The Horus Heresy: Battle of Tallarn

About

In "The Horus Heresy: Battle of Tallarn," players command vast armies of tanks and troops in turn-based tactical battles, following the aftermath of a virus bombing on the planet Tallarn. Fight for control of underground bunkers and command iconic Warhammer 40,000 units like Leman Russ tanks and Baneblades in this brutal and unforgiving environment. The game recreates the historic Battle of Tallarn from the Horus Heresy series, where the fate of the Imperium hangs in the balance.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

The Horus Heresy: Battle of Tallarn screenshot

56%

Audience ScoreBased on 86 reviews

gameplay4 negative mentions

The game is a fun and engaging hex-based wargame that captures the essence of the Warhammer 40k lore, particularly the Battle of Tallarn.
It features a large selection of units, including walkers and tanks, and the AI provides a challenging single-player experience.
The game is affordable and offers good value for fans of the tabletop game, with enjoyable gameplay that can serve as a time filler.

The mechanics are poorly explained and the user interface is clunky, making it difficult to navigate and play effectively.
There are significant balance issues, particularly with the traitor faction, leading to frustrating gameplay where units often miss shots or deal no damage.
The graphics and sound design feel outdated, resembling a low-budget mobile port rather than a polished PC game.

story
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
67%
17%
The game's story is described as engaging yet challenging, with missions that often feel unbalanced and rely heavily on trial and error. Players note a lack of strategic depth, finding the gameplay predictable, although some missions, like the iron hands dreadnought, introduce randomness that adds complexity. Overall, while the narrative elements are present, they may not fully satisfy those seeking a more strategic experience.
- “Is pretty challenging, the first few missions for the first traitor campaign required a few attempts to complete so I imagine it's pretty tough later on!”
- “There’s a decent number of standalone missions that can be played too.”
- “The only exception has been the Iron Hands Dreadnought mission, because the imperial aligned knights' deployment seems to be random.”
- “From what I've played, the missions are just trial and error.”
- “A random enemy may appear right behind you and shoot your units in their backs, ending the mission, for example... the soundtrack is bad too.”
- “There isn't much 'strategy' I've found so far; having played the tutorial missions and the first two segments of the first strike mission (traitor), it is really predictable.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
56%
25%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many users criticizing poorly explained mechanics and a lack of balance, particularly in late-game scenarios. While some appreciate the strategic depth offered by a vast armory, others find the overall experience lacking, with comparisons to simpler games like Pong and Tetris highlighting its shortcomings. Additionally, the environmental damage mechanic diminishes the importance of infantry, contributing to a generally unsatisfactory gameplay experience.
- “The armory is vast, and while the gameplay is simple, the strategy is there in bucket loads.”
- “There are infantry, but they are not as important due to the environmental damage mechanic, which damages your troops when they're outside of a carrier vehicle.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's okay.”
- “Terrible gameplay mechanics, terrible balance that becomes straight up unfair in late campaigns - even on easiest difficulty and terrible UI.”
- “Just seems like some of the mechanics make little to no sense.”
- “Poorly explained mechanics.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The graphics of the game are described as minimalistic and low-budget, reminiscent of 90s gaming, which may not appeal to everyone. While some players find the visuals acceptable for a tabletop wargame, many criticize them as subpar and lacking in detail, contributing to an overall negative impression of the game's presentation.
- “Graphics and music feel like they are from 90's gaming (which isn't necessarily a bad thing for some people).”
- “Okay, it's not mind-blowing graphics by any means, but does a tabletop wargame look realistic either?”
- “Very minimalistic in design and visuals, obviously low-budget.”
- “Terrible - even for 9 euros and if you don't care for visuals.”
- “Graphics and music feels like from 90's gaming (which isn't necessarily a bad thing for some people)”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
The music in the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users comparing it to early 90s PC games, describing it as outdated and lacking quality. While some players find the retro style acceptable, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack and sound design need significant improvement.
- “My major complaints are the sound, music, and sprite department, which really could use some work.”
- “It sounds like it's a PC game from the early 90s, and that's when there's music that plays.”
- “Graphics and music feel like they're from 90's gaming (which isn't necessarily a bad thing for some people).”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers note that the game's linear campaigns limit its replayability, suggesting that once players complete the story, there may be little incentive to revisit the game.
- “Whilst interesting, campaigns are linear, so there's probably not that much replayability once completed.”