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Space Hulk

Space Hulk Game Cover
70%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, optimization
70% User Score Based on 2,130 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

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Space Hulk Game Cover

About

Space Hulk is a single player and multiplayer turn-based strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Full Control Studios and was released on August 15, 2013. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Space Hulk is a turn-based strategy game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Players control a squad of Space Marine Terminators battling genestealers in derelict spacecraft. The game offers a faithful adaptation of the board game, with challenging AI and immersive environments.

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Space Hulk screenshot
Space Hulk screenshot
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70%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,130 reviews
story70 positive mentions
stability46 negative mentions
  • Faithful recreation of the classic board game, capturing its essence and atmosphere.
  • Challenging gameplay that requires strategic planning and careful positioning of units.
  • Good graphics and sound design that enhance the overall experience.
  • Heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating gameplay, with weapon jams and missed shots being common.
  • Limited content with only a few missions available in the base game, requiring additional purchases for more.
  • Clunky controls and slow animations can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • story
    606 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is minimal and primarily serves as a backdrop for the missions, which are adapted from the classic board game. Players engage in a series of tactical challenges against genestealers, but the narrative lacks depth and continuity, with little character development or engaging plot elements. While the missions provide varied objectives and some thematic flavor, the overall storytelling is considered weak and not a primary draw for players.

    • “The story is enough to give you some flavor, but it's not why you are playing.”
    • “This pattern repeats in six different campaigns, each with three to six missions, which nevertheless have a varied enough storyline to keep gameplay interesting for several hours.”
    • “The game mechanics are solid, there are a good set of scenarios linked into a story, the AI opponent is competent and - most importantly - the scenarios are well designed and balanced.”
    • “The mission briefings are a bit vague (e.g. 'you must extract with your terminators' and actually you only need to extract with one, so carefully completing your mission and making all of your terminators way to the extraction point is a complete waste of time) and sometimes completely inaccurate (e.g. 'you must turn off system x in the correct order' without telling you the order and it turns out you can turn it off in any order - duh) which can be somewhat annoying.”
    • “There's no progression as such; terminators who die in one mission will come back in the next.”
    • “The game has no cinematics through missions and even the ending was merely a text box description which left me feeling very underwhelmed like being left at a bus stop in the pouring rain as your bus drives away without you... I expect to come in from the wet and feel warm and a nice feeling once completed the main campaign but felt nothing at all, still damp and still cold metaphorically speaking.”
  • gameplay
    298 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Space Hulk is a digital adaptation of the classic tabletop game, featuring turn-based tactical mechanics that emphasize strategy and luck through dice rolls. While some players appreciate the faithful translation of the original mechanics and the challenge it presents, many criticize the clunky controls, slow pace, and reliance on random number generation, which can lead to frustrating experiences. Overall, the game offers a mix of solid tactical gameplay and significant flaws, making it more appealing to fans of the board game than to newcomers seeking a polished video game experience.

    • “The gameplay is very fun; it brings Space Hulk as a board game to life, and as a turn-based game, it is as good as any other turn-based game out there.”
    • “The game mechanics are solid, there are a good set of scenarios linked into a story, the AI opponent is competent, and - most importantly - the scenarios are well designed and balanced.”
    • “Space Hulk is all the fun of the tabletop game, plus more, as the visuals are gruesomely satisfying and the gameplay is very tactical and well laid-out.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely clunky.”
    • “The 'campaign' kicks you back to the menu between chapters, movement is clunky, cancelling actions is not intuitive, the second mission is entirely luck based, and the amount of content is pathetic given the extremely limited gameplay mechanics/AI that have been implemented.”
    • “The gameplay itself gets repetitive pretty fast, and I don't really have the sense of impending doom that I had playing the physical version this is based upon.”
  • graphics
    252 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the atmospheric visuals and attention to detail, particularly in the isometric view, while others criticize them as outdated and lacking polish. Many comments highlight that while the graphics are decent for the game's era, they fall short compared to more modern titles, with issues like slow animations and occasional glitches detracting from the experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as serviceable but not a standout feature, with gameplay being the primary focus for most players.

    • “The game offers some nice graphics and a beautiful aesthetic which is pleasant all the same and has some amazing attention to detail even though it is a little rough around the edges.”
    • “The graphics, movements, and action are fantastic (especially the gat gun cutting a genestealer in half), and it gives the same sense of dread as the board game, if not more so when you see the genestealers running along a nearby corridor.”
    • “Atmospheric graphics capturing the Warhammer 40k perfectly.”
    • “The voice acting is subpar, the graphics seem to come out of a smartphone application, the maps are the same linear, boring design, and I see graphical glitches throughout at times.”
    • “The graphics are pretty poor, even for a TBS game.”
    • “The graphics feel really dated for a company like Games Workshop, who have a lot of money to make this look great.”
  • atmosphere
    68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the Warhammer 40k universe through atmospheric graphics, sound design, and gameplay mechanics. Many reviewers highlight the tension and suspense created by the visuals and audio, making it a compelling experience, especially for fans of the original board game. However, some players note that while the atmosphere is strong, it may not encourage replayability, and certain gameplay elements can detract from the overall experience.

    • “It's all very atmospheric, and is a perfect demonstration of 'less is more'.”
    • “The music and sound effects are very atmospheric, and immersing yourself into the feel of Space Hulk (especially the first time in the dead of night with the lights off) is really fun.”
    • “They've captured the game's essence and atmosphere really well.”
    • “This game is not something I can honestly recommend, as these two intrusions to gameplay completely destroy any atmosphere the game might generate.”
    • “Those earlier ones were able to create more tension, more atmosphere in gameplay for me than this one.”
    • “The graphics are quite poor, and the atmosphere could be better, but with this game you get exactly what you expected: an animated version of the board game, so you can play without painting your squads, and, most importantly, without traveling to the games workshop shop or to a friend's house.”
  • stability
    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has significantly improved since its initial release, which was plagued by numerous bugs and glitches. While many players report a smoother experience following recent patches, some still encounter minor issues and graphical glitches. Overall, the game is now considered relatively stable, especially on platforms like Linux and Mac, but it may still present challenges for newcomers unfamiliar with its earlier problems.

    • “I have no problems running it on my MacBook Air -- don't look at the initial reviews as the developers have regularly patched the game and resolved issues until it runs great.”
    • “Game had a few bugs when it first came out, but they have been right on top of them and for the most part, at least for me, the game runs great.”
    • “Thanks to recent patches, this game is, as far as I have seen, as bug-free as any game gets.”
    • “When this game was first released, it was a shambolic, buggy mess.”
    • “This game is utter rubbish and a disgrace to the name of the game; it does not do the original game justice in any shape or form, it feels totally incomplete and buggy as all hell.”
    • “This thing was a buggy crash-to-desktop nightmare from when it was first released.”
  • music
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the atmospheric sound effects and background music that enhances the mood, while others criticize the lack of a substantial in-game soundtrack and find the music repetitive or boring. Many noted that the music stings at the end of levels are a highlight, but overall, the absence of a more engaging soundtrack detracts from the experience. Despite some positive mentions of sound effects, the consensus leans towards disappointment regarding the music's contribution to the game.

    • “The music gives you a nice background never interfering.”
    • “The music and sound effects are very atmospheric, and immersing yourself into the feel of Space Hulk (especially the first time in the dead of night with the lights off) is really fun.”
    • “Both terminators and genestealers are fully animated and life-like in their movements, and these animations are accompanied by fantastic audio and a fitting soundtrack.”
    • “Shame it didn't have a soundtrack.”
    • “This game has very little in terms of bells and whistles - character animations are clunky, basic, and repetitive, music is almost non-existent, and sound effects are cookie-cutter.”
    • “There's no music to speak of.”
  • replayability
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find enjoyment in the variety of missions and potential for multiplayer experiences, many criticize it for becoming repetitive and lacking significant variation or customization. The promise of future content, such as a map editor and leveling system, could enhance replay value, but currently, the game is seen as having limited long-term replayability.

    • “And with so many missions, DLC, and online multiplayer, this game has a lot of replayability; especially if you have a friend who is just as Terminator crazy as you are.”
    • “And while the missions vary vastly in difficulty, most of them have a high replay value - you've beaten the genestealers but lost one of your terminators?”
    • “If the current 18 missions (three tutorial missions, 12 for the classic Sin of Damnation campaign, and the 3 new missions on board of the Messenger of Purgatory) aren't enough to sate your appetite (which is unlikely, as missions are very replayable and usually not beaten on your first try), there are two new DLC campaigns available right now (Sword of Halcyon and Defilement of Honour), both of which feature a set 5 missions each and are directly inspired from old first and second edition rules of the board game.”
    • “It gets repetitive over time; however, so replayability long-term is limited.”
    • “Once you figure out a level, there is a pretty obvious best way to beat it, which doesn't leave much replay value.”
    • “There's not a lot of replay value.”
  • optimization
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has been a mixed bag, with initial performance issues leading to crashes and stuttering sound effects, particularly on Android devices. While there have been improvements over time, including smoother gameplay and reduced bugs, some users still report inexplicable performance drops and poor optimization in graphics and map scrolling. Overall, the game shows potential but remains hampered by inconsistent performance.

    • “The graphics are extremely good, but also extremely well optimized.”
    • “Since I started playing (on day one of the first release), it has made great progress performance-wise as well as on additional features.”
    • “Bugs and performance issues have been significantly reduced by now, the game runs smooth, and a new, albeit short, campaign has been added to the game for free.”
    • “It is most likely a case of very poor optimization.”
    • “Suffers from inexplicable performance drops even when no actions are being taken and crashes often mid-mission, which is a colossal pain when missions take ~20 minutes minimum.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game is also punishing in terms of performance.”
  • grinding
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be extremely tedious and outdated, with many expressing frustration over the repetitive nature of tasks, such as achieving 40,000 kills. While the game starts off fun and challenging, the prolonged grinding detracts significantly from the overall experience, leading to a sense of monotony and dissatisfaction. Additionally, the cumbersome save and load mechanics further contribute to the tediousness of gameplay.

    • “Extremely tedious and outdated.”
    • “I found the game fun and challenging initially, but after a while it just got tedious.”
    • “Aliens, space hulks, an epic and beloved storyline all wrapped up in one incredibly tedious and soul-crushing overpriced package.”
  • humor
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is often hit or miss, with some players finding initial glitches and awkward animations amusing, but these quickly become frustrating over time. The solitary gameplay experience contrasts with the social fun of the board game, leading to a lack of engaging humor during missions. Overall, while there are moments of levity, they tend to be overshadowed by gameplay frustrations.

    • “The board game was fun for a few rounds because in between you could talk with your buddies, but here you are all alone in narrow corridors of lost space vessels that are crowded by pesky aliens that are laughing at you every time you make a turn.”
    • “Or you can have your thunderhammer sergeant on defense (which gives a bonus and a reroll) and still have him go down to the first 'nid that looks at him funny.”
    • “Where in the actual game, missing 5 shots in a row as your friend slowly advances a genestealer would be just hilarious, in the video game it just becomes frustrating.”
  • character development
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is largely minimal, with reviewers noting a lack of depth and customization options. While there is a skill system present, the focus remains primarily on combat, with no significant gameplay elements that enhance character growth or personal investment. Overall, the production values are praised, but the character development aspect is seen as underwhelming.

    • “Character development in the form of a skill system.”
    • “Not a whole lot in the line of character development or depth.”
    • “There's not much customization or character development.”
    • “It is a combat-only game, meaning no other gameplay elements like base construction, character development or customization, no research, nothing other than each mission is a text-based description of the objective, a small map image with pointers, and then drop and spank your way through the mission with preset soldiers.”
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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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7h Median play time
7h Average play time
7-7h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Space Hulk is a turn-based strategy game with science fiction theme.

Space Hulk is available on PlayStation 4, iPhone, Windows, PC and others.

On average players spend around 7 hours playing Space Hulk.

Space Hulk was released on August 15, 2013.

Space Hulk was developed by Full Control Studios.

Space Hulk has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Space Hulk is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Space Hulk: Ascension, Space Hulk: Tactics, Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector, Warhammer 40,000: Regicide, Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach and others.