From investigating heretical cults to commanding massive starships, the Warhammer 40,000 universe offers seven distinct tabletop RPG experiences that let you explore every dark corner of the 41st millennium.
The explosion of tabletop RPGs over the past decade has brought renewed interest to the Warhammer 40,000 roleplaying games, but with seven different systems available, newcomers often find themselves lost in a maze of options. Each game offers a fundamentally different experience within the same grim universe, from the investigative horror of Dark Heresy to the superhuman combat of Deathwatch.
Dark Heresy: Call of Cthulhu in Space
The original Warhammer 40,000 RPG, Dark Heresy puts players in the roles of Imperial Inquisition agents investigating supernatural threats. Unlike many RPGs where players embody heroic figures, Dark Heresy characters are regular humans facing cosmic horrors far beyond their capabilities.
The game uses a D100 percentile system inherited from Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. Players roll under target numbers to succeed at tasks, creating a simple core mechanic that belies the game’s mechanical depth. Combat proves particularly lethal, forcing players to rely on investigation and cunning rather than direct confrontation.
Game has a heavy focus on investigation and supernatural horror as you try to put an end to the various threats facing the Imperium.
An extensive sanity and corruption system means even successful characters rarely escape unscathed. Those who survive their investigations often retire insane or fall to the very corruption they once fought against.
Rogue Trader: Pirates of the Stars
Rogue Trader shifts the focus entirely, granting players command of massive starships with crews numbering in the tens of thousands. Players become explorers, traders, and sometimes pirates operating beyond Imperial borders with unprecedented freedom.
The game refined Dark Heresy’s mechanics while adding starship combat and an economy system designed for characters with wealth exceeding modern billionaires. This freedom makes Rogue Trader particularly appealing for introducing new players to the setting, offering adventure and exploration in an otherwise oppressive universe.
However, that same freedom presents challenges for new Game Masters. Players can literally travel anywhere in their sector of space, requiring GMs comfortable with improvisation and sandbox-style gameplay.
Deathwatch: Superhuman Warriors
Released in 2010, Deathwatch lets players embody the iconic Space Marines. Where previous games emphasized investigation or exploration, Deathwatch focuses squarely on combat against overwhelming threats like Tyranid hive fleets.
The game introduces innovative squad mechanics. Players can operate in solo mode with chapter-specific bonuses or join squad mode for powerful tactical abilities benefiting the entire team. As characters gain experience together, they learn abilities from other chapters, mechanically representing their growing bonds.
The Challenge of Complexity
While many players gravitate toward Deathwatch to play Space Marines, it’s arguably the most mechanically intensive game in the line. The combat focus amplifies the already complex battle system, potentially overwhelming new players. Additionally, the game predates Primaris Marines and the Indomitus Crusade, which may disappoint players expecting current lore.
Black Crusade: Servants of Chaos
Fantasy Flight surprised players in 2011 by releasing Black Crusade, allowing characters to serve Chaos. This marked both a thematic shift and the beginning of a new design philosophy prioritizing streamlined mechanics and balanced combat.
Players pursue personal power while seeking favor from the Chaos Gods, ultimately aiming for immortal daemonhood or leadership of a Black Crusade. The game includes mechanics for building retinues and aligning with different Chaos deities based on in-game actions.
Importantly, Black Crusade allows converting fallen characters from other games, providing continuity for those who maxed out their corruption in previous campaigns. While the content skews darker than other entries, the introductory adventure demonstrates how to run lighter, sword-and-sorcery style games within the framework.
Only War: The Imperial Guard Experience
Only War (2012) returns focus to regular humans, this time as Imperial Guard soldiers facing the galaxy’s horrors without Space Marine advantages. The refined ruleset represents the cleanest iteration of the core mechanics to date.
The game emphasizes regiment creation, allowing players to design unique military units or choose from pre-established options. Different regiment types—line infantry, armor, scouts, mechanized—support varied campaign styles while maintaining the military focus.
Dark Heresy Second Edition: Refined Investigation
The 2014 release of Dark Heresy Second Edition represents Fantasy Flight’s final 40K RPG. Building on Only War’s refinements, it adds social interaction mechanics and a subtlety system affecting how the world reacts to investigations.
Character creation reaches new flexibility, allowing players to recreate almost any concept imaginable. While some prefer the original’s extensive supplement library, most consider Second Edition the cleanest ruleset in Fantasy Flight’s line.
Wrath & Glory: A New Beginning
Wrath & Glory marks a complete departure from previous games. After a troubled launch under Ulisses Spiel, Cubicle 7 rescued and refined the system, delivering on its promise of a universal Warhammer 40K RPG.
Using D6 dice pools instead of percentiles, Wrath & Glory emphasizes faster, narrative-focused gameplay over simulation. Players can create characters from multiple species and tell any story within the setting. This accessibility comes at the cost of mechanical depth—the system feels “galaxy wide but only an inch deep” to some veterans.
It is considered by many to be a much simpler system, and as a result is the system that often ends up getting recommended to newer players and game masters purely from a mechanical standpoint.
Key Takeaways
- Seven distinct games offer different perspectives on the Warhammer 40,000 universe
- Two generations of design: complex simulation (Dark Heresy, Rogue Trader, Deathwatch) versus streamlined mechanics (Black Crusade, Only War, Dark Heresy 2E)
- Dark Heresy excels at investigative horror for experienced groups
- Rogue Trader provides the most freedom but requires confident Game Masters
- Deathwatch delivers Space Marine power fantasy through complex combat
- Wrath & Glory offers the most accessible entry point for newcomers
- All Fantasy Flight games remain mechanically compatible despite generational differences
- Community resources like the 40K RPG subreddit and Ordo Discordia Discord provide ongoing support
Choosing Your First Game
For new Game Masters, Dark Heresy Second Edition or Wrath & Glory provide the cleanest entry points. Experienced GMs seeking player engagement should consider Rogue Trader’s freedom or Deathwatch’s tactical combat. Black Crusade and Only War serve specific themes best suited for groups knowing exactly what experience they want.
The variety ensures every group can find their perfect entry into the grim darkness of the far future, where there is only war—and surprisingly diverse ways to roleplay through it.
Related Topics
- Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay comparison
- D100 vs D6 dice systems in RPGs
- Sandbox RPG campaign management
- Horror elements in tabletop gaming
- Military campaigns in RPGs
- Character corruption mechanics
- Space combat in tabletop games
- RPG system complexity analysis