Warhammer 40K is one of the most unique science fiction universes ever created. Overzealous humans fight for survival in the dark ages of the far future against a wide range of aliens and demons. It's a franchise that seems perfect for video games, yet the number of 40K titles available is shockingly few.

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Many know of the fantastic tabletop game of the same name, but finding great Warhammer 40K games can be a challenge. Fortunately, there have been a few developers who did this franchise justice. Whether they ooze the game's grimdark setting or replicate the visceral gameplay the books portray, here are the best Warhammer 40K games ever.

Updated October 18, 2023 by Mark Sammut: Warhammer 40K has had a busy few years, and the franchise's recent games have been relatively consistent. However, are they among the best Warhammer 40,000 games of all time?

9 Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

Retro first-person shooters are a dime-a-dozen in 2023, so it is difficult to get too excited about a new release. However, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun managed to be an exception as it might quite a splash upon its debut. In the grand scheme of things, Boltgun is a fairly conventional old-school shooter, albeit one that makes good use of the Warhammer 40K license to bring to life some great locations and weaponry.

While the campaign threatens to overstay its welcome in its later stages, Boltgun is, at its core, a blast to play. There are also not all that many single-player Warhammer 40K FPS games, so this release can be a breath of fresh air.

8 Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch - Enhanced Edition

It's worth noting that Warhammer 40,000 Deathwatch - Enhanced Edition is a rerelease of the popular iOS game Deathwatch - Tyranid Invasion. The game has been enhanced to look more comparable to most turn-based strategy PC titles, although it is still apparent this is based on a mobile title. That said, the game's turn-based roots on mobile have translated beautifully on PC.

Deathwatch takes many queues from Space Hulk by having players control a squad of Space Marines down narrow corridors while fighting Tyranids in turn-based combat. Unlike Space Hulk, Deathwatch has a much larger emphasis on progression with various skills and wargear that players can earn. It does carry over its mobile variant's grindy nature, but the core combat is more than adequate to make replaying levels a fun experience.

7 Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Building upon Vermintide's rock-solid foundation, Darktide is another co-op-driven action-romp, albeit one that adds ranged weaponry to the mix rather than prioritizing only melee. Launching toward the end of 2022, the game has been slowly developing since then, and the project is now at a much better place than it was during its opening weeks.

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At the moment, Darktide has seven mission types, each of which comes with its own maps. The game comes with four character classes that can be leveled up, and players will need to replay missions over and over again. Fortunately, the core gameplay is intense and fun enough to keep things interesting for the long haul.

6 Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus

It's not every day that a 40K game focuses on the Adeptus Mechanicus. Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is a turn-based strategy game where players control members of the infamous machine cult. As with most 40K strategy games, customization and tactics are key to victory.

Brilliant design decisions with exploration and abilities set Mechanicus far above its peers in terms of gameplay alone. Alongside the game's brilliant art style and excellent score, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is a masterfully made strategy title that is further elevated by its source material.

5 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 3

Calling Dawn of War 3 a divisive game would be an understatement. Critics enjoyed the simple strategy and storytelling in this installment while fans loathed how different this game was from the past two entries.

Dawn of War1 and 2 are vastly different than each other, but both games strived to be authentic to the Warhammer 40K license. Dawn of War 3's color palette, mix of MOBA heroes and fodder units, as well as the game's lack of a classic Annihilation mode until months after launch left many fans in a disgruntled and disappointed state. Those who weren't so invested in the previous games or 40K IP were much more forgiving of this title, hence the massive divide between critic and user review scores.

4 Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters

Taking some ideas from games like XCOM, Daemonhunters was a more than worthy addition to the Warhammer 40K universe. The turn-based strategy game puts players in charge of the Grey Knights, and they will find themselves working through a bloody but engaging campaign against the Nurgle.

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Daemonhunters is a fairly difficult experience, although it still manages to make the Grey Knights feel powerful. Along with solid combat, the game features a decent progression system that ensures the characters frequently unlock new abilities that help add a new dimension to the gameplay.

3 Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine perfectly depicts the combat style and discipline of a Space Marine in a high-octane shooter. Relic Entertainment did a great job balancing the need to mow down Orks from a distance with Bolters and getting up close and personal with a melee weapon.

Its story is mostly forgettable but the game's setpieces are anything but. Massive industrial cathedral buildings and ruins of a forge world make for a jaw-dropping single-player experience. Unfortunately, the game's campaign is rather short and the game's multiplayer modes did little to keep players engaged shortly after its launch.

2 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2

Dawn of War 2 was a major turning point for the series. Base building was removed entirely, research trees were simplified, and the army cap was dramatically reduced to be closer to lore depictions of each faction. These changes seem horrible at first glance until players try the game for themselves.

For everything Relic removed in Dawn of War 2, they added something in return. Single-player saw the inclusion of customizable loadouts and many more abilities that make Dawn of War: Dark Crusade's campaign seem shallow in comparison. These changes were notable in multiplayer as well with a much larger emphasis on synergizing abilities and flanking targets with good positioning. Dawn of War 2 might have changed much of the core mechanics of the franchise, but the new tactical elements made Dawn of War 2's visceral combat all the more satisfying.

1 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade

Dark Crusade is a standalone expansion for the originalDawn of War. Since the game didn't require the original Dawn of War to play, this was a fantastic entry point for real-time strategy fans. The changes Dark Crusade made to the overall game are worthy of calling it a lite sequel.

Not only were Necrons and the Tau Empire added as playable factions, but the 5 existing factions got new units as well. The game's single-player mode was overhauled from a linear campaign to a conquest mode similar to RISK or Star Wars: Battlefront 2's Galactic Conquest mode. Multiplayer saw many new maps and balance changes as well while preserving the chaotic matches the main game is known for. Not only is Dark Crusade regarded as one of the best Warhammer 40K games of all time, many fans hail it as one of the best casual RTS games ever made as well.

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