Space Hulk

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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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,065 reviews

story35 positive mentions

stability23 negative mentions

Faithful recreation of the classic Space Hulk board game.
Good graphics and sound design that capture the atmosphere of the Warhammer 40K universe.
Challenging gameplay that requires strategic planning and careful positioning.

Heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Limited character progression and customization options.
Slow pacing and clunky controls can detract from the overall enjoyment.

story
303 mentions
12 % positive mentions
83 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and primarily serves as a backdrop for the missions, which are adapted from the original board game. Players engage in a series of tactical challenges against overwhelming odds, but the narrative lacks depth and continuity, often leaving players feeling disconnected from their squad's fate. While the missions provide varied objectives and some tension, the overall storytelling is considered lackluster, with many reviewers expressing a desire for a more engaging plot and character development.
- “The story is enough to give you some flavor, but it's not why you are playing.”
- “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 missions, while short, give a nice sense of having to overcome terrible odds by out-thinking your enemy.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Repetitive, dry, lackluster gameplay coupled with a completely forgettable story (which is hard to do in Warhammer 40k).”
gameplay
149 mentions
16 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Space Hulk is a digital adaptation of the classic tabletop game, featuring turn-based tactical mechanics that emphasize strategy and luck, often leading to a challenging experience. While some players appreciate the faithful translation of board game mechanics and the tactical depth, many criticize the clunky controls, slow pace, and reliance on random number generation, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game appeals primarily to fans of the original board game, but may disappoint those seeking a more polished and innovative gameplay 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 mechanics are clunky, and the game lacks depth.”
- “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
126 mentions
33 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
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 dated and lacking polish. Many agree that while the graphics are adequate for the game's purpose, they do not stand out compared to more modern titles, and issues like slow animations and occasional glitches detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as serviceable but not a primary selling point, with gameplay taking precedence.
- “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 are extremely good, but also extremely well optimized.”
- “Atmospheric graphics capturing the Warhammer 40k perfectly.”
- “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.”
- “The graphics are rather unpolished and the animation speed is a bit slow on the default setting, but it does what it's supposed to.”
atmosphere
34 mentions
53 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
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 a sense of tension. Many players appreciate the game's ability to evoke nostalgia while providing a satisfying experience, although some note that the overall replay value may be limited. Overall, the game successfully creates a compelling environment that enhances the gameplay experience, particularly for fans of the original board game.
- “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.”
- “Space Hulk is a perfect re-creation of the board game, with a little added flavor to get the atmosphere of modern 40k right.”
- “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 awesome and I love little things like the HUD of each troop as they walk through a genestealer-infested ship and creates quite an atmosphere.”
stability
27 mentions
15 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
85 % negative mentions
The game's stability has seen significant improvement since its initial release, which was plagued by numerous bugs and glitches. While many players report that recent patches have resolved most issues, some still experience minor bugs and graphical glitches. Overall, the game is now considered stable for most users, particularly on platforms like Linux and Mac, but it may still pose challenges for newcomers due to its rocky launch history.
- “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.”
- “Clunky, buggy graphics, lots of clipping.”
music
18 mentions
22 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
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 describe it as repetitive or nearly non-existent. Overall, while the sound design contributes positively to immersion, many players feel that the music falls short of expectations, leaving a desire for more variety and depth.
- “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.”
- “The music in-game is some of the most boring I have ever heard.”
- “There's no music to speak of.”
replayability
17 mentions
29 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find enjoyment in the variety of missions and potential for multiplayer experiences, many criticize the lack of variation, customization, and the repetitive nature of gameplay, leading to limited long-term replay value. Future updates, such as a map editor and leveling system, are anticipated to enhance replayability, but currently, the game struggles to maintain player interest after initial completion.
- “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
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been a mixed bag, with reports of significant performance issues, including crashes and stuttering sound effects, particularly on Android. While some users note improvements over time and commend the graphics optimization, others still experience inexplicable performance drops and poor map scrolling. Overall, the game has made progress but continues to face challenges in delivering a consistently smooth experience.
- “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
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
10 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be extremely tedious and outdated, with many expressing frustration over the repetitive nature of tasks required to achieve milestones, such as accumulating 40,000 kills. While the initial gameplay may be enjoyable, the prolonged grinding detracts significantly from the overall experience, leading to a sense of monotony and dissatisfaction.
- “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
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
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 rather than funny. While there are moments that elicit laughter, such as comical failures in combat, the overall experience tends to lean more towards awkwardness and irritation, especially in solo play where the lack of social interaction diminishes the comedic effect.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “It's pretty much the same with moving animations; the first time it might look funny when your terminator is awkwardly wiggling backwards around a corner, but at some point it's just awkward.”
character development
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is largely minimal, with limited depth and customization options. While the production values, design, and voice acting are praised, the focus remains primarily on combat, lacking significant character growth or a robust skill system. Overall, players find the character development aspect to be underwhelming and simplistic.
- “Character development in the form of a skill system.”
- “Great production values, character design, sound design, voice acting, graphics.”
- “Not a whole lot in the line of character development or depth.”
- “There's not much in the way of 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.”