TheWarhammer 40Kuniverse is a fascinating one, filled with a vast amount of lore and spreading across a wide array of multimedia. The various factions and armies that can be taken control of in the tabletop game are many, but the majority of theWarhammer 40Kvideo games choose to focus much more purely on the Space Marine faction.
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However, there areWarhammer 40KUniverse games in which players have the option to play as other factions besides the Space Marines. There is even the chance given to fight the Space Marines on a number of these occasions in various ways.
7Warhammer 40K: Rites Of War
An oddity for 1998, as all theWarhammer 40Kgames up to that point had featured the Space Marines as the prime playable characters and protagonists of the franchise,Rites of Warwas a turn-based strategy game focused on the Eldar Race. A highly-advanced, humanoid species whose empire once stretched across the stars,Rites of Warfocuses on the Eldar attempting to take back an ancient seat of power from Imperials.
When a Tyranid Hive Fleet invades the region, the Eldar and Imperials are forced to put aside their battle in the face of greater evil and fight together against the terrifying Tyranid forces. Great narratively, but at a stage when theWarhammer 40Kgames hadn’t quite found their niche with turn-based strategy,Rites of Waris a fun but flawed experience forWarhammer 40Kfans.
6Warhammer 40K: Battle Sister
The Battle Sister faction is, in some respects, pretty similar to the Space Marines. Legendary warriors of the future, players don’t get a lot of opportunities to control members of this faction. An FPS VR game released in 2022,Battle Sistertold a fascinating storyand tried once again to bring shooter games in theWarhammer 40Kuniverse to the forefront.
Including a campaign of five to six hours, the first VR game set in theWarhammer 40KUniverse nails the storytelling and grittiness of that universe while allowing players to further explore a relatively untouched faction by most previous games. There is also a horde mode in the game that allows co-op with a second player.
5Dakka Squadron
There area variety ofWarhammer 40Kgamesset in outer space, aerial-based shooters that allow players the opportunity to engage in a completely different form of warfare. However,Dakka Squadronis one of the few times that players take on a different role than that of the Imperium while engaging in this sort of combat.
Orks in theWarhammer 40Kuniverse are not generally considered “the good guys” due to their warlike, brutish nature. However, getting to play as an ork can be a lot of fun, andDakka Squadronprovides the opportunity for players to take on the role of an Ork Flyboy, fighting in the skies at a fast pace with a rocking soundtrack and a style completely different to the majority ofWarhammer 40Kcontent.
4Warhammer 40K: Fire Warrior
Another race of beings that doesn’t get a lot of playtime inWarhammer 40Kgamesare the T’au Empire. Probably the most tolerant race out of any in theWarhammer 40Kuniverse, the T’au are comprised of various different races who believe in striving for the greater good and technological excellence.
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Fire Warrioris an FPS game released in 2003 that allows the player to take on the role of a T’au Warrior attempting to rescue his leader from the Imperium and the Forces of Chaos. Including a fun multiplayer mode and a quick campaign that stretches over 24 hours of desperate battle,Fire Warriorwas a fun and memorable experience in theWarhammer 40Kworld.
3Warhammer 40K: Shootas, Blood & Teef
Another fast-paced game with an unusual style and a crazy name, it is no surprise to find thatShootas, Blood & Teefagain allows the player to take on the role of an ork. This time, the game is a run-and-gun platform game in 2D. Released in 2022, this throwback, retro style was paired with a tongue-in-cheek tone as the name suggests.
The story features orks invading the planet Luteus, and players take on one of four classes of ork as they shoot their way through enemies and fill their “WAAAGH” meter to increase their rate of fire. A ridiculous but hilariously fun game,Shootas, Blood & Teefis a memorable attempt to showcase the fun side of orks,with an incredibly fun co-op campaign option.
2Necromunda: Hired Gun
TheNecromundafranchise is almost a separate entity from theWarhammer 40kgames, but it is set in the same universe and players love both series. InNecromunda: Hired Gun, players take on the role of a mercenarywho works for various factionsas they seek to uncover plots surrounding a powerful gang in the underworld ofNecromunda.
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Hired Gunis an FPS game with a fun story that was very well-received when it was released in 2021. Proving the biggest success yet for theNecromundaside of theWarhammer 40Kfranchise in gaming,Hired Gunallows players to explore a fascinating world built within the largerWarhammer 40KUniverse.
1Warhammer 40k: Dawn Of War – Dark Crusade
Dawn of Waris the best-known sub-franchise of anyWarhammer 40Kgames. While the mainDawn of Wargames all generally focus on the Space Marines,Dark Crusadeallowed players the opportunity in a real-time strategy game to take their pick of seven factions in theWarhammer 40KUniverse to control as they tried to take over the planet Kronos.
One of the best RTS gamesthat the franchise has come up with,Dark Crusadewas a fantastic opportunity to explore races like the T’au, Eldar, and Chaos more in-depth than games usually allow players to do.
