Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide

 PC
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 39
  3. Negative: 0 out of 39
  1. PC PowerPlay
    Dec 3, 2015
    90
    Amazingly true to the source material, with combat and action aplenty, and lots of rewards (loot!) for repeat play. Verminitide is the rat's whiskers. [Dec 2015, p.53]
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  2. The Escapist
    Nov 3, 2015
    90
    Vermintide is a great medieval-themed cooperative FPS. Despite being developed by a smaller studio, Vermintide never feels cheaply made.
  3. PC Gamer
    Oct 29, 2015
    90
    Vermintide is a brilliant twist on the Left 4 Dead formula, and deserves much of the same praise heaped on Valve.
  5. CGMagazine
    Oct 26, 2015
    90
    Vermintide is the best kind of game, then; the kind where whimsy dictates the events, but personal skill influences the outcome. Looking at the overwhelming number of my Steam friends that are currently playing, I can see already that Vermintide will quickly become the next title that everyone’s friends will be playing.
  6. Gamer.nl
    Nov 30, 2015
    85
    Vermintide is great when it comes to depth and replay value. The classes bring a good mix and a strong combination with the very well developed melee system. There are few small bugs, but this still is a very solid co-op experience.
  7. Everyeye.it
    Nov 4, 2015
    85
    The gameplay structure is thin, but the experience really compelling and filled with care for details. Fans of Warhammer Fantasy really should consider this game.
  8. GamingTrend
    Oct 28, 2015
    85
    The best parts of Payday 2 and Left 4 Dead in the gritty Warhammer fantasy universe, with a heavy emphasis on melee combat and loot. There’s tons here for co-op fans, and the emphasis on melee makes it stand out from the rest of the pack.
  9. GameWatcher
    Oct 28, 2015
    85
    Vermintide is fast, furious fun, and its supporting systems do a great job of dragging you back in for just one more go.
  10. Meristation
    Oct 27, 2015
    85
    A great interpretation of the Left 4 Dead school, full of love and attention to detail for the Warhammer Fantasy license. Fun, well executed with a lot to offer, a great multiplayer experience.
  11. Softpedia
    Oct 26, 2015
    85
    The combat, especially the close quarters engagements, feel both exciting and perilous and only groups that work well together will be able to reach the end of the level and get a chance to try out for cool loot.
  12. Ragequit.gr
    Nov 2, 2015
    84
    Even though the similarities between Vermintide and the L4D series are literally everywhere, Fatshark managed to pull out an astonishing feat by delivering a heavily entertaining title. The grim atmosphere of the Warhammer universe is properly delivered and the gameplay is accessible and familiar to most. The downsides are the lack of dedicated servers and the somewhat imbalanced loot roll system. We are eager to see what are the future plans for Fatshark's new born child.
  13. Pelit (Finland)
    Jan 4, 2016
    83
    An enjoyable co-op game with a fun but simplistic combat system. Bugs, matchmaking issues and technical problems keep it from becoming an instant classic. Yet! [Nov 2015]
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  14. IGN Spain
    Oct 26, 2015
    83
    A perfect match for those looking for a cooperative game that reminds them of Left 4 Dead, but with its own style and brand new features. Maybe it's not the most detailed or varied game out there, but it's pretty fun.
  15. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Nov 11, 2015
    81
    First person perspective is not exactly the best choice for melee combat – it’s hard to keep your bearings when all you see is a mess of rat bodies. Still, this inconvenience is more than compensated by execution: there are few things more awe-inspiring than seeing your sword separate skaven’s head from body, while your pal sends a whole bunch of them tumbling down the stairs with his huge hammer. [Issue#203, p.88]
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  16. Power Unlimited
    Nov 10, 2015
    81
    Warhammer: The End Times – Vermintide is a cheap and tasty Left 4 Dead-shaped snack. The center’s filled with smooth and deliciously hard action, and on the outside there’s a refreshing level design. The ideal co-op experience – one that rarely tries anything new, yet due to its excellent finish Vermintide could turn out to last as long as Left 4 Dead itself.
  17. Eurogamer Poland
    Dec 14, 2015
    80
    This new game in the Warhammer universe does a lot of things better than the most popular representative of the genre, Left 4 Dead. Loot system and clear differences between characters are big advantages, but the most important is the emphasis on melee combat - Vermintide puts us much closer to the action.
  18. DarkZero
    Dec 4, 2015
    80
    With great feeling melee combat, gruesome action, solid level design and brutal difficulty, this game is a hell of a lot of fun and is ideal for anyone looking for more first-person action to cure an itch for cooperative fun who doesn’t mind grinding on the side to impress the rats with their better gear.
  19. Riot Pixels
    Nov 30, 2015
    80
    Coming off of a string of failures, Fatshark has finally managed to release a solid game.
  20. Games.cz
    Nov 19, 2015
    80
    Funny co-op action in a dark world of original Warhammer is necessary to play with real teammates. The game concept is borrowed from elsewhere, but devs added their own innovations and with an efficient team, playing Vermintide brings a great and gory pleasure.
  21. LevelUp
    Nov 14, 2015
    80
    Despite some disheartening bugs, Vermintide is much more than a mere Left 4 Dead clone: relentless action, endless waves of enemies and true co-op action makes it worthy of your time.
  22. The Digital Fix
    Nov 12, 2015
    80
    Vermintide is a triumphant co-op experience at its best, held back from greatness due to minor technical flaws.
  23. GameOver.gr
    Nov 11, 2015
    80
    Vermintide is actually a worthy successor to Left 4 Dead. If you can find some good friends online, just try the co-op mode and have fun. Just don't try it on your own with the help of the A.I.
  24. PLAY! Zine
    Nov 9, 2015
    80
    Taking the best of Left 4 Dead and Chivalry: Medieval Combat and improving upon it, Warhammer End Times - Vermintide is a very good game that offers hours of great co-op multiplayer survival experience.
  25. Brash Games
    Nov 8, 2015
    80
    For any fan of the warhammer franchise it’s a must have, but even someone who knows nothing about it would still have an unbelievable experience. Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide scores [80] as some people might be slightly put off by its online only gameplay.
  26. GameStar
    Nov 4, 2015
    80
    It's one of the best co-op shooters since Left 4 Dead 2, but bugs, design shortcoming and technical problems lower the score.
  27. 4P.de
    Nov 2, 2015
    80
    So this is what Left 4 Dead feels like in the Warhammer universe...Surprisingly good.
  28. 3DJuegos
    Nov 2, 2015
    80
    WET- Vermintide is an engaging Left-4-Dead-influenced cooperative action game. Fast and furious fun with Warhammer's magic.
  29. Multiplayer.it
    Oct 29, 2015
    80
    Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide is a frantic, engaging, Left-4-Dead-influenced cooperative action game. It's got a solid gameplay, five unique characters and thirteen missions to keep you entertained for a long time.
  30. Vandal
    Nov 9, 2015
    78
    Vermintide is a great game Warhammer fans just cannot miss. There are some aspects that might work better with some tweaks, but definitely a great choice to play with friends.
  31. Destructoid
    Oct 26, 2015
    75
    I just wished that Fatshark had tried to be as original in the gameplay as they have in the visual direction. At times, it just felt like I was playing a mod, and depending on how you look at it that’s either the biggest compliment or the absolute worst thing I could say about Vermintide.
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In Progress & Unscored

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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Dec 7, 2015
    On the one paw, there’s enough variety in the levels that playing my favourites on a cycle doesn’t feel too repetitive, and I’m enjoying the core of the game enough to be happy with a little repetition. But then I dislike the mindset that the loot system breeds. Forget the rats shagging in the sewers and scurrying up your plugholes, Vermintide’s true horror is the ruthlessness of its playerbase. If you’re not contributing toward a superior haul of loot, you might as well be ratfood.

Awards & Rankings

72
#72 Best PC Game of 2015
45
#45 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015
36
#36 Most Shared PC Game of 2015

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 323 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 226 out of 323
  2. Mixed: 54 out of 323
  3. Negative: 43 out of 323
  1. Drivolis
    Oct 24, 2015
    10
    I simply love it. It gives me the shivers. It's not just a clone, AWSOME! The leverls are good, except that shipyard level , that was way tooI simply love it. It gives me the shivers. It's not just a clone, AWSOME! The leverls are good, except that shipyard level , that was way too fast to complete, but every other level was fun and challenging so far!… Full Review »
  2. Sargeras90
    Oct 23, 2015
    9
    What initially seemed like a l4d copy quickly blew me away with original and satisfying depth. The game keeps me guessing even after multipleWhat initially seemed like a l4d copy quickly blew me away with original and satisfying depth. The game keeps me guessing even after multiple playthroughs of every beta mission and most of the regular ones, I can honestly say I've never before felt both desperate and exhilarated to this extent ever before in a video game.

    To be honest i haven't rated this a 10 yet simply because there are some small balance issues at the highest levels of difficulty and i havent finished it yet.

    For the price, you can't go wrong, and if you have a party of 4 you will have the best co op experience this side of killing floor 2 since l4d took gamers by storm.    … Full Review »
  3. FirestormZero
    Oct 23, 2015
    3
    As a guy who loves this genre (with over 2000 hours spent on L4D1/2) I headed into Vermintide expecting a great and fun adventure with a tonAs a guy who loves this genre (with over 2000 hours spent on L4D1/2) I headed into Vermintide expecting a great and fun adventure with a ton of replay value. However, after the first hour of playing it, I was immensely bored. After 2 hours and 45 minutes, I realized that it would not be getting better and refunded my purchase.

    The first issue is that the melee gameplay feels entirely unrewarding. Most melee weapons have the same attack patterns Diag, Mid, Diag for non charged, and side, side, vertical for charged. This makes them feel really unsatisfying to use. For example, as a Dwarf I received a two handed hammer, and found that it was basically the same as the axe, but with slight knockback and less damage. Mechanically, a sword and shield, or two swords, or a longsword simply do not feel that different. Add that you can block with all weapons, and the whole utility of the shield is pointless.

    The second issue is that the visual design is extremely non-distinct. The Skaven designs are extremely dull and the color palette is limited. The unique specials do not feel like they add much to gameplay, and instead feel more like inferior versions of Jockey, Spitter, and Hunter from Left 4 Dead. Left 4 Dead paid a lot of attention to the visual design and sound design of the game-- i.e. all of the special infected have a very distinct silhouette and vocal range, same with the playable characters.

    Not so in Vermintide, where the Dwarf is nearly the exact same size and proportions as the rat, and most of the other characters look sort of like rats in the constant darkness of the setting. They do not feel recognizable or unique. Their interactions are cliche as their designs and only one of the characters (Bright Wizard) actually introduced a different mechanic that makes them unique. The rest may as well be the same character, just with different weapons (that do not really feel that different anyways).

    The level designs vary in quality-- however, the lack of events that force you to take different paths through them and the poor responsiveness of the dynamic AI lowers the replay value. The game lacks the tension and adrenaline of Left 4 Dead and instead becomes a game about spamming left click while pressing forward. After 1 hour it became boring and I took a break, trying to re-evaluate it.

    My re-evaluation is this: if you are interested in this game, you should instead try Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2, or any other co-op FPS. Melee Combat has never been so unsatisfying.    … Full Review »
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