Action games in the Warhammer universe rarely trouble critics’ game of the year lists. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 could be about to change that.
It has an 83 per cent rating on Metacritic and is much more of a critical hit than its predecessor, released in 2011.
The game is a blast to play. But buying it is a head-scratcher because multiple versions vary hugely in price. You can pay £59.99 for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 — potentially less if you shop around. Or you can pay up to £229.99.
Here’s why you might want to spend more — and what you get for your cash.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 editions compared
The most sensible buy is the Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Standard Edition. There’s even a pre-order bonus available for early shoppers. Macragge’s Chosen DLC is a cosmetics pack that adds a “unique pauldron with a Crux Terminatus design, and exclusive skins for your Chainsword and Bolt Rifle”.
One step up is the Gold Edition. This grants four days of early access to the game, starting on September 5, and the Season Pass.
This includes bonus cosmetics and bits of DLC planned for the first year after Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s release. The season pass here gets you access to four game seasons of content, taking us well into 2025.
The game’s team detailed this in a roadmap. Upcoming content includes Dark Angels cosmetics packs and weapon skins. However, the more substantive content — missions, modes and weapons — does not require the season pass. It will come to everyone who owns the game.
Would you pay up to £94.99 for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2? That gets you the Ultra Edition. This includes everything in the Gold Edition, plus the Ultramarines Champion Pack. It adds a set of skins for the game’s heavy character class. Worth it? Probably not.
There’s also a Warhammer 40000: Space Marine 2 Collector’s Edition, for £229.99, and it’s out of stock already. This includes a Lieutenant Titus statue and a “making of” book.
Is the Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Gold Edition worth it?
If you are not interested in in-game cosmetics and are happy to wait for the full release date of September 9 to play Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, there is little reason to buy one of the more expensive editions.
As announced in the game’s roadmap, important gameplay additions will be released as “free” updates, rather than being part of the Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 season pass.
PC players can also shop around for deals. CD Keys undercuts the leading platforms and offers both the base and deluxe editions at the time of writing.
What is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2?
If you’ve made it this far, you probably know what Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is. But for the few that don’t, it’s a third-person action game whose campaign can be played solo or as a co-op experience. There’s also a player-versus-player multiplayer mode.
It is a horde-style shooter that pits you against massive waves of enemies, drawing comparisons to one of the year’s biggest hits, Helldivers 2.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is made by Saber Interactive. It’s the developer’s first Warhammer title, and its previous projects include Mudrunner and World War Z.
The game is available for the PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S.
