Summary
TheWarhammerandWarhammer 40Kfranchises are both incredible tabletop games, and they have each had their amazing share of video games as well. Stretching across several decades and many genres, the Umbrella franchise ofWarhammerhas managed to contain a great list of various video game adaptions under its belt.
However, there is one genre that has been far more popular and enduring than any other forWarhammervideo game adaptions. This is the strategy genre, having proven huge for the franchise across bothWarhammer FantasyandWarhammer 40Kgames. With no end in sight for the several huge series developed using a strategy formula for theWarhammerfranchise, the list of great games in this area will only keep growing.
Updated on Jul 12, 2025, by Chris Harkin:The world and franchise of Warhammer continue to grow and expand into new genres. However, the core of the original tabletop game, as well as many of the most successful video game endeavors from this series, have come within the bounds of strategy. Space Marine 2 is still the biggest current talking point around the franchise, but Mechanicus 2 and a potential MMO set within the Warhammer Universe are also under development and currently at the height of the rumor mill. Fans looking to track back through some of the best games within this franchise have a lot to work through, including these classic games and many others which will be added over time.
13Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach
A Fast-Paced Deep-Dive Into The Board Game
Sanctus Reachis another game not known to everyWarhammerfan, but those who know about it absolutely love it.Sanctus Reachwas released in 2017 as a video game adaptation of “The Red Waaagh” campaign from theWarhammer 40Ktabletop game. This famous campaign made for a great story, as players chose to side witheither the Space Marine Blood Wolvesor the Orks.
Much praise was leveled fromWarhammerfans and critics toward the unit and faction design put intoSanctus Reach. Besides having a great multiplayer mode, the flexibility of various tactics that could be used was praised. Although it somewhat pales in comparison to the very best of theWarhammer 40Kstrategy games released in the last twenty years,Sanctus Reachwas a bold attempt to step away from theDawn of Warfranchise.
12Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector
Brings Turn-Based Tactics & Grid Maps Back In A Big Way
The Tyranids have always been a true force to be reckoned with inside theWarhammer 40KUniverse. They are a terrifying idea, moving with a Hive Mind and no conscience, unreasonable even by the standards of the Orc and Chaos factions. The campaign ofBattlesectorput them in the spotlight against the Blood Angels, a fantastic journey that highlights the great strategic gameplay.
As opposed to theDawn of Wargames,Battlesectoruses turn-based combat and a grid-like map that focuses on the movement and combat between unit-sized armies. This lets the player focus on combat and strategic movement, a slightly different style from manyWarhammerstrategy games, but one well worth trying out.
11Battlefleet Gothic: Armada
Space-Based Strategy With A Laundry List Of Options
Although the majority ofWarhammerandWarhammer 40Kare earth-based, focusing on units and armies colliding, there are some that boldly take the space battles into account. TheBattlefleet Gothicboard game did just this, and theArmadavideo game adaptation is ingenious.
Allowing players to take control of a space-based armada for one of six factions, customize their ships, and take on a variety of missions. The tasks range from destruction of enemy fleets to transporting specific vessels, defending areas, and even stealing data from the enemy. This makes for a fantastic ride through a very different type of strategy game in theWarhammer 40KUniverse.
10Warhammer: Mark Of Chaos
Focuses On Action, Detracts From Base-Building Aspects
Mark of Chaoswas one of the earlier attempts to put a funWarhammer Fantasyspin on the idea ofan RTS game with a great story. It takes place in the old world and gives players the opportunity to choose between one of four armies, including the Empire, Elven Forces, Chaos, and Skaven. This offered players the chance to explore different strategies and ideas through the various forces they were able to command.
There are two separate campaigns that players are able to explore inMark of Chaosin addition to the excellent multiplayer mode.Mark of Chaoscame out at a great time for strategy games, butWarhammer FantasyRTS games have always had a harder time than 40K games in garnering a fan base.Mark of Chaosis one of the best that have achieved it,enamoring fans with taking down the Chaos Gods.
9Space Hulk: Tactics
Brings To Life One Of The Most Famous Board Games
There have been a number of great tabletop games based on theWarhammerfranchise, starting with the original game that can be played with the miniature figures at the core ofWarhammer. However, one of the most popular board games to come out of this isSpace Hulk, which was later adapted into this turn-based tactics video game.
There have been a fewWarhammervideo games that adapt tabletop games, but nothing quite as well-executed from tabletop to adaption as this one, although the console controls were a complaint for critics.Space Hulk: Tacticsis a great example of how a video game adaption of a board game can change and update the source material without altering too much of what made the board game itself great.
Although RTS games have been the more popular strategy games set within theWarhammeruniverse, a big turn-based tactics game was bound to make an impact eventually.Chaos Gate: Daemonhuntersallows players to take control of a group of Grey Knights, fearsome warriors that hunt some of the deadliest creatures in the galaxy.
The great setting and cinematic story ofDaemonhuntersallow players to step into a fully fleshed-out version of theWarhammer 40Kworld. The fast-paced style of the gameplay has helped it receive strong reviews and the different sort of story and game within theWarhammerfranchise have been a big success as other games look to spread into even more genres.
7Blood Bowl 2
The Most Surprisingly Perfect Brutal Sports Game
One of the wilder spin-off franchises within the Warhammer Universe,Blood Bowl, has managed several games, each a sports game that occurs in a turn-based strategy format. A violent version of American Football,Blood Bowlgames involve a lot of violence and random events, such as helicopters being crashed onto the field of play.
After attempting various ideas that didn’t pan out in the firstBlood Bowlgame, this sequel mastered the formula, being entirely turn-based and having an extremely fun single-player campaign mode in addition to the other modes that returned from the last game. While it is by no means the most traditionalWarhammersetting, the humor the series is capable of is shown off fully in this spin-off series.
6Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2
Nails The Focus On Warhammer’s Space-Based Battles
There is so much lore and story around theWarhammer 40,000Universe, including a great deal about different planets and the races that reach across the stars in order to try and claim as many of them as possible. Given all that, it is surprising how few games about theWarhammerfranchise involve space itself.
Battlefleet Gothicis an RTS game set in theWarhammer 40Kside of the Universe, adapted from the miniatures around theBattlefleet Gothicwargame.Armada 2was released in 2019 and was praised for making great advancements over the first entry in almost every regard.Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2doesn’t deal with that many of the most familiar elements toWarhammerorWarhammer 40Kfans, but it is one of the most perfectly put-together strategy games in that universe,with a great modding community.
The cybernetically-enhanced warrior priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus have hardly ever gotten a look in on the long list ofWarhammer 40Kgames that have been created over the past few decades. But Mechanicus finally gave them a proper highlight in a turn-based tactics atmosphere.
Highly praised by many critics, Mechanicus was a somewhat simplified version of the board game of the same name. It was a fantastic jumping-on point for new players and strategy game beginners while being an enjoyable ride without adding anything particularly new for seasoned vets.
Similar to theTotal War: Warhammerfranchise, theDawn of Warseries managed to hit an incredible peak with the sequel.Dawn of Waris known for being some of the very best games, not just strategically, forWarhammerfans to try out, andDawn of War 2is arguably the best of them all.
In story and character terms, as well as so much love being delivered by fans and critics alike for faction and individual unit designs,Dawn of War 2is one of the absolute peaks of the franchise, and part of what made it so great was the brave decision to take away much of the base-building available in previous entries, forcing players to strategically choose the units available before scenarios began.
