Space Marine 2 seems to be the hot game right now, offering an over-the-top look at the Warhammer 40,000 universe, filled with gore, action, and brotherly love. As of this writing, one morning away from the game’s release, it’s already topping Steam’s best-seller list for those unwilling to shell out the big bucks for a special edition of the game. You don’t have to be a psyker to glimpse the future and see that it’s going to be big.
As such, it’s likely to be a gateway game to the wider 40K IP for gamers of all kinds. This is a great thing! Warhammer 40,000 is a core pillar of modern science fiction and the British economy. But where should Star Marine 2 fans go next for their next dose of terrifying, dark action? If you like SM2, here are some games that are definitely worth trying!
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Warhammer 40:000 Undertide
While it might be fun to march around as a Space Marine kicking Tyranids to death with your big boots, why not take it down a notch in terms of size and power? Darktide is an excellent cooperative first-person shooter similar to a little game you may have heard of called Left for Dead, as well as Vermintide, an equally excellent fantasy game from the same developer. predecessor).
Undertide puts you in the role of a brave and/or desperate member of the Imperium of Man, tasked with venturing into the Nurgle-infested Hive World to fight back against corruption. It’s an absolute blast, especially with a few friends, and the categories are distinct enough to guarantee plenty of exploration.
The game had a rocky start when it first launched, but since then it’s received various updates, fixes, and even a major DLC update, all of which have worked together to put it in a very good place now. If you want to see the action in Starfighter 2 from a different perspective, give this a try.
Warhammer 40:000 Speedster
Who cares about Space Marines anyway? All boys know green is best. If you feel the same way, then Warhammer 40:000 Speed Freeks is definitely worth a try. It’s a vehicular action game in the vein of Twisted Metal or Crossout, where you take control of an orc-cobbled-together vehicle and engage in deadly races and motorized carnage. The other side of the 40K universe is completely different, but definitely fun.
There are some cool customizations for your various vehicles, you can unlock new ones, and there’s plenty of Dakkar for Ork fans to enjoy. Perhaps the best thing about Speed Freeks is that it’s free and powered entirely by microtransactions. So you can try it for free and see if it works for you. Definitely worth a look!
Warhammer 40:000 Rogue Merchant
Now for a completely different type. If you’re willing to give up the action-packed gameplay of Eternal War in favor of a good old-fashioned CRPG, Rogue Trader has a lot of love for the 40k setting. Surprisingly, you play as a rogue merchant, a galactic trade tycoon aiming to reclaim and manage worlds under their control. This certainly means some management, but mostly you’ll be controlling a diverse and very interesting cast of characters you encounter.
It’s a fantastic narrative adventure through the world of 40k, covering a completely different aspect of the universe than Starfighter 2. But save often and go to the appropriate difficulty, and you’ll be ready.
Warhammer 40:000 Dawn of War
If you appreciate all things retro (yes, this game came out 20 years ago, so I’m afraid it’s pretty retro now), then the Dawn of War series is definitely worth going back and trying. The original Dawn of War was a classic, the various expansion packs were at least of good quality, and it was a cheap and fun game worth checking out.
The game is a real-time strategy game where you control various factions and build forces to overwhelm your enemies. It’s a relaxing romp on easier difficulties, and an addictive gut punch on harder ones. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about the origins of Bloodraven, the OG Warhammer video game chapter.
After you finish playing Dawn of War, you can also check out the sequel. They are slightly different styles, but both are great. Go back in time and see the heyday of the previous Golden Age of Warhammer video gaming.
Warhammer 40,000, tabletop game
Look, there’s no way to cut it off, all roads lead here. If you like customizing your Space Marines for Operations or Eternal War modes, in real life you can’t accomplish that with a box of plastic, a paint brush, and dozens of paints.
Regardless, there are some great starting points for those eager to wade into the ocean of plastic. Try a star collection box for a faction that sounds cool to you, or check out the Kill Team box for a smaller-scale approach. The only thing you can do wrong is spend a lot of money on factions you don’t care about.
Once you buy a box and paint it, figure out if you want to continue. If not, you can place some cool characters on your bookshelf. If you do that, then you can slowly build it up. But be warned, this is an expensive hobby. Believe it or not, it’s more expensive than video games.
These are some suggestions for Star Marine 2 players keen to further explore the Warhammer 40,000 universe. There are plenty of other games we didn’t mention that are totally worth your time, but starting with one of these won’t set you up for a mistake.
