Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach

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Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach is a single player and multiplayer turn-based strategy game with warfare and science fiction themes. It was developed by Straylight Entertainment and was released on January 19, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

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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Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach screenshot

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,560 reviews

gameplay108 positive mentions

story60 negative mentions

Faithful adaptation of the Warhammer 40K tabletop experience with a variety of units and tactical gameplay.
Engaging turn-based combat that rewards strategic planning and unit positioning.
Active developer support with ongoing updates and potential for future expansions.

Limited to only two factions (Space Wolves and Orks) with repetitive campaign missions and minimal story.
User interface and controls can be clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustration during gameplay.
AI behavior can be inconsistent, sometimes leading to illogical decisions during battles.

story
508 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
79%
12%
The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting that it feels more like a series of repetitive skirmish battles than a cohesive narrative experience. While there are some campaign missions interspersed with generic skirmishes, the storytelling is often reduced to brief text blurbs, leaving players wanting more context and character development. Overall, the absence of a compelling story detracts from the potential richness of the Warhammer 40k universe, making the gameplay feel disconnected and grindy.
- “The story and the struggle just adds to the fun!”
- “I wish the backstory behind the campaign had been developed more.”
- “However, the storytelling is barebones and mostly told in short text blurbs for each story mission.”
- “I will agree with others that it lacks a story or any other significant contribution to the lore.”
- “Just mindless tabletop battles, which is fun for the first handful of maps, but without a story or city building, there is nothing to work for, no goal, just endless war... which, I guess, is Warhammer.”
- “The storytelling is barebones and mostly told in short text blurbs for each story mission.”
gameplay
266 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The gameplay of this title has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its turn-based mechanics and tactical depth reminiscent of tabletop Warhammer 40k, while others criticize its outdated graphics, clunky UI, and lack of customization options. Many find the core gameplay enjoyable and addictive, offering hours of strategic play, but note that it suffers from repetitive missions and a need for polish in certain mechanics. Overall, while the game captures the essence of the tabletop experience, it may not meet the expectations of all players, particularly those seeking a more modern gaming experience.
- “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.”
- “Great tactical gameplay and so much fun.”
- “The gameplay is excellent and the devs are very responsive.”
- “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, and the UI is trash as well as the fact that 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. This game has no excuse for being this bad; it was made in 2017, which is 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.”
graphics
234 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
47%
15%
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 outdated and lack polish. Some appreciate the detailed unit models and the charm of the visuals, while others criticize the simplistic design, poor animations, and overall lack of graphical fidelity compared to modern standards. Overall, the graphics are seen as serviceable but not exceptional, with a nostalgic appeal for 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 euphoric to experience with incredible detail to units as if playing with tabletop miniatures and blissful levels of visual carnage including bodily dismemberment capturing the extreme gore in all its grim ghastly heroic godliness like no other Warhammer game has since Chaos Gate.”
- “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.”
music
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
42%
23%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitiveness and lack of variety, often wishing for a more extensive soundtrack. While some appreciate the atmospheric qualities of the music, others find it monotonous and distracting, leading them to turn it off in favor of other soundtracks. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a missed opportunity to enhance the gaming experience, with calls for improvement in both variety and quality.
- “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.”
replayability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
37%
10%
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its diverse factions, randomly generated missions, and various modes including skirmish and multiplayer. While some players appreciate the strategic depth and potential for future content, others express concerns about repetitive objectives and limited initial faction options. Despite these critiques, many reviewers believe the game offers significant long-term engagement, especially with the promise of additional content.
- “All in all, worth every cent and has lots of replay value.”
- “Randomly generated missions in the campaign and custom skirmish mode means there's a ton of replay value.”
- “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.”
- “So first off, I completed the game, took about 11 hours and zero replayability.”
- “Replay value is moderate; I do find myself going back to play a couple of rounds and then drop out.”
stability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and issues such as freezing and problematic line-of-sight mechanics. While some players note that the developers are responsive with patches, many still experience significant gameplay disruptions, including AI exploits and mission design flaws. Overall, the game is perceived as having a range of stability issues that detract from the overall experience.
- “- Well crafted level design overall - there is also a random mission and map generator, which is fairly simplistic, but it does work and isn't 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.”
- “It's also seemingly quite buggy, as in enemies spawn right behind and beside you and in areas that you can see.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurd and often slapstick moments, such as the comically ineffective AI and the unexpected outcomes of friendly fire, which can lead to hilarious mishaps. Players appreciate the quirky graphics and the exaggerated features of characters, like the immovable space wolf beards, while the ongoing nerfs to orc units add a layer of comedic frustration. 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.”
- “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.”
- “(Such as my whirlwind's hilarious -465% chance to hit a target and still manages to blast it to green confetti anyway.)”
optimization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
29%
14%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report exceptional performance and stability without crashes, others note significant issues, particularly with graphical effects like rain that hinder performance. Additionally, there are mentions of outdated performance reminiscent of late 90s titles, suggesting that while the game excels in some areas, it still requires improvements in optimization and presentation.
- “- 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 haven't crashed neither during early access nor after the release.”
- “You now have tanks to think about and anti-tank weaponry, and so it adds 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.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the large key story missions and repetitive skirmish missions, which lack variety. While some enjoy the overall gameplay, the slow animations and grindy nature of battles can detract from the experience, leading to a sense of boredom and frustration.
- “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.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
22%
21%
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its engaging sound effects, music, and graphics, contributing to a sense of tension and immersion. However, some players feel that despite these strengths, the overall atmosphere is undermined by poor mission design and a lack of depth, leaving it somewhat lacking compared to modern standards. Overall, while the game captures a tabletop feel that many enjoy, it struggles to fully invest players in its world.
- “The sound effects and music are top notch as well and add to the atmosphere of tension.”
- “This is a brilliant game; easy to learn, challenging, superb graphics and very atmospheric.”
- “If you enjoy the tabletop, you'll enjoy this game because it does have that feel and atmosphere to it.”
- “So yeah, the atmosphere is kind of lacking.”
- “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.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, feeling rejuvenated and nostalgic as it brings back youthful memories and excitement. The affordable price point enhances the overall positive sentiment, making the experience feel rewarding and fulfilling.
- “Buying your army, deployment, gameplay... it took a little gray out of my beard and made me feel 20 again.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with players expressing frustration over perceived exploitation of the franchise's popularity. Many reviewers advise against purchasing the game, suggesting that it prioritizes profit over quality and authenticity.
- “I feel like it is a cash grab on a license.”
- “It's a cash grab from a company famous for them. Don't buy, don't give these creeps your money.”

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68%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews

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40h Median play time

125h Average play time

11-50h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach is a turn-based strategy game with warfare and science fiction themes.

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 125 hours playing Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach.

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach was released on January 19, 2017.

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach was developed by Straylight Entertainment.

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector, Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon, BATTLETECH, Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus, Warhammer 40,000: Regicide and others.

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach

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