Mordheim: City of the Damned

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,346 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Mordheim: City of the Damned Game Cover
A brilliant strategy game that asks you to think carefully about every decision, pushing your tactical buttons in every conceivable way.
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Mordheim: City of the Damned is a turn-based tactical RPG set in the Warhammer World's ruined Empire city. Command a warband in fierce battles for control of key neighborhoods and valuable Wyrdstone fragments. Customize your warband with unique units, gear, and abilities as you fight for glory and survival in this grim, chaotic world.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Gog Com
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,346 reviews
story151 positive mentions
grinding119 negative mentions
  • Faithful adaptation of the tabletop game with a grimdark atmosphere.
  • Engaging turn-based combat that rewards strategic planning and character progression.
  • High replayability with different factions and unique warband builds.
  • Unforgiving RNG can lead to frustrating experiences, with high chances to hit often resulting in misses.
  • Clunky UI and controls make navigation and management cumbersome.
  • Limited variety in maps and missions can lead to repetitive gameplay.
  • story1,831 mentions

    The story aspect of "Mordheim: City of the Damned" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the narrative weak and the campaign missions poorly designed. While the game features unique story missions for each faction, these often suffer from vague objectives, frustrating mechanics, and the challenge of infinite enemy reinforcements, leading to a sense of repetitiveness and frustration. Despite this, some players appreciate the character development and the personal stories that emerge from managing their warbands, suggesting that the game's strength lies more in its tactical gameplay than in its storytelling.

    • “The story missions are really good but I have failed multiple of them because I couldn't find the objectives.”
    • “The campaign missions are brutally hard and very fun to play in my opinion, something anyone who enjoys a challenge will love.”
    • “Each faction has its own story missions and there are a variety of mission types and scenarios which help to spice things up.”
    • “The story missions are few and far between and terribly designed, complete with unclear objectives and unlimited and instant respawns of opponents.”
    • “The story missions can get really frustrating with vague mission details and worst of all, infinite enemy reinforcements.”
    • “The scripted story missions should have been carefully crafted highpoints for each lengthy campaign -- something to look forward to rather than something to slog through.”
  • gameplay958 mentions

    The gameplay of "Mordheim: City of the Damned" is characterized by its deep tactical mechanics and punishing difficulty, often requiring players to invest significant time to understand its complex systems. While some players appreciate the strategic depth and the faithful adaptation of tabletop elements, many criticize the reliance on random number generation (RNG), which can lead to frustrating experiences, particularly for newcomers. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of turn-based strategy and RPG elements, but its steep learning curve and inconsistent mechanics may deter casual players.

    • “While not completely faithful to the mechanics of the original, the punishing and brutal spirit of the tabletop game is captured perfectly.”
    • “The gameplay is great; just that everything else is totally terrible.”
    • “The gameplay is immersive as ever with rich environments and fantastic graphics, the w,a,s,d controls in third-person rather than a strict 'overhead only' approach layer upon another dimension of interactivity and narration.”
    • “Terrible turn-based infinite grind game with a terrible random number generator mechanic that seems designed to make your blood pressure rise.”
    • “The gameplay is harsh and repetitive.”
    • “The gameplay never really evolves and it is a fairly tedious grind.”
  • graphics416 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the atmospheric and thematic representation of the Warhammer universe, while others criticize the visuals as dated or subpar compared to modern standards. Some highlight the unique art style and character models, noting that they effectively capture the essence of the source material, but there are frequent mentions of graphical glitches, poor animations, and a lack of variety in character designs. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they are often described as fitting for the game's aesthetic and contribute positively to the immersive experience.

    • “The graphics are surprisingly good for a game of that time and size.”
    • “The graphics, while not groundbreaking, are pretty cool and the environment seems well enough done.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the weapons are perfect, and the whole concept to implementation makes this my #2 Games Workshop PC game.”
    • “The overall quality of this game is trash to be quite honest; this game has terrible UI, graphics are subpar for 2015, and animations are funky at best.”
    • “The graphics are poor, music lazy, UI disgustingly terrible; the tutorial does not exist except for a series of click missions that are poorly thought out and lead many to skip them outright.”
    • “The graphics are distinctly previous-gen but are well themed and stylish.”
  • atmosphere203 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and grimdark representation of the Warhammer universe, effectively capturing the essence of the tabletop experience. Players appreciate the detailed graphics, ambient music, and the overall eerie ambiance of the cursed city of Mordheim, although some note that the atmosphere can become repetitive over time. Despite some gameplay frustrations, the game's atmospheric depth and aesthetic are considered its strongest features, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.

    • “The atmosphere of Mordheim is brilliant.”
    • “The darkly engrossing and compelling atmosphere of Mordheim is almost enough to sell this game on its own.”
    • “The atmosphere is pure grimdark and the voice acting is well done.”
    • “The atmosphere, the music, the general feel of the game is amazing and I strongly recommend it.”
    • “In certain aspects this game is suffocated by its many design choices to value atmosphere over quality of life.”
  • grinding120 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, with many players noting that it often feels like a chore rather than an engaging part of gameplay. Reviewers highlight long loading times, repetitive missions, and a slow character progression system that can lead to frustration, especially when hard-earned progress can be undone in a single encounter. While some players appreciate the depth of customization and strategy, the overwhelming consensus is that the game does not respect players' time, making the grinding experience feel unfulfilling and monotonous.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Grinding in this game is so tedious, you will be doing it for hours to level your characters up and it ended up being a huge boring waste of time.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay never really evolves and it is a fairly tedious grind.”
    • “You can put days and days worth of hard grinding into your warbands carefully selecting skills and weapons only to have your characters handed to you the very next mission with all your best fighters dead or missing limbs with not a penny to show for it.”
  • stability88 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of frequent freezes, crashes, and various bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. Players have noted issues such as characters getting stuck, loading problems, and glitches that can lead to frustrating experiences, making it difficult to recommend the game to new players. While some enjoy the core mechanics and potential, the overall consensus is that the game remains too unstable and buggy to provide a consistently enjoyable experience.

    • “Bug-free and very stable.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
    • “I haven't encountered any glitches, making for a seamless experience.”
    • “The game often freezes up during the computer's turn, and the developers don't seem to respond to bug reports.”
    • “Personally, I think it’s morally wrong to recommend to new players a game that is no longer supported, riddled with bugs and glitches that will never be patched, and suffers from a well-known ‘lag’ gremlin that will freeze and in some cases even crash the game throughout your playtime.”
    • “The graphics, UI, etc. are so buggy the game is nigh unplayable; the load times are some of the most obscenely long I've ever encountered, and the devs seem only interested in providing content updates rather than fixing the actual playability of the game.”
  • replayability79 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, with players enjoying the ability to create diverse warbands and explore different playstyles across multiple factions. Many reviews highlight the endless possibilities for customization and strategy, as well as the procedural generation of maps, which keeps gameplay fresh and engaging. While some users note that the limited number of factions may eventually restrict replay value, the overall consensus is that the game offers substantial replayability, making it a worthwhile experience for players.

    • “With 4 (6 with DLC) different warbands, each packed with their own unit classes that approach the game differently, the replayability is pretty good.”
    • “The various factions are unique in their playstyles and motivations, ensuring countless hours of replayability.”
    • “It's procedural, so every non-story mission is unique and the replayability is fantastic.”
    • “There are not a lot of factions, so I imagine at some point replayability will be limited, but if you are looking for a few good hours of fun, this is great.”
    • “It doesn't have the replay value that you'd expect a title like this would.”
    • “The game is slowly getting better and a bit more playable as new patches are released, but six more months in development could really have done wonders for the game.”
  • music71 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric and immersive qualities that enhance the overall experience, while others find it repetitive and dull over time. Many appreciate the dark and oppressive soundtrack that fits the game's theme, but some express a desire for more variety and better pacing. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, its repetitiveness can detract from long play sessions.

    • “With a soundtrack that manages to be both oppressive and epic and some occasionally brilliant voice acting for chapter intros, this is a well-crafted product.”
    • “The music is atmospheric and really captures the mood: not knowing what's around the corner, but knowing that you could be fighting for your life at any moment.”
    • “The music and visuals are incredibly atmospheric and the turn-based nature of the game works well as a translation of the tabletop to the PC.”
    • “This game looks awesome, I love Mordheim, then you play this game. Not only is it unbelievably dull with its grating atmospheric music and milky brown textures, it's also catastrophically unfair to play with a horrendously long play time to get anywhere near having a competent team to play with.”
    • “You'll tire of the music and the maps long before you complete a campaign.”
    • “The music is... well, I hope you like sinister sounding horns and drums, because that's all there is.”
  • humor48 mentions

    The humor in the game is often derived from the absurdity of character injuries and mishaps, leading to a mix of dark comedy and slapstick moments that players find both hilarious and frustrating. Players enjoy the quirky interactions and unexpected outcomes, such as one-legged enemies triumphing or their own characters suffering comical fates, which adds a layer of levity to the challenging gameplay. Overall, the game's humor is a significant draw, providing a lighthearted contrast to its more serious themes and mechanics.

    • “Hilarious when some of my warband pick up so many injuries that I start to feel sorry for them.”
    • “After the fifteenth time you get ambushed by somebody trying to charge them, you start laughing at the misfortune as opposed to being upset.”
    • “It's also hilarious when the enemy warband has obvious injuries.”
  • optimization47 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players citing significant performance issues, including long loading times and AI turn delays, particularly with full warbands. While some users report smooth gameplay on their systems, others experience severe frame rate drops and unresponsive mechanics, indicating that the game requires further optimization to enhance the overall experience. Despite these challenges, a few players noted that the graphics are decent and the game runs well on certain hardware configurations, suggesting potential for improvement with future updates.

    • “Good optimization.”
    • “The performance is quite good and the graphics won't blow you away, but they are pretty decent and set the tone nicely.”
    • “Surprisingly optimized for an early access game.”
    • “The biggest downside is the optimization: AI turns take a long time, especially with full warbands.”
    • “Be mindful of the horrible optimization though, it really is horrendous unfortunately.”
    • “My computer is so far over the recommended settings I don't even know where to start, but this steaming pile is so badly optimized that I was getting 5 frames per second.”
  • character development27 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and customization options, allowing players to tailor characters to their play style and enhancing replayability. The system is described as one of the best seen in turn-based tactical games, though it can be overwhelming for newcomers due to its complexity. Overall, the combination of character progression, strategic gameplay, and engaging design contributes significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “Character development for all characters allows you to customize to your play style or alter for a new playthrough.”
    • “Character development/progression is one of the best systems I've seen, and the turn-based combat is extremely well done.”
    • “The character design and development system is terrific.”
    • “Further, the concept of frequently unavoidable permanent injuries in a game which revolves around squad/character development is just a bad idea.”
    • “The character design is poor at best.”
    • “The sheer amount of customization and character development can be a bit overwhelming to those that come to the game blind, and normally I would not recommend this, but watching a 'YouTuber' play this game before attempting a playthrough will be of use to mitigate some of the complexity.”
  • emotional26 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with players expressing feelings of heartbreak and attachment to their characters, particularly when they face injury or death. The game's unforgiving nature and permanent consequences create a deep sense of loss and accomplishment, reminiscent of titles like XCOM. While the emotional investment can lead to frustration, it ultimately enhances the gameplay experience, making it both challenging and rewarding.

    • “This game is many things... it is thoughtful, deep, steeped with lore from one of the most amazing fantasy settings ever created since it is Warhammer, among many things.. but I think the most important part of this game, and what makes it different from almost every other game out there, is the emotional context.”
    • “Most importantly, the game makes you invest emotionally in your warband (a bit like X-COM: Enemy Unknown), and it's got that addictive 'one-more-game' feel.”
    • “Eventually you form a bond with them, swear when they mess up, smile when they dominate, and shed a tear when they die.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to overpriced DLCs and a perceived lack of value for the game's price. Players express frustration over the developers' disregard for feedback and fear that the game will continue to exploit its audience financially. Overall, the sentiment suggests that the game's monetization strategy detracts significantly from the overall experience.

    • “Do not buy this game at its current price, to me it is a cash grab hands down, the devs will not listen to you at all for your feedback regardless of your support!”
    • “For the price of the game just forget it, the game's not worth buying, for me it was as if the game was a cash grab regardless.”
    • “It’s a cash grab, something that GW is most certainly familiar with and I for one feel like this is the most authentic GW tabletop to video game translation because you got the most familiar and ever so persisting thing about GW games.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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Play time

41hMedian play time
119hAverage play time
14-135hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 65 analyzed playthroughs

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