I previously took a look at a few genres I would like to see the Warhammer franchise take in video game form. You can see those pieces, here, here, here, and here. Now I would like to discuss a few more types of video games that the franchise can experiment in.
Catachan Jungle Fighter Game
Catachan is a death world where simply surviving to adulthood is more difficult than surviving many of the trials to become a space marine. The world is full of dangerous wildlife and fauna that kills many, and the people who do reach adulthood become members of the Catachan Jungle Fighters, a group of the Imperial Guard known for taking on dangerous missions and getting things done. There are two types of game that can be made here starring the Catachan fighters, including a first-person shooter set in the jungles of Catachan where you must survive against the dangerous environment, defend against invaders, and train. A second option could be a 2D run ‘n gun side scroller in the style of the classic Contra games. This could see two soldiers take on a variety of 40K enemies and use a number of weapons and the environment.
A Sister of Battle Action Game
The Sisters of Battle of the Adepta Sorroritas are some of the most intense warriors in the Imperium, and use weaponry far more advanced than the average guardsman. Raised from a young age to be warriors of the Imperial Cult, they take on a variety of foes in the Emperor’s name. An action game starring the Sisters of Battle could be amazing if done well and modeled after other female-led action games like Bayonetta. The game could even use Ephrael Stern or a similar stand-in character, who would have powers that let them take on Chaos themselves and defeat many daemons. The Sisters have a wide arsenal as mentioned, and this could be a good way to give them a chance to shine.
A Game About Space Marine Neophytes
Neophytes are Space Marines in training who have not yet become full Battle-Brothers of their chapter. A game that follows a Neophyte from the first day of his training until he is made a full Space Marine would be a different take on the Astartes and would allow for both action, and a narrative focus to develop in the game. The Neophyte would face many trials and struggles, and eventually, find his role in the Chapter. There would be potential for different options as well, such as a Librarian in training or a Techmarine, to give more content for multiple playthroughs
A Warp Travel Horror Game
Faster than light travel in the Warhammer 40K universe is done by traveling through the immaterial dimension known as the Warp. Unlike in Star Trek, Warp travel in 40K is very dangerous because the Warp is the realm of chaos and home to Daemons and horrid eldritch entities. To safely travel through the Warpspace, you need to use a Gellar field to pass by daemons unnoticed. Going in without a Gellar field will result in the entities of the Warp taking notice and invading your ship. A game set on a ship where the Gellar fields fail would be a perfect setting for a survival horror game. You would need to contend with numerous daemons invading, chaos influencing your very perception of reality, time distortion, and more. Games like Dead Space and System Shock 2 could be looked at for inspiration, but also games like Eternal Darkness, in terms of sanity effects. This could be a truly effective horror title.
An Inquisitor Sequel
Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor: Martyr was an interesting Action RPG in the 40K universe that saw you take on the role of an inquisitor in a Diablo-like experience. The game adapted the 40K universe well in a Diablo format, and while it had a rough launch, the game eventually had a good second wind and managed to win over many detractors with updates, DLC as well as its full expansion, Prophecy. I would love to see the developers make a full sequel to the game with all returning classes, including the tech-adept, and possibly more classes. It would also be interesting if a Space Marine inquisitor could also be an option, considering they do exist in the lore ( as seen here in this video from 40K theories), though perhaps that class might be best for a stand-alone experience. I would also like to see more refinement of the mechanics to fix what didn’t work in the first game and expand on what did. I really did enjoy the game, and there was an opening left for a sequel that I would like to see explored.
A Soulslike Game Staring Horus
This may seem like an odd one but let me explain. What I mean here is a game that would take place when Horus was wounded and corrupted by Chaos via the lodges and visions. Horus would start the game as a weak figure similar to how he was weakened by the Blade of Nurgle. Given that he was sent visions by Chaplain Erebus of the Word Bearers and Davinite priests while unconscious in the Serpent Lodge during their Chaos ritual, it would be interesting to see a game that reflected those visions. He would be guided by two figures with conflicting goals for him, Erebus who wants to guide him on the path to Chaos, and a shadowy wolf urging him away. Horus will grow stronger as he fights his way through and defeats monstrosities, and in doing so brings himself closer and closer to the gods of chaos as their chosen champion. He would face avatars of each of the four gods to prove his worthiness, while the shadowy wolf becomes weaker in its attempts to keep him pure. It would be clear soon that the wolf is the Emperor, or rather Horus’s perception of his father, and Horus would succumb to chaos as their champion. This would be a great way to show off all four of the chaos gods, both in the horrific nature of the realms ( this is a nightmarish vision after all), and the reasons they prove so tempting.
And there we have it. Six more games I would love to see made. What kind of video games do you want to see? Let us know!