As the venerable Warhammer IP continues to grow in popularity, so too does the number of video games it receives every year. In the 2010s, Games Workshop became far more willing to license out the coveted Warhammer franchise to game developers. Unfortunately, the initial result was a lot of companies pushing out awful shovelware bearing the Warhammer 40,000 logo. Still, Games Workshop’s more liberal licensing strategy allowed more video game developers to try their hand at the franchise.
After a few years of experimenting, Warhammer video games currently occupy a nice middle ground. About four to six of them are released in any given year, and most of them are at least okay. Some, like Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus, Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector, and the Total War: Warhammer and Vermintide franchises, are excellent.
As we enter a new year, 2022 is shaping up to be full of (hopefully) great Warhammer video game adaptations.
Here are the most exciting Warhammer video games coming in 2022:
Total War: Warhammer III
Developer: Creative Assembly
Publisher: Sega
Platforms: Windows PC, Linux, Mac
Release Date: February 17th
One of the biggest Warhammer releases of 2022 is the third installment in Creative Assembly’s long-running Total War: Warhammer series. In addition to a wide range of quality-of-life improvements and new mechanics, Total War: Warhammer III will feature 7 new factions. Each of the four Chaos gods will finally get their own faction, alongside fan favorites like the Ogre Kingdoms and Kislev.
Finally, Total War: Warhammer III will delve into the vast eastern empire of Grand Cathay. This is perhaps the most exciting of the new factions for many longtime Warhammer Fantasy fans. Grand Cathay has largely been regulated to background lore until now, but will have a fully fleshed out campaign and army roster.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2
Developer: Saber Interactive
Publisher: Focus Home Interactive
Platforms: Windows PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: TBA
When it comes to 40k video games, most fans have longed to see a follow-up to Relic’s cult hit, Space Marine. Ten years later, fans finally got their wish with the surprise announcement of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Even without THQ and Relic at the helm, the teaser trailer’s brief snippets of gameplay show that Saber Interactive’s sequel at least looks the part.
Actual details about Space Marine 2 are pretty scarce. We don’t even know if it’s actually going to come out in 2022. However, the cinematic teaser does throw out some hints that only hardcore 40k fans will have picked up on. Captain Titus is back, but he now sports the colors of a Lieutenant, suggesting a demotion following the original’s cliffhanger ending. He has also passed the Primaris Rubicon and has two more gold service studs. This all hints that Space Marine 2 is set around 200 years later, likely during the Indomitus Crusade.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Developer: Fatshark
Platforms: Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: Spring 2022
After enjoying loads of success with the Vermintide series, Fatshark has decided to bring their co-op looter formula to the 41st Millennium with Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. This time around, you and up to three friends will find themselves in the shoes of an Inquisitorial Kill Team fighting against a vast Chaos cult in the darkest depths of the hive city Tertium.
Seeing as how this is a 40k game, ranged combat will play a larger role than in Vermintide. Each class will have access to a variety of 40k‘s iconic grimdark firearms, such as lasguns and plasma guns. Of course, melee will still play a huge role in Darktide as you bisect heretics with chainswords. Fatshark have also brought on Dan Abnett, an author responsible for many of 40k‘s most beloved novels.
Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters
Developer: Complex Games
Publisher: Frontier Foundry
Platform: Windows PC
Release Date: TBA 2022
Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters is a modernized reboot of Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate from 1998. The pus-oozing followers of Nurgle are spreading a highly virulent daemonic plague across the galaxy. The only thing standing in the way of the Lord of Decay’s devious plot are the enigmatic Grey Knights.
In Daemonhunters, you’ll lead a fully customizable strike squad of Grey Knights across the galaxy. As an XCOM-style RPG, you’ll upgrade your base of operations, conduct research into ways to combat the forces of Nurgle, and kit out your Grey Knights with new skills, psychic powers, and equipment. All of your preparation cumulates in challenging turn-based tactical battles on plague-infested worlds that have fallen to the Ruinous Powers.
Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef
Developer: Rogueside
Platforms: Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: TBA 2022
Warhammer 40,000 is an extremely grim and dark setting, but Rogueside is exploring a more lighthearted and comedic side of it with Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef. Much like the developer’s Guns, Gore & Cannoli series, Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef is an absurd and over-the-top 2D shooter. Grab up to three friends and decimate the hive city of Luteus Prime as an Ork with lots of dakka.
Fight Imperial Guard, Space Marines, Genestealer Cults, and even fellow Orks as you try to retrieve your lost hair squig and get revenge on your clan’s backstabbing git of a warboss.
Blood Bowl 3
Developer: Cyanide Studio
Publisher: Nacon
Platforms: Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Release Date: February 2022
Finally, we come to Blood Bowl 3, the latest installment in Cyanide’s series of digital adaptations of Games Workshop’s fantasy football miniatures game. Blood Bowl 3 was developed in close collaboration with Games Workshop and is based on the latest edition of the tabletop game. This means Blood Bowl 3 will have a totally revamped ruleset, as well as tons of new teams to play with.
Which of these upcoming Warhammer games are you most excited about?
