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Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War is worth considering if you want a turn-based strategy game built around faction warfare, army growth and map control. It borrows the expansion-and-research framework of 4X games, but combat—not diplomacy—is its center of gravity. Its main caveat is that the opening can feel repetitive while you clear nearby wildlife and build up your first city.
What kind of strategy game is Gladius?
Gladius is a war-focused, turn-based 4X game set on Gladius Prime. Developed by Proxy Studios and published by Slitherine Ltd., it released on Steam on July 12, 2018. Its core loop combines exploration, city expansion, construction, resource gathering, technology research and battles for control of ancient artefacts. The design also includes RTS-style base building and heroes who gain ranks and equipment, as PC Gamer’s Jody Macgregor describes in its ranking of Warhammer 40,000 games.
That mix makes it a better fit for players who want to build an army and fight over territory than for players seeking the negotiation and diplomacy associated with some civilization simulators. If you are asking whether it is more like Civilization or a wargame, the clearest answer is that it uses a 4X framework to organize a wargame-style campaign.
How do the factions and battles shape a campaign?
The base game lists four playable factions: Astra Militarum, Space Marines, Orks and Necrons. Steam describes each as having a distinct playstyle and technology tree, so choosing a faction affects how you develop and fight rather than simply changing the units’ appearance. The campaign also rewards control of the map and its artefacts, while hero progression adds another layer to army development.
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- Games Workshop
- 2 Years
Steam’s catalog has grown to include faction and unit add-ons. Among the faction packs listed are Tyranids, Chaos Space Marines, T’au, Craftworld Aeldari, Adeptus Mechanicus, Adepta Sororitas and Drukhari. This gives players more options beyond the four base factions, though the presence of a large catalog alone does not show which add-on is the best value.
What are the main strengths and drawbacks?
Why it may click
- It puts Warhammer 40,000 faction warfare into a turn-based campaign with city growth, research and tactical battles.
- The base factions have distinct playstyles and technology trees, and the add-on catalog offers additional faction and unit choices.
- Heroes can progress through ranks and equipment, giving army development more texture than simply producing more units.
- It supports solo play as well as several listed multiplayer formats.
What may frustrate you
- PC Gamer reports that early turns can feel repetitive, especially while clearing wildlife near the starting city.
- Macgregor also notes a hotseat issue in which only the last player sees the AI’s moves. The available information does not establish whether this issue has since been fixed.
- The extensive DLC catalog means players should decide which extra factions or units they actually want rather than assume they need the whole collection.
Macgregor’s short description captures the unusual blend: “Gladius is an intriguing Frankenstein of a strategy game.” It is an apt fit for a game that combines 4X expansion, base building and hero progression while keeping its emphasis on war.
Rank #2
- A plastic miniature for Warhammer 40,000
- Add a fog-shrouded leader to your Death Guard army
- Hack your way through tough enemy infantry with an intimidating plague blade
- Packed with details including tattered rags, rusted weapons, and twisted armour, to inspire your painting sessions
Does Gladius have multiplayer?
Steam lists single-player, online and LAN PvP, online and LAN co-op, and split-screen modes. The listing also advertises Steam Workshop, Steam Cloud and Remote Play Together. These are supported modes and features as presented on the store page; they do not establish how many people are playing online now or how active matchmaking is.
Can your PC run Gladius?
Steam’s published requirements are modest on paper, but they specify Vulkan graphics support with 3 GB of VRAM. The figures below are the store’s stated requirements, not independent performance tests; they cannot guarantee a particular frame rate or confirm compatibility on an individual PC.
Rank #3
- 56 plastic miniatures for Warhammer: The Old World
- A selection of key Empire of Man units that can be used as a Battle March force
- Contains a Commander of the Empire, Empire State Troops, State Missile Troops, Empire Archers, Flagellants, and Outriders
- Start a new army, or expand an existing collection, and save money compared to buying the kits individually
- These miniatures require assembly and are supplied unpainted.
| Platform | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | 64-bit Windows 10; Intel Core i3-equivalent processor; 4 GB RAM; Vulkan graphics with 3 GB VRAM (Nvidia GeForce 900 series / AMD Radeon RX 400 series); 4 GB storage | Intel Core i5-equivalent processor; 8 GB RAM; the same stated graphics class; 8 GB storage |
| SteamOS/Linux | 64-bit OS; Core i3-equivalent processor; 4 GB RAM; Vulkan graphics with 3 GB VRAM; 4 GB storage | Core i5-equivalent processor; 8 GB RAM; Vulkan graphics with 3 GB VRAM; 8 GB storage |
Check that your graphics hardware and drivers support Vulkan before relying on the processor and memory figures alone.
How has it been received?
At the time Steam was accessed in 2026, English-language user reviews were Very Positive: 81% positive from 5,271 reviews. That is a changing storefront snapshot, not a permanent score. Steam also displayed a Metacritic score of 71. PC Gamer’s April 15, 2026 ranking says patches and DLC have expanded the game’s variety, while still pointing to repetitive early turns and the hotseat limitation. These figures and the single editorial assessment offer useful context, but they are not a broad consensus review.
Rank #4
- Games Workshop - Warhammer - Age of Sigmar - Slaves to Darkness: Chaos Warriors
- These miniatures are supplied unpainted and require assembly – we recommend using Citadel Plastic Glue and Citadel Colour paints.
- Muster an elite armoured Battleline for your Slaves to Darkness army
- Builds 10 Chaos Warriors, armed with runeshields and a choice of weapons
- Forge your legion with interchangeable heads, weapons, and shields
Steam also surfaces an IGN excerpt calling the game “a lot of action-saturated, tactically-driven fun” and a “really well-done, turn-based 40K wargame,” alongside an attributed rating of 7.9/10. Treat that as an excerpt and rating attributed by the store, rather than a substitute for your own priorities.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where can you buy it, and do you need DLC?
PC storefront listings are available on Steam and GOG; PC Gamer also links to the Epic Games Store. GOG says it offers a fully offline installer, allowing installation without GOG Galaxy. Store availability and prices vary by region and can change.
Best Value
Steam listed 21 DLC entries and a Complete Edition bundle containing 22 items when accessed in 2026. That catalog includes faction packs and unit packs, but the available information does not establish the best individual DLC or prove that the complete collection is necessary. Start with the base game if its four factions suit you; consider an add-on only if its faction or units are specifically appealing.
Verdict: who should play Gladius?
Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War is a strong match for Warhammer fans who want a turn-based campaign driven by armies, territory and faction identity. It is less compelling if diplomacy is essential to your idea of a 4X game, or if repetitive opening turns are a deal-breaker. Its listed multiplayer modes broaden the options, but current player activity is not established by the store listing.
Quick Recap
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.
