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Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin

Warhammer: Age of Sigmar - Realms of Ruin is a genuinely likeable RTS game that would benefit from a slightly faster pace.
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin Game Cover
62%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
56% User Score Based on 1,983 reviews
Critic Score 67%Based on 12 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5CloudXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin Game Cover

About

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin is a single player and multiplayer strategy game. It was developed by Frontier Developments and was released on November 17, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

"Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin - Ultimate Edition is a real-time strategy game set in the iconic Warhammer universe. Lead four unique factions in a cinematic campaign to conquer the savage Realm of Ghur, and engage in comprehensive multiplayer matches. This edition includes additional customization options, alternate hero skins, and a hero pack."

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56%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,983 reviews
story263 positive mentions
stability24 negative mentions

  • The game features stunning graphics and animations, bringing the Age of Sigmar universe to life.
  • The campaign offers an engaging story with well-done cutscenes and voice acting.
  • The gameplay is unique, focusing on tactical unit management rather than traditional base building.
  • Units often do not react to being attacked, requiring constant micromanagement.
  • The game lacks depth with only a few factions and limited unit variety, leading to repetitive gameplay.
  • The combat mechanics can feel clunky, with units getting locked in melee and unable to disengage without retreating to the base.
  • story
    781 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging characters, strong voice acting, and impressive presentation, particularly in cutscenes. However, some players criticize the narrative for being predictable and the gameplay for being repetitive and frustrating, often detracting from the overall experience. While the story is seen as a highlight by some, others feel it lacks depth and suffers from pacing issues, leading to a divided reception among players.

    • “A huge amount of effort and love has clearly gone in; the game looks and sounds great, has a ton of modes, and a great story.”
    • “The writing is competent—certainly above par for a video game—recognizing the tragic tone of Age of Sigmar, but in its execution through actors, animation, cinematography, and editing, it does British game-making proud, a style that utilizes Britain's rich media industries to bring worlds to life, and life to the concept of games as cinematic storytelling.”
    • “I really like the story, and the voice acting and characters are interesting to me, but the gameplay isn't very fun.”
    • “That said, the story seems like hot garbage and the main character is Sigrun, who is a female space marine... who basically looks like a guy but has a woman's voice.”
    • “The few campaign missions I played were also awful.”
    • “The story is just alright; there are still bugs, and the difficulty between missions is just a roller coaster from something incredibly easy to me needing to switch the difficulty down.”
  • gameplay
    657 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive, simplistic, and lacking depth compared to traditional RTS games. While the visuals and story are praised, the mechanics often feel clunky and frustrating, with a heavy reliance on a rock-paper-scissors combat system and limited strategic options. Overall, the game is seen as a missed opportunity to innovate within the genre, leaving players wanting more in terms of gameplay variety and complexity.

    • “The gameplay is good, but there aren't any creative herbs and spices that really add some zesty character to the gameplay itself, and there are some questionable oversights.”
    • “The game is the closest thing to a fantasy themed Dawn of War 2 I can think of; if you have played any of the Dawn of War series or Company of Heroes, you will feel quite at home with the gameplay and unit management focus.”
    • “The gameplay was fun and just the right amount of difficulty.”
    • “Nice visuals but boring, restrictive and repetitive gameplay with a meh scenario which doesn't give you any detailed background information about lore or universe, I wish I listened to my inner voice and returned it before it was too late.”
    • “The whole mechanic of small, slow-moving units, so very many entry points to indefensible control points and a miniscule pop cap made this an unbearable slog.”
    • “The gameplay quickly becomes a chore, with each mission feeling indistinguishable from the last.”
  • graphics
    327 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals, detailed character models, and impressive animations that effectively capture the essence of the Age of Sigmar universe. While the aesthetic presentation, including cutscenes and sound design, is often highlighted as a strong point, some players feel that the beautiful graphics are not enough to compensate for the game's lackluster gameplay and depth. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing to an immersive experience despite criticisms of the gameplay mechanics.

    • “This is an amazing game with new state-of-the-art graphics and sound effects.”
    • “The graphics are great, the character models are spot on, the cutscenes and voice acting are great, they did each faction justice as far as lore and play style, and stayed true to the feel of Age of Sigmar.”
    • “The graphics are fantastic, the controls feel good, it's not under-challenging and the story is actually really rewarding.”
    • “However, do not be fooled by the visuals.”
    • “The budget for this title went into the graphics and you can tell.”
    • “It is extremely pretty from a graphical and technical viewpoint, but it is so lacking in actual meaningful content and mechanical or strategical depth that it just falls flat on its face once you get a few hours in.”
  • music
    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received high praise for its quality and fitting voice acting, with many reviewers noting that it enhances the overall experience, particularly during cutscenes and the campaign. While the soundtrack is described as evocative and grand, some players expressed a desire for more engaging in-game music, as ambient sounds often overshadow it. Overall, the sound design, including the music and voice performances, is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere.

    • “The music, cutscenes, and the voice acting in them are all top notch, which elevates the campaign into genuinely enjoyable territory.”
    • “The soundtrack evokes a grand battlescape and everything from the grunts of orruks to the clatter of sigmarite as folks walk around pulls you in.”
    • “The music, when it plays, is great, and I love the main menu theme with the orchestra over a synth beat.”
    • “Even scummier: the ultimate edition doesn't even include the soundtrack or the new DLC, so even more money!”
    • “The soundtrack evokes a grand battlescape, and everything from the grunts of orruks to the clatter of sigmarite as folks walk around pulls you in.”
    • “Sound design is fantastic, with excellent performances from the voice cast, well-realized atmospheric effects, and evocative music.”
  • optimization
    48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance on high-end rigs and the effective use of DLSS for improved responsiveness, while others report significant frame drops, poor multiplayer performance, and general sluggishness. Graphics are often highlighted as a strong point, but many users express frustration over optimization issues that detract from the overall experience, particularly in multiplayer settings. Overall, while some players enjoy smooth gameplay, others find the optimization lacking, especially given the game's demands during large battles.

    • “Great graphics, great optimization, loving it so far.”
    • “Minor update: I tried it with DLSS/DLAA on, and it works very well - if you have an NVIDIA card, I'd highly recommend trying DLSS - the game seems more responsive, and there's a notable increase in performance.”
    • “Graphics look great and are well optimized, with no stutter when big battles happen.”
    • “Poorly optimized, fps drops, game is interrupted by the laziest tutorial ever, the ultimate edition doesn't contain all the DLC. You'd be better off playing Dawn of War.”
    • “The game is poorly optimized for how little occurs and how slow it happens.”
    • “Has the depth of a mobile game and the performance of that mobile game being played on a gen 1 smartphone.”
  • replayability
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed. While the skirmish and conquest modes offer some potential for repeated play, many players find the campaign lacking depth and the AI flawed, leading to a sense of stagnation after a few rounds. The absence of modding support further diminishes long-term engagement, leaving some hopeful for future updates to enhance replay value.

    • “No, the game is not worth $60 but the game has infinite replayability because of skirmish alone and the gameplay is actually not that bad and very fluid with no stutters.”
    • “I really like that you have both the story-driven campaign and the replayable conquest campaign that feels fresh every time.”
    • “Great game so far, comes with a well-crafted campaign, classic multiplayer modes, and a replayable solo conquest.”
    • “The campaign is meh at best; it is visually pleasing but the storyline is shallow and there is zero replay value to it.”
    • “This game has zero replay value as of now.”
    • “It does lack replayability.”
  • stability
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing constant crashes and significant bugs, while others report a smooth, bug-free experience. Many acknowledge minor glitches and pathfinding issues, but some highlight the absence of serious bugs at launch as a positive aspect. Overall, the game's stability appears to vary widely depending on individual hardware and user experience.

    • “The game runs great for me.”
    • “Experience has been bug-free and challenging enough to enjoy.”
    • “Buggy, constant crashes.”
    • “High hopes dashed, with a boring buggy mess.”
    • “Very buggy.”
  • atmosphere
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its impressive visuals, evocative sound design, and strong storytelling, effectively capturing the essence of the Age of Sigmar universe. Players appreciate the immersive experience created by the detailed environments and high-quality audio, although some feel that the gameplay detracts from fully engaging with the atmosphere. Overall, the atmosphere stands out as a highlight, even amidst criticisms of gameplay mechanics.

    • “The game manages to strike a balance between its own visual design and the established atmosphere of the mortal realms amazingly, showcasing the setting from the wilds of Ghur through ghostly ruins to the heart of a newly established city of Sigmar.”
    • “Sound design is fantastic, with excellent performances from the voice cast, well-realized atmospheric effects, and evocative music.”
    • “It's a shame because the game has good visuals and atmosphere, but the gameplay is lacking with slow fights and a boring overall HUD layout.”
    • “I don't like campaigns where you have 2 missions with one race, then 2 with another, and 1 with yet another... it's hard to get into the atmosphere.”
    • “The overall atmosphere and storytelling of the game is fantastic.”
  • grinding
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with slow unit movement and a simplistic rock-paper-scissors combat system leading to monotonous battles. The campaign is described as a slog, with difficulty spikes that contribute to a lack of enjoyment, making it unappealing for fans of competitive RTS games. Overall, the grinding experience detracts significantly from the game's potential fun.

    • “About six hours into the campaign and it somehow manages to only feel tedious and annoying instead of fun.”
    • “The campaign missions are very hard and tedious with endless constant swarms of enemies that are hard to deal with continually.”
    • “If you want a competitive RTS, this isn't it; the micro is tedious as most units have abilities which have a small effect that will often turn a 1v1 if on the same tier of unit but ultimately exceptionally bare-bones.”
  • monetization
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users criticizing it as a cash grab, particularly regarding DLC that feels unnecessary and focused on multiplayer modes. However, others appreciate that the base game is complete for the initial price, without requiring additional spending on microtransactions to remain competitive.

    • “Very pleasantly surprised that you get a complete game for $60 without having to spend another fortune on microtransactions to compete.”
    • “Yet another in a long line of GW IP cash grabs.”
    • “The DLC for this game is just for multiplayer/mini game modes and feels like a cash grab for an otherwise mediocre game.”
    • “This is an okay game, but the monetization practices are scummy.”
  • humor
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding the orkks particularly hilarious and the voice acting commendable. While some minor bugs were encountered, they often contributed to the comedic experience rather than detracting from it. Overall, the game delivers a funny experience, especially considering its low price during sales.

    • “The orks are hilarious and the voice acting is great.”
    • “While I hit a couple of bugs when it released this week, they were few and far between, usually being strange physics interactions that are really just more funny than game-breaking.”
    • “It's actually quite funny.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by well-crafted cut scenes that resonate with players, evoking genuine feelings during key moments. However, some reviewers feel that despite these emotional highs, the overall narrative lacks depth, leaving a sense of superficiality in the experience.

    • “No spoilers here... but I got emotional watching one of the well-done cut scenes with one of the main characters after completing a chapter.”
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8h Median play time
12h Average play time
4-21h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 20 analyzed playthroughs
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Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin is a strategy game.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 12 hours playing Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin was released on November 17, 2023.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin was developed by Frontier Developments.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Iron Harvest, Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector, Ancestors Legacy, Starship Troopers: Terran Command, Grey Goo and others.