20 Best Warhammer 40k Games You Must Play in 2026
If your goal is to find the best Warhammer 40K games, then as a long-time fan, I’m pleased to say you’ll have no shortage of titles to choose from.
If your goal is to find the best Warhammer 40K games, then as a long-time fan, I’m pleased to say you’ll have no shortage of titles to choose from.
Warhammer 40K is one of the most extensive IPs in science fiction, with dozens of video games spanning different genres and platforms.
This ranking will guide you through 20 titles worth playing, all ranked by how well they embody Warhammer ‘s trademark gritty charm and weave the iconic lore.
These are thrilling, high-octane experiences with darker themes like war, destruction, and decay, enjoyed alone or with friends.
Jump to:
- Our Top Picks for Warhammer 40K Games
- 20 Best Warhammer 40,000 Games: The Full Breakdown
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
- Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
- Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
- Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2
- Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector
- Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus
- Warhammer 40,000 Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War
- Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2
- Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr
- Space Hulk: Deathwing
- Battlefleet Gothic: Armada
- Necromunda: Hired Gun
- Warhammer 40,000: Warpforge
- Space Hulk Tactics
- Shootas, Blood, and Teef
- Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon
- My Overall Verdict on the Best Warhammer 40K Games
- Our
- Top Picks for Warhammer 40K Games
- Here’s a short list of the best
- Warhammer 40K
games you should play at least once. This list spans multiple genres, so you’ll have no trouble picking favorites based on your preferences. Here are my top picks:
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 ACTION SHOOTER The most celebrated and critically acclaimed Warhammer 40K game.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide CO-OP SHOOTER One of the best Warhammer 40K games to experience in multiplayer.
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader CRPG Maybe the most engaging WH40K game + heavy CRPG elements.
Is that it? No, obviously not. Scroll down to see the full list of the best Warhammer 40K games to play. No matter if you’re into strategy, action, or deep RPG systems, there’s something here for every fan of the grim dark future.
20 Best Warhammer 40,000 Games: The Full Breakdown It’s time for a showdown of the 20 best Warhammer 40K video games, all ranked based on how well Here’s my breakdown of the 20 best Warhammer 40K video games. Each title is judged on gameplay innovation, graphics, community reception, performance optimization, and how well it captures the grim dark lore. Without further ado, here’s the full breakdown.
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Best Overall Warhammer 40K Game
- Our Score
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, GeForce Now
- Developers
- Saber Interactive, Focus Entertainment
- Average playtime
- 15 Hours
- This title is arguably one of the best video game sequels of all time and is certainly a masterpiece by
- Focus Entertainment
. It gives us a satisfying continuation of Captain Titus’s journey as he struggles with his new brothers against the vast forces of chaos and the Tyranids.
The first game was great, but Space Marine 2 came in with vastly improved graphics, an awesome grimdark story mode, impressive PVP and co-op game modes, as well as less repetitive combat by implementing more ranged and melee attacks with iconic weapons straight from the WH40K lore.
I had an absolute blast with Space Marine 2 – and so did a lot of other gamers, which is why it was nominated for Best Action and Best Multiplayer in the Game Awards.
My Verdict:
Space Marine 2 is the crown jewel of the Warhammer 40K franchise. Stunning visuals, brutal combat, and a gripping story make it the definitive WH40K experience for veterans and newcomers alike.
- Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Best Warhammer 40K Multiplayer Game
- Our Score
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5
- Fatshark
- Average playtime
- 60 Hours
This iconic title tells us the tale of a group of Inquisitorial Agents scouring a Hive city to sniff out signs of a Chaos uprising, only to find more than what they originally bargained for.
In complete Warhammer 40,000 fashion, Darktide gives us bloody, brutal combat with endless hordes of enemies that is best enjoyed with other players via co-op. This is one of the most-played multiplayer WH40K games right now and has received frequent updates from devs to make up for its rocky launch.
If you’re into fun, action-packed multiplayer games like Helldivers 2 and Deep Rock Galactic, then definitely give this game a try!
My Verdict:
Darktide is chaotic, bloody co-op at its finest. If you loved Helldivers 2 or Deep Rock Galactic, this is your next obsession – just bring friends.
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
Best Legacy Warhammer 40K Shooter
- Our Score
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
- Relic Entertainment
- Average playtime
- 10 Hours
The story of the fan-favorite Captain Titus started with this game, and here we get to see his stint as a lieutenant who commands a squad of fellow Space Marines against Orks and chaos entities – a bit before he got roped into the Chaos Space Marines’ shenanigans.
Space Marine (developed by Relic Entertainment) wasn’t made by the same developer as Space Marine 2, but the former devs did a great enough job to pave the way for its sequel, now one of the most graphically demanding PC games, in terms of storytelling, combat mechanics, and incredibly fun boss fights which, in my opinion, is the best part of both games.
While the melee combat in this game needed the makeover it got in the sequel, I would still recommend Space Marine to anyone who wants to play a third-person shooter with intense ranged combat.
My Verdict:
The game that started Captain Titus’s journey still holds up.
Space Marine laid the foundation for its incredible sequel – and remains a solid third-person shooter in its own right.
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
Best Classic Warhammer 40K RTS
- Our Score
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- Microsoft Windows
- Relic Entertainment
- Average playtime
- 15 Hours
- Before the flashy shooters like the
- Space Marine
- series and
- Boltgun
- ,
- Games Workshop
- focused on giving
- WH40K
fans the best tactical RTS games they could muster, and the original Dawn of War was their ace in the hole.
Being an older game, Dawn of War is quite dated in terms of graphics, but don’t let that take away from the fact that it set the standard for what players can do in a Warhammer 40K strategy game. It also has one of the best expansions in Dark Crusade compared to any other RTS game of its time.
Dawn of War’s impressive base-building mechanics, unit variety, and large-scale battles place it high among the best Warhammer 40K games of all time. It’s a classic masterpiece that set the standard for other WH40K titles that came after.
My Verdict:
Dawn of War is a timeless classic that set the standard for WH40K strategy games. Dated graphics aside, its base-building and large-scale battles remain unmatched.
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War
Best Warhammer 40K 4X Strategy Game
- Our Score
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- Microsoft Windows, GeForce Now
- Developers
- Proxy Studios, Proxy Studios GmbH
- Average playtime
- 24 Hours
This title takes us to Gladius Prime, where you choose between four factions (more if you get the DLCs) – Astra Militarum, Space Marines, Orks, and Necrons – and wage war against the others.
The high point of Gladius is that you can customize your map in almost any way you want, which honestly makes some of the worst parts of 4X turn-based games like this one less annoying to deal with.
If you like other game series where you can explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate like Total War and Civilization, then get Warhammer 40, 000 Gladius – Relics of War ASAP!
My Verdict:
Gladius brings the 4X formula to WH40K with customizable maps and faction variety. Perfect for fans of Civilization and Total War.
- Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2
Best Warhammer 40K Space RTS
- Our Score
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- Microsoft Windows, GeForce Now
- Tindalos Interactive
- Average playtime
- 56 Hours
- Games Workshop
- is no stranger to releasing absolute RTS bangers, and
- Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2
is one such game that’s also designed to be better than its predecessor in essentially everything.
It’s certainly one of the most ambitious Warhammer 40K titles when it comes to sheer unit variety, as it allows players to choose between 12 factions to play with at launch. This massive faction catalog isn’t just it either, as this game also has extensive customization options for fleets and ships, which give way to more immersive space battles. If you’re a fan of the best Total War games, you’ll feel right at home with this level of strategic depth and faction diversity.
Now, if you think that a brilliant, overarching campaign revolving around the Necrons, Tyranids, and the Imperium is awesome and just adds more pros to this already great game, then you won’t regret getting Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2.
My Verdict:
Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 is the ultimate WH40K space battle experience. Massive faction variety and extensive fleet customization make it a must-play for RTS fans.
- Space Hulk: Deathwing
Best Warhammer 40K Co-op Shooter
- Our Score
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- ☆
- ★
- Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
- Streum On Studio
- Average playtime
- 11 Hours
- This is yet another title amongst the
- WH40K
franchise’s slowly expanding line of intense first-person shooters. The story is centered around a terminator of the Deathwing – the infamous first company of the renowned Dark Angels chapter – and his mission to clear out the filthy xenos within Space Hulk Olethros.
The Vermintide and Boltgun games come to mind, when we talk about first-person shooters like Space Hulk: Deathwing. If you liked those games but are worried that this one might be a bit too derivative, don’t worry!
This game is so well-received that Focus Entertainment released Space Hulk: Deathwing (Enhanced Edition)
with better graphics, new enemies, more weapons, and a Special Missions game mode – all of which are enough to make it stand out as unique compared to other WH40K titles in the same genre.
My Verdict:
Space Hulk: Deathwing brings intense FPS action in claustrophobic corridors. The Enhanced Edition’s improvements make it a worthy addition to any WH40K fan’s library.