How ‘Space Marine 2’ Turned Me into a Warhammer 40K Fan
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 launched in early access on September 5th, and since its full release on September 9th, over 2 million players have engaged in war against the Tyranids and the forces of Chaos. Space Marine 2 was one of my most anticipated games of the year, so I decided to shell out $99.99 for the Gold Edition to play early. When I was reaching the end of the campaign, I realized something: this is one of the best action games of the year, one of the best I’ve ever played, and I’ve fallen in love with the world of Warhammer 40K.
A Captivating Universe
My previous exposure to Warhammer—especially Warhammer 40K—was pretty limited. I played Warhammer: Chaosbane early in the current console generation, mostly because I wanted something “next-gen” to play. I’ve dabbled in Warhammer: Vermintide II and Warhammer 40K: Darktide, but never enough to feel immersed. This summer, I played 2011’s Space Marine in anticipation of the sequel. While I enjoyed it, I didn’t feel particularly attached to it. But all of that changed with Space Marine 2.
The story of Demetrian Titus—accused of heresy, separated from his battle-brothers, serving in the Deathwatch as penance, and forming bonds with a new squad—captivated me. The actual plot of Space Marine 2 isn’t groundbreaking; it’s a fairly standard war story set against the Warhammer 40K backdrop. However, the lore explored in the game, the references to other characters, and even the enemies gave me a real connection to the universe. Moreover, it’s just incredibly cool. The bonds between the Ultramarine chapters and squads, their relationship with the Chaplain, the Primarch, and the God-Emperor himself—I needed more of that. So, I decided to dive in headfirst.
My First Warhammer Store Experience
Over the past week, I visited a local Warhammer store in my hometown and dragged my girlfriend along with me. I was specifically looking for some books to read, having checked out online recommendations for where to start in Warhammer 40K. The most commonly suggested were the Eisenhorn Omnibus, a collection of short stories and novels about an Inquisitor, Gaunt’s Ghosts. The book explores a regiment of the Imperial Guard and what it’s like for a “regular” soldier in this universe. Another recommended book, Nightbringer, is a novel about Uriel Ventris, a famous Space Marine I had never heard of. I ended up buying the Eisenhorn Omnibus and Gaunt’s Ghosts, but unfortunately, the store didn’t have any Space Marine-related books in stock.
While browsing through the different models and miniatures, my girlfriend decided to buy me my first set of models: the Infernus Marines, the most basic-looking Space Marine models they had. We picked up some paints and brushes as well. I searched online for a Lieutenant Titus model and discovered that the only one available comes with the Space Marine 2 board game. I went to Target, and they had two in stock, so I picked one up. The board game is fully featured and includes the Titus model along with about twenty Tyranid miniatures.
Expanding My Warhammer 40K Game Collection
Naturally, I wanted to explore more Warhammer 40K games. I saw that Warhammer 40K: Chaos Gate, an X-COM-style turn-based strategy game, was on sale on the PlayStation Store, so I grabbed it. I also bought Warhammer 40K: Boltgun, a ’90s retro “boomer shooter” where you play as a Space Marine. It conveniently bridges the story between Space Marine 1 and Space Marine 2 and is even set on the same planet as the first game! I checked Steam and found that I already owned Warhammer 40K: Gladius, a 4X turn-based strategy game, which I think had been given away for free in the past. Finally, the game I’ve sunk the most time into since starting this journey is Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader, a CRPG developed by Owlcat Games that was released late last year. Owlcat is known for the excellent Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Wrath of the Righteous CRPGs, both of which I’ve played a little. After about 15 hours of Rogue Trader, I can confidently say it’s fantastic, and even if you know nothing about Warhammer 40K, it’s a great introduction to the universe.
The Cost of Warhammer
As you can see, I’m in deep. After watching a few YouTube tutorials on model painting, I spent the weekend painting my miniatures, and I found the process surprisingly fun and therapeutic, though I still have a lot to learn. In total, I’ve spent close to $300 on Warhammer 40K products and painting supplies. Now I understand why people say Warhammer is an expensive hobby…
The truth is, I’m having a blast exploring this universe. I’ve logged about 35 hours in Space Marine 2, both solo and with friends, and I highly recommend it. Warhammer 40K is a richly detailed universe full of endless possibilities, and I’m excited about the Henry Cavill-led adaptation for Amazon Prime Video. If it gets off the ground, I’ll be there on day one. What about you? Has Space Marine 2 inspired you to dive deeper into Warhammer 40K? Let us know in the comments, don’t forget to check out our review for Space Marine 2 here, and feel free to recommend any other resources or products worth exploring in this grimdark universe.
