Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader - Buyer's Guide

Venture forth into the perilous Koronus Expanse, a labyrinthine region of space where fortunes await discovery among the shadows. Embark on a journey aboard your colossal voidship, navigating treacherous asteroid fields, lawless systems, and ancient ruins holding secrets of a bygone era. As your trusty Lord-Captain, recruit a motley crew of mercenaries, mystics, and renegades each with their own agendas and motivations. Every decision, from clemency or brutality in the face of adversity, loyalty to the Imperium’s tenets, or alliances with unfathomable alien beings can drastically alter the game’s evolving world, inhabitants, and narrative. Strategize meticulously in tactical turn-based combat, utilizing cover and environmental advantages to emerge victorious, and master the unique abilities of your loyal companions to secure triumph even in the most desperate of circumstances. In this immersive adaptation of the classic Rogue Trader system, an astonishing array of possibilities unfolds before you, beckoning discovery and exploits across the boundless expanse of the unknown.

Should I play Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader in 2024?

The good

• Immersive Warhammer 40k Universe: The setting, environment, and tone are praised for being incredibly immersive and faithful to the Warhammer 40k lore.
• High-Quality Writing and Voice Acting: Reviewers consistently highlight the S-tier quality of the writing and voice acting.
• Depth and Variety in Character Builds: There are many options in how to approach combat and build your characters, which appeals to those who enjoy nerding out on character builds.
• Meaningful Choices: Players appreciate that their decisions have actual repercussions on the story and gameplay.
• Original Space Combat and Trading Mechanics: These features add unique dimensions to the gameplay.
• Quality of Life Features: Automatic skill checks, vision indicators, and ability previews in combat enhance the user experience.
• Potential for Longevity: The game is long and offers a lot of replayability, particularly in the earlier acts.

The bad

• Combat and Pacing Issues in Later Acts: The game’s balance and pacing falter in the later acts, deteriorating into a less enjoyable experience.
• Nerfs Over Patches: Several players are frustrated by major nerfs to player skills in patches, which they feel undermine the power fantasy of a single-player game.
• Janky Camera and Minimap: The camera and minimap could use significant improvements.
• Level Design and Cover Mechanics: Maps feel a bit empty, and cover mechanics are not fully integrated with other combat elements.
• Buggy and Unfinished Feel: Some elements feel half-baked and the game could benefit from more thorough playtesting and bug-fixing.

Verdict

While Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader does suffer from the typical Owlcat Games’ pitfalls—pacing issues in later acts, janky mechanics, and post-launch nerfs—it delivers an undeniably immersive and richly detailed experience in the Warhammer 40k universe. If you’re a fan of the lore, enjoy deep character builds, and appreciate well-written stories with meaningful choices, this game is worth your attention. Just be prepared for a bumpy ride in the later stages.

If you love Warhammer 40k and CRPGs, the positives here outweigh the negatives. 🛡️⚔️ Dive in, but maybe wait for a sale or a few more patches to smooth out the rough edges.