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 video games can be a challenge. Fortunately, there have been a few developers that did this franchise justice. Whether they ooze the game's grimdark setting or replicate the visceral gameplay the books portray, here are 10 of the best Warhammer 40K video games made ranked by Metacritic score. Scores are based on the PC version of a game when possible.

Updated July 31, 2021 by Paul DiSalvo: As Warhammer 40,000 is a franchise that is absolutely brimming with lore that covers its multitude of factions in great depth, it should be no surprise that new Warhammer 40K games are always being released. Whether they’re focusing on the most well-established factions in the franchise such as the Space Marines or shifting the focus to one of the many Xenos factions, Warhammer’s grimdark universe lends itself well to various types of strategy games. With such a large swath of games, not every game is assured to be of the same quality, so today we’re going to explore the best video games the franchise has to offer based on their scores on Metacritic!

15 Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach (69)

• Available on PC

A grid-based strategy game released for PC in 2017, Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus reach that offers both a single-player experience as well as online multiplayer. With easy-to-learn gameplay that grows increasingly complex as the game unfolds, players unlock additional unit options as they progress through the game's single-player campaign, developing the game's depth in the process.

14 Warhammer 40,00: Freeblade (69)

• Available on iOS

Released in 2015, Warhammer 40,000 Freeblade is an on-rails shooter that puts the player in the role of a Freeblade of the Imperial Knights, pilots of massive mechanized battlesuits. As far as mobile games go it features solid visuals, however, the on-rail nature of the gameplay is quite restrictive and limiting, inherently holding back a great deal of player freedom.

13 Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf (69)

• Available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One

Focusing on smaller-scale skirmishes rather than the massive wars Warhammer 40K is known for, Warhammer 40,000: Space Wolf was originally released as a free-to-play PC game, later being ported to the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One with all DLC included. Putting the player in control of a small group of Space Marines of the game’s namesake Space Wolves faction. With turn-based strategy gameplay, each of a player’s units have access to several cards that determine what actions they can perform in combat.

12 Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr (71)

• Available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One

Released for the Xbox One, the PS4, and PC in 2018, Inquisitor Martyr shies away from the turn-based nature of the tabletop game and takes the form of an action RPG with several playable classes that fundamentally change how the game plays. The game truly thrives in multiplayer, allowing up to four players to simultaneously work together in co-op missions.

11 Warhammer 40,000: Battle Sector (73)

• Available on PC

Recently released for PC, Warhammer 40,000: Battle Sector is a Space Marine focused tactics game the puts the player in control of the Blood Angels as their home planet is attacked by the Tyranids. With gameplay that reflects that of the tabletop game, Battle Sector features a sizable single-player mode as well as a multiplayer mode for versus skirmishes. Additionally, the game features a solid degree of variety, offering several means to customize one’s experiences and keep things fresh. Through the game’s story, dialogue, and setting it creates a very immersive atmosphere that feels quite authentically 40K.

10 Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics Of War (71/7.3)

• Available on PC

For a franchise focused on intergalactic warfare, it's rather surprising that it took so long for a team of developers to make a 4x strategy game in the Warhammer 40K IP. Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War is essentially Civilization but without diplomacy options. Players work towards exploring the map, expanding their empire, exploiting the landscape for resources, and then exterminating any faction that stands in their way.

It offers the same addictive "just one more turn" mentality Civilization has mastered while giving 40K fans a beautiful spectacle of Space Marines unloading Bolter rounds against heretical Xenos. Balance issues and overall production quality were the main criticisms that fans and reviewers had with this game.

9 Warhammer 40,000: Regicide (72/7.6)

• Available on PC and iOS

Chess and Warhammer 40K seem incompatible with each other at first glance. The pure carnage of 40K seems antithetical to the strategic importance of Chess. Well, it seems that Hammerfall Publishing found a great mix between the two with Warhammer 40,000: Regicide.

This game has two mains modes: classic Chess and Regicide. Classic Chess plays just how it sounds but with Warhammer 40K miniatures and brutal kill animations. Regicide plays closer to a turn-based strategy title such as XCOM with abilities and various weapons. Regicide's lack of faction or scenario variety seriously dampens its replayability, but the game's production values and brilliant animations make for a must-play title for Warhammer 40K fans that love a good game of Chess.

8 Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon (73/NA)

• Available on PC and iOS

Fans of the Panzer Corp series of games will feel right at home with Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon. This turn-based strategy grid allows players to control armies of Imperial forces or even Orks while trying to destroy the enemy team.

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Many will be turned away by the game's dated visuals and clunky systems. Armageddon does make up for this with a wide range of controllable units from the 40K franchise alongside the game's great unit design that heavily encourages new strategies.

7 Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch - Enhanced Edition (74/6.6)

• Available on PC, iOS, and PS4

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.

6 Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine (74/7.5)

• Available on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360

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.

5 Warhammer 40,000: Carnage (75/6.4)

• Available on PC and iOs

After THQ went bankrupt in 2011, their license agreement with Games Workshop went belly up. This resulted in Games Workshop giving the Warhammer 40K IP to many more developers. Most of these new titles were mobile titles, many of which were frankly terrible. Warhammer 40,000: Carnage, though, is one of the few good mobile titles to come from this.

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Unlike most 40K games, Carnage is a side-scroller action title that lets the player control a Space Marine. Players go through levels cutting down waves of Orks to obtain new wargear and acquire new skills. The game's customization was praised by most critics, although the game's monetization and repetitive mission structure were major criticisms when it was released.

4 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III (77/4.6)

• Available on PC

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 War 1 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 that weren't so invested into the previous games or 40K IP were much more forgiving of this title, hence the massive divide between critic and user review scores.

3 Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus (78/8.1)

• Available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One

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.

2 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II (85/8.1)

• Available on PC

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 (87/8.8)

• Available on PC

Dark Crusade is a standalone expansion for the original Dawn 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 hail it as one of the best casual RTS games ever made as well.

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