Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II

Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 is a game for fans of the franchise and newcomers alike, providing great cinematic action gameplay and genuine fun that can be experienced alone or with a group. It’s my favorite game of the year so far, and try as I might, I can’t find anything to complain about. It’s just plain good.

A story campaign, a parallel PvE campaign, a 6v6 PvE mode, two different enemy factions, co-op, single-player, different Space Marine classes, more weapon loadouts, thousands of enemies on-screen. When you list it all down like that, it could sound like Saber Interactive was destined to come up short on at least a few aspects of this game. However, I am consistently blown away by Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II and how it has managed to do it all. It's a bombastic action fest that reminds you of the best games of yore. A triumphant achievement as not just a Warhammer 40,000 game, but an action game for the ages.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 feels like a fever dream. Even if you aren't a fan of 40K, it's hard not to admire the raw artistry on display from Saber Interactive here. If you are, I suspect Space Marine 2 will make you very, very happy.

To completely divorce myself from my long love of Warhammer, I would still estimate Space Marine 2 as an exceptional gaming experience. The narrative can only get as deep as the genre allows but even within those limits it plays with interesting ideas, the very nature of the beast being one of disconnection, with forty generous millennia distorting our concept of sensibility and preservation. This is a universe of conflict, pain, and endless peril, and Saber has made it incredibly fun to inhabit, with plenty of reasons to revisit and – most importantly – convince your mates to join in.

Space Marine 2 is a masterful game with a captivating, gorgeous, and action-packed campaign. The multiplayer systems are impressive, expansive, yet slightly disappointing given the disparity between the modes. Regardless, it's a must-play.

The game that will immerse an individual W40K lover the most, but also the game that will make an action lover love the W40K universe. Whichever you are, you will have a very good time.

Gripping, bloody gameplay and impressive hordes of enemies shine, even if the narrative might only appeal to hardcore fans.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a well-crafted action game, even for those new to Warhammer. The slick gameplay makes every battle a rush of adrenaline, with plenty of ways to customize your play style. The deep, character-focused story makes it engaging for Warhammer fans and newcomers alike, while the robust modes and customization options will keep you coming back for more.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is one of the best action games of 2024: It crashes, it bangs and it looks fantastic too. The overall package of story campaign, PvE mode and PvP is also a content-rich board.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a sequel that builds on the legacy of Relic Entertainment. It does so by offering an exciting campaign that perfectly conveys that feeling of perpetual war and all the “grimdark” typical of its setting. Even without ever reaching the depth typical of other games in the same genre, the combat system infuses all the physicality and brutality of the Astartes. The optimization is also good, despite some small flaws that can be easily solved with a round of patches. The only let down is the soundtrack, light years away from the epicness of the first game.

Considering the entire package, Space Marine 2 sets a new high bar for Warhammer 40k games. It showcases the setting with more intricacy and beauty than even its most successful kin. Its gameplay is extremely rewarding and uniquely engaging. It has been a long wait for Space Marine 2, but the emperor is good, and the wait has proven more than worth it.

Even without knowing the lore around Warhammer 40,000, Space Marine 2 does a great job of inviting new fans into the franchise by showing the unwavering courage, sacrifice, and devotion of these super soldiers, but that doesn't mean things are dumbed-down to disrespect die-hard fans. Being a veteran of the franchise isn’t essential to the enjoyment of Space Marine 2; while it might further satisfy the experience, the universe is brought to life with such detail that it makes for the perfect gateway for newcomers.

I absolutely loved my time with Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, and I look forward to jumping into more co-op and PVP after the game launches. The main campaign is a real rollercoaster ride of excitement and mayhem, and the sheer volume of enemies that the game tosses at you on a frequent basis make each encounter feel harrowing and epic. It’s a wild ride that I think any action fan will enjoy, whether you’re in love with the world of Warhamer 40,000 or just looking for a fun time that involves blowing lots of stuff up. Definitely check it out, you won’t be disappointed.

Space Marine 2 is pure, unfiltered video game. It's arcadey and straightforward as hell; nothing is overwrought, and there is no misconception of trying to be more than what it should be. Here is the new gold standard for a third-person action game in the 40K universe.

Let the blood flow, let the chainsword grind, and let the echo of the thunderhammer be heard - Space Marines will not relent. Xenos will fall at the feet of Guilliman's sons, for every dishonorable enemy is defeated from the start. Finally, a Space Marine game worthy of the watchful eyes of the gaming community.

The Adeptus Mechanicus at Saber Interactive have earned the Omnissiah's blessing by ensuring that Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 appeases The God-Emperor's followers. The latest quest of Captain Demetrian Titus against the Tyranids will quench the yearnings of the bloodthirsty, the warhungry, and those who seek to purge the Tyranids and the Forces of Chaos. All hail the God-Emperor of Mankind for bestowing upon us the magnificence of Space Marine 2.

Space Marine 2 is an old-fashioned triumph that eschews modern trends and vapid bloat in exchange for relentless, gory action and a fully-featured Warhammer 40K package that’s presented in gorgeous fashion.

The series thunders back into the spotlight with the force of a space marine hammer crushing heretic skulls. The Emperor protects!

This is a game that refreshes our routine and is more fun with friends but can also be enjoyed alone. Although the graphics are impressive, there is room for improvement in terms of exploration and less repetitive missions. We can progress and improve our Marine to play our way. To fight boredom, a PvP mode is included that provides a unique experience but there is so much action happening that you won’t know what’s going on around you.

A great entry point for people new to the Warhammer 40k franchise, as well as a nice throwback to the action games of old. No open world, no Souls-like mechanics, no “meaningful” story choices. Just you, your bolter and a whole lot of enemies to mow down. [Issue#265, p.72]

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is an absolutely worthy sequel to the original game from Relic Entertainment. From the story to the combat system, the developers have done a good job of bringing over the strong elements of the first game and adding large hordes of enemies. The campaign's length feels good, and while the PvP aspect of the multiplayer will tickle the nostalgia bone, it is the PvE section of the multiplayer component and constant support that will keep the game installed on machines. Space Marine 2 is a great addition for anyone who's a fan of action games. Here's hoping that any potential sequel doesn't take another 13 years.

Space Marine II is so much more than its decade-old predecessor with baked-in co-op, PVP and a wealth of customization. Yet for all the promise of eternal war, its core strength is still in its main campaign — it’s an arcadey blast-and-slash extravaganza that fully realizes all the grisly pageantry of its grimdark setting. It is the best opportunity yet to act out the sagas of Space Marine combat for those who, like me with the Battle for Macragge, long ago put their poorly-painted miniatures into storage.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 takes everything that made the first game special and fun and quadruples it. The campaign and co-op modes will guarantee you many hours of fun and replayability with countless ways to deal with challenges and abnormal amounts of enemies.

My Steam library is full of Warhammer 40,000-themed titles; very few are passable, a handful are good games, and the circle of excellent ones is very small. Space Marine 2 now joins as well—and it is a feast for the eyes and a faithful reproduction of the universe created by Games Workshop, a dream come true for those who grew up with this saga. The gameplay is a refined version of that third-person shooter and action mix we already appreciated in the first chapter, with a combat system that is much more technical and complex compared to its predecessor. It’s not a perfect game, mainly due to a lackluster AI and overly chaotic moments, with messy situations that lead the player to inevitable button mashing, but it’s the best video game adaptation of Games Workshop’s grimdark universe.

The game excels at progressing in co-op and the campaign is not to be thrown away either. And you don't have to be raised on Warhammer to enjoy it. However, operations are extremely difficult for a solo player, so be sure to look around for live teammates.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 replicates the feeling of being a badass almost seamlessly. It’s only a shame that mandatory matchmaking for Operations and dumb AI in Campaign take away your agency to experience it the way you might want to.

Quotation forthcoming.

Those who missed the PS360 old times, when third person shooters didn't complicate everything, should have an eye on Warhammer 40K: Space Marine. You'll kill thousands of enemies, and anything else, but it's easy to miss some variety in them.

Straightforward linear butcher spectacle providing top tier presentation and high entertainment value in both campaign and multiplayer.

With climactic setpiece moments dosed heavily throughout each mission, endlessly enjoyable third-person gunplay, and impressive swarm tech that pits you against hundreds of enemies at once, little time is wasted on anything that isn’t fun in Space Marine.

The most striking achievement of Space Marines 2 is the way the game presents the remarkable atmosphere of Warhammer 40,000 universe. Epic battles, insane architecture and oppressing tone, this game has it all.

Warhammer 40,0000: Space Marine 2 is a brilliant third-person shooter and although it doesn't break the mould of the genre, the combat is a visceral delight. The campaign is short, but it doesn't lack epic moments and impressive landscapes, mired in both violence and beauty. The PvE and PvP modes aren't particularly deep at the moment, but mechanically, they're fun enough to keep me up to my knees in Xenos and heretic guts.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a more-than-worthy successor to the 2011 original. Its brutally gory action is as riveting as ever, but it's also more considered and tactile, making for a much more satisfying experience. There's not a lot going on outside of combat, and it's overly linear at times, but these flaws are easy to forget when you're charging headfirst into battle against an enemy numbering in the hundreds, furiously fighting against a stunning backdrop that brings the tabletop game to life in all its grimdark splendor. Space Marine 2 will deeply resonate with Warhammer 40,000 fans, yet it also has enough about it to thrill those who can't tell their Horus Heresy from their Macharian Crusade. The wait might've been long, but it was well worth it.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine delivers non-stop co-op action in all its gory glory.

Playing Warhammer Space Marine 2 right after the massive open world of Star Wars Outlaws and the mental load that was Black Myth Wukong is certainly the best thing that happened to us this fall 2024. Not only does the game offer a bloody spectacle where you feel like you're controlling a bulldozer that tears everything in its path, Warhammer Space Marine 2 also offers us a return to basic pleasures that we had terribly missed. And buyers of single-player games should not be mistaken, Warhammer Space Marine 2 is above all a game made for multiplayer, the campaign being only the pretty candy, certainly tasty, but in the coating is more attractive than its content. A fairly basic straight line, with the added bonus of a level design that is not very sophisticated and in which we only shoot the same enemies, the bestiary being extremely poor. Likewise, this structure of "I press a button to either open a door or activate a freight elevator" is also likely to bore you greatly. There is therefore a feeling of repetitiveness that disappears immediately as soon as you move on to PvE and PvP, since the war then takes on a different flavor. For the launch, the content is also a little stingy, but the devs have promised a robust roadmap for at least the first year. And when you see all the love they put into their game, you can only take their word for it.

This is an excellent action title that captures the essence of being a Space Marine. The visceral thrill of shooting, slashing, and destroying everything in your path is incredibly satisfying, and the intriguing lore is expertly woven into the core gameplay. Although the AI can be somewhat lacking, and there are a few bugs and a slightly limited number of missions, the title's strengths far outweigh these minor drawbacks.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a bombastic celebration of the setting, a must-play for its fans, and a bloodlust-inducing third-person shooter experience for everyone, though anyone looking to engage with single-player content only will find themselves chewing on bone a little too soon.

If you are an absolute fan of Warhammer 40,000, skipping Space Marine 2 would be pure heresy. Saber Interactive blesses us with a gorgeous love letter to the iconic universe imagined by Games Workship, like few other games have before. Impersonating an Angel of Death has never been so thrilling and the slaughter made in the Emperor's name so beautiful to feast our eyes upon. The third person shooters aficionados will also find here an extremely solid title, whether through an although rather short but enjoyable Campaign or with the Operations mode, that offers huge replayability, or finally with the multiplayer mode. Despite the huge work done on the game that shows a contagious passion, it severly lacks content in its base form. Let's hope it will be regularly updated to keep its players engaged in the long term for this excellent representation of the grim darkness of the far future... as long as your play it with your most faithful brothers in arms.

Space Marine 2 is the perfect sequel to the action-packed original. We were left with epic moments engraved in our memories, and great content to return to.

If you were expecting a comprehensive action adventure with exploration, variety, depth and motivating character development, you should definitely look for another game, because Space Marine 2 simply doesn't offer all of that. Even Doom Eternal offers a lot more here. To be fair, however, it must also be said that the developers of Space Marine 2 never promised anything other than graphically rich co-op slaughter.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is the sequel we have been waiting for so long, nothing more and nothing less. An evolution of the first chapter in every respect, capable of engaging us in furious battles against endless hordes of enemies, embracing the mechanics of an improved and spectacular combat system.

An epic, magnificent and exhilarating title that will only show its full potential when played with friends online.

Epic, detailed and brutal: Space Marine 2 is a true ode to the 40k universe! But as entertaining and technically impressive as the bloody battles against endless hordes of enemies are: Titus' campaign against the Tyranids and Thousands Sons could have used a little more variety. Nevertheless: Space Marine 2 is a new must-have for every 40k fan.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is one of the best shooters of 2024. It features a highly-engaging and addictive combat system that would be lost without its cooperative and competitive modes. It’s not without its faults, though, as the campaign isn’t particularly lengthy and will rely on playing the same six missions over and over again until you level up to take on the higher difficulties, which are primarily just more enemies who hit much harder.

Warhammer 40K deserved this game. Space Marine 2 is not without flaws, but most of the shortcomings are effectively made up for by a great and quite complex combat system and co-op fun. It's a bloody, testosterone-filled action game that will expand this universe's community with many new recruits.

Space Marine 2's campaign is a spectacular and mostly thrilling follow-up to the original, but the game's grisly combat shines best in its cooperative Operations mode.

The great success of Space Marine 2, which is the result of the combination of its visuals and gameplay, is the vibe not only of this very specific universe, but also of the very essence of what Space Marines are. The game is centred around what is most important in Warhammer 40k - grotesque violence treated with due severity, pathos and downright fanatical seriousness.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is an exceptional, larger than life shooter that raises the bar for all Warhammer adaptations. A dizzying sense of scale, along with some of the slickest combat around, will leave you often breathless but always grinning.

Space Marine 2 is a solid successor to Space Marine, fits well into the Warhammer universe, and offers engaging and fun action combat and shooting mechanics. It is slight marred by a limited map pool creating repetitiveness in the game's multiplayer progression-based features.

While not without its flaws, Space Marine 2 is a solid third person shooter that expands on the legacy of its predecessor with some cool story moments for Titus and his men, and plenty of fun to be had in dealing with the deadly tyranids and the other enemies of humanity, either in the campaign or in the other game modes.

Space Marine 2 offers a gameplay experience that's both short and intense. It's very satisfying to shred hordes of enemies in the middle of an epic battlefield. It's beautiful, polished and easy to get to grips with, but its lack of content will grieve all those who were hoping to invest more time in its cooperative mode. The gameplay quickly becomes tiresome, while the lack of variety in the enemies and missions on offer doesn't help either. But there's potential here, with a very good base. We'll be keeping an eye on how Space Marine 2 develops over the coming months and years.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a smart and nice action game. I would like to spend more time in the game, but it is just not good enough for a second playthrough.

When it shines, Space Marine 2 can be really good but there’s just a few too many irritating flaws to recommend it as much as I want to.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a decent game, but one that becomes repetitive quite quickly, though fans of this sort of action combat could find it enjoyable.

It simultaneously tries to be as ‘mature’ as possible through constant depictions of excessive brutality while also being stubbornly unwilling to engage with its source material beyond the aspects most problematically aimed at 12 year olds. It is in the most basic of senses very fun, and I will be coming back to it again when new Operations missions drop for free over the next year. Its combat loop is exhilarating and its visual splendor immaculate. Its entire package just sits in such tonal disharmony within itself and worse so still when compared to other recent 40k video games...Perhaps ironically that makes Space Marine 2 the truest and most immersive satire of fascism in gaming yet though. Just a whole lot of hollow sound and fury.

The rub is that if the combat mechanics didn't quickly devolve into frustration, the extremely short campaign (that is probably best played on Easy: a sad realization) would be an additional negative. I believe strongly that there is still hope on the periphery of Space Marine 2. With proper dedication to the existing roadmap, and beyond, that outlines a focus on PvE content, including an upcoming, proper horde mode, its identity can shift from "gorgeous looking, short single-player experience" to "great game to play with friends," but we're not there yet. And in a gaming landscape that will probably see dozens of games launching to appeal to the latter feeling while Space Marine 2 works its way up to that, on top of the existing ones, it remains a tough game to recommend.

Despite great visuals and hectic combat, Space Marine 2 stumbles on its repetition and generic missions. While co-op has limited appeal, the single player is boring and the competitive action is mostly an afterthought. And even devout followers may lose faith due to the technical issues.

Fans of Warhammer 40,000 will be delighted by the spectacle and authenticity—but ultimately disappointed by messy action and unengaging multiplayer.