Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 780 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach Game Cover
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Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach is a 3D turn-based strategy game like you’ve never seen before: fast, immediate, deep, impressive to look at and incredibly fun! Fight through a dark era of carnage and endless war and lead the Space Wolves in a struggle to defend the last bastion of mankind.

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Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 780 reviews
gameplay54 positive mentions
story30 negative mentions
  • Faithful adaptation of the Warhammer 40K tabletop experience, capturing the essence of the game.
  • Engaging turn-based strategy gameplay with a variety of units and tactical depth.
  • Unit progression and leveling system adds a rewarding element to gameplay.
  • Limited to only two factions (Space Wolves and Orks), which may feel restrictive.
  • Campaign lacks a compelling story and can become repetitive with similar mission objectives.
  • User interface and controls can be clunky, leading to frustration during gameplay.
  • story254 mentions

    The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it consists mainly of repetitive skirmish missions interspersed with basic campaign objectives. Players express disappointment over the absence of engaging narrative elements, character development, and meaningful consequences for mission outcomes, making the experience feel more like a series of disconnected battles rather than a cohesive story. While some enjoy the tactical gameplay and unit progression, the overall sentiment is that the game misses an opportunity to leverage the rich lore of the Warhammer 40k universe.

    • “The story and the struggle just adds to the fun!”
    • “The game comes with two campaigns which consist of a few story missions interspersed with random skirmish missions.”
    • “I wish the backstory behind the campaign had been developed more.”
    • “I will agree with others that it lacks a story or any other significant contribution to the lore.”
    • “It's nothing more than a series of skirmish battles with no story at all.”
    • “The story is effectively non-existent.”
  • gameplay133 mentions

    The gameplay of this title has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its turn-based mechanics and tactical depth, likening it to classic tabletop experiences. However, many criticize the outdated graphics, clunky UI, and lack of customization options, which detract from the overall experience. While the core gameplay is deemed solid and enjoyable, it suffers from repetitive missions and a need for polish, leading to a recommendation for potential players to wait for discounts or consider other titles in the genre.

    • “Missions are fun, the mechanics are straightforward to understand, it's easy to see what the best use of each unit is and you get punished if you make a mistake.”
    • “Gameplay is very close to the tabletop experience but simplified in a way that suits solo PC play, and I can say from the first couple of scenarios I've played so far, it's quite simple to learn but actually has a reasonable level of difficulty.”
    • “The gameplay itself is really good; you get some matches where you think 'this game is rigged against me in terms of point balance' and it probably is, but every single time you will get out of the match with your chainsword in one hand, a warlord's skull in the other, and sitting there with a big grin on your face.”
    • “Graphics, UI, and gameplay look and feel straight out of 1998.”
    • “Multiplayer is absolute trash. I was able to play 6 other games before one turn and also complete a game of chess as each time you play a turn only one player can play. Whoever thought of this is an idiot and I hope they got fired. I would never recommend this game to anyone. The UI is trash, and it seems its budget was 20p. I've seen better gameplay from FNAF 1. People only think this game is good as they haven't made a game like the tabletop since. If I were to rate this game, I would give it a -1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 out of 5 stars. The game has no excuse for being this bad; it was made in 2017. It's weird as you cannot Alt+F4 the game; it's that bad. I've played better games from 2013, and even Space Marine is just better. Not worth full price or even a £1; I would rather have spent the money on a bar of chocolate; I would have had a better experience. The game plays worse than a scratch game; I could have made a better game by myself on Scratch and have a more enjoyable time.”
    • “This game is utter trash. It's an RNG shitfest that is so lazy it's criminal. The weapons are all accurate, the feel of everything is good, but the mechanics are so bad it will make you want to pull your hair out.”
  • graphics117 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are decent and capture the tabletop aesthetic well, they often feel simplistic and dated, reminiscent of older titles. Some appreciate the detailed unit models and the charm of the visuals, while others criticize the lack of polish, poor animations, and a user interface that detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as serviceable but not groundbreaking, appealing primarily to fans of the Warhammer 40k universe.

    • “The models really impressed me, the game looks amazing graphically, looking at it as a translation of the tabletop game to PC.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and incredibly detailed on close zooms.”
    • “Graphics are superb with the ability to zoom right in and see all the details on a unit.”
    • “Graphics, UI, and gameplay look and feel straight out of 1998.”
    • “The graphics look nothing like the previews; in fact, this game is basically a worse version of a 20+ year old 40k game called Chaos Gate.”
    • “The graphics are terrible with unpleasing menus.”
  • music26 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitiveness and lack of variety, often citing only a few tracks available throughout the campaign. While some appreciate the atmospheric qualities of the soundtrack, others find it monotonous and distracting, leading them to turn it off in favor of other game soundtracks. Overall, the music is seen as a weak point, detracting from the overall experience despite some positive elements.

    • “Now I understand that this is gigantic music perfectly fitting the seriousness of what is going on on the battlefield.”
    • “Music is top-notch excellence alive with ground-thumping troop-stomping tribalism encased in the armor of classical music as if coming from the very earth with eerie whispers and chant-like rhythms.”
    • “The sound effects and music are top-notch as well and add to the atmosphere of tension.”
    • “Mainly just the lack of variety in the campaign, maps, and music (there's only a couple tracks).”
    • “The main soundtrack is very monotonous and the effects of explosions have a very grainy and narrow feel to them, as if they were recorded with a cheap device.”
    • “The soundtrack is monotonous and mind-numbing, the graphics are eye-watering, and lack of any actual interesting story is unsettling.”
  • replayability15 mentions

    Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its diverse factions, randomly generated missions, and various modes including skirmish and multiplayer. While some players express concerns about repetitive objectives and limited initial factions, many anticipate that future updates will enhance replay value significantly. The combination of campaign, skirmish, and custom scenario options makes it a compelling choice for fans seeking long-term engagement.

    • “All in all, worth every cent and has lots of replay value.”
    • “A good strategic challenge and a lot of replay value with the very different factions.”
    • “But, with the large single-player campaigns plus skirmish mode plus multiplayer plus an editor built-in to be able to design your own scenarios and even campaigns, this game has an exceptional amount of replay value making this a must-own for fans of the genre.”
    • “However, the replayability is undermined for me by their randomization of what units are available for you to choose from going into skirmish mode.”
    • “Replay value is moderate; I do find myself going back to play a couple of rounds and then dropping out.”
    • “So first off, I completed the game, took about 11 hours and zero replayability.”
  • stability15 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting significant bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, such as issues with line-of-sight rules, enemy spawning, and leveling mechanics. While some players note improvements and quick developer responses to patches, others describe the experience as frustratingly unstable, likening it to a poorly optimized mobile game. Overall, the game exhibits a range of stability issues that detract from the overall experience, despite some well-crafted elements.

    • “The level design is well crafted overall, and the random mission and map generator, while fairly simplistic, works effectively and isn't buggy.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any major bugs or issues, providing a stable experience.”
    • “Line-of-sight rules are really, really messed up, and one of the few areas of the game that is really buggy.”
    • “The game now freezes my custom-built gaming computer when I try to exit, and continues to run in the background to the point that I have to cold boot to get the PC going again.”
    • “Feels like a buggy mobile phone game at best.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its absurd and often slapstick elements, such as the comically ineffective AI and the unexpected outcomes of friendly fire, which lead to amusing situations. Players appreciate the quirky graphics and the exaggerated traits of characters, like the immovable space wolf beards, while the ongoing nerfs to orc units add a layer of irony that enhances the comedic experience. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with its turn-based strategy mechanics, making for an entertaining experience despite some multiplayer shortcomings.

    • “It's a funny and engaging turn-based game set in Warhammer 40,000.”
    • “I kind of appreciate the graphics; they're sort of dow-esque, and I get a kick out of their funny space wolf beards that don't budge an inch when they fall down dead.”
    • “All armies, including the enemy, can suffer from friendly fire, which can lead to some funny moments when a sure kill ends up taking out one of your own units as well.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report exceptional performance and stability without crashes, others note issues such as outdated performance reminiscent of late 90s titles and significant frame drops due to environmental effects like rain. Additionally, there are concerns regarding presentation that could benefit from further refinement.

    • “Performance is exceptional, with my framerates far surpassing other turn-based titles with what I would consider equivalent graphical fidelity.”
    • “It is well optimized and I haven't crashed either during early access or after the release.”
    • “You now have tanks to think about and anti-tank weaponry, adding new layers to the game, but all in all, it's another stellar performance from Slitherine.”
    • “Areas that could use some work are presentation and optimization.”
    • “The game's performance runs as if it came out in the late 90s.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some enjoy the gameplay enough to overlook the repetitive skirmish missions, others feel that the key story missions are overly lengthy and tedious. The lack of variety in skirmish types and slow animations during battles contribute to a sense of monotony, detracting from overall immersion.

    • “The key story missions are way too big and feel too tedious.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game has so many small flaws that it breaks immersion and just becomes boring and tedious.”
    • “Skirmishes become quite grindy and there are too few different types of skirmish missions.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its engaging sound effects, music, and visual quality, contributing to a sense of tension and immersion. However, some players feel that the overall atmosphere is undermined by poor mission design, leading to mixed feelings about the game's ability to fully invest players. While it captures the essence of tabletop gaming, there are criticisms regarding its depth and execution in creating a compelling atmosphere.

    • “Pros: good atmosphere, variable map sizes and unit selection, custom mapping tools;”
    • “The sound effects and music are top notch as well and add to the atmosphere of tension.”
    • “Great mechanics and atmosphere, but awful, terrible, amateurish mission design.”
    • “If you enjoy the tabletop, you'll enjoy this game because it does have that feel and atmosphere to it, except you're not hearing a neckbeard's heavy breathing and the smell of Cheetos and methane in a game room.”
    • “So yeah, the atmosphere is kind of lacking.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a nostalgic emotional connection to the game, feeling rejuvenated and youthful while engaging in its mechanics. The affordable price point enhances the overall positive sentiment, making it a worthwhile and heartwarming experience.

    • “Buying your army, deployment, gameplay... it took a little gray out of my beard and made me feel 20 again.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing frustration over perceived exploitation by the developers, who are known for similar practices. Players feel that the game's mechanics, such as the unrealistic combat scenarios, further detract from its value, leading to a strong recommendation against purchasing it.

    • “Another gripe I have is that in Armageddon, tanks are tanks... in this game, they can apparently be beaten to death with choppas. Oh yeah, I read 40k stories all the time where orcs just punch tanks to death. It's a cash grab from a company famous for them. Don't buy it; don't give these creeps your money.”
    • “I feel like it is a cash grab on a license.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

40hMedian play time
125hAverage play time
11-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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