Warhammer 40K: Warpforge Review

Warhammer 40K Warpforge Blasts onto the Scene

Warhammer 40K Warpforge brings the warring factions of the 41^st millennium in this epic digital card game set in the 40k universe. In Warhammer 40k Warpforge players collect cards from the mightiest factions to build powerful decks and fight your way to victory! Can Warhammer 40k Warpforge survive both a competitive genre and a rabid fan base?

40,000 Years in the Making

Warhammer 40k Warpforge has a deep well to drink from. There are over 300 novels on top of a successful miniature game culture. Any mistake in established canon or misrepresentation would have a horde of furious nerds raiding Everguild Ltd. By all accounts, they served their audience well.

Warhammer 40k’s six factions are all represented here. The Ultramarines, Goff Clan, Sautekh Dynasty, Black Legion, Saim-Hann and the Hive Fleet Leviathan. Each faction has its strengths and weaknesses. Fans of the universe should feel the love of the source material represented in the beautiful art adorning each card. Those unfamiliar with the interstellar epic should find the short synopsis and dramatic voiceovers clue you into who is bad and who’s downright evil.

Warhammer 40k Warpforge Paints a Beautiful Universe

The art in this title is where this game shines. The art on every card is carefully crafted and helps the imagination feel the story behind your faction. The environments, or game boards, are animated and highly detailed. The animations during play make you forget you’re playing a card game. Bullets are flying, enemies falling apart and massive airstrikes that annihilate a whole line. Even the dramatic music pulls players into the seriousness of a dark and twisted future war. My only complaint is old eyes may have problems reading the cards on the game board. A quick tap can enlarge the card, but the timer is ticking.

War is Hell

The strategy in Warhammer 40 Warpforge is also tight. Any players familiar with Blizzard’s Hearthstone should feel right at home. Different factions have different abilities that can be honed by creative deck building. Hording strategy served me well and I witnessed some impressive card buffs that seemed almost broken. It will take players a good amount of time to research their preferred faction, style and cards. This is not a pickup-and-play kind of title.

New players must beware of the steep learning curve. The tutorial is slimmer than a marathon runner. I have been playing this game all week and I still have no idea what happens sometimes. Card descriptions can be confusing, and every faction is unique. While there is a FAQ available, information in general is hard to come by. This grasping in the dark can also be frustrating as new players will probably suffer loss after loss after loss.

Freedom is Not Free

Warhammer 40k Warpforge is a free-to-play title, but if you expect to collect all the cards you are going to pay. As with most mobile titles these days, Warhammer 40K Warpforge has multiple currencies for multiple things. It is not very difficult to earn extra booster packs, but rarity always seems hidden under “premium.” For 19.99 you can unlock just one single faction to earn extra rewards, but that would be $120 if you wanted all the factions. It would not be a Warhammer game without some price gouging.

Warhammer 40k Warpforge Dies Hard

There is a lot going for Warhammer 40k Warpforge. There could stand to be some improvements in balancing, match making and an easier barrier of entry. This title would benefit from a more robust tutorial that explains the cards and 40k lingo better. With some willingness to learn on the frontline and patience providing artillery support, players can find a strategic treat with Warhammer 40k Warpforge.