Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 7,685 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide Game Cover
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.
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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.

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Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 7,685 reviews
story198 positive mentions
grinding280 negative mentions
  • story1,597 mentions

    The story in "Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide" is minimal and primarily serves as a backdrop for the gameplay, focusing on a group of heroes fighting against the skaven hordes in the city of Ubersreik. While there are character backstories and some lore to uncover through collectibles, the missions themselves often feel repetitive and lack a cohesive narrative, leading many players to view the game more as a series of objectives rather than a story-driven experience. Overall, the game is more about cooperative gameplay and loot grinding than delivering a deep or engaging storyline.

    • “The game is beautifully animated and has a great story too; 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.”
    • “The atmosphere and lore is spot on, the five heroes are all interesting, fun to play as, and the witty banter between them during missions is amusing and tonally appropriate.”
    • “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.”
    • “The missions can feel similar, and the objectives might get a bit stale.”
    • “The story is nothing special, but if all you want is to bash some Thaggoraki in the face with a massive hammer then Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide might be something for you.”
  • gameplay1,368 mentions

    The gameplay of "Warhammer: Vermintide" is often compared to "Left 4 Dead," featuring cooperative, fast-paced action where players battle hordes of skaven in a fantasy setting. While the melee combat is praised for its depth and satisfaction, many reviews highlight issues with repetitive mission structures, frustrating mechanics, and a lack of variety in enemy types. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy cooperative gameplay with friends, despite its flaws and grindy loot system.

    • “The gameplay is fun, challenging, and absolutely exhilarating.”
    • “The melee gameplay is superb; it is rare to see first-person melee done this well.”
    • “Vermintide takes the core mechanics of Left 4 Dead and expands on them in a modernized spiritual successor that takes place within the Warhammer universe.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive and just lacks polish.”
  • graphics717 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their stunning visuals, detailed character designs, and immersive environments that effectively capture the dark and gritty atmosphere of the Warhammer universe. However, some players have reported performance issues, including frame rate drops and optimization problems, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered excellent, the game's performance can be inconsistent, affecting the overall experience.

    • “The gritty and dark visuals of this game are executed very well, which makes the atmosphere immersive.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous, combat is satisfying and the five different classes are all very different.”
    • “The graphics are excellent, detailed, immersive and faithful to the source material.”
    • “I have a powerful PC and I'm playing on low graphics, yet my game keeps crashing. Fix your game!”
    • “The graphics are terrible... there are no checkpoints... you lose if one player drops connection.”
    • “I'm having to play this game on the lowest graphics settings, and I know it sounds ridiculous, but I feel like lowering the graphics hinders the performance of the game.”
  • grinding290 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the reliance on RNG for loot drops and the need to replay the same levels for better gear. While some enjoy the loot grinding as a core part of the gameplay, appreciating the RPG elements and cooperative play, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, leading to boredom and frustration. Overall, the game's grinding mechanics can be a significant barrier for those who prefer a more varied and less time-consuming progression system.

    • “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).”
    • “The 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 game is just grindy and buggy with some cool ideas; it's L4D with Warhammer End Times on top of it and the same lame ass finales that could easily have been something unique and fun but it's mostly fight a horde for a while then leave.”
    • “This game is a buggy unbalanced mess, basically a L4D clone with bad AI, lackluster gameplay, and if you dislike grinding, stay the fuck away!”
  • replayability273 mentions

    The game exhibits high replayability, primarily driven by its diverse loot system, character progression, and varying difficulty levels, which encourage players to replay missions for better gear and achievements. Many players appreciate the cooperative gameplay experience, especially with friends, although some express concerns about potential repetitiveness and the effectiveness of AI companions when playing solo. Overall, the combination of unique character classes, weapon upgrades, and randomized elements contributes to a robust replay value, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.

    • “The loot system provides players with randomized rewards, incentivizing replayability as they strive for better gear.”
    • “The mix of characters and in particular the weapons that can be found and crafted offer variety and replayability, as does the difficulty level that can escalate to drastic levels.”
    • “Great game with good replay value, currently 13 missions and 5 difficulty levels.”
    • “Once you figure out the spawns and the tactics, it's just repetitive with no replayability.”
    • “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.”
    • “Fun for the first couple of hours, but super grind-heavy towards the high end with limited replay value.”
  • optimization264 mentions

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting poor performance, frame drops, and stuttering even on high-end systems. While some updates have improved stability, numerous users still experience issues, particularly during intense gameplay moments. Overall, the consensus is that the game requires further optimization to enhance the user experience and accommodate a wider range of hardware.

    • “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.”
    • “Despite somewhat iffy optimization (I get frame drops no matter the graphical settings I use on a fairly powerful rig), the gameplay is fun as all hell and the focus on melee distinguishes it enough to make it stand out.”
    • “Fatshark is a lazy developer and this lazy product is no different than their other churned out, buggy, derivative, lazy, and unoptimized shovelware they smear around.”
    • “This is one of the worst optimized games on Steam I have ever played, besides the first week that Ark launched.”
    • “The optimization is garbage.”
  • atmosphere250 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide" is widely praised for its immersive and gritty design, effectively capturing the dark and chaotic essence of the Warhammer fantasy universe. Players appreciate the detailed environments, atmospheric sound design, and engaging character interactions that enhance the overall experience, making it feel both intense and alive. While some critiques mention repetitiveness and a lack of diversity in maps, the game's ability to evoke a sense of tension and excitement remains a standout feature.

    • “The gritty and dark visuals of this game are executed very well, which makes the atmosphere immersive.”
    • “The atmosphere and visual aesthetics, as well as the sound design are all 10/10.”
    • “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, Fatshark.”
  • stability201 mentions

    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 visual glitches that detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, some players still find enjoyment in the game, suggesting that it has potential if the developers address the numerous stability concerns.

    • “The game is fairly well polished and bug free.”
    • “Overall, the game runs great.”
    • “It runs great, the gameplay is smooth and reacts well, no glitches so far from what I can tell, the people seem friendly, the game is all around fun and enjoyable.”
    • “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.”
  • music147 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many praising the soundtrack composed by Jesper Kyd as fitting perfectly within the dark Warhammer setting. Players appreciate the dynamic nature of the music, which ramps up during intense moments, and the engaging character banter that complements the sound design. However, some users noted issues with repetitiveness and occasional sound bugs that detract from the immersive experience.

    • “The music is atmospheric, the game audio is richly assembled and packed with tactical information, but the real standout is the incredible voice acting that brings the five available player heroes to life.”
    • “The soundtrack really kicks tail and gets the blood pumping at all the right moments.”
    • “The atmosphere created by the music and hordes of ratmen while you have good or bad teammates at your side will actually wake you up and pull you in.”
    • “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.”
  • humor96 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by witty character banter, dark comedic elements, and amusing glitches that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the well-written dialogue and voice acting, which add depth and levity to the intense gameplay, making it a fun and engaging co-op experience. The interactions between characters, often filled with sarcasm and humor, contribute significantly to the game's charm, making it a memorable and entertaining adventure.

    • “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.”
    • “The voice acting is spot on and the chatter that goes on between each of the characters and what the characters say to themselves always keeps you listening and laughing.”
    • “Vermintide is suspenseful, engaging, fun, and frequently funny (all odd graphical glitches aside) with well-written and witty character dialogue.”
  • monetization18 mentions

    Overall, the game's monetization strategy has been well-received, with players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and loot boxes, which are often associated with pay-to-win mechanics. The developers have committed to providing both free and paid DLC, ensuring ongoing support and content updates without compromising the game's integrity. However, some players express concern that the existing loot system could easily lend itself to future monetization strategies, despite current assurances from the developers.

    • “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 price is right, the game is great, and there are no microtransactions!”
    • “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 epic stupidity here is that they took a game mechanic commonly used in pay-to-win/microtransaction type games and put it into a game that has no microtransactions.”
    • “There isn't currently any subscription or 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.”
    • “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).”
  • character development15 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally viewed as limited, with most players noting a lack of deep progression systems or unique skills for each character. However, the character design is praised for its uniqueness and quality, complemented by exceptional voice acting and engaging banter that enhances the camaraderie among the heroes. While the visuals and audio are highly regarded, the overall character development primarily revolves around crafting and loot rather than significant narrative or skill growth.

    • “Excellent character design: each of the five playable heroes is unique in their visuals, and most of their weapons are unique to them. The voice acting is top quality within the industry and makes the banter between them one of the great selling points of this game.”
    • “Love the progression system and the character designs and dialogue!”
    • “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.”
    • “Character development doesn't show that much either, besides having the characters developing a sort of camaraderie for each other. It might just be that Warhammer fans really get the references and jokes, but the voice actors are truly talented, and it definitely shows how valuable they were to Vermintide.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    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 frustration and heartbreak over its unrealized potential. Others find humor in the absurdity of certain scenarios, but overall, the emotional impact seems to be overshadowed by dissatisfaction with gameplay elements.

    • “I cried.”
    • “Even worse, the potential of what this game could have been is heart breaking.”
    • “This game is awesome... imagine walking in on your wife touching a rat... now imagine you are a dwarf... that experience sums up this game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

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Play time

33hMedian play time
117hAverage play time
10-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 71 analyzed playthroughs

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