Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

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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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 75,259 reviews

gameplay7.4k positive mentions

story1.9k negative mentions

story
19,049 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
81%
10%
The story in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" is largely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting that it feels more like a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a cohesive narrative. While there are occasional cutscenes and character interactions that hint at a larger lore, the missions themselves often feel repetitive and disconnected, leading to a sense of monotony as players cycle through similar objectives across a limited number of maps. Overall, while the game captures the grimdark atmosphere of the Warhammer universe, it falls short in delivering a compelling story or engaging character development.
- “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
15,454 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 fast-paced, cooperative environment reminiscent of titles like "Left 4 Dead" and "Vermintide." Players appreciate the depth of the gameplay, with diverse classes and skill trees that allow for various playstyles, although many express frustration over the game's repetitive mission structure and lack of content updates. Despite its flaws, including technical issues and a monetization model that some find predatory, the core gameplay loop remains engaging and enjoyable, making it a solid choice for fans of the genre.
- “The gameplay is by far one of the most satisfying.”
- “The gameplay loop is extremely satisfying and feels true to the 'tide' experience, although they could use more puzzles or mini game tasks to keep the world interaction fresh.”
- “The core gameplay is fantastic, weapons generally feel powerful, every class has multiple builds that can perform at the highest difficulties, and new content is still being added.”
- “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
7,181 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 playability. Many players recommend waiting for further updates and optimizations before fully committing to the game.
- “Fatshark has shown a continued dedication to the development of this game, refining systems, improving performance, and adding new content.”
- “I'm happy to say that the game's performance is now stellar - in the ~20 hours that I've been playing it, I can't really think of a time where I noticed hitches, stutters, or anything else that would ruin immersion.”
- “The game has significantly improved since its release, with fewer bugs and better optimization.”
- “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
5,487 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
37%
1%
The music in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its exceptional quality and immersive nature. 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 and engagement with the game, making it a must-listen even outside of gameplay.
- “The music, composed by Jesper Kyd, is absolutely phenomenal and elevates the atmosphere to new heights.”
- “The soundtrack is a standout, blending industrial tones with haunting chants that perfectly capture the grimdark aesthetic.”
- “The music flows into the moments you're in so well, that it helps a person like me really get immersed in the battle at hand and focus on what needs doing.”
- “The music is not good or fitting to the game at all.”
- “I find myself turning down the music and listening to something else while I play.”
- “The music in Vermintide/Vermintide 2 was far better.”
graphics
4,867 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
The graphics in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" are widely praised for their stunning detail and ability to capture the grimdark aesthetic of the Warhammer universe, with many players noting the impressive environments, character models, and atmospheric effects. However, the game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to performance drops and crashes even on high-end systems, which detracts from the overall experience. While the visuals are a highlight, the game's stability and performance remain a concern for many players.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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).”
atmosphere
2,262 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
35%
1%
The atmosphere in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" is widely praised for its immersive and authentic representation of the grimdark universe, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning visuals, exceptional sound design, and a powerful soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a sense of oppression and danger, effectively capturing the essence of the Warhammer 40k lore. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and content variety, the atmospheric elements are consistently regarded as a standout feature, making it a must-play for fans of the franchise.
- “The music is, as expected, absolutely phenomenal and elevates the atmosphere to new heights.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “The atmosphere is so thick with despair, you can practically taste it.”
- “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
2,082 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The stability of the game has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting persistent bugs, crashes, and performance issues since its launch. While some users note improvements over time, the game is still described as a "buggy mess," with frequent disconnects, audio glitches, and long loading times. Overall, despite its enjoyable gameplay, the game's stability issues detract from the experience, leading many to recommend waiting for further updates before purchasing.
- “Solid game, runs great on my computer.”
- “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.”
- “Runs great on my 3060, but I ordered a 3080.”
- “There also seems to be some serious auditory and visual glitches which hinder 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.”
- “Game has been out for 2 years and still suffers from an unbelievable amount of constant crashes, freezes, and disconnects; it only appears to get more broken with every patch.”
grinding
1,758 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game 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, particularly for character progression and crafting, others find it frustrating due to the reliance on RNG for gear and the lack of shared resources between characters, leading to repetitive gameplay. Overall, the game is described as requiring a significant time investment, often feeling like a grind for minimal rewards, which may deter casual players.
- “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.”
- “The crafting system rework has obliterated an unnecessary grinding system for true endgame gear.”
- “The game is fun but grindy for non in-game payers which is kinda understandable.”
- “The game itself was always quite fun, it's just the grinding that made it really unfriendly to newer players, the humiliation ritual of getting to level 30 and then being forced to spend hundreds of hours to get what you want per class.”
monetization
1,679 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
59%
34%
The monetization in "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" has drawn significant criticism for being aggressive and predatory, with many players expressing frustration over the high prices of cosmetic microtransactions and the lack of earnable cosmetics through gameplay. While some acknowledge that the microtransactions are purely cosmetic and do not affect gameplay, the overwhelming sentiment is that the focus on monetization has overshadowed the game's development, leading to an unfinished product with missing features and a lack of content. Overall, players recommend caution, suggesting potential buyers wait for improvements or sales before investing in the game.
- “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 pay-to-win here.”
- “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).”
- “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
757 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 provide comic relief amidst the chaos of combat. Players appreciate the hilarious interactions between characters, particularly the Ogryns, whose antics and dialogue often lead to laugh-out-loud moments. However, some find the humor can become repetitive or overshadowed by the game's darker themes, leading to mixed feelings about its overall comedic impact.
- “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 and immersive.”
- “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; 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 bitchy, nagging, stupid, unfunny lines that appeared to have been written by some woke, blue-haired student.”
replayability
621 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
7%
Overall, "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide" is praised for its high replayability, driven by a satisfying gameplay loop, diverse character builds, and a variety of mission types and modifiers. Players appreciate the depth of customization and the engaging combat mechanics, which encourage repeated playthroughs. However, some reviewers express concerns about the game's long-term replayability due to limited maps and content, suggesting that while it offers a fun experience, it may not sustain interest indefinitely without further updates and expansions.
- “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.”
- “The new skill trees make character builds more dynamic, and allow for more combinations in each match that make things more replayable.”
- “All of the updates have done little to assist the game's replayability.”
- “The replayability is pretty much done about 10 hours in for me.”
- “The game has a lot of variety and replayability, as it offers different modes, such as campaign, survival, and custom, and large and spacious maps, such as hive cities, industrial complexes, and space stations.”
emotional
126 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 sentiment is that the narrative and character development are shallow, leading to a disappointing emotional experience. Players express a desire for deeper storytelling and more meaningful character relationships to enhance their engagement with the game.
- “It's heartbreaking to type this, but save your money.”
- “The atmosphere of the game coupled with the amazing soundtrack made me feel a part of the Warhammer story.”
- “Darktide is a complicated emotional rollercoaster for me.”
- “Such as the rather boring story, horrible cutscenes, hardware issues, etc. The game is what I would call a junk food game.”
- “Your selections do nothing to alter the boring storyline while you level either.”
- “Boring story that can barely be called a coherent narrative (a massive step down from Vermintide 2).”
character development
118 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 and customization options are praised for their visual appeal and charm, the narrative and meaningful character progression are often described as minimal or repetitive, leading to a less engaging experience. Overall, while the gameplay and atmosphere are strong, the character development feels stunted and fails to create a lasting emotional connection with players.
- “The character development is also on point, with each character feeling unique and fully fleshed out.”
- “Character development feels more fleshed out as does crafting and finding gear.”
- “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.”
- “While the game excels in atmosphere and combat, the narrative and character development in Darktide are less pronounced.”
- “The 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.”
- “For a 'finished' game, the lack of story and character development, lack of gameplay depth, and lack of complete features make Darktide not worth the price.”