Game is exactly as described by the advertising. A deep, turn-based wargame set in GW's 40K universe. No, it is NOT a direct port of the tabletop game, which seems to be what many were expecting, based on the negative comments here. Yes, it IS a 2D game, which is quite obvious based on the screenshots. There's a lot to enjoy here if you are perceptive and intelligent enough to have realistic expectations. Slitherine has an excellent track record for hex based TBS games and also for the immense amount of post-release support they give them. I have enjoyed playing this one very much and have great expectations for the future supporting releases for the product. The Lordz Game Studio does great justice to the venerable license with their work here.

All in all a great, deep, and atmospheric INTERPRETATION of the 40K universe. But if you purchase this expecting 40K tabletop on the PC, you'll be sorely disappointed.

A bit of context:

Armageddon is a well documented W40k storyline that has been blessed with great writers and spanking plots over several decades of Games Workshop development, featuring standout characters, painfully vivid depravity, the perfidy of man in the far future and the devious relentlessness of its eternal Xenos enemies.

This game is not about animation, hand-to-hand combat or a single hero unit conquering all before it in a fantasy universe.
It's about retaining control of a world, a desolately bleak Hive world, in the 40th Millenium with wretched humanity clinging on to a post apocalypictal planet; destroyed by the greed of man, turned into a nightmare world of endless pollution, acid lakes and ash landscapes where nothing grows but mutant lifeforms.
Barely palatable goo is grown from vats fed by the filth of humanity, and fed back to its citizens huddled in Hive Cities that reach into the Stratosphere, built on the bones of the weak and the past. Factories churn out endless warmachines, fearsome weapons and galaxy conquering spaceships, while billions of recruits are press ganged into the Imperial army. And all for praise of the Emperor on his death Throne who cares not for his Worship.
Yet, you survive.

The Orks come to Armageddon. And come they do in their relentless Waaaaargghhh! , generation after generation.
The WarBoss is always mighty, his intellect canny, his instincts brutal but insightful. He will outthink you. His puny gretchin will overwhelm your finely trained, brutalised imperial forces if you allow them too close. His Ork Boys will cleave your powerful superhuman Space Marines from head to toe, ripping their geneseed from their bodies with massive fangs. His mighty clanking warmachines will splitter and splutter seeming an inch from disaster, and then somehow pound your Titans and Hive Cities within an inch of their miserable existence.
Then, the brutality and carnage truly begins!

Can you, mere human, stand before the might of the Orks in the 40k universe?
You will soon find out!

About the gameplay:

A great adaptation of W40k, done from the perspective of the tabletop game and from a more strategic viewpoint. Maybe Warhammer 40k Epic is the more apt comparison, rather than Dawn of War or the tactical fightfest of today's W40k.
Akin to Panzer General and one must appreciate in a similar mindset.
The breadth of units available is very impressive, with every conceivable variant available for your selection.
Deployment and careful marshalling of resources is key as well as playing to each unit's strength while being mindful of the end strategic objective.
The land is bleak and harsh. The enemy relentless and overwhelming. You must always be a step ahead or be utterly destroyed. There are plots within plots from which you must choose the storyline progression as each campaign scenario develops onward to another.

The Imperium of man must not fight these Xenos beasts on their own terms but carefully, meticulously plan and plot to ultimate victory.
Oh, it will be bloody. There will be many losses.
May the Emperor protect you, Lord General!

I just finished the campaign yesterday. I was very excited about it when I first saw it. I would love to say it's a good game, and it has alot of good things (which youtube and steam reviews are posting no small portion of). I certainly won't say it was a bad game, but without repeating what other people have already said, I have some problems with it because I felt largely disappointed with this game. Let me begin with its virtues, while trying not to repeat what everyone talks about in depth.

Pros
1) A present plot of sorts taking place during one of the major campaigns in 40k history (I didn't mind the voice acting too much)
2) Nearly all inclusive by way of units (Forge World and Games Workshop both)
3) Almost all Imperial Guard units are Steel Legion themed (some crews are still Cadians)
4) Very classic and well structured game mechanics
5) This game can be played without ANY space marine support (which I largely found inferior to fielding more Imperial Guard hardware). Finally a game that doesn't cater to GW's "space marines are what it's all about" theme.
6) The weaponry works fairly true to canon and tabletop standards (a Punisher gatling cannon is good against infantry, but does nothing to vehicles). Basically, if it'd work on the tabletop, it'll work here (and vice versa).

Cons
1) Beyond the dialogues between missions, the plot is absent to the gameplay. I would have liked some cutscenes (at least a closing one). Instead, the campaign ended and it just sent me back to the main menu. Additionally, they added some elements that seemed rather unnecessary (such as the inquisitor showing up and trying to "recruit" you).

2) The forces you can assemble lack a sense of proportion to the realism of the 41st Millenium. In the final mission, I fielded approximately 10 Reaver titans, 8 Basilisks, 9 Steel Legion infantry units, plus the "command group" of Yarrick, 2 chapter masters, the drill sergeant, and the detachment of Ultramarines. For easily the later half (if not 2/3 starting in part 2), the titans and basilisks took up the VAST bulk of the fighting with infantry moving up only to capture objectives. I didn't feel like titans were rare assets, or limited in number available to the war waging across an entire planet.

3) By way of the Factions (Imperium and Orks), the armies/clans within them are almost completely left out. They mention extensively about how you're part of the Armageddon Steel Legion, but they make no mentions to the Ash Waste Militia, Hive Militia, or even Jungle Fighter regiments that Armageddon maintains in its PDF (the best they get is Hive Gang Militia units, which are hardly regimental strength). Stormtrooper companies and every Ork clan (like Goffs, Evil Sunz, Snakebites, etc) are completely left out. Variances between the Space Marine chapters are minor at best.

4) While a hex based game brings back ALOT of good memories for us long termed gamers, for a 2014 game, I expected better graphics, unit models to face all directions (that was mentioned in another review). Aircraft function like aircraft, not another ground unit who's only unique feature is they can move over impassible terrain like rivers and mountains. A more prominent role for the VIP's of the campaign (Dante, Yarrick, Ghazghkull, etc).

In short, Warhammer 40k: Armageddon is a nice game, excellent in how it even breaks from the Games Workshop ultimate sanction for space marines and their typical themes of Cadian uniformed guardsmen praising the Angels of Death for saving them. They incorporated almost everything a 40k player (particularly an Imperial Guard tank player) could want for their army. The game mechanics can be said to be reasonably good. However, this game has no feel of being new. I would have expected to see this game as it stands back in 1995 (give or take), not 2014 (almost 20 years later). It also still needs some work to get completely in tune with the 40k lore (like Imperial Guard regiments, Ork clans, etc). I was hoping for a GREAT game, but found a decent one instead. Even with it's 20 year retro and my minor grievances regarding 40k lore to game practicalities, I'd still suggest people have a go at it.

Plain and simple, this is Panzer General stripped down to the essentials and given a modern Panzer Corps-esque makeover in the 40K universe.

On the plus side, it's the familiar and very fun PG-style gameplay, it's set in the 40K universe, and there are TONS of units to choose from (basically the full imperial guard and ork army lists). And if Panzer Corps is any example, expect a crap ton of user-generated content and likely (official) additional race addons. (Chaos, Tyranids or Eldar, anyone?)

On the negative side, it definitely feels stripped down to the bare essentials and lacking in some polish, a prime example being the complete omission of a soundtrack during gameplay. Not a deal-breaker, but definitely annoying considering the price.

Overall though, if you like Panzer Corps and/or 40K, this should be a no-brainer instabuy.

9/10

It's true, the graphics seem to be from 20 years ago.
But I am from 40 years ago, so can't really complain.
:)

50 HOUR MARK... 3 weeks after release and there has already been a second patch. The devs are on the forums, both here and at slitherine, listening to us about what we want in the game. They have added numerous features like tooltips and info screens. They have been and are going to continue with balance, and both Slitherine and Lordz personnel has stated that the game has an immense future. DLC in a slitherine game is what it should be. No cosmetic features for sale here. No removed content. Full campaigns! I also have taken to the WH40K "fluff". Intriguing. After studying up on this war, they really do a good job at faithfully recreating the feel in the game.

30 HOUR MARK... Multiplayer thru PBEM is fantastic! The community is great! The written scenarios are very well done. Very fun. Some question the lack of epic feel of the 2nd war for Armaggedon. The late midgame maps seem pretty epic to me! Titans, heavies, troops everywhere! Don't overcommit or you'll get flanked! Now I am thinking about WH40K TT again...well, this is close enough for only for 40$. I LOVE this game!

My Warhammer experience is very limited. Limited to watching a couple games for a few minutes in the mall. Strategy games are my favorite kind of game. Especially turn based. Time to think is the great equalizer. I'm getting old. My fps skills are not what they were, and pales in comparison to those of some kid who skips classes to play 12 hrs a day. At least some of my steam hours are spent sleeping at a title screen because my kids tired me out before I even got game time in.

I picked this up during the steam sale at a great price because of a steam glitch. I have no interest in Warhammer per se, but I recently discovered Slitherine after being a console guy for the last 7 years with no gaming rig and a 360. I played Hell, Battle Academy, and Panzer Corps as well. All similar turn based table/board like wargames, however very different. Of the 4, Warhammer has been the most fun so far.

Since I never read any warhammer, the lore is generic to me. I have no emotional attatchment. I do think the atmosphere is very cool tho. There are a redicuous amount of units in this game. groups of similar units with slight variances seem like reskins, but they make ALL the difference in the tactics of each scenario. Especially on the harder settings, The slight edge in defense might mean one more turn alive as a stopgap, bringing you that much closer to holding your objective till that last turn. The one with a tic less def and more range attack would help in an offensive situ. The game plays kinda similar to panzer general (same dev, maybe this is a beefed engine). While that game is more historic, this one will provide with the thrill of holding a chokepoint against a HORDE of slowly advancing enemies.

Typical Slitherine mechanics are present. Zones of control are there, but left invisible. You will just notice that you cant move thru an enemy rank to flank, you need to skirt it. Not very prudent in a limited turn scenario. With the turn limit in play, you need to improvise. This isn't a group up on individual enemy unit type game. You will need to multitask. The UI isn't fluffy. It is servicable. Everything is there. Lots of mousing for tooltips over tiny buttons. However, this isn't an RTS. You don't need efficiency. The UI almost encourages you to slow your roll and THINK. EVERY TURN counts. This isnt a click end turn fest like a civ game.

If it seems I'm gushing, I may be. I am not a Matrix fanboy. I never bought the games because they are pricy. Lately, slitherine and some others have realized that the market has room for them at a slightly reduced price point. They realized that early adopters of software, especially complex mechanics like these, will be beta testing to a degree. No amount of beta possible for a smaller outfit like them could get all the balance issues. I don't mean bugs. I mean tweaks. The hundreds of playstyles converging on the forums will induce changes in the game from both the developers, who frequent the forums, and the mod community. Editor is included. I already love this game, and it WILL get better for a while. Moderately priced dlc scenarios will be coming I'm sure. Usually they are full campaigns. If they keep them at 10-15$, I may buy them all. More than that well see.

It seems this game is aimed at the warhammer TT fans. Possibly the older crowd. It has been said that this game looks old. It does. It plays smoothly however. The graphics are just fine for a digital boardgame. No, not late 90s. Go put a late 90s game in and change the res to 1080p without a mod and see how good the models look. Pretty graphics games are often like many models. Beautiful, but try to have a 20 minute conversation with them that has any complexity to it. My first girlfriend was gorgeous, but a box of rocks. I swore never to make that mistake again. I digress, slitherine makes games that are repops and adjustments to a longstanding hobby. Many Warhammer fans may be used to the flashy 3d RTS games. This isn't one of those. This is for those fans who maybe desired a digital table top game that you could play without a friend and a ride.

If you are a warhammer table top fan get this game now. Don't worry about the whining about animations etc. If you are a slitherine fan or wargamer, get it. Great take on the Panzer Corps angine. If you don't want a complex wargame, and need flashy direct x 11 graphics, save your money. Or don't. You may not know what you like if you don't try it! The one bad thing I have to say, is that the manual is very brief. It barely covers the basics, and the deeper mechanics of the ruleset go unexplained. Yes you can play and wing it, but the hard diffgiculty would take some degree of mastery, and explanations need to be gleaned from the devs on the forums.

Very cool! Exactly, how warhammer 40k video games should be played! Bonus points for telling the story from an IG perspective, but I'm personally a bit biased towards that. ;)

-The mechanics are solid.
-The veriety of units is amazing!
-The models look really good, if you like 2 sprites and what not.
-The meta between scouts (vision), tanks (armor), infrantry (control), and artillery (range) is pretty cool.

I think some people might complain that the game doesn't warn you that a unit has not fire and could fire before you end your turn. But, on the flip side of it, I can see that it could be annoying if I deliberately have my unit hold fire (so that it's not shot back), and the game needlessly reminds me of it. So, all good.

10/10

This game is fun, somewhat addictive, and fills a gap of a much needed warhammer 40k massive strategy game.

What it has going for it:
-Hex based Panzer General style play
-2 playable factions Orks and Imperium (4 playable Imperial sub-factions that are somewhat different)
-honest to gosh use of tactics

What I would like to see in the Future:
-MOAR ARMIES
-A free play mode for dummy's like me where I enter an amount of points and go at it with the AI (something other than the editor)
-MOAR ARMIES
-The ability to change the Army composition when I play a specific scenario (I want all Blood Angels)
-oh and did I mention more armies?

Simply a great game. Should be called "Epic 40,000" but that's just my personal opinion. Not all the way through yet, but really enjoying the variety of units and missions.

Pros
-replayability
-diverse amount of units ( 300 plus units :0)
-devs seems to be still improving the game
-warhammer 40k universe
-turnbased, good for someone who is busy and wants to play maybe only one turn a day
-beautiful models
-mod potential
-scale of battle is fantastic
-strategically satisfying
-fun multiplayer

Cons
-not too many animations (but they are not necessary IMO)
-needs more scenario and map customization
-only 3 factions orks, space marines, imperial guard (not including space marine variant factions)
-no team fights
-no ranking system

Conclusion
This game is good, but still has so much potential! If the devs keep updating and improving the game then this is a must get. If the updates stop then the buy is a little bit more questionable. But nonetheless if you are into turnbased strategy and scifi then I definitely recommend getting this title.

P.S. to Devs
add more factions and I guarantee this game will become a landmark 40k title

For anyone, who for ages, wished for a serious conversion of EPIC to the computer screen, this is it.

The game (currently at v 1.3) is old school strategy game. It will remind you of the Panzer Corps "platform", wven though it is targeted at the Warhammer 40k enthusiast.

I would like to see a better use of airpower, more like Panzer Corps.

Highly recommended

Keep up the good work!!!!!!!!

Would love to see, some dead bodies and wrecked tanks... But really lovin it so far.

Sometimes i wonder why a lot of modified bolter-guns on an landraider don't turn ork-infantry into lot of shreds :-), but must be a balance thing.

Really like the diversity of units, but some of them ( no mather the nice look) don't make any sense in combat...

Hope that there will be lot of DLC (more armies!!!!!! campaigns!!!! and what ever the emperors will wants us to have!!!!)

Yes, worth it in my humble opinion if you like 40k. This is like panzer general meets warhammer. Tons of different units, multiplayer and mod support which are both great for a game like this.

Game is TBS strategy in line with the classic panzer general. Not mainstream, so if you fancy high graphics and are unaware what panzer ganeral means, watch some replays before buying.

Very good conversion of the Panzer Corps series into Wh40k universe. There are the traditional elements of core force which gains experience and carries on from scenario to scenario in the campaign. Units are divided to different groups (infantry, vehicles, tanks, artillery, air etc) each of which have tens of different units that you can unlock and upgrade to as the campaign progress.

New things (apart from the setting and units) are that each unit can have multiple weapons with different stats. Also attack usually lead to counterattack, which gives more weight to attack range (no counterattack if target is out of range). Units have health and are very varied on how many individuals there are in the unit (the unit strength counter). For example goblins can have as much as 40 unit strength when tanks usually have 5.

Game feels much more fluid than Panzer Corps and the graphics have also been improved a bit. Very enjoyable gameplay experience so far. Greatest + to the game from difficulty, on average difficulty I seem to get overrun by orcish hordes, not totally but unit casualties are hard to avoid. AI seems very capable in attacking.

Minor complaints come from some missing UI elements. What is morale? How many points does reinforcement of unit take? How far can a unit see?

Verdict: 9+

Stellar wargame. Not just a mod of the outstanding Panzer Korps, but a completely fresh and unique game. The good stuff from PK is retained... the campaign core units gaining experience and upgrades as they progress together. But the scale is now very tactical with each unit having a variety of weapons systems with their own characteristics such as power, range and armor piercing ability. This makes for a more fluid war of movement and less of the grinding attrition. Further, the tried and true formula of each unit having 10 strength points and only elites getting one or two more is tossed out. Armored units are powerful and well protected but have few strength points. Orks can have up to 40 in a great green tide of howling anger!

I couldn't be more pleased with what Slitherine, The Lordz, and Flashback have done here and look forward to seeing you all on the PBEM++ battlefield.

They took Panzer General and 40K and made a f**k yeah sandwhich out of them.

10/10

- F: is for Friends who never call you... U: is for UR alone... N: is Nothing to do at all...
All you do is sit and playing Armageddon!
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FUN; It's truly one of those rare games that you hear old people talk about. There is simply no way for me to express just how awesome Warhammer 40,000 is just from reading and the lore. Nor, can I express just how awesome the table-top game itself is, or; Just how amazing Warhammer 40,000 in general is. There is nothing like it...

Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon to me sets the stage of ultra high quality gameplay. For table-top fans of Warhammer 40,000 and for Hex-Styled gameplay fans in general. The intelligence needed to play this game is just simply put; Beyond what most players consider "hard." There are so many units to work with and too learn how they all work for and against you is just something you don't normally get in majority of games anymore. The story is straight forward enough for Warhammer 40,000 fans. Though its got added charm as adding you into the story not just some nameless hero or token character selection name.

Then the sound effects / music only further add to the quality of the gameplay. Adding grim realistic sounds to a well oiled machine of gameplay. I look forward to putting in more hours here, than any other game I've played on Steam thus far. This fills my need for thought in gameplay verses random no thought rushing to play the next boring re-hashed game. This company brought out the best in players who wanted something that requires thought and ability to wait, look and plan ahead. Online gameplay is quite fun too; Though I've ran into alot of players so far who when losing just quit. I understand the feeling of losing. But please consider its just a game and you can learn from your failures just as much as from your victories.

This game truly represents what an amazing game can be. A style of gameplay that few seem to notice, can achieve. A greatness that is not only in the way it plays but how you can become great in unfair odds and the thrill of victory when all seems lost.

"For the Emperor!"

Imagine a hybrid of Panzer Corps/ Panzer General, Warhammer Rites of war and Warhammer final liberation. Got that in your mind, now throw in the Armageddon Steel legion, ultramarines, blood angels and salamanders and you have a general ideal of what to expect.

This is turn based strategy on a managable scale, with retention of your core units throughout the campaign.
The

Pros:

- Core units that can be upgraded/ refitted and carried through the campaign.
- Huge diversity of units.
- Great fan service
- Tried and tested turn based strategy formula
- Ranged combat and close combat are differentiated clearly (ie: adjacent hexes are close combat)
- Great potential for future campaigns.
- Campaign and battle editer included
- Potential for futire DLC's
- Sound strategy/ tactical game

Cons:

- It can take a while to figure out the mechanics of the game, ie: support weapons, explanation of unit stats etc
- Mission objectives can be a bit vague
- Missions can be a little constrictive or formulaic (I like latitude on how to complete objectoves)
- Veteran status of units not very obviously represented in their performance (ie they don't seem much better)
- Feels a little "ropey" or crude at times, (ie: animations and sound could be better)

What stands out:

- very nice and clear unit sprites
- great potential for fine tuning and future expansion (ie: new campaigns, factions, armies, chapters)

What it needs:

- Unit painter (even a rudimentary army painter would be great)
- more factions and more campaigns
- a dynamic campaign (remember dune?) on a strategic map, with counter offensives etc representated
- Custom perks for veteran units (like you get in civilization,.. ie: defence bonus on hills or against infantry etc)

Awsome game :)

Good, but needs alot more to be worthy of full price.

Alot units, more then so, codex accurate ones too, alot options what to buy and to get for later rounds of ongoing combat.
Not so forward but teeny bit tactic adapting mind helps if your best units cannot take the heat of battle and end of dying. Some of the units are crazy powerfull at range, others and close combat.

Though game has good voice acting, it needs clear line of you role and not set course like it seems to have, plus animations on units at idle and moving could help over price per game too quite a bit