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Space Hulk: Deathwing

Its glorious action more than makes up for that, packing the expected punch with a wide arsenal of phenomenal weapons at your disposal.
Space Hulk: Deathwing Game Cover
56%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
optimization, stability
56% User Score Based on 3,443 reviews
Critic Score 56%Based on 21 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
Space Hulk: Deathwing Game Cover

About

Space Hulk: Deathwing is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Streum On Studio and was released on December 14, 2016. It received neutral reviews from both critics and players.

Space Hulk: Deathwing is a first-person shooter set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Players assume the role of a Librarian in the Deathwing, the 1st Company of the Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter, and fight through hordes of Genestealers in claustrophobic environments. Co-op multiplayer is available, as well as customization options for weapons and abilities.

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56%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,443 reviews
story205 positive mentions
optimization198 negative mentions

  • story
    1,072 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is generally considered engaging, particularly for fans of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, with a narrative that incorporates elements of lore and character dynamics. However, many reviewers criticize its execution, noting that the storytelling feels thin and repetitive, often reduced to basic mission objectives without significant depth or character development. The campaign consists of a limited number of missions that can become monotonous, and while the atmosphere is praised, the overall narrative experience is seen as lacking compared to the potential of the source material.

    • “The story is conveyed in well-voiced orders, and we also get messages from the grandmaster during the multi-part mission, who follows us and updates the tasks.”
    • “The story actually quickly develops its own dynamics and tension, and we really want to know what's hidden in the next spaceship.”
    • “Great story and the setting of the game fits Warhammer 40k perfectly.”
    • “The story is poor and the telling is terrible.”
    • “The story makes little sense towards that last third and the ending fight/cinematic was really lazy.”
    • “The story is mostly 'meh' on the interest as you play heretics…i mean, totally loyal dark angels and you’ll find yourself more interested in the monsters you kill than your own story.”
  • gameplay
    765 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Space Hulk: Deathwing" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking depth. While the atmosphere and graphics are praised, the core mechanics often feel clunky and uninspired, leading to a monotonous experience that can become tedious over time. Despite some enjoyable moments, particularly in multiplayer, the overall consensus is that the gameplay needs significant improvement to match the game's visual and thematic potential.

    • “A very good game that combines fast-paced action, tactical gameplay, and squad command with the same thrill of a horror game with spooky corridors and ravenous genestealer xenos around every corner.”
    • “Gameplay is smooth and exciting; you will rarely have two missions the same, and the classes all play differently, providing variety in gameplay if you feel things are getting too repetitive.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, the levels are beautiful and diverse, top-notch detail, fun.”
    • “The gameplay is slow and unfulfilling, with clunky controls and a lack of immersion.”
    • “The gameplay falls short after the initial 'wow, I'm a terminator!' feeling - it's repetitive at best, tedious at worst.”
    • “The gameplay is unimaginative and clunky.”
  • graphics
    711 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Space Hulk: Deathwing" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and attention to detail, effectively capturing the grimdark aesthetic of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Many players noted the impressive use of Unreal Engine 4, with beautiful environments and immersive lighting that enhance the overall atmosphere. However, performance issues, including frame rate drops and optimization challenges, have been a common complaint, particularly for those with lower-end systems, detracting from the otherwise visually striking experience.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, the story is classic 40k, but the gameplay is just as if the developers took the standard PC FPS gameplay from a game like TF2 rather than building something that actually works for the style of game they had.”
    • “The graphics and the feel are so damn good!!”
    • “The visuals are stunning and the movement is fluid.”
    • “The only problem that I have with it is that it lags pretty bad, but turning down the graphics balances it out.”
    • “Graphics was a big letdown compared to what the trailers showcased: chunky, poorly animated enemies engaging through very dark hallways where the lack of lighting seemed designed to hide the design flaws rather than the charging hordes.”
    • “The graphics aren't good - looks like something from 2012, the sound effects are okay and the voice acting is good.”
  • optimization
    697 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of "Space Hulk: Deathwing" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many reporting severe performance issues, including frame rate drops and stuttering, especially during intense combat scenarios. While some users have noted improvements following patches, the game is still considered poorly optimized overall, leading to mixed experiences depending on individual hardware setups. Many recommend waiting for further updates to address these ongoing performance concerns before purchasing.

    • “But despite everything, I was pleasantly surprised that I had, even with the highest settings, no problems with performance, crashes, or could find any bugs.”
    • “They seem to have done a pretty good job ironing out the performance issues with this game.”
    • “The performance issues the game had early on appear to have been mostly fixed.”
    • “Gave this game up for dead as another unoptimized game released in modern times....”
    • “The game is gorgeous but it's so badly optimized it's not worth it.”
    • “The staggering lack of optimizations already ruins the game for me.”
  • atmosphere
    525 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and detailed representation of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, capturing the grimdark essence through stunning visuals, sound design, and level architecture. Players appreciate the claustrophobic environments, eerie soundscapes, and the overall tension that enhances the gameplay experience, although some note that repetitive gameplay and technical issues can detract from the atmosphere. Overall, the game is considered a strong atmospheric experience, particularly for fans of the franchise.

    • “The atmosphere is grandiose, and the dirty and gloomy tuning is absolutely successful.”
    • “The environment oozes grimdark atmosphere - exactly what you want from the 40k universe - immersing you in a bulky suit of terminator armor as you trudge your way through the claustrophobic corridors of a space hulk.”
    • “The atmosphere is extraordinary, the combat is fun, and the enemies are vicious.”
    • “The atmosphere is completely what you'd want in a dark and gritty universal setting such as the Warhammer 40,000 one.”
    • “Absolutely amazing environments and atmosphere mired by slow, tedious, repetitive, frustrating gameplay and the lack of any depth.”
    • “The atmosphere is dangerous and dark, and the sound design works to make you afraid of whatever is clawing around above you.”
  • stability
    287 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting severe bugs, crashes, and performance issues that render it nearly unplayable at times. While some players note improvements following patches, many still experience frustrating glitches, particularly in multiplayer modes, leading to a consensus that the game remains unfinished and in need of significant optimization. Overall, the stability aspect is a major drawback, overshadowing the game's potential enjoyment.

    • “The game runs great on my rig aside from a few moments of framerate drop.”
    • “The game is running perfectly for me, no freezes/crashes yet on singleplayer or multiplayer.”
    • “Hour and a half in and no glitches, no bugs, no loading issues, no crashes.”
    • “Incredibly buggy game, with problematic loading and saving, and missing quest/objective triggers.”
    • “This game is unfinished, buggy, feature lacking and ultimately a disappointment.”
    • “The game is an unfinished, bug ridden piece of trash with terrible net code.”
  • replayability
    95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding replayability, with many players expressing disappointment due to a lack of dynamic content and predictable enemy encounters. While some mention the potential for replayability through co-op play and special missions, the overall consensus leans towards low replay value, particularly in single-player mode, where players feel little incentive to replay once the campaign is completed.

    • “That is a Swedish developed indie game that is the embodiment of what a true Space Hulk game should be. It's a 4-player split screen or you can play it over the net in randomly generated missions and has tons of replayability, giving you that scary claustrophobic feel that a Space Hulk game should provide.”
    • “The addition of special missions really helped replayability.”
    • “Although the game boasts a good story with fantastic missions, I felt that there was not much replay value within the story itself, but that's just a personal opinion.”
    • “There is no replay value from what I've seen; some powers were actually removed from co-op multiplayer, nothing to unlock, collectibles literally do nothing, it's still buggy as hell, and very unoptimized for most systems.”
    • “The campaign mode is fun the first playthrough in its own right, and the different skill set trees and hidden relics account for additional replay value.”
  • music
    69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's music is largely absent, with many players noting the lack of a soundtrack as a significant drawback that detracts from the overall atmosphere. While some appreciate the eerie silence and ambient sound design that enhances the grimdark setting, others feel that the absence of music makes gameplay feel repetitive and less immersive. Overall, the sound effects, particularly those related to weapons, receive praise, but the consensus is that a more robust musical score would greatly enhance the experience.

    • “You'd think a game with a subtle, almost non-existent soundtrack would fail to build any sense of feeling as you ponder around, but not here.”
    • “The music and sound in the game are top notch, really puts you in the mood of the game.”
    • “No soundtrack whatsoever.”
    • “There's no music, the sound effects remind me of a PC game from the early 2000s and the overarching story isn't as fleshed out as it can be.”
    • “The game deliberately forgoes a soundtrack in favor of creating a haunting soundscape within the space hulk.”
  • grinding
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with many citing a lack of enemy AI variety and customization options that contribute to a monotonous experience. While the environments are visually impressive, the slow-paced combat and linear mission structure lead to a sense of boredom, particularly in multiplayer modes. Many reviewers express frustration with the clunky interface and the feeling of grinding through levels without meaningful progression or excitement.

    • “Again, quite enjoyable, if not tedious at times.”
    • “The AI of the enemies is lacking, making the already tedious battles even more of a chore.”
    • “Absolutely amazing environments and atmosphere mired by slow, tedious, repetitive, frustrating gameplay and the lack of any depth.”
    • “This game is just plain boring, no real variety, lacks immersion, it's tedious, repetitive, and downright boring.”
  • humor
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of chaotic and absurd moments, such as enemies getting stuck in walls, body parts flying humorously, and friendly fire incidents that lead to laughter among players. While some players appreciate the comedic aspects of buggy gameplay and unexpected scenarios, others feel that the overall content lacks depth and replayability, with the humor often overshadowed by technical issues and frustrations. Despite these drawbacks, the multiplayer experience can lead to shared laughter, making the game enjoyable in a group setting.

    • “We've purged a red mechanicus vessel, purified a black templar crusade ship in a grand cathedral hall adorned with stained glass windows, gotten lost and confused at mysterious objects aboard an old inquisition ship, and most recently were awestruck by a trophy carnifex skeleton on a rogue trader ship dated to 20k which we were promptly chased off of (screaming and laughing) by multiple broodlords.”
    • “Hybrids take a hilariously stupid amount of shots to kill despite having no armor and being very small.”
    • “Enemies break dancing, getting stuck in walls and generally finding some hilarious ways to point out a lack of QA cycles is pretty funny -- except this is not a cheap game...”
  • monetization
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" that prioritizes advertising over quality gameplay. Reviewers express disappointment in the game's rushed development and predict future DLCs that will likely charge for features that should have been included at launch. Overall, the sentiment suggests that the game's marketing is misleading and does not reflect the actual experience.

    • “Unless they start talking to the community soon or releasing the new patch, this game was a simple cash grab using the Warhammer name to make money.”
    • “Sadly, this game is just another cash grab with the developers probably being rushed to finish the game and being forced to release this pathetic excuse for a 'game' far earlier than it was supposed to be.”
    • “The game also seems to be very short-lived and I foresee many cash-grabbing DLCs from the developers to add features that should be in the game in the first place.”
  • character development
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has been widely criticized, with many reviewers noting a significant lack of depth and progression opportunities for characters. While the character and level designs are praised for their intricate details and aesthetic appeal, players express disappointment over the absence of meaningful character growth and gear acquisition, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite the game's strong visual elements, the failure to implement robust character development leaves a notable gap in player engagement.

    • “The level of detail extends to the character designs.”
    • “The character design is amazing.”
    • “So awe inspiring is the environment and character designs that you could easily spend hours just walking from room to room examining in detail all the architecture and machinery within the game.”
    • “The multiplayer is enjoyable, though lacking one key aspect: no character development or gear gain opportunity.”
    • “Considering they touted this as being written with Gav Thorpe, a rather accomplished 40k novelist, there is a shocking lack of any sort of character development.”
    • “The lack of what feels like real character development is disappointing.”
  • emotional
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, with some experiencing deep feelings of nostalgia and immersion, particularly fans of the Warhammer 40K universe. While the atmosphere and gameplay evoke feelings of empowerment and nostalgia, there are mixed sentiments regarding the overall experience, with some feeling let down and contemplating refunds. Overall, the game elicits a range of emotions, from joy and excitement to disappointment and heartbreak.

    • “I cried.”
    • “It's been a long time since a game made me feel like this - reminds me of the original Aliens vs Predator (as the marine).”
    • “I love these guys; they are my army; they are my favorite chapter and having them be the focus of this adventure made me feel like this game was created just for me.”
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6h Median play time
7h Average play time
3-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 43 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Space Hulk: Deathwing is a hack and slash game with science fiction theme.

Space Hulk: Deathwing is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 7 hours playing Space Hulk: Deathwing.

Space Hulk: Deathwing was released on December 14, 2016.

Space Hulk: Deathwing was developed by Streum On Studio.

Space Hulk: Deathwing has received neutral reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Space Hulk: Deathwing is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr, Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade, Aliens: Fireteam, Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance and others.