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Top 20 Warhammer 40K video games of all time

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Ignacio Weil

Gaming - November 18th 2024, 17:30 GMT+1

About this gallery:

For this list, we’re focusing exclusively on games from the Warhammer 40K franchise. That means you won’t find excellent titles from Age of Sigmar (or Warhammer Fantasy, for the uninitiated), like *Warhammer: Vermintide*, even if they absolutely deserve a spot on a "best Warhammer games" list in general.

Think we missed an essential game from the grim, dark future? Don’t hold back—let us know in the comments and set the record straight!

Space Hulk Deathwing — 20. Space Hulk: Deathwing (2018)

Imagine being dropped into a dark, suffocating space hulk as a Terminator Librarian with nothing but your psychic powers and an arsenal of ridiculously large guns. *Deathwing* nails the grim atmosphere of 40K but struggles with a bit too much, well, grim. The gameplay is intense but repetitive, like constantly battling through an HR meeting with only a stapler. The multiplayer mode offers salvation, letting you squad up and scream at genestealers together. While the controls can be as unwieldy as a Thunder Hammer, *Deathwing* captures the dread and chaos of being surrounded by a wall of claws. | © Streum On Studio

Necromunda Hired Gun — 19. Necromunda: Hired Gun (2021)

What do you get when you combine cyberpunk vibes, parkour mechanics, and the underhive of Necromunda? *Hired Gun*, the FPS that lets you be a bounty hunter with a pet cyber-dog. It’s chaotic, flashy, and utterly absurd—in a good way. The levels are beautifully crafted dystopias, filled with more verticality than an overly ambitious IKEA shelf. Sure, the story feels like it’s been scavenged from a bolter manual, but the combat more than makes up for it. Plus, who doesn’t love upgrading a dog to take down gangers? | © Streum On Studio

18. Dawn of War 3 (2017)

The black sheep of the *Dawn of War* family tried to blend the epic battles of its predecessors with the hero-focused antics of MOBAs. The result? A game that feels like a space marine at a poetry reading—confused and slightly out of place. The visuals are stunning, and smashing enemies with the Imperial Knight never gets old, but the stripped-down base-building and divisive mechanics left many fans cold. It’s still worth a play, but it’s best approached as a side experiment rather than a spiritual successor. | © Relic Entertainment

Cropped Rites of War — 17. Rites of War (1999)

Take *Panzer General*, slap on a layer of Eldar weirdness, and voilà—you’ve got *Rites of War*. This classic is a tactical gem that proves the Eldar can be more than just colorful space snobs. The campaign is a strategic puzzle where positioning your units just right is as satisfying as finally rolling a six. The sprite work is charmingly retro, and the soundtrack feels like it’s trying to summon a war god. It’s quirky, challenging, and a love letter to the tabletop’s more obscure lore. | © DreamForge/SSI

Cropped Final Liberation — 16. Final Liberation: Epic 40,000 (1997)

If you’ve ever wanted to command titans and hear them stomp across a battlefield while blasting orks to kingdom come, this is your game. *Final Liberation* gets the massive scale of 40K’s battles just right, making you feel like a warlord in charge of a planetary invasion. Sure, the FMV cutscenes are cheesy enough to melt a lasgun, but they add charm. It’s 90s strategy at its finest, even if the UI feels like it was made for a servitor with a dial-up connection. | © Holistic Design/SSI

15. Deathwatch – Enhanced Edition (2015)

Imagine *XCOM*, but instead of generic soldiers, you’ve got space marines from various chapters teaming up to hunt tyranids. *Deathwatch* is a tactical treat, letting you customize your squad and gear them up with loot straight out of a loot box fever dream (earned in-game, thankfully). While its mobile origins are evident in the simplicity of some systems, the Enhanced Edition does enough to make it a worthwhile PC experience. Watching a Blood Angel and a Space Wolf fight side by side never gets old. | © Rodeo Games

Shootas Blood Teef — 14. Shootas, Blood & Teef (2022)

This sidescrolling action-platformer leans hard into the WAAAGH! It’s a cartoonishly chaotic adventure where orks blow things up, argue over hats, and wage war for the sake of pure fun. With squigs strapped to grenades and hard-rock soundtracks blasting in the background, it’s like *Metal Slug* met *Warhammer 40K* at a punk concert. The campaign is short but sweet, making it the perfect weekend co-op romp. Plus, the “teef” currency lets you kit your ork out with some hilariously ridiculous gear. | © Rogueside

Battlefleet Gothic Armada 2 — 13. Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 (2019)

What’s better than spaceships? Gothic cathedral spaceships armed to the teeth. *Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2* amps up the spectacle, throwing you into interstellar battles that feel like naval combat in space. The campaigns let you experience the galaxy from the perspective of tyranids, necrons, and Imperium forces, each bringing their own flavor to the table. The pace might be slow, but when the chaos erupts, it’s worth every second. Just don’t get too attached to your flagship—it’ll probably explode gloriously. | © Tindalos Interactive

Cropped Fire Warrior — 12. Fire Warrior (2003)

Oh, *Fire Warrior*. The 40K FPS where you play as a Tau, the faction everyone forgets about until they show up with railguns. While the gameplay is a bit clunky and the story feels like it’s trying too hard, there’s something oddly endearing about being a spacefish with a pulse rifle. The level design and pacing are hit-or-miss, but blasting your way through chaos cultists and space marines has its moments. If nothing else, it’s a curious time capsule of early 2000s FPS design. | © Kuju Entertainment

Gladius Relics of War — 11. Gladius – Relics of War (2018)

Take Civilization, strip out the diplomacy, and replace it with all-out war—welcome to *Gladius*. This 4X strategy game tosses you onto a hostile planet and tells you to either conquer it or be consumed. Playing as factions like Space Marines, Orks, or Necrons, you’ll quickly learn that the planet is as much an enemy as your rivals. The gameplay is solid, though diplomacy fans might miss the chance to negotiate peace (which doesn’t really fit the 40K vibe anyway). It’s pure survival and strategy, with enough unit variety to keep things interesting. | © Proxy Studios

Inquisitor Martyr — 10. Inquisitor – Martyr (2018)

Ever wanted to play Diablo but with a 40K skin? Enter *Inquisitor – Martyr*, an ARPG that lets you purge heretics and Chaos cultists with righteous fury. Whether you choose a psychic-heavy Inquisitor or a brute with a chainsword, the variety of builds keeps things fresh. The lore is as dense as an Ork’s skull, and while the grind can feel endless, there’s something cathartic about tearing through waves of enemies with bolters and flamethrowers. The co-op mode is a highlight, letting you drag friends into the endless grindfest of holy destruction. | © NeocoreGames

Cropped Dawn of War 2 — 9. Dawn of War 2 (2009)

Gone are the massive armies of the first *Dawn of War*. Here, it’s all about tight, tactical combat with a handful of elite units. Every squad feels like a character in its own right, with abilities and upgrades that make them indispensable. Missions are fast-paced and intense, with boss battles that often require quick thinking and clever tactics. The Last Stand mode, a co-op horde challenge, adds replayability and highlights the game’s emphasis on hero units. It’s a bold departure from its predecessor, but one that pays off in spades. | © Relic Entertainment

8. Rogue Trader (2023)

Owlcat brings their RPG expertise to the 40K universe in *Rogue Trader*, letting you live the high-stakes life of a profit-seeking space explorer. The game is a cocktail of strategy, storytelling, and tactical combat, with a healthy dose of moral dilemmas thrown in. Do you support the Imperium’s rigid rules or carve your own path among the stars? While the game’s complexity might overwhelm newcomers, seasoned RPG fans will relish its deep lore and intricate decision-making. It’s a janky but ambitious take on the galaxy’s grimdark underbelly. | © Owlcat Games

7. Chaos Gate: Daemonhunters (2022)

Think XCOM, but with Grey Knights instead of squishy humans. *Daemonhunters* is a tactical masterpiece that blends over-the-top abilities with a surprising amount of challenge. The warp surge mechanic keeps you on your toes, forcing you to take risks or face nasty consequences. Watching your squad of elite marines execute flawless combos never gets old, and the gritty visuals immerse you in the horrors of Chaos corruption. It’s not perfect—the missions can get repetitive—but the sheer joy of cutting down daemons makes up for it. | © Complex Games

Space Marine 1 — 6. Space Marine (2011)

Few games capture the essence of being a walking tank of destruction like *Space Marine*. Captain Titus leads the charge in this third-person action epic, where shooting is fun, but melee combat is the real star. You regain health by smashing enemies to bits—because cover is for cowards. The story is simple but effective, and the combat never lets up. Whether you’re gunning down Orks or wielding a chainsword against Chaos forces, *Space Marine* delivers relentless, satisfying action that screams 40K. | © Relic Entertainment

5. Mechanicus (2018)

The Adeptus Mechanicus finally gets the spotlight in this turn-based tactical gem. Playing as tech-priests investigating Necron tombs, you’ll manage resources, solve puzzles, and creepily chant hymns to the Machine God. The game’s mechanics reflect the weirdness of the faction—sacrificing cannon fodder units for extra cognition points is as cold and calculating as it gets. Add in a haunting soundtrack and a unique aesthetic, and you’ve got one of the most inventive 40K games out there. | © Bulwark Studios

4. Darktide (2022)

Take the visceral melee combat of *Vermintide*, add ranged combat, and set it in a hive city crawling with heretics. *Darktide* captures the brutal, chaotic essence of 40K with aplomb. The live-service structure leaves the story feeling undercooked, but the missions themselves are endlessly replayable. Smashing through hordes of cultists as an ogryn or blasting enemies with a lasgun never gets old. Just be prepared for some grind—it’s the 41st millennium, after all. | © Fatshark

3. Space Marine 2 (2024)

The sequel to the beloved *Space Marine* ups the ante with co-op gameplay and even more jaw-dropping set pieces. Fighting against endless hordes of tyranids, you’ll feel like the galaxy’s last hope—or at least the angriest Ultramarine in history. The visuals are stunning, and the combat is just as satisfying as the original, though solo players might miss the tight narrative focus of its predecessor. It’s a bombastic follow-up that delivers on its promise of over-the-top action. | © Saber Interactive

Warhammer 40000 Boltgun — 2. Boltgun (2023)

Take the aesthetic of classic DOOM, mix it with 40K insanity, and you get *Boltgun*. This retro-inspired shooter nails the grimy, chaotic vibe of the setting while letting you blast enemies into giblets with some of the most satisfying weapons in the franchise. The fast-paced gameplay and pixel art charm keep things simple yet thrilling. It’s a nostalgia trip for shooter fans and a love letter to the over-the-top violence that defines Warhammer 40K. | © Auroch Digital

Cropped Dawn of War — 1. Dawn of War (2004)

The king of 40K games, *Dawn of War* brought the tabletop to life with large-scale battles, iconic units, and enough tactical depth to keep fans hooked for years. From the cinematic opening cutscene to the perfectly balanced factions, everything about this RTS screams epic. Managing resources, commanding armies, and unleashing devastating abilities feels as powerful as calling Exterminatus on a heretic-filled planet. It’s a classic that stands the test of time as the gold standard for Warhammer 40K games. | © Relic Entertainment

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The grim darkness of the Warhammer 40K universe has captivated fans for decades with its tales of unending war, heretical uprisings, and battles fought in the cold void of space. Translating that massive, lore-rich world into video games hasn’t always been easy, but when done right, the results are unforgettable.

From tactical turn-based masterpieces to action-packed shooters, these games let you don the armor of a Space Marine, command sprawling fleets, or even skulk in the shadows as a crafty ork. Here's a countdown of the 20 best Warhammer 40K video games ever, celebrating the hits that truly capture the essence of the 41st millennium. WAAAAAGH!

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The grim darkness of the Warhammer 40K universe has captivated fans for decades with its tales of unending war, heretical uprisings, and battles fought in the cold void of space. Translating that massive, lore-rich world into video games hasn’t always been easy, but when done right, the results are unforgettable.

From tactical turn-based masterpieces to action-packed shooters, these games let you don the armor of a Space Marine, command sprawling fleets, or even skulk in the shadows as a crafty ork. Here's a countdown of the 20 best Warhammer 40K video games ever, celebrating the hits that truly capture the essence of the 41st millennium. WAAAAAGH!