Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 116,061 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • optimization
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Game Cover
If it goes the distance, Warhammer 40K: Darktide will get better with time. As it stands it's an enjoyable romp through an almost endearingly macabre world.
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In Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, players must work together to purge the city of Tertium from bloodthirsty enemies, utilizing both magical abilities and an arsenal of ranged and melee weapons to combat the corrupting forces of Chaos. As the city falls, it's up to you and your allies in the Inquisition to defend against the overwhelming tide of darkness and strategize to survive. This co-op action shooter draws from the legacy of Vermintide 2's melee combat and introduces brutal WH40K gunplay, requiring mastery of both to survive the hordes of enemies.

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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 116,061 reviews
gameplay12,228 positive mentions
story3,225 negative mentions
  • story31,223 mentions

    The story in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" is widely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting that it feels more like an afterthought than a central element of the game. While there are occasional cutscenes and character dialogues that provide some context, the overarching narrative is often described as disjointed and repetitive, primarily revolving around generic mission objectives without a cohesive plot. Players express a desire for a more engaging storyline and greater mission variety, as the current structure leads to a sense of monotony in gameplay.

    • “The missions are tied into the lore of the 40k universe, giving you more context and making the whole experience feel richer.”
    • “The banter between the characters during missions also adds a lot of charm and enjoyment; even playing the same mission three times in a row you can get a different handler each time.”
    • “The attention to detail in the story and setting is evident, offering a rich backdrop to the action.”
    • “The story is practically nonexistent, relying on sporadic cutscenes that appear only during occasional level-ups.”
    • “The missions feel mostly the same, the 'story' feels like a frat house introduction rather than a serious inquisitorial penal redemption arc.”
    • “The game lacks a cohesive story, with missions feeling disjointed and lacking any real narrative progression.”
  • gameplay25,334 mentions

    The gameplay in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" is widely praised for its smooth mechanics, engaging combat, and satisfying blend of melee and ranged action, reminiscent of the "Vermintide" series. Players appreciate the depth and variety offered by the four distinct classes, each with unique abilities and skill trees, enhancing the overall experience. However, many reviews highlight issues with repetitive mission structures, a lack of content, and frustrating RNG mechanics in crafting and loot acquisition, which can detract from the enjoyment of the core gameplay loop.

    • “The gameplay loop is engaging and the combat has by far the most satisfying melee in any game I've played, improving off of Vermintide.”
    • “With its dark sci-fi atmosphere, its solid ranged & melee action gameplay, this game is a blast.”
    • “Darktide has carved out a niche in the horde shooter genre by having intense, reasonable length missions with unmatched melee combat and shooter gameplay set in a universe that will drag you clawing and screaming into its wonderful maw.”
    • “The gameplay loop got stale within the first 30 hours, and as much as I wanted this to be my new go-to horde game, it just doesn't feel as fun or fresh as Vermintide 2, which is downright shameful considering this game isn't even 2 years old yet.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive and stale before you even fully level a single class.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is solid, but the game really likes wasting its players' time.”
  • optimization11,900 mentions

    The optimization of "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many citing it as one of the worst aspects of the game. Despite some improvements since launch, performance issues such as frequent crashes, stuttering, and inconsistent frame rates persist, particularly on AMD hardware. While some players report smooth gameplay on high-end rigs, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, with many recommending waiting for further updates before purchasing.

    • “Fatshark added a great perk system and better performance; they shortened the load times (or at least I think so, as it went from around 1-2 minutes per loading screen to 10-15 seconds).”
    • “The performance issues were there, and now they're gone.”
    • “Optimization is good.”
    • “Darktide has some of the worst optimization I have ever seen in a game. I have what I would consider a fairly decent rig (16 core Ryzen 7 5700G, 64GB DDR4 RAM, Radeon RX6700XT) and I'm lucky to get 50 FPS on a good day.”
    • “Absolutely unacceptable performance from what's supposed to be a 'professional' game studio.”
    • “Pitiful optimization with average frame rates somehow managing to decline over time instead of increase.”
  • music8,704 mentions

    The music in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its epic and immersive quality. Composed by Jesper Kyd, the soundtrack blends gothic, industrial, and electronic elements, enhancing the game's atmosphere and elevating the combat experience. Players frequently highlight the music as a standout feature, often stating that it significantly contributes to their enjoyment of the game, making it worth playing even for those who may not be fans of the genre.

    • “The music is just amazing, it pulls you right into this world, and you'll be playing this brutally juicy game till your fingers cramp and your wrists no longer work.”
    • “The music is another aspect of this game that's been universally praised; this is one of the few 40k game soundtracks that really captures the setting's vibe, and gloriously cranks up the hype when necessary.”
    • “The soundtrack is easily one of the greatest ever composed for the 40k universe.”
    • “All the while the soundtrack blasts some industrial or chanting music to your slaughter... such an enchanting feeling.”
    • “The music has short bursts of power that winnow away in oceans of languid ambiance, even in the midst of battle.”
    • “Gets repetitive really quick, got super bored in 40 hours in or so, higher difficulties are impossible with randoms, the only thing that stands out about the game is the soundtrack which I listen to often.”
  • graphics7,738 mentions

    The graphics in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and faithful representation of the Warhammer 40k aesthetic, with many players praising the intricate details and atmospheric design of the environments. However, the game is also noted for being graphically demanding, leading to performance issues and crashes, particularly on lower-end systems. While the visuals are often described as breathtaking, the optimization remains a significant concern, impacting the overall gameplay experience.

    • “The atmosphere is amazing, so are the visuals and graphics of the game.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, capturing the gritty and oppressive aesthetic of the Warhammer 40,000 universe with impressive detail and fidelity.”
    • “Darktide nails the grimdark theme of Warhammer 40k with the visuals, music, and sound design.”
    • “If you have an AMD graphics card you will have performance issues even if you meet the recommended specs.”
    • “Constant stuttering and input lag, and the only reason I have these issues is because I have an AMD graphics card.”
    • “The graphics are better compared to the Vermintides, but that's almost the only thing that this game has on it.”
  • atmosphere3,563 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" is widely praised for its immersive and gritty representation of the Warhammer 40k universe, effectively capturing the dark, oppressive tone of the setting. Players commend the game's stunning visuals, atmospheric sound design, and a soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, making it feel alive and engaging. While the atmosphere is a standout feature, some reviews note that the repetitive map design and lack of content can detract from the overall experience, yet many still find the atmospheric elements compelling enough to keep them engaged.

    • “With its dark sci-fi atmosphere, its solid ranged & melee action gameplay this game is a blast.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing, so are the visuals and graphics of the game.”
    • “The atmosphere, combat, music, and level design are all stellar.”
    • “What I dislike about this game is that it just lacks the overall atmosphere; it is hard to explain.”
    • “Underwhelming in every way except atmosphere, but even then, all locations I've been to have felt the same.”
    • “The atmosphere is totally misplaced.”
  • stability3,472 mentions

    The stability of "Darktide" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as a "buggy mess" at launch and even months later. Frequent crashes, disconnects, and various glitches have marred the gameplay experience, leading to frustration for many users. While some players note improvements over time, the game still suffers from performance issues and lacks essential features, making it difficult to recommend until further updates and optimizations are implemented.

    • “Game runs great, the last few patches really ironed out a lot of the crashing issues most people were experiencing, and Fatshark is very quick to get out hotfixes when new patches bring about new issues.”
    • “Pretty much bug free and runs great both on my friend's low-end laptop with GTX 1060 and my desktop with a 3080.”
    • “It runs great for me (12GB graphics, 64GB RAM, 3.90GHz 6 core processor, SSD; not sure what other details are relevant) and I have a blast smacking down hordes.”
    • “Game doesn't work very well at all, slow, buggy, crashy.”
    • “As far as specific complaints go, the game systems are buggy at best, broken at worst, made semi-playable only by constant hot patches that fix three things no one asked for and break two things that didn't need to be touched.”
    • “Buggy and untested, unbalanced shitfest filled with broken AI and almost unplayable servers half the time... constant crashing and performance issues for everyone.”
  • monetization2,868 mentions

    The monetization in Darktide has drawn significant criticism for being aggressive and predatory, with many players feeling that it prioritizes profit over gameplay quality. While all in-game purchases are cosmetic and do not affect gameplay, the high prices and the introduction of a cash shop at launch—before essential features like crafting were implemented—have led to perceptions of the game as a cash grab. Overall, players express disappointment that the focus on monetization detracts from the game's potential and enjoyment.

    • “In-game purchases are purely cosmetic so you're not missing anything important other than looking really cool.”
    • “The monetization is purely cosmetic so it's fair.”
    • “Microtransactions are aesthetic only and not pay to win, although the 'free' armor sets are definitely bland compared to some of the fancy paid sets.”
    • “That means the monetization is priority over the actual game.”
    • “It's mostly disappointing to see that this is little more than a thinly-veiled cash grab with the premium shop being the only regularly updated content at prices that make your stomach churn.”
    • “The engaging moments of combat and mission dynamics are massively overshadowed by a fundamentally flawed progression system and a predatory monetization strategy.”
  • grinding2,839 mentions

    The grinding aspect of "Darktide" has received significant criticism from players, who describe it as excessively tedious and time-consuming. Many reviews highlight the need for extensive grinding to acquire gear, upgrade weapons, and complete weekly missions, often feeling that the rewards do not justify the effort. The game's reliance on RNG for loot and crafting further exacerbates the grind, leading to a frustrating experience for those seeking meaningful progression. Overall, while the core gameplay is praised, the grinding mechanics detract from the enjoyment and longevity of the game.

    • “Progression system is rewarding, not too grindy.”
    • “But I promise the fun of this game is not grinding out resources to make a good weapon.”
    • “Combat is fast and satisfying, progression isn't too grindy, despite character changes dialogue is still fun, and enemies are varied and annoying (in a good way).”
    • “The progression system feels grindy and unrewarding, failing to provide a sense of accomplishment or advancement.”
    • “The game is now overrun by bots farming missions in the most impossibly slow way that will not help in combat and always stay still when encountering any enemy.”
    • “The crafting system is an exhausting, grindy, RNG-heavy mess.”
  • humor1,129 mentions

    The humor in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" is a standout feature, characterized by witty banter and absurd interactions among characters, particularly the Ogryns, whose antics often elicit laughter. While the game balances grim themes with comedic elements, some players feel that the humor can become repetitive over time, detracting from the overall experience. Nonetheless, the combination of engaging dialogue, funny voice lines, and chaotic gameplay creates memorable moments that enhance the enjoyment, especially when played with friends.

    • “It's has a nice gameplay feel, astounding soundtrack, and most importantly, funny banter between players' characters.”
    • “The voice acting is great, the banter exchanged between the rejects, between the NPC and between NPC and rejects is funny, well done, full of character, hints and references for lore enthusiasts like me.”
    • “The banter between squadmates while playing is perfectly voice-acted, entertaining and even funny at times.”
    • “While that's just a minor thing, it's really annoying and weird; it's not funny and doesn't offer the game anything other than to remind you that perhaps the devs don't take the universe all that seriously; which is an issue because 40k breaks down entirely if you 'wink-wink, nudge-nudge' while looking straight into the camera; the universe taking itself so seriously is what makes 40k fun, exciting, and beloved.”
    • “The weapon system is pretty much an RNG fest, the cosmetics are an insult to the player base (between the amount of recycled assets and the predatory cash-shop for cosmetics, this is just on the verge of being a very unfunny joke), the sheer price of said cosmetics, the obsession with FOMO (fear of missing out) for everything due to cosmetics rotation... all of that for a game that, on release, was 50€.”
    • “The bitchy, nagging, stupid, unfunny lines that appeared to have been written by some woke, blue-haired student.”
  • replayability858 mentions

    The replayability of Darktide is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while the game offers enjoyable combat and varied character builds, it suffers from a lack of content and repetitive mission structures. Some updates have improved the experience, introducing new skill trees and modifiers that enhance replayability, but many feel it still falls short compared to its predecessor, Vermintide 2, particularly in terms of map variety and long-term engagement. Overall, while there is potential for replayability, especially with friends, the game currently lacks the depth and content needed for sustained play beyond reaching level caps.

    • “The challenge levels and modifiers add replayability, as players can revisit missions with new difficulties and objectives.”
    • “With its immersive atmosphere, satisfying combat, and endless replayability, it's a must-play for fans of the Warhammer 40,000 universe and cooperative gaming alike.”
    • “The new skill trees make character builds more dynamic, and allow for more combinations in each match that make things more replayable.”
    • “It's a decent horde shooter with a great melee system, but it's a tad expensive and it's rough in terms of replayability with fixed maps and somewhat limited modifiers.”
    • “The variety in objectives is limited, and many missions follow a similar pattern, which can detract from the long-term replayability.”
    • “Zero replayability after all 4 characters reach level 30 with good gear.”
  • emotional206 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players expressing feelings of frustration and heartbreak due to its lack of a compelling narrative and character development. While some appreciate the immersive atmosphere and engaging gameplay, others criticize the shallow story and emotional detachment from characters, leading to a sense of wasted potential. Overall, the game evokes a complicated emotional response, oscillating between enjoyment and disappointment, particularly in comparison to its predecessor, Vermintide 2.

    • “This game was pretty heartbreaking.”
    • “I've had some wild runs that made me feel like a real loyalist killing in the name of the emperor and that's all I wanted.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game coupled with the amazing soundtrack made me feel a part of the Warhammer story.”
    • “The story is boring and can barely be called a coherent narrative, which is a massive step down from Vermintide 2.”
    • “The storytelling is flat, bland, and ultimately boring.”
    • “Your selections do nothing to alter the boring storyline while you level up.”
  • character development200 mentions

    Character development in Darktide has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a lack of depth and engagement compared to previous titles like Vermintide. While the character design and customization options are praised for their aesthetics, the overall narrative and character progression feel minimal and uninspired, leading to a repetitive experience. Recent updates have introduced some improvements to skill trees, but many players still feel that the game lacks meaningful character development and storytelling.

    • “I think the biggest lore update/character development was the Orthus Offensive update, because it came with a fair amount of insight into Zola's backstory and motivations.”
    • “The recent overhaul of the skill trees injects a welcome dose of dynamism into character development, providing players with more options and meaningful choices as they progress.”
    • “Character design is a bit deeper than I thought it would be as well, not so much for how they look, since there are only a few faces and haircuts you can roll with, but there is a pretty robust background for each character that you can decide, it doesn't take long to select your character's past and it does quite a bit to help shape their personality, which adds to the dialogue that comes up in matches with other players, and quite a bit of that is funny, interesting or adds context to the experience.”
    • “While the game excels in atmosphere and combat, the narrative and character development in Darktide are less pronounced.”
    • “Biggest disappointment has to be the practically non-existent story where there's a promising setup to a rich narrative only to get dumped by the roadside with very little effort put into any narrative or character development, though the main pull is going to be the gameplay.”
    • “For a 'finished' game, the lack of story/character development, lack of gameplay depth, and lack of complete features make Darktide not worth the price.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

Buy Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Play time

48hMedian play time
144hAverage play time
12-172hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1,098 analyzed playthroughs

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