Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

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.

73%Game Brain Score

gameplay, music

story, optimization

73% User Score Based on 150,518 reviews

Critic Score 73%Based on 43 reviews

Platforms

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About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 150,561 reviews

gameplay14.8k positive mentions

story3.8k negative mentions

The gameplay is widely praised for its satisfying combat mechanics, blending melee and ranged combat in a visceral and engaging way.
The music, composed by Jesper Kyd, is exceptional and enhances the game's atmosphere, making it a standout feature.
The graphics are stunning and effectively capture the grimdark aesthetic of the Warhammer 40k universe, contributing to an immersive experience.

The game suffers from significant performance issues, including crashes and frame rate drops, even on high-end systems.
Many players find the gameplay loop to be repetitive and grindy, with a lack of content variety after reaching higher levels.
The monetization practices have drawn criticism for being predatory, overshadowing the game's potential and disappointing many players.

story
38,109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
81%
10%
The story in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" is often described as minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting that it feels disconnected from the gameplay. While there are occasional cutscenes and character interactions that provide some context, the overarching narrative is thin, primarily serving as a backdrop for the action rather than a cohesive campaign. Players express a desire for more substantial storytelling and mission variety, as the repetitive nature of missions can detract from the overall experience.
- “The story, while straightforward, perfectly captures the dark tone of the Warhammer 40k universe.”
- “The character creator is very good; you even get to select some background story for your character, allowing for some neat roleplaying.”
- “The environmental storytelling is rich, immersing players in a world on the brink of collapse.”
- “The story in this game is absolutely laughable, despite it being part of the Warhammer universe.”
- “The missions start to feel routine as you do exactly the same thing as you did just a little while before again.”
- “The story needs to be more fleshed out.”
gameplay
30,918 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
47%
5%
The gameplay of "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" is widely praised for its satisfying combat mechanics, blending melee and ranged combat in a way that feels both visceral and engaging. Players appreciate the depth of the gameplay loop, which encourages teamwork and skill mastery, although many express frustration over the game's repetitive nature and lack of content variety, particularly after reaching higher levels. While the core gameplay is considered excellent, issues such as server stability, crafting mechanics, and monetization practices have led to mixed feelings about the overall experience.
- “The gameplay is by far one of the most satisfying.”
- “The gameplay loop is extremely satisfying and allows for so much customization.”
- “Darktide has genuinely some of the most satisfying gameplay ever, most notably the melee combat.”
- “Gameplay is solid, but the game runs like shit.”
- “The gameplay loop is extremely repetitive with not a lot of content; it's just a handful of maps that you will replay over and over, just raising the difficulty so you can earn 'better rewards' with lackluster combat that is nothing special.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive, grindy, tedious (although fun can be had with the visual gore of the combat system for a few hours before that loses its charm).”
optimization
14,370 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
61%
29%
The optimization of "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering, crashes, and long loading times, even on high-end systems. While some users have noted improvements since launch, particularly with recent patches, the game still struggles with inconsistent frame rates and optimization challenges, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall performance. Players are advised to wait for further updates and optimizations before fully committing to the game.
- “Fatshark has shown a commitment to improving the game's performance over time, making it much more playable than at launch.”
- “The performance has improved significantly since release, and the gameplay is well worth the price.”
- “Despite the performance issues, I have found it enjoyable so far, and it has a lot of potential.”
- “The performance is awful.”
- “It seems that some are lucky to have the game running okay, and some (like me) have performance issues to the level when the game becomes unplayable.”
- “This has got to be one of the most unoptimized titles I've ever played in my life; that alone is enough to warrant a poor review, but don't worry, it gets much worse.”
music
10,978 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
37%
1%
The music in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere. Composed by Jesper Kyd, the soundtrack blends industrial and orchestral elements, creating an immersive experience that perfectly complements the intense combat and grimdark setting of the Warhammer universe. Players frequently highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, often stating that it elevates the gameplay and keeps them engaged throughout their missions.
- “Looks fantastic, plays great and the music is absolutely amazing.”
- “The music is, as expected, absolutely phenomenal and elevates the atmosphere to new heights.”
- “The music is fantastic and fits the game; there are atmospheric tracks and rave-like music for intense combat. Honestly, this is probably why I come back to this game so much; great music that fits the scenario makes such a huge difference on top of the solid gameplay.”
- “The music is not good or fitting to the game at all.”
- “I find myself turning down the music and listening to something else (Doom of course) while I play.”
- “The music in Vermintide/Vermintide 2 was far better.”
graphics
9,738 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The graphics in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" receive widespread acclaim for their stunning visual fidelity and immersive aesthetic, effectively capturing the grimdark atmosphere of the Warhammer 40k universe. However, many players report significant performance issues, including crashes and frame rate drops, even on high-end systems, leading to frustration despite the game's impressive graphics. Overall, while the visuals are a highlight, the game's optimization and stability remain areas needing improvement.
- “The graphics, sound design, and all around feel of the game are unmatched in my opinion.”
- “The graphics are stunning, and the movement is incredibly fluid.”
- “The game delivers everything a Warhammer 40k fan could want: an incredible atmosphere that perfectly captures the grimdark universe, stunning graphics, smooth and satisfying combat, unique character classes, a rewarding progression system, and endless replay value.”
- “On my 4070 RTX I get 20-40 fps and it does not really matter if I use high/medium/low graphics settings; the game just runs like this because... just because.”
- “I own an AMD graphics card and I have issues like stuttering when character portraits load (you can disable but still, really Fatshark? This bug has been since release!) and cosmetics causing massive stutters making you have to go to the config file to disable mesh streaming (making you have to have a 10GB VRAM+ graphics card) and overall in some areas you dip from 90 fps all the way to 30 making the game unplayable at higher difficulties sometimes.”
- “Game is super poorly optimized - lots of flashy graphics that my PC cannot handle - despite meeting the minimum requirements and setting everything in the user settings file to 0, low, or in most cases off - I still cannot get this game to run smoothly.”
atmosphere
4,527 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
35%
1%
The atmosphere in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" is widely praised for its immersive and gritty representation of the Warhammer 40k universe, effectively capturing the grimdark aesthetic through detailed environments, atmospheric sound design, and a powerful soundtrack. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a sense of oppression and danger, making each mission feel intense and engaging. While the atmosphere is a standout feature, some reviews note that the game's repetitive gameplay and lack of content can detract from the overall experience.
- “The music is, as expected, absolutely phenomenal and elevates the atmosphere to new heights.”
- “The combat is brutal and engaging, the visuals and sound design are impressive, and the atmosphere is authentic to the 40k universe.”
- “What stands out the most is the game’s atmosphere, an overwhelming sense of oppression and danger.”
- “The atmosphere of this game is so oppressive and depressive, and everyone is so ugly no matter how hard you try to make them pretty, everything is so overly edgy that I had to drop playing this in favor of Vermintide 2.”
- “What it lacks in narrative substance, it makes up for with gameplay and atmosphere.”
- “While the atmosphere and visuals are commendable, they are ultimately overshadowed by the game’s fundamental flaws, leaving players yearning for a more polished and innovative experience.”
stability
4,164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The stability of "Darktide" has been a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as a "buggy mess" since its launch. Users report frequent crashes, disconnects, and various glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as audio issues and visual artifacts. While some players note improvements over time, the game is still perceived as unstable and unoptimized, leading to a recommendation for potential buyers to wait for further patches and fixes before diving in.
- “Solid asf game, runs great (Ryzen 5900X + AMD 6800XT) 100+ FPS max settings 1440p.”
- “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.”
- “There also seems to be some serious auditory and visual glitches which hinders the gameplay significantly.”
- “When it comes to auditory glitches sometimes the dialogue during mission briefs would be extremely quiet and some of the sounds from enemies attacking/shooting will either be very quiet or non-existent which is terrible since the gameplay requires you to rely on these sound cues.”
- “The game is buggy as hell.”
grinding
3,517 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The grinding aspect of Darktide has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it can be excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some enjoy the grind as part of the gameplay loop, others criticize the reliance on RNG for gear and crafting, leading to a frustrating experience, especially for new players. Overall, the game is seen as requiring a significant time investment to progress, often feeling like a grind for minimal rewards.
- “Plenty to do, not too grindy and a wide range of difficulties to advance through.”
- “Love their new approach to your gear, how it's not too grindy but just enough to be fun.”
- “Progression system is rewarding, not too grindy.”
- “Team play is almost non-existent, perks are either useless or broken rendering entire classes as suboptimal at best and useless at worst, and hidden game mechanics such as enemies being able to speed up to you when not being viewed make for an unfun and tedious experience.”
- “The grind feels much more tedious, and in my opinion sucks all of the fun out of an otherwise great game.”
- “The game feels empty in content and really grindy for nothing, the game does not make it clear what the end game would look like there is a lack of purpose.”
monetization
3,358 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
59%
34%
The monetization in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it as predatory and a cash grab. While the game features cosmetic microtransactions that do not impact gameplay, the pricing is considered excessive, and the implementation of a rotating shop with limited-time offers has led to accusations of exploiting players' fear of missing out (FOMO). Overall, the monetization practices overshadow the game's potential, with many reviewers expressing disappointment over the prioritization of profit over content and gameplay quality.
- “There are new missions constantly added, the only microtransactions that I noticed are the in-game cosmetic shop if you want to look fancier than others (you can still get a lot of cosmetics from just playing and doing penances (achievements)).”
- “The gameplay is the unholy lovechild of L4D horde shooters and PD2 higher level contract, weapon and skill management, the customization options are on point and the microtransactions only extend as far as gaining certain premium skins and customization for your 'rejects', no P2W here.”
- “I 100% recommend this game and will continue playing without spending a single dollar more, because microtransactions aren’t a thing in this game, outside of skins, which, whatever, it’s an FPS.”
- “It's hard to overstate how good the game feels to play and how lovingly the source material is rendered, but the monetization is just garbage enough to make the game not worth supporting at all.”
- “The monetization scheme they have going to milk their longtime fans (whales) is embarrassing.”
- “The game is unfinished, the progression is awful, the story is nonexistent, the missions are samey, and the monetization is egregious.”
humor
1,515 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" is a mix of dark, absurd, and situational comedy, often highlighted by character banter and voice lines that can catch players off guard with their wit. Players appreciate the comedic interactions, especially among the Ogryn characters, whose antics and dialogue provide a lighthearted contrast to the game's grim setting. However, some find the humor can become repetitive or clash with the game's darker themes, leading to mixed feelings about its overall effectiveness.
- “Characters will frequently call each other out for straying too far, hogging ammo and healing items unnecessarily and so forth with a variety of both serious and hilarious voice lines.”
- “The dialogue is funny and the character progression is open ended.”
- “The banter between the characters is hilarious.”
- “All the other dialogue is filler and not funny; it doesn't have to be humorous, just something creative, saying a lot of things without saying anything.”
- “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. This 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€.”
replayability
1,244 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
7%
The replayability of "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" is generally viewed as high, with many players appreciating the variety of character classes, weapon builds, and mission modifiers that enhance the gameplay experience. However, some users express concerns about the game's long-term replay value, particularly after reaching level caps or experiencing repetitive mission structures. Overall, while the game has made significant improvements since launch, ongoing updates and additional content are seen as necessary to maintain and enhance its replayability.
- “It has a satisfying gameplay loop that ensures replayability, a wonderful soundtrack and audio design, a wide variety of weapons and builds to try out with each class, and witty dialogue between player characters that gives a nice touch of personality to the game.”
- “The game delivers everything a Warhammer 40k fan could want: an incredible atmosphere that perfectly captures the grimdark universe, stunning graphics, smooth and satisfying combat, unique character classes, a rewarding progression system, and endless replay value.”
- “Darktide has come leaps and bounds from its rocky beginnings, the variety in classes and weapons make for a highly replayable experience particularly following the full itemization update and the introduction of havoc for post-game content.”
- “All of the updates have done little to assist the game's replayability.”
- “The replay value is kinda lacking, because once you get to around lvl 20, it gets repetitive and becomes a boring grind, because there isn't much to do other than the same missions, same dialogue, same mindless killing for hours and hours to hopefully get a weapon upgrade or better weapon or do higher difficulty stuff which is, again, all the same kinds of missions.”
- “The game has no replayability once you reach end game in all classes.”
emotional
252 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
Reviews highlight a significant lack of emotional connection in "Darktide," with many players feeling detached from the characters and story compared to its predecessor, "Vermintide." While some appreciate the game's atmosphere and community interactions, the overall narrative is criticized as flat and uninspiring, leading to feelings of frustration and disappointment. Despite moments of humor and camaraderie, the absence of a compelling storyline and character development leaves many players feeling emotionally unfulfilled.
- “I know the temptation is high to go grimdark™ when it's 40k, but the best stories are when the people have a personal connection, emotional bonds, and friendship, while being confronted with a universe that's seven kinds of f***ed and where their struggle might at best stem the dark tide crushing in from all sides for a little while.”
- “The atmosphere of the game coupled with the amazing soundtrack made me feel a part of the Warhammer story.”
- “All of the voices are enthusiastic, emotional, and bring life to the character.”
- “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.”
character development
236 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
58%
10%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a lack of depth compared to previous titles like Vermintide. While the character design is praised for its visual appeal and customization options, the narrative and meaningful character progression are often described as minimal or linear, leading to a less engaging experience. Overall, while the gameplay and atmosphere are strong, the absence of a compelling story and character development leaves some players wanting more.
- “Yes, I love interesting character design with interesting backstory and well-made voice acting that interact with each other with good humor.”
- “The character development is also on point, with each character feeling unique and fully fleshed out.”
- “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.”

73%Critics’ scoreBased on 43 critic reviews

Buy Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

48h Median play time

147h Average play time

11-168h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1,278 analyzed playthroughs

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