Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
- August 6, 2007
- Relic Entertainment
- 14h median play time
Get on Steam"Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War" is a real-time strategy game set in a grim, dark future where alien races battle for galactic domination. The game features a single-player campaign with an engaging story, as well as the ability to command and customize four unique races. With its realistic graphics and visceral combat, players can experience intense battles in a universe of unending war.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- story568 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative and strong voice acting that captures the essence of the Warhammer universe. However, some critiques highlight the campaign's linearity and repetitive mission structure, which can detract from the overall experience. While the plot may feel predictable at times, it effectively introduces players to the lore and characters, making it a solid entry point for both newcomers and fans of the franchise.
“The story is fantastic from what I played.”
“You find yourself in the shoes of a Blood Raven commander, tasked with clearing a planet of the Orkish hordes that beset it, only to find yourself and your chapter embroiled in a sinister plot by the ‘great enemy’.”
“The campaign offers an epic tale into the 40k lore with amazing twists and turns around every mission.”
“The story doesn't really bother to explain anything, and if you don't understand something, then tough luck.”
“The story is filled with twists, but the gameplay is very satisfying.”
“The story is predictable but there is a lot of character development between Gabriel and Isador despite being a 40k game.”
- gameplay407 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Dawn of War" is widely praised for its blend of accessibility and tactical depth, featuring unique mechanics like morale and cover systems that enhance strategic gameplay. While some players note its dated graphics and occasional pathfinding issues, the core mechanics remain engaging and fun, making it a standout title in the RTS genre. Overall, it offers a solid introduction to RTS games, with a satisfying campaign and extensive replayability through skirmishes and multiplayer modes.
“Gameplay in 'Dawn of War' is exceptional, offering a perfect blend of tactical depth and accessibility.”
“The unique mechanics, such as the morale and cover systems, add layers of strategy that keep the gameplay engaging.”
“The gameplay is still some of the best in any RTS game, and is easy to pick up but gives you lots of room to try new playstyles and strategies.”
“The gameplay is straightforward and boring, too: the same as in any other right-clicking RTS game you played before.”
“Unfortunately, this kind of tactical battlefield gameplay gets old pretty fast as, regardless of which side you play, the underlying tactics one must employ change relatively little.”
“The gameplay for an RTS just sucks.”
- graphics280 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting its 2004 release, yet many players find them charming and serviceable for the gameplay experience. While some reviews highlight the graphics as a drawback, others appreciate the art style and detail that still resonate with the Warhammer 40k aesthetic. Overall, the consensus is that despite the outdated visuals, the game's engaging mechanics and immersive atmosphere more than compensate for any graphical shortcomings.
“The graphics are a notable highlight, showcasing beautifully rendered units and environments that vivaciously bring the tabletop game to life.”
“While the game was released in 2004, it still holds up well today thanks to its strong art style and sound design.”
“The graphics are surprisingly detailed, the audio is well done, and the voice lines are just iconic.”
“The graphics are woefully dated, of course, but the chunky unit designs and brutal combat animations give the skirmishes a pleasing feeling of weight and consequence.”
“The graphics are heavily dated but if you get past that, the game is pretty good.”
“The graphics are outdated but the gameplay and simplicity is very nice.”
- music74 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its epic composition, primarily by renowned composer Jeremy Soule, which enhances the immersive experience of the Warhammer 40k universe. While the soundtrack and voice acting are considered top-notch, some players report issues with music and sound effects ceasing after loading saved games, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these technical hiccups, the music remains a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
“The sound design deserves special mention; the epic soundtrack fits the game's setting, while the sound effects add a visceral feel to combat.”
“The music is very well-composed and good enough to listen to in your spare time, the sound design is passable but is overshadowed by the screams and war cries of the different factions' units.”
“The music and voice acting is top notch; with excellent performances by the voice actors to make the characters more engaging to interact with in the grim dark future.”
“Another problem I should point out is that whenever you load a campaign save, the music and ambience disappear, which takes away from the experience.”
“The only objective issue I can think of is that the music stops playing if you load a save.”
“What is less understandable, and much more annoying, is that loading a save that was done mid-battle causes the background sound effects and music to cease playing, meaning that if you want to enjoy these sounds, you need to play each individual mission from start to finish in one go.”
- replayability44 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is significantly enhanced by its multiplayer mode, extensive customization options, and engaging skirmish mode, which offers a variety of maps and gameplay styles. While the base campaign has limited replay value due to its linear nature and single playable faction, expansions like Dark Crusade and Soulstorm provide additional content and replayability through multiple races and modes. Overall, players find the game to have high replay value, especially with the support of mods and a vibrant community.
“The strategic depth and variety of factions offer engaging gameplay and endless replayability.”
“Skirmish mode has essentially infinite replayability, with dozens of different maps and several different gameplay styles to choose from.”
“A great game that captures the world of the 41st millennium perfectly and has a well-crafted story, solid gameplay, and replayability.”
“The main downside is that outside of the skirmish mode, there is no real replay value.”
“In campaign, only space marines are playable.”
“I don't think there's too much replayability in the campaign or skirmishes in the base game, but hopefully after beating all of the expansions, the ultimate apocalypse mod for Soulstorm will unlock that infinite replay value that all the best RTS games have!”
- atmosphere29 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its rich detail, immersive lore, and excellent voice acting, effectively capturing the unique essence of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Players appreciate the combination of stunning visuals, engaging sound design, and a dark, gritty tone that enhances the overall experience, making it a standout title despite its age. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's status as a must-play for fans of the genre.
“The game immerses players in a richly detailed world, overflowing with the lore and atmosphere cherished by fans.”
“The game's immersive atmosphere and stunning visuals captivate players from the start.”
“Fast-paced combat, beautiful animation, and a dark brooding atmosphere pay tribute to the Warhammer 40,000 universe, which truly brings it to life.”
“The sound design is bloody amazing and the voice lines of units add atmosphere to the game; just finding out that Jeremy Soule was behind it makes it even more impressive.”
“Even if it is just a bit old school, it still holds up with its quality of play, tone, atmosphere, and lore.”
“And if you really are interested in delving into the universe without purchasing the overpriced models, codexes, and books, this game is a must-play to get you the general feeling and atmosphere of the Warhammer 40,000 universe/franchise.”
- humor27 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- -7 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding the orks' voices and the absurdity of characters and cutscenes particularly amusing. The blend of intentional and inadvertent humor, along with quirky animations and memorable voice acting, contributes to a lighthearted atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers appreciate the game's ability to evoke laughter through its unique characters and comedic situations, making it a standout feature.
“The characters are very funny for how serious they were written to be.”
“Laughing late at night over the little quirks of this awesome universe is why I bought it.”
“Props go to the voice actors for the chaos lord Bale (hilariously evil) and sorcerer Sindri (devious and manipulating both friends and enemies).”
“The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
“I expected more laughs, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
“The humor tries too hard and ends up being awkward.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 69 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be a mixed experience; while some players find the strategic elements engaging, many describe the micromanagement and repetitive nature of campaign missions as tedious and requiring excessive time investment. The movement of units can also lead to frustrating slowdowns, contributing to the overall grindiness. However, for those who enjoy RTS games focused on base building and combat, the grind may still offer some enjoyment.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“If you like RTS, with a focus on base building and combat, and no tedious gathering of the same old resources, get it.”
“It's just extremely tedious.”
“Now, as an adult, I'm finding these games to be extremely tedious and boring.”
“The campaign missions can get very grindy and repetitive, and the story isn't really worth going into.”
- stability12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Overall, the stability of the game is mixed; while many players appreciate its performance on modern systems and find it runs well despite its age, there are frequent reports of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. Some users have experienced significant issues, such as crashes and long autosave freezes, indicating that troubleshooting may be necessary for a smooth experience. Despite these challenges, the game's nostalgic value and enjoyable mechanics often outweigh the stability concerns for dedicated fans.
“Old, but runs great and is lots of fun.”
“Being 16 years old, it runs great on our modest computers.”
“This is the game that taught me that troubleshooting a game for more than 2 hours trying to get it to patch and play without crashing every 15 minutes means I cannot get my money back.”
“You will find many bugs and glitches.”
“Take it from someone who is a die-hard fan of 40k and have been since I was 13 (22 now), everything about this game is great, apart from how buggy some of the missions are.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing choppy performance and micro stuttering, particularly on modern hardware. While the game can run smoothly after certain tweaks, it is noted that it has not aged well in terms of optimization compared to newer titles, making expansions like Dark Crusade or Soulstorm more appealing for multiplayer experiences. Despite these issues, the game remains a solid strategy experience with engaging gameplay and a compelling story.
“The game can run smoothly without any major FPS hits.”
“Runs smoothly, easy to learn but hard to master, looks pretty good for an older game, engaging story mode and addicting co-op/AI mode.”
“For its release date, I consider the game to be very technically capable with things like decent character animations and solid overall performance.”
“A solid entry for arguably the video game adaptation of Warhammer 40,000, with solid pacing and mechanics. However, it didn't age well in terms of optimization and pathing.”
“Had choppy performance during my first fight with a 1 vs 1 squad.”
“No frame drops, but game performance was slightly stuttering (Ryzen 7 3700X + RTX 2070 Super).”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted through the dynamic relationship between Gabriel and Isador, despite the overarching predictable storyline. The characters are well-aligned with their designs, particularly within the chaos faction, and the rich lore of Warhammer 40k enhances their depth, complemented by strong voice acting and thematic unit designs. Overall, the game successfully intertwines character development with its signature elements of blood and gore.
“Every character sounds exactly how you would expect based on their character design, especially the chaos faction.”
“The story is predictable, but there is a lot of character development between Gabriel and Isador, despite being a 40k game that focuses on blood, gore, and more bodies and death, which I love.”
“Using the lore of 40k like a paintbrush benefits the game in every regard, from the strong character design of each race to the brilliant voice acting, finishing off with a stimulating, richly composed soundtrack.”
“The story is predictable, and while there is some character development between Gabriel and Isador, it feels overshadowed by the overwhelming focus on blood, gore, and death, which detracts from the depth of the characters.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as deeply impactful, evoking feelings of despair and frustration while also compelling players to continue despite these intense emotions. Players have reported experiencing significant emotional reactions, including moments of vulnerability and connection with others during gameplay.
“This game manages to simultaneously make me want to end it all and keep going.”
“I know when I was drunk, I played this game and one of my mates started having an emotional breakdown to me.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is viewed positively, with expansions offering substantial new content that can stand alone, enhancing the overall experience without making the original game feel incomplete. While some comparisons to the sequel suggest a more exploitative approach, the original maintains a balanced and engaging gameplay experience reminiscent of classic strategy games.
“The expansions add new content but feel more like standalone games, making the original seem complete and balanced compared to the sequel, which feels more like a cash grab.”
“The monetization strategy seems to prioritize profit over player experience, leading to a feeling of being nickeled and dimed for content that should be included in the base game.”
“While the game has entertaining mechanics, the aggressive monetization tactics detract from the overall enjoyment and immersion.”
