Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

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"Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine - Anniversary Edition" is a sci-fi shooter game celebrating its 10-year anniversary. Play as Captain Titus, a Space Marine of the Ultramarines chapter, in a single-player campaign or engage in 2-player co-op battles. This edition includes the full soundtrack, wallpapers, strategy guide, artbook, collectible cards, and all DLCs. Experience the game's unique atmosphere, phenomenal mechanics, and emotional story, but be prepared for lots of grinding and some bugs.

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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine screenshot

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 17,841 reviews

story1.4k positive mentions

stability97 negative mentions

story
3,346 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
53%
5%
The story of *Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine* is generally described as straightforward and predictable, often following familiar tropes within the Warhammer universe, such as the battle against an ork invasion and the looming threat of chaos. While some players appreciate the engaging action and character dynamics, many note that the plot lacks depth and complexity, with a few predictable twists and a cliffhanger ending that leaves the narrative unresolved. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop for the intense combat, making it enjoyable for fans of the franchise, but it may not captivate those unfamiliar with the lore.
- “Brilliant game with a great story that lives up in 2024!”
- “The story is engaging, and playing as Captain Titus feels powerful and epic.”
- “The story is quite simple, but the protagonist and other elements of the game make you close your eyes to it and enjoy the gameplay.”
- “The story is pretty straightforward and unadorned, with a basic plot that doesn't offer much depth.”
- “The story ends on a cliffhanger, and some plot points might be confusing if you don't know the Warhammer 40k lore.”
gameplay
2,098 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
The gameplay of "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine" is characterized by a blend of third-person shooting and melee combat, offering a visceral and satisfying experience as players engage in brutal battles against hordes of enemies. While the mechanics are straightforward and can become repetitive over time, the game compensates with a rewarding execution system that allows players to regain health through melee kills, encouraging aggressive play. However, some players find the lack of depth in gameplay mechanics and linear level design to detract from the overall experience, making it feel dated compared to modern titles.
- “The gameplay is fast, gory, and action-packed, with a great mix of melee and ranged combat.”
- “The gameplay delivers intense, visceral combat that makes every swing of your chainsword and every shot of your bolter feel satisfying.”
- “The game constantly provides you with upgrades and new toys to play with that keep the gameplay feeling fresh throughout the entire campaign playthrough.”
- “The gameplay loop and scenery is very monotonous and bland.”
- “Technically it's not such a bad game (graphics are good, and maybe it has some interesting story to Warhammer fans), but I personally found its gameplay so unbearable I eagerly wanted to finish it and never see it again.”
- “The gameplay is clunky, lacks a cover system, so it can sometimes feel awkward running away from combat just so you can regenerate your health and survive.”
graphics
1,046 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
47%
5%
The graphics of "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine" have generally aged well since its 2011 release, with many players praising the game's art style and atmospheric design that effectively captures the grimdark essence of the Warhammer universe. While some textures and details show their age, the overall aesthetic remains appealing, and the game runs smoothly on modern hardware. The Anniversary Edition has also received positive remarks for its graphical enhancements, making it a visually satisfying experience for both new players and long-time fans.
- “The graphics still hold up well for a game from 2011, and the sound design, especially the iconic chainsword and bolter fire, adds to the immersion.”
- “The combat was fun, the graphics/art style still hold up well after 13 years, the story and lore were easy to follow even with no prior knowledge of Warhammer.”
- “The graphics are decent for their time, with a stylized look that keeps the game from feeling outdated.”
- “The graphics are dead and buried with this game.”
- “The graphics for some could feel a bit outdated but honestly they still hold up today.”
- “The graphics are quite bad, even for 2011.”
music
260 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its epic orchestral arrangements that enhance the atmosphere and intensity of battles, while others find it forgettable or lacking in memorability. Many agree that while the soundtrack fits the Warhammer 40,000 setting, it often feels generic or reminiscent of standard Hollywood war film scores. Overall, the sound design, including weapon sounds and voice acting, is generally well-received, contributing to an immersive experience despite some criticisms of the music's repetitiveness and lack of standout tracks.
- “The music and atmosphere really immerse you in the Warhammer world, and the devs did a fantastic job.”
- “The soundtrack, composed by Cris Velasco and Sascha Dikiciyan, is appropriately epic, enhancing the intensity of battles and the grandeur of the Space Marines.”
- “The music is fantastic, the single player is by far one of the best I have played in a long time.”
- “The music is unremarkable.”
- “I just completed it maybe 15 mins ago and I can't recall a single piece of music.”
- “The music is also terribly bland -- maybe this is a port issue or something else, but the music sounded really muted, dull, and dreadfully boring.”
atmosphere
203 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
42%
2%
The atmosphere of "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine" is widely praised for its immersive and gritty representation of the Warhammer 40k universe, effectively capturing the grimdark aesthetic through stunning visuals, sound design, and world-building. Reviewers note that the game successfully conveys the brutal and intense nature of its setting, making it a standout experience for both fans and newcomers to the franchise. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and level design, the overall atmosphere remains a major highlight, enhancing the game's appeal.
- “What really stands out is the atmosphere—it perfectly immerses you in the grimdark Warhammer 40k universe, with stunning visuals and a narrative that captures the brutal, larger-than-life scale of the conflict.”
- “The graphics and sound are both top-notch and they combine to create a very immersive atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere created by the visuals and audio definitely are very 40k.”
- “As an introduction to Warhammer, it can feel like you're lost as to what exact tone or atmosphere the game is going for initially.”
- “The atmosphere is a bit stale but accurate to the industrialized world the setting is in.”
- “The game lacks the heavy, dark atmosphere that the books/short stories have, so you might reconsider if that's what you're expecting.”
replayability
127 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
54%
17%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with many reviewers noting that the single-player campaign, lasting around 7-12 hours, offers limited replay value beyond initial playthroughs and some collectible hunting. While the multiplayer mode can enhance replayability for those who enjoy online play, its dwindling player base and basic mechanics detract from the experience. Many players recommend picking the game up on sale, as its short campaign and lack of depth may not justify a full-price purchase.
- “So satisfying and endlessly replayable!”
- “The single player campaign is fun and replayable, the online still has a dedicated community, the gameplay is super fun.”
- “The multiplayer component adds replayability and fosters a sense of community among players, allowing for thrilling and tactical online matches.”
- “It doesn't offer any replay value or a reason to continue playing beyond the story.”
- “The campaign took me slightly more than 7 hours to finish - there is not much replayability, and with hunting for additional achievements I got almost all single player achievements after about 9.5 hours.”
- “Short singleplayer that doesn't have much replay value.”
stability
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
3%
84%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users noted that it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, others experienced significant freezing, lag, and frustrating UI problems that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, while the game can be enjoyable, its stability issues remain a common point of contention among players.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck, as I played it there exclusively.”
- “As for performance, it runs great and looks pretty nice despite being 13 years old.”
- “And unlike a lot of games that come out on PC nowadays, this one can claim to be well optimized and glitch and bug free.”
- “The journey includes tons of bugs and glitches that will ultimately get you killed a couple of times, which drove me nuts.”
- “Love the game but the game will not advance past chapter 8, just freezes without reason, no way to fix it.”
- “If you want to play it only online, don't buy it; the servers are super buggy, it's mostly host migration jumping people all around, it's a horrible experience.”
humor
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is characterized by its dark, over-the-top absurdity, particularly through the antics of the orks and the exaggerated violence that often leads to laugh-out-loud moments. Players appreciate the blend of brutal action with comedic elements, such as funny dialogue and quirky character interactions, which elevate the experience beyond a typical shooter. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with its grim setting, making for a uniquely entertaining experience.
- “Whether you’re facing shoota boys, 'ard boys, or the massive slugga nobs, these enemies come at you in droves, providing a perfect mix of challenge and humor in the bleak setting of Warhammer.”
- “Little details like the apartment buildings you fight through at one point being nothing but bunk beds, or the automated announcements about having to continue working despite the ongoing invasion is hilariously bleak in a Paul Verhoeven way.”
- “The voice acting is great... the orcs are hilarious as you'd expect, if you're an old school book/White Dwarf fan!”
- “I've died so many times in this game it's not funny.”
- “Some parts are funny, but overall it misses the mark.”
- “Shut up, you unfunny people.”
optimization
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
41%
9%
Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed feedback from users. While many praise its smooth performance and ability to run well on low-end PCs, some report issues such as freezing, frame drops, and crashes, particularly during intense gameplay moments. Despite these concerns, the majority agree that the game is generally well-optimized, especially for its age, with solid graphics and responsive controls.
- “Perfectly optimized for PC with no issues.”
- “The game runs smoothly and the controls are responsive, which is crucial for the fast-paced combat this game is known for.”
- “I would also like to add that the game is extremely well optimized; the lowest FPS I got was 40 on medium-high settings, and I am fairly below the recommended system requirements.”
- “The game slows down at random, and I still can't tell if it's the mechanic of the game or some issues with optimization.”
- “This is one of the most poorly optimized games I've ever seen, experiencing random slowdowns and lagging frames even with a machine that well overpowers its minimum specs.”
- “With little video settings to change, there isn't much wiggle room for people who want to tweak their performance issues, which you will probably have.”
grinding
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
9%
87%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially in the later stages where encounters become monotonous and enemy waves feel unending. While some appreciate the visceral combat and engaging story, others criticize the lack of depth and the necessity of grinding for achievements or multiplayer progression, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game is seen as fun in short bursts but can quickly become a chore due to its grindy nature.
- “No grinding for abilities or power, just straight linear that automatically scales your power as you progress through the levels.”
- “Camera controls are much better than in the Gears of War series, combat isn't as grindy, and the cutscenes and dialog add flavor yet get out of your way quickly so you can get back to slaughtering xenos scum.”
- “Damn cool, the progression system is not too tedious and well rewarding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The campaign is short and often tedious.”
- “I've played dozens of first-person shooters, and am not a noob by any measure, but this is far too tedious and repetitive to fall into my definition of 'fun'.”
emotional
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
89%
11%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the impactful voice acting of Mark Strong, which adds depth to the protagonist, Captain Titus, amidst a chaotic war-torn universe. Players express a strong sense of empowerment and nostalgia, feeling like powerful space marines as they engage in thrilling combat, though some criticize the story for being lackluster and the characters for lacking emotional depth. Overall, while the gameplay evokes strong feelings of badassery and connection to the Warhammer 40K lore, the narrative's emotional resonance varies among players, with some finding it deeply engaging and others viewing it as a missed opportunity.
- “The main characters are what they are meant to be: bluntly efficient and brutal soldiers, with little in the way of personality, but that does not stop Mark Strong from giving your character, Captain Titus, some much-needed emotional depth, for a space marine at least.”
- “As well as this, to touch on the human aspect more, the audio logs found that display the workers and denizens of the planet are truly heartbreaking at times.”
- “Despite you being an ultrasmurf (instead of a smexy yet fashionably emotional raven guard) in the campaign, the ork stomping still feels darn great.”
- “Decent gameplay, extremely boring story.”
- “Repetitive combat and what I considered to be a very boring story.”
- “Sadly, a few bugs, awful netcode, and a boring story tend to spoil the incredible amount of fan-service provided by the devs.”
monetization
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
21%
72%
The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, particularly with the recent price hike to $60, which many reviewers attribute to the upcoming sequel. While some players appreciate the absence of microtransactions and DLC, they still feel the game is overpriced and exploitative, especially given its age and the lack of substantial updates. Overall, the sentiment reflects disappointment in the game's pricing strategy and a desire for more genuine value rather than opportunistic sales tactics.
- “Yes, this is what we want from video games such as this: no live service, no microtransactions, just inspired video game carnage!”
- “[u]Pay to win:[/u] no (no DLC, no loot boxes, no microtransactions).”
- “Similar to old school third-person shooters, given what is currently on the market, it is a refreshing step back to classic good games without microtransactions.”
- “Screw you Sega for a cash grab.”
- “However, I will say this has been sitting backlogged in my vault on Steam for years and I have no idea why the price is $60 again besides the fact the sequel is coming out and they are doing a cash grab on a 13-year-old game.”
- “The anniversary edition isn't any kind of graphical remaster, it's just a monstrous cash grab preying on unsuspecting customers.”
character development
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
60%
14%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the depth and interest of certain characters, while others criticize the lack of development for key allies, leading to unlikable portrayals. The character designs are generally well-received, showcasing intricate details that align with Warhammer lore, but many feel that the narrative could benefit from more character exploration to enhance player empathy. Overall, while the visuals and character designs are celebrated, the character development aspect appears to be a significant area for improvement.
- “Despite this, character design remains faithful to Warhammer lore, with intricate details depicting Ultramarines adorned with purity seals and Orks clad in makeshift armor.”
- “The character development is second to none and the characters themselves are interesting.”
- “Character development is interesting; which is why we all hate Leandros and love Sidonus/Titus.. and there are some highly unexpected plot twists, ones that you wouldn't normally suspect from Warhammer!”
- “Your squad consists of a geow dom santiago wannabe and a typical by-the-book rookie which surprisingly didn't have any character development and remained incredibly unlikable.”
- “There is not much in the way of character development, beyond the unfolding story.”
- “The dialog isn't fantastic and the character development, well, isn't there.”