5 Best Warhammer 40K Video Games to Get Into the Franchise

Warhammer 40K has a rich history, dating back to a board game in the late 80s. Since its first video game outing in 1992 with Space Crusade, the series has kept going strong under many different publishers and developers. Here are five games from the series that will help you get into it if you are new to the series.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War

Publisher: THQ

Developer: Relic Entertainment

Platform: PC

Dawn of War may look like an outdated RTS, but it is still a great game to check out if you are new to the series. You can take charge of the Space Marines, the Chaos Space Marines, the Eldar, or the Ork and go and defeat other factions by taking over all of their headquarters or controlling points for a period of time. You can also play the campaign, where you can play through the war in the Imperium empire. This game is a classic RTS and should be played if you are a big fan of RTS games. 

Warhammer 40k: Space Marine

Publisher:  THQ

Developer:  Relic Entertainment

Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3

Space Marine brings something different to a series mostly known for strategy games. This game is a third-person shooter, similar to Gears of War, in which you play as Titus, a space marine trying to fight back the invading Orks on the planet Forge World Graia. You will have to shoot and use effective melee attacks to defeat the enemies trying to kill you. This game is considered the most accessible of the series, and unlike the others on this list, it is available on consoles.

Warhammer 40K: Armageddon

Publisher: Slitherine Ltd

Developer: Flashback Games, The Lordz Games Studio

Platforms: PC, iPad

Have you ever wanted to play a good Warhammer 40K game on the go? Well look no further than Armageddon, which is a strategy game with gameplay similar to Panzer General or an older Civilization game. In this game, you are again fighting against the Orks as Space Marines or Armageddon Steel Legion. The game moves on a hex system, so you can only move your units on your turn in a certain amount of spaces. This game is kind of different from other Warhammer games, but if you have an iPad or a PC, this is a great way to ease your way into the series. 

Warhammer 40K: Chaos Gate 

Publisher: Strategic Simulations

Developer: Random Games

Platforms: PC

This game is a bit older than all the other entries on this list, but is still worth checking out. In Chaos Gate, you take on traitorous space marines as Captain Kruger and his crew. This game plays similar to XCOM, as you will move your marines on your turn around the level and then attack the enemies if you are in range to attack. This game is great for people who love the XCOM series, so try to check it out! 

Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II

Publisher: THQ, Sega

Developer: Relic Entertainment

Platforms: PC, Mac

Similar in many ways to the original Dawn of War,  Dawn of War II is just as good of a game with which to start your Warhammer experience. This game takes away the base-building of its predecessor and focuses more on covering your units, but things like grenades will destroy your cover. In the campaign, you play as the Space Marines taking on the Orks in different planets in the Galaxy. This game is a true sequel, as it takes those things that made its predecessor good and expands upon them to make a worthwhile experience. 

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These are five good Warhammer 40K games that are good to get into the series with. If you are really interested in getting into this series, be sure to try some of these games out.