Warhammer 40,000: Regicide

Warhammer 40,000: Regicide combines the cerebral strategy of Chess with the brutal tactical gameplay the Warhammer 40k series is famous for. But does this game rely more on brawn or brains? Our review.

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"Warhammer 40,000: Regicide" is a turn-based strategy game that combines traditional chess with brutal combat. Players can command their soldiers through two phases of combat, using tactical abilities and psychic powers to defeat enemies. The game also features single and multiplayer modes based on chess rules, with violent kills and cross-platform multiplayer functionality.

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Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 976 reviews

story20 positive mentions

stability25 negative mentions

Great blend of chess and Warhammer 40K, offering a unique twist on traditional chess gameplay.
High-quality graphics and animations, making the game visually appealing and engaging.
The Regicide mode adds depth and strategy, allowing players to use abilities and tactics beyond standard chess moves.

The RNG mechanics can be frustrating, with players often missing high-percentage shots while the AI hits consistently.
Limited playable factions (only Space Marines and Orks), which may lead to repetitive gameplay.
The AI can be inconsistent, making poor decisions that detract from the overall challenge of the game.

story
148 mentions
14 % positive mentions
82 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as thin and lacking depth, often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics that prioritize chess-like puzzles over narrative development. While some players appreciate the Warhammer 40k lore and voice acting, many criticize the repetitive missions and frustrating mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the campaign offers a loose storyline with interesting scenarios, but it fails to deliver a compelling narrative that engages players throughout.
- “The campaign has an interesting story, but is really hard because you will be missing most of your 70% shots.”
- “The completed campaign adds an interesting story element to the game with different primary and secondary goals for each mission.”
- “Campaign story is voiced, and quite interesting, if you like the Warhammer 40k universe.”
- “The 'plot' is anywhere from non-existent to rubbish, with tedious 'I want to kill orcs' speeches between every mission.”
- “The campaign itself is pretty straightforward, yet the story is not so well done and only scratched the surface; there are only little cutscenes when one unit kills the other, but none for the campaign story or anything.”
- “I played today and after 3 campaign missions I uninstalled the game and will not venture to re-install this.”
graphics
140 mentions
61 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their high quality, detailed character models, and impressive animations, particularly in the context of the Warhammer 40k universe. Many users highlight the visual effects and cutscenes as standout features, contributing to an engaging aesthetic experience. However, some players have noted issues with graphical glitches and repetitive animations, suggesting that while the visuals are strong, they are not without flaws.
- “The graphics are good, especially the cut scenes.”
- “The visuals are wonderful.”
- “The graphics and atmosphere are fitting of a 40k game.”
- “I don't even want to comment on the animations, graphics, sound, or anything else... this %hit has completely ruined this game for me.. and I love XCOM!”
- “The graphics are poor for something that came out this recently and they reused assets as often as humanly possible.”
- “Graphics choppy, gameplay is repetitive; it is a $5 game in my opinion.”
gameplay
138 mentions
28 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Warhammer 40,000: Regicide combines classic chess mechanics with tactical turn-based combat, introducing unique elements like shooting and special abilities that add depth and variability. While many players appreciate the innovative twist on traditional chess, criticisms arise regarding balance issues, reliance on luck, and the limited variety of factions, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite its engaging mechanics and polished visuals, some find the gameplay repetitive and frustrating, particularly due to AI inconsistencies and server dependency for online features.
- “The extended gameplay doesn't detract from the chess tactics, just adds another level.”
- “Regicide fuses multiple phases of gameplay with dynamic action.”
- “Gorgeous visuals, tactically diverse gameplay, and unapologetic violence elevate a classic board game to quite something else entirely.”
- “Failure to the emperor: let me get this out of the way, the game is bad…not immediately, for the first two hours you may enjoy it (I did) but once you start to get the mechanics down and the game starts having to create 'puzzle' levels to create any form of challenge you start realizing you are just banging your head against mechanics that, although interesting, fail at creating enjoyment.”
- “The shooting adds absolutely nothing to the gameplay and in fact ruins the entire experience.”
- “But the 'regicide' portion of gameplay is more frustrating than the game is worth.”
stability
27 mentions
7 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting significant bugs, glitches, and issues with multiplayer functionality, particularly after a server change. While some users find the game enjoyable despite these problems, many express frustration over the frequency and severity of the glitches, which hinder gameplay and overall experience. A few players note improvements over time, but the consensus remains that the game is still plagued by instability.
- “It seems to be utterly bug-free.”
- “Bug-free (at least from what I've seen so far).”
- “I could go on, but ultimately this game doesn't work, both literally speaking as it's buggy in many regards, and conceptually.”
- “Incredibly buggy, the friend system is broken and multiplayer is completely unplayable.”
- “Since 2017, from what I recall, the developers of Regicide jumped their servers from one host to another. Since the change in servers, the multiplayer has been buggy and temperamental, along with the option to add friends being completely broken to the point it doesn't work.”
music
24 mentions
46 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received praise for its thematic quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere without being distracting. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's fitting Warhammer 40k vibe, though some note that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the audio, including voice acting and sound effects, is considered well-executed and contributes positively to the gaming experience.
- “The music is thematic, and loops in a way that runs just underneath your attention level and doesn’t distract.”
- “Makes me smile every time, the soundtrack is awesome and when I got some money, I'll definitely buy it.”
- “Despite it being early access, it still gives us solid gameplay (and the soundtrack is great, too).”
- “The soundtrack, the visuals, everything except regicide-mode gameplay.”
- “Graphics are fine, music is ok, but it feels like one track repeats all the time (maybe it's just my ears deceiving me).”
- “- repetitive perhaps only two musics”
replayability
19 mentions
58 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it enjoyable and engaging with multiple ways to complete levels and a solid single-player campaign, others criticize the limited content, repetitive gameplay, and lack of multiplayer options. The restriction to only two playable factions and environments dampens long-term replayability for many, though some appreciate the variety in game modes and optional objectives. In summary, the game offers decent replay value, particularly for fans of strategy games, but it could benefit from more content and playable races.
- “I have had it for years and keep coming back; replayability is good, and you can complete the levels in numerous ways.”
- “Great replay value so far - level up units and make them stronger.”
- “There are many fun modes you will be able to play, so it goes beyond your normal gameplay and strategy of regular chess; it doesn't get boring, and the replay value is great!”
- “Not much content, boring, same animations over and over, repetitive, hardly any community, only 2 classes, and finally no one is playing multiplayer which is the only replay value of this game.”
- “Campaign is relatively solid, but the lack of options post-campaign (allowing customized maps or anything other than a standard chess setup) kills the replayability long term, but the game is overall quite good and certainly worth it on sale.”
- “Additionally, being restricted to only two playable factions and game boards/environments does dampen overall replayability.”
monetization
12 mentions
25 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
42 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players labeling it a cash grab due to the presence of numerous microtransactions for additional content like chapters, tribes, and cosmetic upgrades. While some appreciate the option to earn in-game currency through gameplay, others express frustration over the perceived necessity to spend money for a complete experience. Overall, the game's monetization approach has sparked debate among players, balancing between offering optional purchases and being seen as exploitative.
- “Unlockables can be purchased with in-game currency or microtransactions.”
- “There are microtransactions in this game for new army skins or maps, but you also have in-game currency, which you earn by just playing the game.”
- “For all the talk about the microtransactions: I've played games that have the exact same unlock mechanic, but without the option of forking over some money to get it early.”
- “There was a great deal of coverage and positive reviews from major game journalists at the time, but in the end, it was just a cash grab.”
- “They had already made a simple cash grab game with zero support, but then on top of that, they nuked the game permanently so that those of us that bought it couldn't even play single player ever again.”
- “I am irritated by the slight microtransactions of having to purchase other chapters and tribes, though, for skirmish or the ork campaign.”
grinding
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with many feeling that unlocking new skins and content requires excessive time investment. The limited factions and reliance on grinding or paywalls for progression further detract from the experience, compounded by technical issues and a lack of engaging gameplay. Overall, the grind is seen as a significant drawback, making it hard for players to stay motivated.
- “This game can feel grindy to unlock new skins and doubt you want to play long enough to unlock them all.”
- “The 5 hours I clocked was simply grinding the campaign (maybe 4 hours? at most) and then trying to find redeeming qualities or deeper gameplay and 'leveling' mechanics.”
- “There are also only two factions, and a hell of a lot of the game is behind either a paywall or a hell of a lot of grinding.”
humor
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing dialogue of Warhammer 40,000 characters, particularly the orks, whose unintentional hilarity adds to the experience. Players find the interactions and scenarios, such as a king inadvertently putting itself in check, to be genuinely funny, making the game both entertaining and a unique way to practice chess skills. Overall, the blend of humor and gameplay creates a delightful atmosphere for players.
- “As an amateur chess player, this is a great way to practice my chess skills while also witnessing amazing glory kills and the funny dialogue of the Warhammer 40,000 characters.”
- “Couldn't stop laughing at the ork dialogue.”
- “The voices are awesome and the orks, true to their way, are hysterical in what they say even though they are not trying to be funny.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive graphics, sound design, and detailed animations, effectively capturing the essence of the Warhammer 40k universe. Players appreciate the rich visual and auditory elements that enhance the experience, particularly during intense battle sequences. Despite being in early development, the atmosphere is considered promising and engaging.
- “The game captures the 40k atmosphere very well and looks overall interesting and promising.”
- “Animation, music, and fatalities all of these components look pretty nice and atmospheric.”
- “The graphics and atmosphere are fitting of a 40k game.”
- “Top atmosphere and a game you could play on your laptop.”
optimization
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game excels in optimization, achieving a high balance between presentation and performance, with users noting it runs well even on lower-end hardware. While the current optimization is commendable, there is potential for further improvement, particularly in enhancing gameplay mechanics and depth. Overall, it receives strong praise for its ability to maintain visual quality across various settings.
- “Yes, this game scores very high in the presentation and performance aspect.”
- “Even though my 4-year-old laptop could run relatively decent on beautiful settings, the game keeps its awesome presentation even on low performance settings.”
- “When the game is fully optimized and has 100% chess mechanics and more depth, I will give it 8/10-10/10 depending on added features and tweaks.”
- “The freshest rookie scout would be ashamed of and disciplined for such performance, let alone a veteran with decades, if not centuries, of front-line experience to qualify him for the first company.”
emotional
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find the story lacking and tedious, others express a strong connection to their in-game losses, indicating that the gameplay can evoke genuine feelings of frustration and empathy.
- “This all combines to create an emotional game experience, where you really feel for your losses. I found myself saying out loud to the orcs:”
- “The story is stupid and boring.”