Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 46
  2. Negative: 1 out of 46
  1. Jun 12, 2023
    93
    Boomer shooters from indie developers have been quite successful lately and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun might be just what the genre needed right now. This throwback FPS has you mowing down countless hordes of Chaos cultists, mutants, and marines alike with a spectacular arsenal of weapons from the grimdark universe. It's the perfect game for fans of the franchise and those seeking an adrenaline-fueled journey through the grim future.
  2. Jun 7, 2023
    90
    Warhammer 40K Boltgun is a fantastic boomer shooter that combines modern visuals and gameplay with a retro look and feel. The story is lacking, but at the end of the day, nothing matters when you’re ripping and tearing in the Emperor’s name. Boltgun, for all intents and purposes, serves as a bridge between Space Marine and its imminent sequel but can easily hold its own as a fantastic video game.
  3. Jun 7, 2023
    90
    The only thing I have to ask is: In a world where there are a few hundred Boomer Shooters released a year and a few dozen 40K games a year how was it nobody hit upon this formula before now? No points to Auroch Digital for making the most obvious possible combination, but full marks for putting together one hell of a shooter.
  4. May 23, 2023
    90
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is an absolute treat for fans of the grim, dark future of the 41st Millennium and a superb shooter in its own right.
  5. May 24, 2023
    87
    The Warhammer 40,000 universe is a good match for a retro shooter and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is proof that the concept works. Not every Games Workshop licensed game is a winner, but Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun crosses the finish line in style. It’s not deep or complex. Most of its core mechanics are decades old. But I had more simple, addictive fun with Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun than with many, more sophisticated shooters of late.
  6. May 29, 2023
    85
    Boltgun is one of the most fun FPSs we've played in recent years, and certainly a game worthy of the Warhammer name.
  7. May 26, 2023
    85
    The game is a fun and addictive retro FPS with a violent atmosphere. It effectively utilizes the Warhammer 40,000 brand and offers a balanced experience in terms of graphics, sound, and gameplay. While it could have more varied levels and smoother platforming sections, it's still a must-play for genre fans.
  8. May 23, 2023
    85
    Boltgun is stupendously fun—a treat for Warhammer players and a worthy member of the growing legion of retro shooters.
  9. May 30, 2023
    83
    Whether you're a seasoned gamer who enjoys fast-paced shooting games like Doom, or a newcomer drawn to the Warhammer 40K IP, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is sure to deliver an exhilarating shoot 'em up experience.
  10. Jul 7, 2023
    82
    Warhammer 40.000 Boltgun successfully brings back the aesthetics, mechanics, and level design of the best first person shooters of the 90s, and offers a magnificent recreation of the games workshop license setting in an enjoyable video game that will delight anyone looking for a shooter with solid and satisfying gameplay.
  11. Jun 29, 2023
    80
    Despite the rough patches, Warhanmmer 40,000 Boltgun remains impressive. It’s fast, action-packed, controls well, and is (mostly) a joy to play. With just a little tweaking and a few adjustments, this could easily be one of the all-time greats.
  12. Jun 25, 2023
    80
    Boltgun is not the most original game, even among boomer shooters, but it's still plenty of fun and its relative simplicity can work to its favor more often than not. Shooting the hordes of chaos has never been this fun.
  13. Jun 2, 2023
    80
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is an explosive and charismatic experience that kept us smiling throughout the entire campaign. While it is not a flawless game, we believe it is the best first-person shooter in The Realm of Chaos.
  14. May 29, 2023
    80
    A sterling example of the newly-resurrected 'boomer shooter' genre, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun offers extremely tight shooting, excellent sound and world design, and one of the best guns I've ever fired in a video game. Yes, it's the boltgun.
  15. May 24, 2023
    80
    Boltgun is a great blend of old and new and of a Dark SciFi franchise thats widely beloved. It has its flaws and minor issues concerning gun balancing and map design but it is a great game for boomer shooter lovers and Warhammer fans alike. It bathes in Emperor's light!
  16. Despite my complaints, I would happily blast through Warhammer 40k: Boltgun all over again. There may be moments of frustration, but it doesn’t undermine the sheer joy of ripping through fast-paced levels with weapons that gods fear and metal music in the background.
  17. May 23, 2023
    80
    Even if you’re hugely familiar with the world of Warhammer 40,000, Boltgun is a bit of an old-fashioned treat. Its sprites are wonderfully realised, its environments suitably atmospheric, and its action brutal. Its simplicity is its strength, as well as its sheer disregard for your enemies’ innards as they spill out under your sustained fire, or perhaps an introduction to your chainsword. And so, we’re reminded why retro shooters are all the rage once more: because they’re bloody good fun.
  18. May 23, 2023
    80
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a game that hits hard. It has you feeling like the most badass thing in the galaxy in one minute, before reminding you the universe is a terrifying and deadly place the next.
  19. May 23, 2023
    80
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a solid boomer shooter whose service honors the Emperor, and will certainly be very welcome by those who have been waiting for a 40k FPS since Fire Warrior. However, while it doesn’t have any significant flaw it also never really excels.
  20. May 23, 2023
    80
    Boltgun perfectly aims at its nostalgic target and hit with a good game that fit well within the W40K universe.
  21. May 23, 2023
    80
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun successfully captures the dark and expansive lore of the Warhammer universe, immersing the player in a grim and pixelated future that will appeal to both fans of the franchise and FPS enthusiasts.
  22. May 23, 2023
    80
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is everything that retro first-person shooter fans can enjoy, even if they have no love for the grimdark space setting. The action is constant, and the gore is plentiful, but the game forces you to play smart, even at the lower difficulty levels. The gameplay loop doesn't deviate from the classic key-finding formula, but the levels are larger, which means more enemies to shoot and a higher chance of getting lost, whether or not you're trying to find secrets. The game is long enough that multiplayer isn't needed, but it also never feels tiring despite some things that may be irksome. Boltgun is a solid piece of work and one that we'd definitely recommend checking out.
  23. May 23, 2023
    80
    Despite these faults, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is an extremely fun game with a contagious reverence for classic '90s shooters and the Warhammer universe at large. Its entire arsenal of flesh-combusting weapons is a joy to use, and its simple gameplay loop is kept fresh by a steady supply of new armaments and enemy types to squash under the almighty boot of the Imperium. It's not trying to revolutionize the genre and that's perfectly fine; it's the type of game to hire avid Warhammer fan Rahul Kohli (Gears of War 5, Midnight Mass) to voice its protagonist, only to make him exceptionally easy to miss unless you stumble upon the "Taunt" button. There aren't any gameplay advantages to hitting this button, but you do get to hear Kohli relish in delivering some Space Marine-appropriate lines as he nails the angry, regal tone. That's almost worth the price of admission alone.
  24. May 23, 2023
    80
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a game that knows exactly what it wants to be. It sets out its stall early and rarely deviates from the plan.
  25. May 23, 2023
    80
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a brisk, brutal boomer shooter and another great reason for a visit to Games Workshop’s science fiction theatre.
  26. Jun 5, 2023
    75
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is an excellent retro shooter that, to both its benefit and detriment, doesn't take risks. The repetitive bosses and poor communication to the player might turn some people away. However, Its tight core gameplay loop is gory and punchy, and it captures the essence of what it feels like to be a space marine in both movement and power.
  27. May 29, 2023
    75
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a very pleasant homage to the 90s FPSs, DOOM in the lead, but at the same time an effective transposition of the fascinating imagery created by Games Workshop.
  28. May 23, 2023
    75
    Despite all its problems, it’s something that needs to be seen and celebrated. There’s a chance that you won’t even notice the problems I outlined, and this will be a big hit with you. You might not even notice the same issues that I do. I think Boltgun deserves its chance, and you should definitely give it one, even if you have no connection with the license.
  29. May 23, 2023
    75
    Boltgun unleashes a torrent of satisfying carnage with a lot of sharp levels over a good-sized campaign, but repetition and the lack of a sense of progression hold it back some.
  30. May 23, 2023
    75
    Drenched in retro nostalgia, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a straightforward boomer shooter with a 40K skin. Its minimal story is as bog-standard as Warhammer gets, but is enough to justify the on-screen slaughter, while allowing for a pure focus on satisfying action. Crunchy weapon sounds and plenty of pixelated gore make turning enemies into giblets something that doesn’t get old. Its main drawbacks come in the shape of how easy it is to get lost in some of its levels, a handful of frustrating encounters, and its decision to introduce most enemy types during the first part of its campaign. Yet, even so, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun delivers enough awesome action to keep you engaged and eager to make sure the Emperor has a thousand or two fewer Chaos servants to worry about.
  31. May 23, 2023
    75
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is an inspired production, fully consistent with the intention of bringing the brutality of the miniatures game imagery into a lead and blood boomer shooter. Dispensing death is the thing that works the most, thanks to a satisfying gameplay when it comes to pulling the trigger, regardless of the weapon in hand and the quantity and variety of enemies faced. The exploratory dimension weighs down the playful experience a bit, but when the time comes to reduce the enemies to shapeless red pulp, we think less about it.
  32. May 23, 2023
    75
    Warhammer 40.000: Boltgun is a fast paced retro-shooter. It's fun and gory, but don't expect to find some kind of revolution.
  33. May 23, 2023
    75
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a beautiful, challenging, and occasionally infuriating love letter to old-school FPS titles. It’s just the right length and despite a few flaws it is worth a purchase on both console or PC.
  34. Jun 28, 2023
    70
    Fine retro shooter in the Warhammer universe that would be even better with automap, editor or multiplayer mode and more enemy variety.
  35. May 25, 2023
    70
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun offers an epic cleansing in the name of the God-Emperor. It offers a beautifully realized Warhammer universe, including its famous antagonists and weapons. It’s not perfect by any means, not even judging by the standards of the boomer shooter genre, but it’s a bloody good piece of fan service.
  36. May 23, 2023
    70
    Boltgun impresses with Warhammer 40K chops and a fully realized vision of the famous franchise as a modern retro-shooter, light on story but heavy on action and nods to the tabletop game. The level design of its many fast-paced arena fights is enjoyable, but the momentum drags once the new weapon and enemy types run out about halfway through. Nonetheless, the quality's high enough that I never got bored – but I think someone who isn't hungry for a retro-shooter or any 40K game they can get their hands on might be a bit let down.
  37. Jun 5, 2023
    65
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a decent entry into the retro-shooter genre that will appeal most to fans of the WH40k universe, while everyone else should probably choose a different, better game to fulfill their classic action itch.
  38. May 25, 2023
    65
    I didn’t enjoy Boltgun that much. However, I’m sure it will appeal to gamers who don’t pay a lot of attention to gameplay balance or difficulty level. And if they are fans of the W40K universe and old-school first-person shooters, they will most likely love it.
  39. May 23, 2023
    65
    Warhammer 40000: Boltgun is a nice retro FPS that takes elements from 1993's DOOM by making the fights more nervous and in a recent packaging, which makes it enjoyable to play. Nevertheless, you shouldn't ask too much of it, because basically, it's just about liquidating dozens of enemies in a succession of arenas. Only for the trigger-happy.
  40. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 22, 2024
    60
    It's quality carnage and definitely worth a play. As a bloody excursion into the 40's Warhammer universe, it is undoubtedly worth a visit, among other things for its atmosphere and soundtrack. [Issue#328]
  41. May 24, 2023
    60
    Competent and pretty-looking retro shooter with great splatter effects and decent length. Not all weapons are equally useful, though, and the pathing and encounter design is sometimes confusing. This is still an easy recommendation, though, if a 40K Boomer-Shooter sounds like something you would like.
  42. May 23, 2023
    60
    Fans of the IP will have some fun here, but you likely already know whether you’ll like this game or not. Boltgun competently blends the Warhammer universe with a genre that felt made for it, but offers no surprises. It set out to be a Doom clone, and it succeeded. That’s fine in some ways, but a shame in others because this could have been special with the application of a few original ideas.
  43. May 23, 2023
    60
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a solid throwback FPS that makes up for being too generous with the resources by its excellent weapon, monster and level design. The world of Warhammer 40,000 translates fantastically well to this type of game, with decades of lore and design to draw from to create a fully-realized backdrop. The enemies come in a variety of styles from various normal humans to huge and deadly aliens, and they all mix together well to create firefights that need just enough in the way of tactics to keep the brain a little bit active. The only real challenge, though, comes from the game encouraging sloppy play in its frequent less intense sections, so when it’s time to pay attention it can be easy to get caught off guard using bad habits. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is an oddly slow burn, but when it finally fires up in the latter half, the action feels worthy of the righteous might of a Space Marine.
  44. May 23, 2023
    60
    Boltgun's boltgun earns a place in the pantheon of great video game weapons, but the rest of the game's arsenal doesn't quite live up to it.
  45. May 23, 2023
    50
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is polished and runs perfect, with fast-paced and exciting combat. Gamers that grew up playing 90s FPS games will get a kick out of how much it borrows from Doom, Quake, and the like, but many will tire of the archaic design choices that have been abandoned by modern games. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun represents the best and worst of 90s-era FPS games, so while it has a solid foundation, it fails to deliver truly compelling content to go with it, making the game difficult to recommend to anyone that's not a hardcore Warhammer fan or who isn't desperately nostalgic for the 90s.
  46. 40
    Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun belongs in every game dev's syllabus, filed under "why encounter design is a pillar of any retro shooter.
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  1. May 24, 2023
    I had a blast. Boltgun makes for a nice little break from today's far more complicated first-person games—or just from modern life itself.
  2. May 23, 2023
    Auroch Digital has done a great job of deploying retro visuals and the trappings of older shooters alongside modern sensibilities to bring the game to life. The abyss of Chaos looks downright disturbing, even captured through an old-school lens. These trippy environments and crude daemon designs combine with visceral and satisfying combat to make Boltgun a blast, and it’s nice to explore the world of Warhammer through such a ridiculous, blood-smeared filter.
  3. I’m really glad that I checked it out as, despite some issues, Boltgun is marvellous fun. It’s a highly entertaining shooter that had me grinning from ear to ear on many an occasion, and is one of, if not the best representation of the Warhammer 40,000 universe available on your personal cogitation device.
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 50 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 50
  2. Negative: 3 out of 50
  1. May 24, 2023
    6
    What a disappointment.

    Boltgun is the perfect example of the intricacies that take in conforming an actual worthwhile shooter; mechanics
    What a disappointment.

    Boltgun is the perfect example of the intricacies that take in conforming an actual worthwhile shooter; mechanics and systems that go beyond the superficial, because Boltgun has everything going for it, except for the gears going behind it.

    This is a title with serviceable combat at first, that slowly turns into a grind and a repetitive one at that, you fight numerous enemies but not much that change in their actual mechanics, they all just kind of shoot at you, or charge at you, there’s no reason to change your strategy in how you tackle the obstacles the game presents. There is a system tackled on, one that involves some weapons hurting enemies more than others, but the issue with this mechanic is that for the most part, you’re relegated to using the plasma cannon as the universal weapon in the game that causes the most damage to enemies, the issue? This weapon has poor rate of fire and is extremely inaccurate, it truly is as if the crosshair and your shots are desynced while using it.

    Then there’s the level design, or lack thereof, the game developers took it to heart to create arenas in which to pin enemies against the player, but none of these spaces feel well throughout or rationally designed. Is as if the developers thought, “why don’t we just throw enemies of random quantities and types to the player”. It becomes a pain after a while when you’re getting swarmed by a number of enemies that take too much damage and seemingly appear out of nowhere without any sort of order, thought or rhyme or reason to their existence other than to just overwhelm the player.

    The game has multiple difficulty settings but they’re all poorly balanced, easy is fairly easy but sometimes it can get challenging, normal is fairly easy at the beginning and then becomes an extremely challenging difficulty, and this issue changes between levels, independently on what chapter you’re in -of the three-, the game has.

    And the levels are also fairly generic, and there’s never a sense that you’re progressing through a plot of anything, there’s not a sense of progression or purpose in this game, some might say that the strength of boomer shooters doesn’t lie in the story, but I digress. Most boomer shooters tell incredible stories, but they don’t use cutscenes, instead they use environmental storytelling, or notes at times -as it was in the most recent and incredible Cultic-, that came out a few months ago.

    The game seemingly progresses at random intervals and without that much thought as to why you’re doing what you’re doing, at one point you’re at a snowy mountain, then in some sort of massive castle, eventually in a desert, but it never explains to you how you got there, the loading screens give a vague idea as to why you’re there, but for the most part these descriptions only mentioned you’re there to “investigate” they hardly elaborate on why or what are you looking for?

    This is a shame too, because the game starts with a really well animated cutscene that sets the game as a link between the original Space Marine game that came out in 2011, and its sequel -supposedly- coming out this year. It’s a shame because they could’ve done so much in the way of elaborating this link and retracing the cliff-hanger that that game presented, yet beyond this initial setup, the game never really elaborates it in any way. There’s exactly three chapters in the game and there’s exactly four cutscenes in the entire game… which eventually are also so badly written and directed that they hardly press for an idea as to why you’re even heading to different directions in the planet you’re in.

    It's just a really poor excuse of an experience that after a while becomes a shallow mess of repetitiveness, and after a while I just didn’t want to play it, I wasn’t interested in the repetitive and empty gameplay, nor in the nonsensical or non-existent story. It was just a shell of what could’ve been a much, much better game.
    Full Review »
  2. May 27, 2023
    0
    The game is poorly optimized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  3. May 25, 2023
    10
    It is truly a great shooter, up there with the best of the best boomer shooters. Fun, fast, violent and charming.