More is more: "Warhammer 40 000: Boltgun 2" once again brings massive FPS action
More characters, weapons and action: In an online presentation followed by a demo session for "Warhammer 40 000: Boltgun 2", I made it rain pixel blood and heads. I looked at why simple action sometimes works so well and what boomers have to do with it.
«Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2» is the sequel to the retro FPS «Warhammer 40 000: Boltgun». First things first: You don't need to have played «Boltgun» or know the «Warhammer» universe in detail to enjoy the second instalment. More important is a love of (heavy) weapons, retro pixel visuals and the fun of fast-paced battles. The game starts without a sprawling story or lengthy dialogue. A new mission sends you into battle with one of the two playable characters and your task is to defeat all the enemies. So simple, so good.
«Boltgun 2» for everyone!
You play as either the massive Ultramarine Malum Caedo or the much more agile Sister of Battle Nyra Veyrath, who makes her debut in the sequel. Matt Walker, Senior Audio Designer and Jack Midgley-Munns, Lead Programmer at Auroch Digital, assured at the event that both bring a unique set of weapons and abilities to the game. I could already see some of the equipment via the weapon wheel, but that was far from the full selection.
The Weapon Wheel is one of the Quality of Life improvements that will make «Boltgun 2» accessible. PC players still have the option of changing the armoury at the touch of a button or optionally operating the weapon wheel. This is ideal for anyone who «Warhammer 40 000: Boltgun 2» want to play on the Steam Deck. I have not yet been able to test this, as the demo version is not yet optimised for Valve's handheld. At release, «Boltgun 2» should offer full Steam Deck support.
Two champions, two play styles
Racy retro shooters are great for replaying anyway. A second character with unique skills and equipment further increases the replay value. As in its predecessor, Malum uses his raw brutality to slaughter his way through waves of heretics until all that's left of them is dust and pixelated guts. He carries a heavy chainsaw in one hand and a powerful firearm in the other. Sister Nyra is quicker, but no less brutal. She slits her enemies' throats at lightning speed, shoots their heads off and sets them ablaze. She uses her blade or crossbow, which can even shoot charged arrows,
Nyra is significantly faster than Malum and uses her agility for clever attack patterns. In the demo, I was able to use her to leap down onto enemies from a height and catch my foes cold. In moments like these, Malum tends to utilise the advantages he naturally has as a tank and rushes forwards with all his might. The Ultramarine either covers his opponents with volleys of bullets or splits their bodies in two with his chainsaw.
As «Boltgun 2» is a boomer shooter, fast gameplay is essential. In the two levels that I have been able to try out so far, the desired flow definitely emerged. If you are not (yet) so experienced in the genre, you can even progress a little more slowly and take out the enemies one by one. For the real boomer shooter feeling, however, you shouldn't take things too slowly. Don't worry, Malum and Nyra don't go straight to the ground from a hit, as is typical of the genre.
More is more
In «Boltgun 2», you can have a little bit more of everything: There are two playable characters, a larger arsenal of weapons and plenty of enemies just waiting to be flattened by you in the normal levels and the Purge mode. In a purge, also known as horde mode, numerous waves of enemies roll towards you. You have to defeat them all without taking a breather in order to get the valuable loot.
A new biome awaits you right at the start: winding paths in the greenery, reminiscent of a jungle. In a later level of the demo, I got to see the exact opposite: an industrial plant in the snow. With Nyra's flamethrower, you have the enemies there very well under control, but even the agile fighter is not immune to status changes such as poison.
Although the two champions usually fight alone, various factions are available as support. Other Sisters of Nyra and Space Marines will also play a role. Series veterans will also come across some familiar Warhammer faces, according to the press presentation. No more was revealed at this point. The cautious statements suggest that some iconic characters could find their way into the game.
This is how beautiful blunt FPS shooting can be
I like the two biomes shown because they could hardly be more different: From the green jungle to the ice-cold industrial area. I only experienced many details, such as the numerous abilities of the champions and the advertised XXL arsenal of weapons, in passing
As soon as a purge starts, the game intensifies and waves of creatures move towards me while I demonstrate my superiority with the flamethrower. This simple gameplay quickly puts me into a flow familiar from «Doom» games. Coupled with the retro pixel visuals, it feels like a «Warhammer 40 000 boomer shooter: Boltgun 2» feels modern and classic at the same time.
«Warhammer 40 000: Boltgun 2» will be released in 2026 on PC, Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
I didn’t have a Game Boy or a Super Nintendo as a child, and only joined the world of gaming at 15. I’ve been trying to make up for lost time ever since. But looking at the ever-growing number of game releases each year, it seems the entire industry is conspiring against me.
Interesting facts about products, behind-the-scenes looks at manufacturers and deep-dives on interesting people.
Show all
