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Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Review (2026): Is It Still Worth Playing?

Darktide's co-op melee-and-gunfire combat is still a strong reason to play, and Fatshark is still updating it. Recent Steam reviews are rated Mixed, so here is what the current evidence shows.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is still worth playing if you want co-op squad missions that mix forceful melee combat with 40K firearms in a grim, oppressive setting. Fatshark is still adding to it, with a free update listed as out on September 29, 2026. The main caveat is player sentiment: recent Steam reviews are rated “Mixed,” so it helps to understand what that figure does and does not tell you before you buy.

What kind of game Darktide is

Darktide is a co-op-focused first-person action shooter built around squad missions. You choose a class, use its abilities, fight with both melee and ranged weapons, and customize your character. Steam’s description names chainswords and lasguns and places the action in the hive city of Tertium.

Most of the game’s appeal comes from that combination. Close-quarters melee and 40K firearms are both central to the combat, rather than one being an add-on to the other. Whether that suits you depends on what you want from a shooter, and on how you feel about repeating missions with the same squad to build up classes and builds over time.

Platforms and multiplayer

Fatshark’s official website lists Darktide on three platforms:

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#1 Best Overall
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Imperial Edition - Xbox Series X
  • Loyalist Pack: Purge heresy in style with these 4 unique class outfits, 8 weapon skin patterns, one set of headgear as well as an Ogryn body tattoo.
  • Mortis Veteran Portrait Frame: A cosmetic portrait frame used to pay tribute to the fallen defenders of Tertium Hive.
  • Caducades Backpack: A cosmetic backpack for human characters. Scavenged from the fallen troops of Cadia, this backpack has been repurposed to serve those still alive and fighting.
  • 2500 Aquilas (premium currency)
  • PC, through Steam and Windows PC
  • PlayStation 5
  • Xbox Series X|S

The official listing identifies online co-op and cross-platform multiplayer, so players on the listed platforms can team up with each other. Steam also lists the Skitarii class as downloadable content.

What players are saying now

Steam’s review summary, as accessed on October 8, 2026, shows two different pictures depending on the time window:

Rank #2
Fireshine Games Warhammer 40.000: Darktide - [Xbox Series X|S]
  • Your character, your playing style: Create your own unique character and choose individual look, voice and origin. With your class choice, you determine the unique characteristics and skills with which you go into battle. Are you an experienced Imperial Army soldier, a sharp-tongued outsider, or a heated zealot? The choice is yours.
  • Battle tested: Following the unsurpassed melee combat in Vermintide 2, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide brings an intense firefight in the style of WH40K into play. Command the balance between ranged and melee in battle with various enemies. Feel every swing, cut and cut of your chainsword or let your laser rifle scorch meat.
  • Save Tertium from doom: Immerse yourself in the bloody, dystopian world of Warhammer 40,000. From the glowing heat of industrial factories, to the water maintenance zone, haunted by incessant acid rain, Tertium Hive is a strict, merciless place even at the best of times. Your task is to fulfill or perish missions to eliminate danger in the depths of the macropolis in the name of the zealous Inquisition.
  • Overcome unpredictable challenges: Prepare for the whims of chaos, with circumstances - mutators that add unforeseen challenges to missions. Your team must be adaptable, adopt new tactics, and vary their equipment in the face of these merciless challenges.
Review window (Steam) Positive share Number of reviews Steam label
All English reviews 76% 75,023 Mostly Positive
Last 30 days (English) 63% 990 Mixed

These are Steam user ratings, not critic scores. They change as new reviews arrive, and a separate Steam page checked at another time showed different recent figures, so treat the numbers as a dated snapshot rather than a fixed verdict. The Steam data does not explain why recent sentiment is lower than the long-term figure. If you are buying today, the recent window is the more relevant one to weigh, but the reasons behind it are not established by these figures.

Critic reception at launch

Steam displays two launch-period critic excerpts. IGN is credited with the line “Warhammer 40,000: Darktide’s ferocious battles make for some of the most thrilling co-op action in years,” with an 8/10 score. Polygon is credited with “Warhammer 40K: Darktide is off to a hell of a start.” Both are from the game’s launch window, which launched on November 30, 2022. They do not represent a current critical consensus, and no 2026 critic aggregate is established here.

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Rank #3
Sale
Cubicle 7 W&G Darktide Extraction Card Game, Ages 14+, 1-5 Players
  • Enter the grim darkness of the Warhammer 40,000 universe in this fast-paced cooperative card game inspired by the Darktide video game from Fatshark and Games Workshop.
  • Play as expendable Rejects conscripted by the Inquisition, making life-or-death decisions as you battle chaos-corrupted enemies across six intense narrative-driven missions.
  • Tactical teamwork is essential as players coordinate actions, manage threats, and determine which Sectors of Hive Tertium can be saved—and which must be abandoned.
  • Designed for 1–4 players, the game includes solo and single-mission modes, offering flexible gameplay experiences for both lone players and full squads.
  • Featuring over 260 cards, 6 Player Boards, and a full set of tokens, Darktide: The Card Game delivers a complete, replayable Warhammer 40K experience in one box.

Is the game still being updated?

Yes, based on dated official and press sources:

  • May 8, 2026, patch 1.11.6: Fatshark’s patch notes describe extensive balance changes focused on Carapace Armoured enemies, particularly Ogryn Crushers, along with bug and crash fixes. Because later updates followed, these notes show the direction of balancing work rather than the current numbers.
  • June 23, 2026, Skitarii class preview: Windows Central published a hands-on preview of the class. The outlet disclosed that it received a Steam code, a preview presentation and B-roll from Fatshark. The article assesses the new class, not the overall quality of the game.
  • September 29, 2026, Depths of the Damned: Fatshark’s official site lists this free update as out.

PC requirements

These are the PC specifications listed on Steam:

Component Minimum (Steam) Recommended (Steam)
Memory (RAM) 8 GB 16 GB
Graphics GTX 970 or RX 570 Not stated
Storage 72 GB Not stated
Internet Broadband Not stated
Drive type Not stated SSD highly recommended

Content and purchases

Steam lists bloody violence and gore, so the game is not suited to players who want a bloodless shooter. Steam also lists in-game purchases and online interaction. Prices and discounts vary by region and date, so check the storefront in your territory before buying.

Deciding whether it is for you

Darktide is a strong choice if most of these apply:

Rank #4
Warhammer DARKTIDE - The Miniatures Game
  • A cooperative board game for up to four players, aged 12 and up
  • Send your team of crack operatives into the depths of a hive city, teeming with deadly enemies
  • Complete your mission, and play through a campaign to save thousands of innocent lives
  • You want to play in a squad rather than alone.
  • You enjoy melee combat alongside ranged gunplay.
  • You are drawn to Warhammer 40,000’s atmosphere.
  • Your PC meets the listed specifications, or you plan to play on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S.
  • You don’t mind repeating missions to progress classes and builds.

It is a weaker fit if you want mainly solo play, dislike repeated mission runs, are sensitive to gore, or would be put off by the recent “Mixed” rating. If you are choosing between Darktide and another co-op shooter, the questions that matter most are how much you want ranged gunplay versus melee, how well you tolerate repeated runs, how much the 40K setting matters to you, which platform you play on, and whether the current Steam trend affects your decision.

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How this assessment was built

This review draws on the official Steam listing, Fatshark’s website and patch notes, a disclosed Windows Central preview, and Steam’s dated review figures. It is not based on hands-on play by the author, and it does not include an independent critic aggregate. Review counts, downloadable content and platform availability can change, so confirm them on the storefront or the official site before purchase.

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Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Imperial Edition - Xbox Series X
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Imperial Edition - Xbox Series X
2500 Aquilas (premium currency)
$36.97
Bestseller No. 4
Warhammer DARKTIDE - The Miniatures Game
Warhammer DARKTIDE - The Miniatures Game
A cooperative board game for up to four players, aged 12 and up; Complete your mission, and play through a campaign to save thousands of innocent lives
$99.99
Bestseller No. 5
Steve Jackson Games Munchkin Warhammer Age of Sigmar Dire Domains
Steve Jackson Games Munchkin Warhammer Age of Sigmar Dire Domains
Each location adds unique twists and strategies to your game, enhancing gameplay variety.; Take a tour of the Mortal Realms for near-infinite fun and exciting new adventures!
$11.95
Best Value
Steve Jackson Games Munchkin Warhammer Age of Sigmar Dire Domains
  • Explore the Mortal Realms in the Age of Sigmar, where heroes, gods, and monsters clash on fantastical battlefields.
  • This expansion for Munchkin Warhammer Age of Sigmar introduces 20 Dungeon and Portal cards that allow you to explore wondrous locations.
  • Visit places like Anvilgard, Hammerhal, and Ulfenkarn, where you can betray your friends or strike risky bargains with the Undead.
  • Each location adds unique twists and strategies to your game, enhancing gameplay variety.
  • Take a tour of the Mortal Realms for near-infinite fun and exciting new adventures!

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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