Games Workshop's grimdark futuristic universe is an ideal setting for videogames - everything's at war, and nearly nothing makes sense. The lore is so deep you can start from anywhere, really, so jump in somewhere in the middle with some of our picks for best 40k games.
Warhammer 40k games don't limit themselves to one genre, oh no. They run the gamut of PC gaming, and while they aren't always the best things ever, you can't call them out on a lack of personality. Here are our picks for the best Warhammer 40k games you can play on PC right now.
1. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
Think Baldur's Gate 3, but instead of lush forests and rowdy cities, you and yours are exploring the depths of a giant voidship, exploring the system, and experiencing the grimdark future of 40k. There's a certain vibe you have to tap into when creating a game about the Imperium of Man, and Rogue Trader nails it.
Create a character from scratch, try to talk yourself out of situations, or simply bash heads with the biggest hammer you can carry. Rogue Trader is a superb RPG in its own right, with the added flavor and impossibly deep lore of the 40k universe sending it right over the top.
2. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
Boltgun is a retro boomer shooter that oozes style, blood, and viscera. You assume the role of a Sternguard Veteran, and with your Boltgun in one hand and your Chainsword in the other, your primary goal is to tear through heretics in the name of the Emperor. Your frenetic gunfights across the Forge World Graia will put you in close contact with Chaos Marines, Orks, and the Tau Empire, and only one of you is making it out alive.
As you might expect from its colorful visuals, Boltgun doesn't take itself too seriously, leaning fully into the dark humor and campiness of the Warhammer 40K universe. The FPS game is a nostalgic romp boasting gorgeous sprites, clean animations, and a heavy-metal soundtrack guaranteed to get your blood pumping. Warhammer 40K and Doom are a match made in heaven; Boltgun is proof of that.
3. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
If splatting rats in the Vermintide Warhammer games isn't quite the smiting you had in mind, you'll be pleased to know that you can now purge heretics and mutants in the name of the God-Emperor in a late challenger to some of the best PC games of 2022, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.
The latest Fat Shark game follows pretty much the same structure as its fantasy-flavored Left 4 Dead-like predecessors but infests it with the Grimdark universe, where Warhammer 40K takes place. So, instead of magic users, you have Psykers that are in tune with the Warp. At the same time, other choosable Darktide classes include heretic-slicing Zealots, former Imperial Guardsmen Veterans, and colossal Ogryns. So, if you're looking for a decent 40K co-op game, this might be a good one for you.
4. Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters
A surprisingly fun turn-based strategy game based on one of 40K's most humorless chapters, this is an XCOM-like tactics game where the small group of perpetually outnumbered Grey Knights takes on never-ending tides of Nurgle monsters.
Daemonhunters' greatest strengths don't come from its satisfying management interfaces or chaotic tactical battles, however, but from the fact that it manages to condense some very dense lore and mechanics into an experience that's readable and surprisingly efficient at teaching the player how to play the game. As our Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters review shows, there are some rough edges to iron out, but this is a surprisingly good Warhammer 40K game that takes an easy spot on this list.
5. Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector
Despite our guarded Battlesector review, this is on the list for two reasons. First, the points-based army setup, gear options, and turn-based design make this an excellent distillation of the tabletop game. Second, if you like Space Marines and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine wasn't enough, this does make you feel very good about everyone's favorite 40K faction.
Fighting against the Tyranids on a moon orbiting the Blood Angel's homeworld; while it's not incredibly taxing, it does immerse you in the power fantasy of Games Workshop's golden boys in a way that only Dawn of War has managed previously. The technical foundations of this game are solid, but it needs better scenarios and - ultimately - more factions for it to come into its own. Thankfully, the Necrons have arrived to ruin everyone's day via the Warhammer game's first faction expansion, and we can't wait to see who else appears.
6. Battlefleet Gothic Armada 2
While some elements of the original Battlefleet Gothic Armada game were arguably better, Armada 2 gets to claim the top spot as it has received much more love and support, with every significant 40K faction represented during the game's launch. Inspired (but not a direct translation) by Games Workshops' fleet-based tabletop game of the same name, Armada is an RTS game in which you command fleets of grimdark warships and fight them out in space.
There are three dynamic campaigns: one for the Tyranids, one for Necrons, and one for the Imperium. There are also some neat persistence elements across single-player and multiplayer where you can take the same ships in battle and have them earn experience. Apart from that, it has a very bombastic aura, making it one of the finest space naval warfare games on the market and a tactically satisfying 40K-themed game.
7. Space Hulk Tactics
In case you don't know what this board game classic is, Space Hulk is a turn-based strategy game where you must lead a team of either Blood Angels Terminators or Tyrannid Genestealers to wipe out the other side in mortal combat, not too dissimilar to actual 40K rules.
The history of Space Hulk digital adaptations has been rocky, to say the least, which is why Space Hulk Tactics is a welcome surprise in that it's pretty good. It follows the design of the original tabletop game more closely, offering a slick, fresh turn-based tactics experience. It's not perfect, but there's no denying this is the best Space Hulk game on the market and a great strategy board game adaptation.
8. Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War
In the long history of things nobody asked for, I'd say a 'Civilization-but-it's-Warhammer-40K' is high on the list. Gladius is a 4X game that strips out diplomacy, trade, and other niceties and keeps it focused on the setting's core purpose - war.
It's pretty good. Most of the 40K roster is available via DLC packs, and they all have varied playstyles. This means that even though all you can do is fight each other, you at least have a different way of doing it. It's not just about fighting AI or human opponents, either - the early game sees you struggle against local alien wildlife as you try to dominate the planet Gladius.
9. Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr
What if you take Diablo, but it's Warhammer 40,000? Inquisitor - Martyr is a rough-and-ready action RPG that sends you to the Caligari sector, far from the Emperor's grace and in dire need of an Inquisitor to straighten things out with some good old-fashioned hack-and-slashing.
You can play the game solo or co-op with up to three other players, and there are three classes you can choose from. There's also a battle barge's worth of micro-DLC packs that offer extra missions and other things to keep you entertained. These minor expansions support all of the free content updates Inquisitor - Martyr has had since its release in 2018 and is, overall, a refreshing departure from the kinds of Warhammer games we typically get.
10. Space Marine 2
Gears of Warhammer is back yet again, as Saber Interactive's follow-up to the original Space Marine puts you back in the oversized armor of now-disgraced Lieutenant Titus. Boasting some of the finest Tyranid-mashing action around, Space Marine 2 is a must-play for 40K vets and newcomers to the videogame series alike.
Our Space Marine 2 review highlights its "properly vicious combat" and "impressive presentation," which, let's face it, are all you need to enjoy a horde-style game like this. If you do dive in like the gigachad Ultramarine you are, check out the best Space Marine 2 mods to help get the best out of your experience.
11. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
The undisputed king of Warhammer 40K games remains Relic's masterpiece in the original Dawn of War. Based on the award-winning Company of Heroes format of real-time tactics games, it allows you to experience the visceral, bombastic action of the far future in gritty tactical action. The original release featured Orks, Space Marines, Chaos Marines, and Eldar. Over time, expansions added factions such as the Imperial Guard, T'au, Necrons, Dark Eldar, and even the Sisters of Battle as additional playable races via expansions.
While the original game followed Company of Heroes' model of linear missions for its campaign, the later spin-offs would experiment with campaign meta-layers, with Soulstorm seeing you fight over an entire system. Dawn of War has two sequels that are drastically different from the original, and if we're honest, they're pretty good games, but we much prefer the first.
Those are the best Warhammer 40K games on PC. More exciting projects are on the horizon, so we imagine more faces may appear on this list soon. If you're yet to be initiated into the tabletop version, our friends at Wargamer have a helpful guide on how to play Warhammer 40k, as well as all you need to know about the Warhammer 40k factions. If that's not enough, their Warhammer 40k Space Marines guide is also a must-read.
