Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War - Buyer's Guide

Experience a grim, turn-based strategy game in Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War, but be aware of its predatory DLC pricing and microtransactions.
Fan-art of Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War

Embark on a grim, turn-based strategy experience in Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War, where four iconic factions vie for dominance on the war-torn planet of Gladius Prime. Explore a procedurally generated world, harness ancient relics, and wage war across the globe in this gritty, 4X strategy game set in the Warhammer universe.

Should I play Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War in 2024?

The good

Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War offers a deeply streamlined and combat-focused take on the 4X strategy genre, borrowing successful elements from classics like Civilization, Starcraft, and Age of Empires while adding its own unique twists. Players praise its focus on war without the extra layers of trade, religion, and diplomacy. The game stands out with its variety of units and factions, cool-down and trade-off-based abilities, and game-defining faction mechanics, all contributing to its strategic and tactical depth. Matches are engaging and can be relatively short compared to other strategy games of this complexity, making them suitable for extended single gaming sessions. Fans of Warhammer and strategy games alike commend it as one of the best Warhammer games ever made.

The bad

Some reviewers feel that the game’s reliance on combat can lead to a static meta-strategy, where specific strategies dominate and there’s little room for economic or military balance. The pacing can be a bit awkward, with even shorter matches taking more than two hours to complete. Additionally, the cost of DLCs has been criticized, as it seems to add a pay-to-win factor, which can be off-putting for some players.

Verdict

Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War offers a compelling and streamlined strategy experience that is both accessible and deep, making it a must-play for fans of the genre and Warhammer enthusiasts. The game’s combat-centric focus and variety of units and factions ensure replayability and strategic depth. While it has some minor drawbacks, like a static meta and costly DLCs, these don’t overshadow the overall fun and engaging experience it offers. Given the very positive reviews, it’s safe to say Gladius is a strong contender for your game library in 2024. Suit up and embrace the endless war, because this one’s a keeper! 🎮✨



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In-game Screenshot

Screenshot of Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War

Top image is not real in-game screenshots. Fan-art made by Gamer.se. Some game metadata is coming from RAWG