This article is written by Kyle Lantion, and believe me when we say that as a Warhammer 40k fan, he is really, really, REALLY happy that Space Marine 2 is doing so great.
With Henry Caville coming out as a Warhammer fan and now a Space Marine game being a hit with fans and mainstream audiences, the Warhammer: 40,000 franchise has recently seen tremendous success. Space Marine 2 isn’t the first Warhammer video game to drop, nor is it the first hack-and-slash shooter PVE game featuring space bugs and intergalactic themes. So why did it do so well even with mainstream audiences? Let’s talk about it!
The 40,000-dollar Story
Warhammer: 40,000 Space Marine 2 was released last September 9, 2024, and has been out for almost a month, yet it shows no signs of slowing down. According to Forbes, the game beat all expectations and was the top-selling game on Steam and the second best-selling game on the PS5, only being beaten out by NBA2K25 at release. That’s right, it beat games like Black Myth: Wukong and Fortnite. It even earned more than the Steam deck itself! Other than being a rousing financial success, it did what no other Warhammer game managed to do before: attract players from outside the fandom. With the release of Space Marine 2, more people from mainstream media have shown interest in the franchise, which very rarely happens.
A Band of Battle Brothers
Much like Helldivers 2, Space Marine 2 is a cooperative player vs. environment game that puts you and two other battle brothers in hellish conditions, making you fight through giant space bugs and evil super-soldier abominations. One aspect of the game that made it a rousing success was the focus on teamwork and brotherhood. Unlike other games that pit you against other players, and if your team is trash, then you straight up lose, Space Marine 2 emphasizes the need for players to work together and not simply charge ahead in levels. You and your friends must work together and advance because if any teammate dies, it’s game over. Either you all succeed, or none of you will. Now, this is again nothing new, but what Space Marine 2 does uniquely is the emphasis on the brotherhood of the three space marines you play as in the story mode. You see the growth of their solidarity from start to end, which thrusts onto the player a need for camaraderie and teamwork.
An Epic Storyline
Unlike most games requiring players to listen attentively to every NPC and do a million filler quests before proceeding with the story, Space Marine 2 is direct and straight to the point. The game’s ability to tell a story that even players new to the franchise can follow along with is nothing short of impressive. The story of Space Marine 2 picks up a century after Space Marine 1 but is so clear that you can follow along from the start. It’s simple yet riveting and oozing with lore that veteran fans can enjoy! The CEO of Saber Entertainment even stated that he wanted a simple and straight-to-the-point without imposing a message or agenda on the players, and this game sure delivers that wish.
You know what else you shouldn’t be missing out on? The new Transformers movie!
Transformers One – You’re Missing Out On The Best Transformers Movie To Date – VRSUS
