Warhammer 40,000: Darktide for Windows

Serve the God-Emperor in this co-op action

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a paid action game you can play with up to four players. In this multiplayer survival game set in the huge Warhammer 40K universe, you are among the ragtag team of warriors tasked with protecting Atoma Prime from the heretical cult called the Admonition. Be warned though, it has gore and aspects of dark fiction.

With its design choices and gameplay mechanics, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is largely similar to its predecessor Warhammer: Vermintide 2. This game is fun and thrilling, a lot like Left for Dead 2 but with demons and is set in space.

An action-packed FPS

For a first-person shooter, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide certainly offers a lot of customization options, catering to a wide range of playstyles. As you start, you get to choose your character class, customize your skill sets, and pick your load-outs. Furthermore, the game will let you earn items and currency to customize your character’s looks and upgrade the skills and weapons you have.

Much like Vermintide, this game is also a great addition to the Warhammer franchise aside from its strategy and tabletop games. It picks up and improves from its 2018 predecessor, forcing players to adopt a well-rounded gameplay strategy using both ranged and melee weapons. For those unfamiliar, it might come across as too difficult while for existing fans, it’s an exciting addition to the game library.

Lastly, bearing the Warhammer 40K name has its expectations. Lore-wise, this game gives you an opportunity to exterminate Chaos and serve the God-Emperor of Mankind. Sure enough, it features some of the dark and disturbing concepts and characters from the game and literary universe. It also captures the galactic scale of the setting as well as the grittiness of being a disposal grunt on the ground.

What’s new in Patch No. 13?

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide’s latest patch update replaces the Feats mechanic with Talent Trees. Now, instead of unlocking new Feats every five levels, the player gets a Talent Point as their level ascends. These points can be used to unlock skills on the Talent Tree, allowing for flexibility and more diverse skill sets. Baseline Abilities can also be improved using the Talent Tree. 

Tweaks were made to enemies, weapons, and blessings, as well, with the intention of bringing a better semblance of balance to the overall gameplay. Some enemies and weapons were nerfed while some were given a boost. Meanwhile, the bonuses granted by blessings were modified. There are miscellaneous fixes to the map, rendering, and missions applied during this patch, too.

A worthy Vermintide successor

Its excellent use of Warhammer 40K lore, a wide range of customization options, and even more challenging gameplay definitely set up Warhammer 40,000: Darktide as another great entry to the FPS game library of the franchise. Its level of gore and violence and the generous amount of lore in it make it irresistible for action and Warhammer fans alike. Not for everyone but highly recommended.