WH&S

About

WH&S is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Eko Software and was released on November 9, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"WH&S" is a fantasy hack and slash game set in the Warhammer world, featuring local or online co-op play for up to 4 players. Choose from 5 character classes and use over 180 powers to battle monsters in fierce combat. The game offers an original story, atmospheric visuals, and a delightful soundtrack, but be prepared for grinding, bugs, and frequent advertisements.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+20

Skip User Reviews

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,987 reviews

story216 positive mentions

grinding95 negative mentions

Fun gameplay with fast-paced combat and satisfying mechanics.
Beautiful graphics and well-designed environments that capture the Warhammer aesthetic.
Decent character customization options with unique skills for each class.

Repetitive maps and enemies, leading to a lack of variety and engagement.
Short main campaign with a predictable and uninspired story.
Bugs and technical issues, particularly in multiplayer, detracting from the overall experience.

story
1,149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
70%
11%
The story in "Warhammer: Chaosbane" is widely criticized for being generic, predictable, and lacking depth, often described as a cliché warhammer plot with minimal engagement. Many players noted the repetitive mission structure and the absence of side quests or exploration, leading to a feeling of monotony throughout the campaign. While some fans of the Warhammer lore may find enjoyment in the narrative, the overall consensus is that the story fails to captivate or provide a meaningful experience, making it largely forgettable.
- “The story is about one of the greatest primarchs in the Imperium and if you're into 40k lore you'll probably like it.”
- “The representation of Warhammer fantasy is good, the balance is quite solid, the story is interesting.”
- “Great story, fun gameplay, and interesting character mechanics.”
- “The story is the cliché Warhammer plot: yet again, chaos is doing chaos things.”
- “The gameplay is sluggish, the story is bland and predictable (spoiler alert: turns out a witch hunter is secretly worshipping chaos, because that's the plot to every single Warhammer game), and the voice acting is terrible.”
- “The story is boring and predictable.”
gameplay
594 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
58%
9%
The gameplay of "Warhammer: Chaosbane" is characterized by fast-paced, hack-and-slash mechanics reminiscent of classic ARPGs like Diablo, offering a variety of abilities for each class. However, many players find the experience repetitive and lacking in depth, with issues such as simplistic enemy mechanics, a lack of engaging content, and numerous bugs detracting from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the fluid combat and character customization, the game struggles to stand out in a crowded genre, often feeling generic and uninspired.
- “The combat is fast, flashy, fun, and very well animated; it offers a fair amount of different abilities for each class, providing for satisfying gameplay for the most part.”
- “The gameplay feels better than most ARPGs, and graphically looks surprisingly good.”
- “The gameplay is fun and exciting.”
- “The gameplay is sluggish, the story is bland and predictable (spoiler alert: turns out a witch hunter is secretly worshipping chaos, because that's the plot to every single Warhammer game), and the voice acting is terrible.”
- “The gameplay is boring and repetitive.”
- “The gameplay, enemies, and locations are repetitive, character progression has no depth whatsoever, the game itself is clunky and poorly built (practically unplayable with mouse and keyboard, switched to controller, but could find a layout of controls nowhere in the game, much less the ability to rebind) and has a number of technical issues, including foreground objects sometimes failing to become invisible, and combat sounds not playing in larger fights.”
graphics
561 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
53%
9%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful visuals and atmospheric design that effectively capture the Warhammer aesthetic. However, a significant number of players are disappointed by the lack of advanced graphics options, which limits customization and optimization for PC users. While some find the graphics to be solid and appealing, others criticize them as mediocre or outdated, particularly given the game's 2019 release.
- “Graphics are beautiful and the skill trees are super powerful.”
- “It has great atmosphere and both the graphics and the maps are remarkable.”
- “The graphics are stunning, some of the best I’ve seen; reminds me of the first time I saw Diablo 3 and what a jump it was.”
- “I don't understand how you can release a game in 2019 with no advanced graphics options.”
- “The graphics are outdated, the level design is repetitive and the characters are ugly.”
- “The lack of graphics options is an utter failure on the part of the devs which makes the PC version feel like an afterthought.”
music
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
56%
8%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players describing it as generic and forgettable, often failing to enhance the overall atmosphere. While some appreciate the atmospheric qualities and find the soundtrack enjoyable, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking immersion. Overall, the music is seen as a weak point in the game, with some players opting to turn it off in favor of their own playlists.
- “It's its own game with genuinely nice story, cinematics, items galore, music is great, it's a blast to play it.”
- “Music is spot on and the voice acting is above average and well done.”
- “Graphics are very detailed, music captures the ambience.”
- “The music is bad and annoying, the fights are ultra easy with the elf character and her summons.”
- “Music not immersive or diverse, repetitive and generally underwhelming.”
- “The soundtrack is very forgettable.”
grinding
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
3%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, often requiring extensive time to farm gear and experience. While some appreciate the loot system and customization options, others criticize the lack of variety in quests and enemies, leading to a monotonous experience. Overall, the game is seen as grind-heavy, with some players enjoying the grind while others find it frustrating and lacking in rewarding content.
- “The combat feels meaty but not grindy.”
- “The skill system is a tedious grind, rewarding you with a single skill point per level, whereas skills and their upgrades usually cost 4 or 5 points.”
- “Same loot from beginning to end so grinding the endgame for better cool gear is completely worthless.”
- “Has three different sets of gear with set bonuses 5/5, so at 20 hours x 3 x 4 classes that's like 150-200 hours of painful grinding over the same 4 maps...over and over and over.”
stability
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, especially in co-op mode. Issues range from graphical glitches and quest rollbacks to frequent crashes and character malfunctions, leading many to feel the game is unfinished and poorly optimized. While some players find moments of fun, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from severe stability problems that detract from the experience.
- “A good, solid Diablo sibling, with great gameplay and bug-free.”
- “Really fun game that runs great and has the best local co-op.”
- “No significant updates, it's not really buggy.”
- “The game is also super buggy and glitches out almost every level on co-op.”
- “The game is buggy with constant progress rollbacks, bugs beyond belief (you can jump out of maps).”
- “This title is bare bones, massively buggy, horribly balanced and sadly like so many other Warhammer titles mediocre and a wasted opportunity.”
replayability
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
54%
16%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting a lack of depth and variety compared to other titles in the genre. While some appreciate the ability to play different characters and engage in various modes, others criticize the limited maps and repetitive gameplay, leading to a consensus that replay value is minimal. Despite some fun mechanics and cooperative play options, many feel the game falls short of offering substantial replayability.
- “Yes, the core game is a little short, but you can replay levels with additional 'expedition' or 'invasion' modes and there’s also unlockable modes; the 'relic hunt' game creator, a 'boss rush' challenge and a 'tower of chaos' mode, to add some replay value.”
- “Not as complex or complete a game as Grim Dawn, but still loads of fun with a ton of replayability because of the nearly infinite combinations of skills you can employ across 5 very different characters.”
- “[fantastic storytelling, high-quality & unique characters, tons of replayability, well-orchestrated music & sound].”
- “In my opinion, there's not as much replay value in Chaosbane.”
- “No replayability: in the end, you'll spend your time in side games but not in starting the same hero again.”
- “There is truly no replayability.”
optimization
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
25%
36%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players reporting smooth performance and minimal bugs, while others experience significant stuttering and issues related to character abilities and enemy interactions. Many users suggest that the game requires further optimization, particularly in terms of balancing and graphical options, to enhance the overall experience. Despite some positive feedback regarding performance on high-end systems, the lack of customization and persistent bugs have led to frustration among players.
- “Edit: also, the game is optimized so very well.”
- “Game runs smoothly, seems optimized.”
- “The game engine seems to be well optimized and runs very smoothly for me, but I also have a beast of a gaming rig.”
- “Character has insane stuttering, and I'm not alone.”
- “The game very obviously needs a few optimization passes, including tweaks to things like how their revamped favor/god skill system works: too few points given and too little benefit from what you can actually get with those points.”
- “The lack of optimization is the only thing... I don't know how companies haven't learned by now that poor optimization options on a PC game will automatically give you bad reviews.”
atmosphere
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
26%
9%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its captivating graphics and immersive settings, effectively capturing the grim medieval fantasy and Warhammer aesthetic. While many players appreciate the dark tone and unique style, some feel it leans too heavily on imitating the Diablo III atmosphere, which detracts from its originality. Overall, the combination of strong visuals, thematic music, and engaging environments contributes to a compelling gaming experience, though there is room for improvement.
- “It has great atmosphere and both the graphics and the maps are remarkable.”
- “Additionally, Chaosbane is trying a lot harder than most ARPGs to copy the Diablo III aesthetic and atmosphere, leading to it feeling more like a cheap imitation than a legitimate entry into a genre trying to move away from the dated 'Diablo clone' label.”
- “The telling of the following war and the atmosphere in it are the parts that make you feel excited to play the games.”
- “It captures the atmosphere of the old world and the struggles of the end times.”
monetization
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
77%
The monetization practices of the game have been widely criticized as blatant cash grabs, with many reviewers expressing disappointment over the lack of content and the presence of overpriced DLCs that feel like they should have been included in the base game. The game's reliance on the Warhammer license is seen as an exploitation of the franchise, leading to a perception of rushed development and abandonment of the player community. Overall, the monetization strategy has significantly tarnished the game's reputation among fans.
- “The devs, or more the publisher, killed the reputation of Chaosbane thanks to their monetization practices and an overpriced base game.”
- “Feels very much like a cash grab trying to distract fans of the universe into buying it and then stringing them along as they release what should have been part of the complete game from the beginning.”
- “This is a rushed cash grab taking advantage of the fantasy Warhammer IP.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
91%
14%
The humor in the game is often described as unintentional, with players finding amusement in its flaws, such as poor hit feedback and fetch quests. Many reviewers noted that they enjoyed laughing at the game's shortcomings, which contributed to their overall experience, despite feeling that the gameplay itself was lacking. The dwarf slayer character was highlighted as particularly fun, adding to the lightheartedness of the game.
- “For an ARPG, this game has hilariously bad hit feedback.”
- “I came into this after playing Inquisitor and thought it was funny that the first boss in Chaosbane was the last boss in Inquisitor.”
- “A 'okay' time in the game (we'd have it in any other game together), but mainly because we were laughing about how bad this game is...”
- “The humor in this game falls flat, making the overall experience feel dull and unengaging.”
- “I expected a lot more laughs, but the jokes just didn't land for me.”
- “The attempts at humor feel forced and often miss the mark, leaving me disappointed.”
character development
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its improvements over similar titles, while others criticize it as shallow and linear, lacking meaningful choices and interactions. Players noted that character design is influenced by gear changes, but overall, the development feels automatic and uninspired, leading to a less engaging experience. The limited dialogue and interaction further detract from the potential for deeper character growth.
- “Diablo style game, better character development.”
- “It's fairly tactical as it incorporates both D3 skill system and PoE with character development.”
- “+gear changes character design.”
- “Very shallow game with little content, reused assets, mostly linear character development, and a premium price point.”
- “The itemization is uninspired, the character design and leveling appears to be automatic, and the combat is a yawn fest.”
- “Same you can say about equipment and character development.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The emotional impact of the game is largely negative, with players expressing feelings of discomfort and dissatisfaction, particularly due to a lackluster story that unfolds quickly. The repetitive mention of feeling "dirty" suggests a strong emotional response, albeit an unpleasant one. Overall, the game's emotional engagement appears to fall short, overshadowed by its shortcomings.
- “The very boring story is played out in a few hours.”