By any measure, Space Marine II has been a tremendous success, and not just for Saber Interactive. Games Workshop’s licensing revenue has more than quadrupled, and the hobby has seen a tremendous influx of new folks excited to explore the grim darkness of the far future. The manager at my local Games Workshop store (Louisville, Kentucky) notes that foot traffic had doubled in the wake of the game, and internet forums are filled with new questions about the lore and what to explore next.
And if any of this describes you, you’re in luck! We here at Goonhammer are excited to see so many people keen to explore the world we know and love, and have put together a short guide to help you find the next part of your passion. If you’ve been wondering what’s next, here we go!
The Tabletop Game
At its heart, Warhammer is a game of miniatures combat and that has remained at the core of the business. There are a number of ways to play, including:
• Warhammer 40,000. Assemble armies and lead them into battle against your opponents.
• Combat Patrol. A sort of smaller-scale 40K “army in a box” with streamlined rules, this is a great entry point for the game. The minis are entirely compatible with the main game. (For more, check out the Goonhammer Review here).
• Kill Team. A skirmish-based combat game in the 40K universe. Instead of clashing armies, think small teams of special-forces operatives.
• Necromunda. Another skirmish-based combat game, but with a more narrative structure and representing gang warfare in a massive, dystopian hive city.
Note that many folks enjoy collecting, assembling, and painting the miniatures all on their own, without playing the game itself. As with any hobby, find what you enjoy!
If you’re keen to dip your toes in here, you’ll find a trio of different kits aimed at the beginner. Note that most beginner models are what’s called “push-fit,” meaning they snap together without the need for glue.
- Getting Started with Warhammer: Just USD $20, you get two minis (a Space Marine and a Tyranid) and a magazine introducing you to the world of Warhammer 40K tabletop.
- The Introductory Set: At $65, this has sixteen different miniatures to give you two teams to play against the other. It also has a few paints, some nippers, and a paintbrush for building, and everything you need to play a game.
- The Starter Set: Finally, for those ready to dive in there’s the two-player Starter. Thirty-eight minis, a basic rulebook, gaming mat, data sheets, and plenty of dice!
Combat Patrol Magazine
While our friends in the UK have had access to this for some time, this is a new magazine subscription service landing this month- the perfect time to get in on the ground floor. Each magazine issue includes miniatures and hobby supplies as you slowly build up a collection of Combat Patrol armies month by month.
In our review of Imperium, the previous Warhammer magazine subscription service, we found that the value of the subscription represented around a 50% discount over the retail- a fantastic value in a hobby that sees few discounts. If you’re just getting into the hobby and aren’t in a rush to field entire armies on your first day, it’s definitely worth checking out.
The Black Library
The distant future of Warhammer is massive, and there are a wealth of stories for just about every character and faction imaginable. So much so, that it can often seem intimidating to the new reader. Where to begin?
Track of Words has a superb list aimed at the beginning Warhammer reader, and the excellent Black Library sub on Reddit has some great guidance as well.
As always, I’ll encourage you to order your books through your friendly, local game store or independent bookseller. Many Black Library books are also available in eBook and audiobook formats as well, if you prefer those formats.
Warhammer+
Warhammer offers a premium service, Warhammer+, that includes WarhammerTV with loads of programs including animated shows, painting and building advice, and even a trivia game show.
As with any streaming service, your mileage may vary depending on whether or not any of the offerings speak to you. For some, it’s worth joining for one month just to binge the animated shows. For others, the regular content is worth the seven bucks a month.
A membership also gets you an army-building app and access to the game’s digital archives of content.
Video Games
Don’t let Space Marine II fool you, historically video games in the Warhammer universe have been a very mixed bag. One could be forgiven for thinking that in looking for studio partners Games Workshop has shown all of the high standards of a guy a dozen drinks in looking for a companion ten minutes before the bar closes.
Still, a few recent games do stand out. Rogue Trader has been a big hit for studio Owlcat, a CRPG in the vein of Baldur’s Gate 3. Fans of co-op FPS games should check out Darktide, a game whose writers include Black Library alums John French and Victoria Hayward. It recently rolled out to consoles and is having a moment with a new update.
Finally, fans of mobile games might enjoy Tacticus, a gacha-style battle game by Snowprint Studios.
There are a bunch of less recent video games in the greater Games Workshop library that we’ve reviewed over the years as well:
- Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, in case you’re just rubbernecking this article without having played it.
- Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin
- Warhammer 40,000 Chaos Gate: Daemonhunters
- Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
- Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
- Total War Warhammer III
- Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector
- Warhammer 40,000: Lost Crusade
- Necromunda: Underhive Wars
- Total War Warhammer I & II
- Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor – Martyr and Prophecy
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, Dawn of War 2, and Dawn of War 3
Secret Level
Lastly, if you haven’t already make sure to check out the recently-released Amazon series Secret Level, which has an episode centered around Warhammer 40,000. Indeed, Amazon has a Warhammer series in development with actor (and longtime Warhammer fanatic) Henry Cavill.
All of these are great ways to engage with Warhammer 40K beyond Space Marine 2. Treat yourself to a good book, build a few minis, and perhaps discover your next game.
And of course, check out more that we have to offer here on Goonhammer! From tabletop strategy to lore and the game’s history, we have something for every fan of the franchise.
Have any questions or feedback? Drop us a note in the comments below or email us at contact@goonhammer.com. Want articles like this linked in your inbox every Monday morning? Sign up for our newsletter. And don’t forget that you can support us on Patreon for backer rewards like early video content, Administratum access, an ad-free experience on our website and more.
