Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II: Retribution

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Command any of the six unique factions in the next standalone expansion of the critically acclaimed Dawn of War real-time strategy franchise. Choose to build a massive army or lead a small squad of elite heroes into battle and experience a single player campaign customized to your favorite race. Go online and face off against your enemies and experience the fast brutal combat of the 41st millenniu…

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Strategy

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Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II: Retribution screenshot

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,176 reviews

story138 positive mentions

stability30 negative mentions

The Last Stand mode is incredibly fun and offers a unique cooperative experience.
The game features six campaigns for different factions, providing variety in gameplay.
The graphics and voice acting are well done, enhancing the overall experience.

The campaigns for all factions are largely identical, leading to a repetitive experience.
The game suffers from frequent crashes and bugs, particularly with sound issues.
There is no base building, which some players miss from the original Dawn of War games.

story
542 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
67%
7%
The story in "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while it offers a continuation of the overarching narrative from previous titles, the campaign missions are largely repetitive across all factions, leading to a lack of depth and engagement. Although the game allows players to experience the story from different racial perspectives, the missions themselves are nearly identical, which diminishes replayability and overall enjoyment. Some players appreciated the character interactions and unique dialogue, but many felt that the story lacked the richness and complexity found in earlier installments, making it feel more like a series of scripted events rather than a compelling narrative.
- “The story is very deep and meaningful, so there is this demon and you have to kill the demon.”
- “The single-player story is really good and feels like a group of deep characters that you care about (as well as multiple factions to play a unique story).”
- “Great atmospheric 40k RTS, with several interesting story campaigns and races to play through.”
- “The campaign is short, and the amount of missions is really low as missions now take twice as long to complete, which is a significant downgrade.”
- “The story is stagnant as well and leaves the player unsatisfied about the outcome.”
- “The campaign is literally just the same set of missions for every race, so there's no reason to play through the campaign more than once with different races unless you just want to see all the units.”
gameplay
260 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
62%
6%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging mechanics and tactical depth, while others criticize it for being overly simplified and lacking the base-building elements typical of traditional RTS games. Many players appreciate the blend of RPG and RTS elements, as well as the unique cover mechanics, but some find the gameplay repetitive and unbalanced, particularly in multiplayer modes. Overall, while the game offers a fun experience with solid graphics and a variety of factions, it may not satisfy fans of the original Dawn of War series who prefer its more complex gameplay.
- “Whether you're commanding space marines, orks, or one of the other factions, the gameplay remains satisfying and engaging.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic - it would have been nice to eventually get more units, or even another faction - any addition to this game would have been many times better than Dawn of War III, which is an absolute waste of time and money.”
- “A superb all-around standalone real-time tactics game with amazing gameplay, intense battles, beautiful music, and a lore that will draw you in.”
- “The gameplay is so horribly useless and because of the frustrating micromanaging I could not give two damns about the good graphics.”
- “Without base building in the campaign, I feel it severely limits what all you can do and overall gameplay; while it shortens gameplay time, it takes away from it being a true RTS; it's more of a MOBA now.”
- “The game itself has little to offer fans of the Dawn of War series except bad storylines, repetitive gameplay, and a lack of proper planning; all in all, the game is a 4/10 for anyone who enjoyed Soulstorm or Dark Crusade.”
graphics
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
37%
5%
Overall, the graphics of the game are generally praised for their quality and detail, especially considering its age, with many reviewers noting that they still hold up well against modern standards. While some players mention that the visuals can feel dated or lack the polish of newer titles, the art style and design effectively capture the Warhammer 40k aesthetic, contributing to an immersive experience. Despite some criticisms regarding performance on older systems and a desire for graphical updates, the consensus is that the graphics enhance the gameplay and overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The graphics are beautiful and every unit is very detailed.”
- “Amazing graphics, great strategy, excellent atmosphere!”
- “The graphics hold up well and the map design matches that of most modern RTS games.”
- “The graphics are dated.”
- “Waste of money, graphic settings don't change anything... going back to chaos expansion.”
- “Graphics aren't great, but many years old, and hardly relevant in an RTS.”
replayability
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
56%
5%
Replayability in the game is a mixed bag; while the single-player campaign is criticized for its linearity and repetitive missions, the inclusion of multiple factions and the engaging multiplayer modes, particularly the Last Stand, provide significant replay value. Players appreciate the unique abilities and dialogues of different races, but many feel that the core campaign lacks depth, leading to a perception of limited replayability. Overall, the multiplayer experience and modding community contribute positively to the game's longevity, making it more enjoyable for those seeking varied gameplay.
- “Great game, for the best multiplayer experience possible, get the elite mod created by players which will give you endless hours of replayability.”
- “The game's replayability is very high, coming with a whopping 6 fully playable races, campaigns for each (all with a very well done RPG-style item and upgrade system), a polished multiplayer with several game modes and lots of maps.”
- “An epic campaign, which can be played in an MP coop mode, really adds to the experience, which essentially makes the replay value pretty high, whether you're into a short tactical-based coop fun, or a massive and mind-blowing story experience.”
- “The replayability isn't that fantastic considering how the missions are nearly entirely the same, but the campaign is short so you can burn through a few points of view if you want to see the differences.”
- “You're supposedly given the option of six different campaigns (each one following a different race) but upon playing them you soon realize that each campaign is literally identical to the others - same levels, same objectives, etc. It stinks of lazy development and kills nearly all replay value.”
- “Doing the same mission over and over again with different classes really kills the replay value.”
stability
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. Many users express frustration over the persistent issues, particularly in the campaign mode, which is often described as unplayable due to these technical problems. While some players still find enjoyment in the game, the overall consensus is that its stability issues detract heavily from the experience.
- “I can confirm that Dawn of War II: Retribution still runs great on modern hardware.”
- “Decent game, not bug-free; however, it is excellent as it is.”
- “Constant freezes and crashes ruin this game.”
- “In my case, I couldn't even finish it once because of constant crashes and freezes (gave up after the 20th crash during the final mission).”
- “I absolutely don't recommend it; if you end up in the same situation as I did, you're pretty much buying an unfinishable buggy mess.”
music
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
42%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as superb and immersive, effectively enhancing the gameplay experience, while others criticize it as repetitive and generic. Many players appreciate the sound design and ambiance, noting that the music complements the game's atmosphere without being overly distracting. However, technical issues related to sound can detract from the overall experience, leading to crashes and interruptions.
- “10/10 soundtrack”
- “A superb all-around standalone real-time tactics game with amazing gameplay, intense battles, beautiful music, and a lore that will draw you in.”
- “The soundtrack... oh my god... the soundtrack for this game is probably one of the best I've heard...”
- “The music is very boring, repetitive, and I only ended up liking one piece of the score really (and it plays on the night mission to Typhon against Eldar).”
- “The music is the definition of generic.”
- “Terrible unresponsive boring gameplay, generic soundtrack, presentation that makes a 10-year-old's Warcraft 3 custom map look good.”
humor
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is widely praised, particularly for its portrayal of orks, whose antics and dialogue provide a comedic highlight throughout the campaigns. Players enjoy the clever writing and voice acting, with memorable lines that enhance the overall experience, making it both entertaining and immersive. However, some critiques mention a lack of depth in certain missions and dialogues, suggesting that while the humor is a strong point, it may not be consistent across all aspects of the game.
- “Not only is it a good strategy/tactics game and a good 40k title, but the humor in the campaign is so brilliant that I'm laughing and crying at the same time; an inquisitor being willing to let the orks sack an entire imperial world for her plan, but she refuses to sacrifice her hat!”
- “Literally worth it just for Diomedes' hilarious lines and Commissar Lord Bernn punching Kyras in the face.”
- “For example, if you play Orks, and then order an attack on an Eldar, they might say something like 'Eldar are da squishiest..' capturing the humor and immersion of the Warhammer universe.”
- “Terrible, terrible game; lazy dialogues, lazy missions, lack of seriousness, and not funny at all.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly in the campaign and mission structures, which often feel like footslogs. While some enjoy the Last Stand mode for its fun factor, many agree it becomes overly grindy, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game remains playable for those who are willing to engage with its grindy elements.
- “And all of them are particularly tedious and boring compared to Dawn of War 2.”
- “Last Stand mode is basically what most play when done with the campaign, but it can get tedious after finishing it once per race.”
- “It's quite tedious and does not provide any fun.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is commendable, particularly on newer machines, achieving impressive performance metrics like an average of 170 fps with max settings. While the Mac version is notably well-optimized, users report occasional performance issues during late-game scenarios and significant load times, alongside crashes after battles. Despite these drawbacks, the graphics and gameplay experience are generally well-received, with vibrant visuals that maintain performance integrity.
- “The performance is noteworthy, and I give this game a big plus for having a benchmark mode.”
- “The graphic is well optimized; though the requirements are decent, the presentation is very well done, with a brightly colored Tyranid-invested jungle and a gloomy snow tundra wasteland, all with the units blending in without any degradation in performance.”
- “The game can still have small performance issues around late game due to all the craters and terrain damage.”
- “Load times are awful and it crashes after every battle; however, the performance in gameplay and the gameplay itself makes up for it.”
- “Performance is very Dota 2-like for a game that normally has to move more units on the map than Dota 2: 170 fps average with all settings maxed, barely beating Dota 2 fps on my PC.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive and engaging representation of the Warhammer 40k universe, featuring compelling story campaigns, strong voice acting, and a visceral combat experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to capture the gritty essence of the franchise, making it a standout choice for fans seeking an authentic 40k experience. Overall, the combination of great cinematics and a richly detailed environment contributes to a captivating and enjoyable gameplay atmosphere.
- “Great atmospheric 40k RTS, with several interesting story campaigns and races to play through.”
- “The voice acting and atmosphere of the game really captures the essence of the Warhammer 40k franchise, doing justice to the respective factions.”
- “Certainly one of the best ways to get the 40k experience, the Dawn of War franchise excels in visceral and gruesome combat, tough campaign missions, and an immersive atmosphere.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Character development in the game is highlighted as a significant improvement, with enhanced squad and hero abilities, alongside brilliant character design and voice acting. However, the reduction in plot length limits the depth of character development compared to previous installments, although some campaigns, like the chaos campaign, still offer engaging dialogue and character growth. Overall, while the focus has shifted from structural elements to character progression, the experience remains compelling for fans.
- “Brilliant character design with excellent voice acting; new areas are similarly varied and thoughtfully creative.”
- “This game is different from the first one in many ways, as it does not have base building like the previous Dawn of War games. However, the character development of squads and heroes is improved, along with a new race, the last stand, and a decent story campaign. This game is epic, and I would recommend it to any true Dawn of War RTS fan.”
- “The chaos campaign has delicious dialogue and character development.”
- “The plot also suffers from the changes, as with a reduced length there isn't time for nearly as much character development.”
- “Less emphasis on structure building but a stronger focus on unit abilities and character development.”
- “But this game is different from the first one in many ways, as this one does not have base building like the first Dawn of War games; however, character development of squads and heroes is improved.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate a strong dissatisfaction with the monetization strategy, criticizing the reliance on microtransactions and cash grab DLCs that detract from the sense of achievement and genuine unlockables. Players feel misled by promotional claims about gameplay features, such as building large armies, which do not align with their experiences.
- “Makes me wish relic could go back to the good old days instead of pumping out another half-assed game with microtransactions.”
- “I hate cash grab DLCs stealing the feeling of legitimate accomplishments given by worthwhile unlockables.”
- “The battles may be slightly larger, but you are not able to 'build a massive army' as the advertising claims.”