Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide

In any major city you’re apparently never more than six feet away from a rat, but after a few rounds of Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide you’ll consider that kind of distance a real luxury.

77%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, optimization

84% User Score Based on 15,370 reviews

Critic Score 71%Based on 32 reviews

Platforms

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About

In Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide, players form a team of up to four heroes to fight off hordes of rat-like Skaven in the city of Ubersreik. With 13 different levels, players can choose from five distinct characters, each with unique abilities and weapons. The game offers a first-person perspective and features melee and ranged combat, as well as a crafting system for upgrading weapons.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide screenshot

+16

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 15,402 reviews

story396 positive mentions

grinding562 negative mentions

story
3,195 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
84%
4%
The story in "Warhammer: Vermintide" is minimal and primarily serves as a backdrop for the gameplay, with players engaging in missions against hordes of skaven. While there are character backstories and some lore to uncover, the narrative lacks depth and cohesion, often feeling disjointed and repetitive across the game's missions. Players generally find the focus on gameplay and loot progression more engaging than the story itself, which is often overshadowed by the cooperative mechanics and mission objectives.
- “Had to play with bots as nobody is playing online anymore, but it drips with atmosphere and if you go around collecting the lore, it makes for some good reading between missions.”
- “The game is beautifully animated and has a great story too. I mean, come on, all this stuff is fantasy and not meant to be a reality check... it's an escape, a run in the dark where there is no fear, because you can't really die, and besides that, you carry a big hammer and know how to use it!”
- “The lore and the story behind it is really good and interesting.”
- “🔲 this game has no story”
- “The story is extremely bare bones, the combat quickly gets repetitive, and it seems like somebody looked at Left 4 Dead and copied several game mechanics & style wholesale, then put a Warhammer skin on it.”
- “Each mission doesn't have much connection; there is only a general storyline about the Skaven invading the town.”
gameplay
2,739 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
60%
6%
The gameplay of "Warhammer: Vermintide" is heavily inspired by the "Left 4 Dead" series, featuring cooperative, fast-paced melee combat against hordes of skaven. While the core mechanics are engaging and offer a satisfying experience, many players note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, with some criticizing the loot system and certain mechanics as frustrating. Overall, the game is best enjoyed with friends, as teamwork is essential for success, and it provides a unique blend of action and strategy within the Warhammer universe.
- “Vermintide merges the gameplay from Left 4 Dead with the Warhammer universe.”
- “The gameplay is fun and exciting, and the difficulty levels really help keep the game fun.”
- “The gameplay is solid, with great sound design and interesting weapons to use, though it does show its edges and lack of AAA polish, you can get a good few fun hours out of this game.”
- “The design decisions that went into the equipment and progression systems here are mind-boggling - I honestly can't believe someone thought it was a good idea to force players to slog through levels filled with some of the worst insta-death mechanics ever imagined only to turn around and give them a 100% RNG-based reward that 99 times out of 100 will be completely worthless.”
- “- awful insta-death mechanics that cannot be defended against”
- “The gameplay is rough, enemies are punishing, the game mechanics are barebones in some places and need more balance or fleshing-out in others; however, this game is a good proof of concept which the developers used to go on and create an acclaimed sequel which in its current state is still fantastic.”
graphics
1,437 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
3%
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many players praising the stunning visuals, detailed environments, and atmospheric design that effectively capture the Warhammer aesthetic. However, some users have reported optimization issues, leading to inconsistent frame rates and performance problems, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, while the graphics are often described as beautiful and immersive, there are concerns about the game's ability to run smoothly across various hardware configurations.
- “The gritty and dark visuals of this game are executed very well, which makes the atmosphere immersive.”
- “Set in a very faithfully visualized rendition of the Warhammer fantasy role-play setting, this is much prettier than the vast majority of other medieval/fantasy games I've played. In fact, this game has to have one of my favorite aesthetics I've seen in any game ever, probably right up there in the top 20 of all time.”
- “The graphics are excellent, detailed, immersive and faithful to the source material.”
- “I have a powerful PC and playing on low graphics and still my game keeps crashing. Fix your game!”
- “The graphics are terrible... there are no checkpoints... you lose if one player drops connection.”
- “I had serious lag/stuttering issues on a computer well above minimum requirements, and using the lowest graphics settings.”
grinding
582 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
3%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting it can be excessively tedious and repetitive, often requiring them to replay the same levels multiple times to obtain better gear. While some enjoy the loot grinding and find it rewarding, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, leading to boredom and frustration, especially when compounded by a random loot system. Overall, the game's grinding mechanics seem to cater to those who appreciate a long-term commitment to gear acquisition, but may alienate players seeking a more varied and engaging gameplay experience.
- “No grinding for hero power (a big plus in my eyes. If you have a good weapon, you can use it all the way from level 1 to 100, improving it along the way).”
- “Game is not grindy unless you make it grindy.”
- “If you're not farming better loot and upgrading all your items, then you're not getting the entire experience.”
- “I can't imagine having the strength to keep grinding through boredom just for a few achievements.”
- “The item system makes the game about grinding, but the gameplay isn't particularly exciting (or functional without teammates), so it falls flat.”
- “This game is just a brutal, mean, unwieldy, awful, grinding, unrelenting, unrewarding, snoozefest.”
replayability
548 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The game offers significant replayability, primarily driven by its loot system, character progression, and varying difficulty levels, which encourage players to revisit missions for better gear and achievements. While many players find the gameplay engaging and rewarding, some express concerns about repetitiveness and a lack of content variety over time. Overall, it is highly regarded for its multiplayer experience and depth, making it a solid choice for those who enjoy cooperative gameplay.
- “The loot system provides players with randomized rewards, incentivizing replayability as they strive for better gear.”
- “The levels themselves are very well constructed and are incredibly replayable.”
- “This game has so much replayability and I fail to get bored.”
- “Once you figure out the spawns and the tactics, it's just repetitive with no replayability.”
- “This game is such a disappointment, the dev team wasn't ready for such success, and failed one thing that maybe was the most important for players: replayability and making the game survive more than 2 months of hype.”
- “The game has almost no replay value; the new items you unlock don't seem to be of any substantial difference to the starting gear.”
optimization
529 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance, frequent frame drops, and stuttering, even on high-end systems. While some updates have improved performance, issues persist, particularly for those with lower-end hardware, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall optimization. Overall, players recommend caution, especially for those with less powerful PCs, as the game may not run smoothly without significant adjustments.
- “The graphics are beautiful and well-optimized.”
- “With the latest 1.5 update, the performance has improved greatly; many crashes have been resolved and the overall frame rate of the game has increased noticeably.”
- “Fun game, well optimized, looks great.”
- “This is one of the worst optimized games on Steam I have ever played, besides the first week that Ark launched.”
- “I want to recommend this game but it is an unmitigated disaster in terms of optimization.”
- “The optimization in this game is fucking horrible, and since it's Fatshark who's developing it, it won't be fixed.”
atmosphere
503 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The atmosphere in "Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide" is widely praised for its immersive and gritty representation of the Warhammer fantasy universe, featuring dark visuals, engaging sound design, and a rich lore that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke tension and excitement through its detailed environments and character interactions, making it a standout in the co-op genre reminiscent of "Left 4 Dead." While some critiques mention a lack of variety in level design, the overall consensus highlights the game's atmospheric depth as a key strength.
- “The gritty and dark visuals of this game are executed very well, which makes the atmosphere immersive.”
- “The atmosphere, visuals and voice acting are spot on, conveying the darkness the empire and the nonhuman races are facing, sprinkled with dark humor on top.”
- “The atmosphere is superb, the combat is fun and fast paced.”
- “The atmosphere is practically always creepy, and keeps you on edge throughout the level.”
- “The game is repetitive, unoriginal, buggy, unpolished, hardly strategic (hack and slash), most enemies have boring mechanics as the AI is not diverse or interesting, levels are repetitive and linear, weak story narrative, bots are broken to the point that they pretty much ruin the atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is dark and dreary, but some variation wouldn't have killed you.”
stability
404 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
1%
92%
The game's stability has been a significant point of contention among players, with many reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that can severely impact gameplay. While some users have experienced minimal issues, others describe the game as "buggy as hell," citing game-breaking crashes, AI problems, and graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. Despite these challenges, some players still find enjoyment in the game, suggesting that it has potential if the developers address the numerous stability issues.
- “Clean too, with almost no glitches seen as of yet.”
- “Overall, the game runs great.”
- “The game is fairly well polished and bug free.”
- “While all of the above should have stopped any sane person from playing, the final straw for me was how buggy the game is.”
- “Unfortunately, I have to admit that it became so buggy that I just cannot play it anymore.”
- “This game is a buggy unbalanced mess, basically a Left 4 Dead clone with bad AI and lackluster gameplay.”
music
294 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
42%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, with many praising the soundtrack composed by Jesper Kyd as fitting perfectly within the dark Warhammer setting. Players noted that the music effectively ramps up during intense moments, adding to the immersion, although some found certain tracks repetitive over time. Overall, the sound design, including voice acting and sound effects, complements the gameplay well, creating a rich audio experience that draws players into the game's world.
- “I love the Warhammer lore and this game has really fun co-op gameplay, awesome setting and locations, and, of course, an outstanding soundtrack!”
- “The dark atmospheres, the character banter, and the music are all top notch, and easily engage the player in the game.”
- “The soundtrack really kicks tail and gets the blood pumping at all the right moments.”
- “1) No memorable music at all, not even a theme.”
- “The music is done well and appropriate to the setting; however, the tavern music can get old fast while waiting for a lobby.”
- “The epitome here for developer laziness is the fact that you cannot turn off music or alter individual audio levels.”
humor
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the witty banter and character interactions that add levity to the intense gameplay. Many reviews mention the hilarious glitches and bugs, which contribute to the overall comedic experience, while the dark humor embedded in the narrative and character dialogue enhances immersion. Overall, the combination of engaging combat, funny character dynamics, and entertaining voice acting makes for a consistently amusing experience, especially when played with friends.
- “The characters you play as are excellent, and have an immense amount of funny and interesting lore-friendly banter between them, triggering at very specific intervals to really get you immersed in the setting.”
- “Loads of fun with some hilarious dialogue and banter between the characters that adds levity to all the hacking, slashing, and bashing awesomeness.”
- “Vermintide is suspenseful, engaging, fun, and frequently funny (all odd graphical glitches aside) with well-written and witty character dialogue.”
monetization
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
72%
11%
The game's monetization model is praised for being free of microtransactions, which many players appreciate as it avoids the pitfalls of pay-to-win mechanics. Developers plan to support the game with both free and paid DLC, ensuring ongoing content without resorting to in-app purchases. However, some players express concern that the existing loot system could easily lend itself to future monetization strategies.
- “The devs actively work on problems with the game and listen to the community, and the monetization is more than fair. For example, if you're playing with a group of friends, it's sufficient for the host to have the DLC that grants access to new maps for everyone to be able to play them and get the new items.”
- “The devs have said multiple times that there will be no microtransactions, but that they plan to support this game for a long time with both free and paid DLC, and that they will rotate between the free and paid ones, so expect more maps and story added to the game and most likely more weapon types.”
- “The price is right, the game is great, and there are no microtransactions!”
- “The game is primed and ready to go for microtransactions, as it already features a loot system based around a sort of currency (you get dice and roll them to get better loot).”
- “There isn't currently any subscription, DLC, or in-app purchases, so I'm not sure how they expect to properly monetize this so they can provide the numerous updates and additions that it needs.”
- “Might as well make it free-to-play and add in more hats as microtransactions or something just to get people playing.”
character development
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
57%
10%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as limited, with most reviewers noting a lack of deep progression systems or unique skills for the characters. However, the character design is praised for its uniqueness and quality, particularly in visuals and voice acting, which enhances the camaraderie and banter among the heroes. While the game offers some crafting and loot rewards, it does not provide significant character growth beyond these elements.
- “Excellent character design: each of the five playable heroes is unique in their visuals, most of their weapons are unique to them, and their voice acting is top quality within the industry, making the banter between them one of the great selling points of this game.”
- “I held off for a while getting this game because I was concerned there wouldn't be enough persistent character development to really hold my interest, but there is.”
- “Love the progression system and love the character designs and dialogue!”
- “Character development doesn't show that much either, besides having the characters developing a sort of 'camaraderie' for each other. Very little character development or end game rewards, classes all do the same thing and do not feel unique.”
- “There is not much character development here apart from some crafting.”
- “Very little character development or end game rewards, classes all do the same thing and do not feel unique.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with some players expressing disappointment over its lack of progression and poor mechanics, leading to feelings of heartbreak regarding its unrealized potential. Others find humor in absurd scenarios, but overall, there is a sense of frustration and sadness about what the game could have been versus the experience it delivers.
- “- I cried”
- “Even worse, the potential of what this game could have been is heart breaking.”
- “Unless you like grinding, there is virtually no progression in this game due to the very poor treasure drop rate; the d6 rolling for treasure is not d6. The number of successes they give indicates a d8, maybe even a d12, which visually and emotionally for the teams of players is really poor.”