Space Hulk

About

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

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,411 reviews

story44 positive mentions

stability29 negative mentions

Faithful recreation of the original Space Hulk board game, capturing its atmosphere and mechanics.
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 moments where luck determines success or failure.
Limited variety in missions and enemies, leading to repetitive gameplay.
Clunky controls and slow animations can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

story
405 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
83%
6%
The game's story is largely underwhelming, with minimal narrative depth and a reliance on basic mission briefings that often lack clarity. While it is set in the Warhammer 40K universe and features a series of missions against genestealers, the overall plot feels disjointed and lacks engaging elements, making it feel more like a series of standalone challenges rather than a cohesive campaign. Players seeking a rich narrative experience may find the story lacking, as it primarily serves as a backdrop for the tactical gameplay rather than a driving force.
- “The story is interesting and the gameplay is pretty straightforward.”
- “The missions felt the same and didn't have the urgency to finish before getting wiped out.”
- “The missions really give you the closed-in feeling for exploring infested vessel hulks.”
- “The story of the game is pretty lacking, but then again so was the original board game.”
- “If there was a stronger story to tie the campaign together this would have been a lot of fun, but that isn't the case, so the missions tend to be a little dry.”
- “The game has no cinematics through missions and even the ending was merely a text box description which left me feeling very underwhelmed.”
gameplay
203 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
70%
14%
The gameplay of this Warhammer 40K adaptation is a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting its adherence to the original tabletop mechanics, which can lead to a slow and clunky experience. While some appreciate the tactical depth and strategic decision-making involved, others criticize the reliance on luck and outdated mechanics, resulting in frustrating gameplay that often feels repetitive and unbalanced. Overall, it seems best suited for die-hard fans of the franchise who enjoy turn-based tactical gameplay, but may not appeal to those seeking a more polished or innovative gaming 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 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 pitiful in comparison to any recent turn-based strategy game.”
- “The space marines waddle slowly around like they need their diapers changing, the dice roll mechanics mean they end up missing shots against targets that are sucking on the ends of their guns, the control scheme is awful and ends up meaning you waste movement points trying to select your marine, and there is exactly one gameplay mechanic: walk down a corridor without dying.”
- “Repetitive, dry, lackluster gameplay coupled with a completely forgettable story (which is hard to do in w40k).”
graphics
177 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
52%
18%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the atmospheric and thematic representation of the Warhammer 40k universe, while others criticize them as dated and lacking detail. Many note that while the visuals are adequate for gameplay, 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 graphics are seen as functional but not exceptional, serving more to support the gameplay than to impress visually.
- “Nothing will ever compare to the physical Space Hulk board game; however, this adaptation comes very close with its beautiful grim dark art style combined with claustrophobic map views, lighting, and eerie soundscape.”
- “The graphics are quite awesome, and I love little things like the HUD of each troop as they walk through a genestealer-infested ship, creating quite an atmosphere.”
- “The graphics and sound capture the setting perfectly and the spirit of the board game very well, at least from what I can remember of my few games playing it.”
- “The graphics are really lackluster; the models are cool with a nice semblance to the minis, but they lack detail, texture, and material work.”
- “The graphics are pretty poor, even for a turn-based strategy game.”
- “The graphics are not anything special; they're really lame, especially when compared to Dawn of War 2 graphics.”
atmosphere
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
43%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its faithful recreation of the original board game, effectively capturing the tension and immersive qualities of the Warhammer 40k universe. Players appreciate the combination of atmospheric graphics, sound design, and the claustrophobic feel that enhances the gameplay experience, although some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game successfully evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and thematic depth, making it appealing to fans of the franchise.
- “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.”
- “The atmosphere is spot on.”
- “The bad: it is a recreation of the tabletop game with tolerable graphics, bland sound, and no atmosphere in either.”
- “Gets boring and repetitive way too soon, and lacks the Warhammer 40k atmosphere :(”
- “This game is not something I can honestly recommend, as these two intrusions to gameplay completely destroy any atmosphere the game might generate.”
stability
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
85%
The game's stability has seen significant improvement since its initial buggy launch, with many players noting that recent patches have resolved numerous issues, allowing it to run smoothly on various platforms. However, some users still report occasional glitches, graphical issues, and clunky controls, particularly in multiplayer modes. Overall, while the game is now more stable, it retains some minor bugs that can detract from the experience.
- “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.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is a jumbled mess, a horrifyingly buggy monstrosity which will kill you not with difficulty, but with crashes, maps disappearing into the void, indefinite load cycles, and dysfunctional multiplayer.”
- “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, and it feels totally incomplete and buggy as all hell.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the atmospheric sound effects and background music that enhances the mood, while others criticize the lack of an in-game soundtrack during missions. Many users express disappointment over the minimal presence of music, describing it as repetitive or almost non-existent, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while the sound design has its strengths, the absence of a robust musical score is a notable drawback for many players.
- “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.”
- “The music gives you a nice background, never interfering.”
- “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.”
- “My only real problem with this game is that there is no music during the missions, and every space marine's voice is the same (even the sergeants with names).”
- “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.”
replayability
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
64%
12%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the variability in difficulty and the potential for multiplayer experiences, many criticize the limited variation in missions and fixed objectives that lead to repetitiveness over time. The promise of future content, such as a map editor and additional DLC, offers hope for enhanced replay value, but currently, the game may not sustain long-term interest for solo players.
- “Great game! I never really played the board game, but I really enjoyed it. It has a lot of replay value as well since no two playthroughs will ever be the same.”
- “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.”
- “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 by old first and second edition rules of the board game.”
- “It gets repetitive over time; however, so replayability long-term is limited.”
- “Each mission has been designed to be replayable, but fixed objectives and maps mean that only the genestealer spawns and attack routes may change.”
- “Once you figure out a level, there is a pretty obvious best way to beat it, which doesn't leave much replay value.”
optimization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
The game's optimization has received largely negative feedback, with users reporting significant performance issues, including crashes, stuttering graphics, and poor handling of zoom and action moments. While some improvements have been noted over time, many players still find the optimization lacking, leading to a frustrating experience despite the game's appealing graphics and gameplay. Overall, the consensus is that the game suffers from serious optimization flaws that detract from its potential enjoyment.
- “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.”
- “Truly horrible optimization.”
- “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 ~20mins minimum.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is often seen as tedious and repetitive, detracting from the overall enjoyment. While some players find moments of fun, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding mechanics, particularly for achievements and combat, become excessively monotonous and frustrating over time.
- “There are moments when this can be fun, but it can also be really, really tedious.”
- “Extremely tedious and outdated.”
- “Aliens, space hulks, an epic and beloved storyline all wrapped up in one incredibly tedious and soul-crushing overpriced package.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as hit-or-miss, with some moments eliciting laughter, such as awkward animations and unexpected mishaps, but these quickly turn into frustration due to repetitive awkwardness and mission difficulties tied to starting positions. Players find initial comedic elements amusing, like units behaving oddly or enemies reacting in bizarre ways, but these moments lose their charm over time, leading to a sense of isolation and annoyance rather than sustained enjoyment. Overall, while there are humorous aspects, they often detract from the gameplay experience rather than enhance it.
- “This is hilarious and so bad.”
- “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.”
- “As funny as it sounds, this is the first turn-based adaptation, as both 1993 'Space Hulk' and 1995 'Space Hulk: Vengeance of Blood Angels' were played in real-time with limited active pause.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
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 development systems beyond a basic skill framework.
- “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 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 being 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.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect is criticized as a rushed cash grab, with DLC that offers easy and uninteresting missions, failing to enhance the overall game experience.
- “Uninspired cash grab by the game developers.”
- “The DLC has clearly been rushed out as a cash grab; the new missions are easy and uninteresting, and the additional features it provides really add nothing to the overall game.”