish your foes. Harvest resources and research new technologies to fuel and upgrade your machinery of war.
- eXploit: Progress through a different storyline with each faction as their destiny on Gladius Prime, a world tainted by the warp, unfolds. In the end, when all the dust has settled, only one faction can emerge victorious
- eXterminate: Command a wide array of devastating weaponry, issue city edicts and deploy tactical operations. Recruit hero units that possess distinct special abilities and can be equipped with items, ranging from advanced grenades to mighty relics of the past. As they become more and more powerful with each rank, they turn into true champions of your cause.
Gladius: Relics of War is another game not many people know of. But for those that do, it’s one of the best strategy games ever made. Think of it as Civilization minus the diplomacy and you get Gladius. The objective is simple: choose from one of four factions, dominate territories, attack other factions and win. It also has a more streamlined and faster gameplay mechanic compared to the original Sid Meier game. Even if you don’t buy the DLCs, the game is already packed with lots of goodies.
Pros
- Play as Astra Militarum, Space Marines, Orks or Necrons
- Unique strategy and mechanics
- Best for turn-based strategy players
Cons
- Slow-paced
- Stories are just par
- Outdated graphics
Alternative Warhammer 40K Games
![Space Hulk: Deathwing - Enhanced Edition [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A1cRFwCSjPL._SL160_.jpg)
- Level up and customise six classes
- Powerful weapons and abilities
- Infinite replayability in solo & coop
- Chinese, English, French, German, Russian (Playback Language)
- Chinese, English, French, German, Russian (Subtitles)
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What I Would Buy
These are the top 3 best Warhammer 40K games but if you want the top choice in this list, we recommend Dawn of War II: an RTS game that made everything about the first game even better. If you are looking for a 3rd person shooter, play Space Marine. And if you like a more slow-paced strategy game, Gladius: Relics of war is a great game too.
FAQs
Start off with first Dawn of War game on the PC. Even to this day, the game still holds up pretty well in terms of combat mechanics.
Space Marines and Orks are the most popular factions in the WH 40K universe. Fans know, the non-players recognize it.
Because Relic Entertainment threw away everything that was good in DoW 1 and 2. They broke down the game into a hybrid MOBA-RTS for the sake of it becoming esports material.
Yes, it is. A lot of players even prefer the first game over the 2nd because of its more extensive gameplay.
Yes there are but only by the hundreds. You might want to join a dedicated WH40K discord group for that. You’d be surprised to know that Dawn of War 1 still has more players than the 2nd and 3rd.
