Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (video game)

Last updated
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader cover art.jpg
Developer(s) Owlcat Games
Publisher(s) Owlcat Games
Director(s) Alexander Mishulin [1]
Series Warhammer 40,000
Engine Unity [2]
Platform(s)
Release7 December 2023
Genre(s) Role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is an isometric role-playing video game developed and published by Owlcat Games set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The game was released for Windows PC, macOS, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and Series S in December 2023.

Contents

Gameplay

Similar to prior Owlcat games ( Pathfinder: Kingmaker ), Rogue Trader is an isometric role-playing video game, heavily utilizing the d100 TTRPG system from the game of the same name.

The player controls a party of six characters, including their own through ground combat and social interactions. [3] It features a turn-based combat system and an isometric perspective. One of the game's distinguishing features is its emphasis on realm-building, with the player's decisions as a Rogue Trader affecting the rest of the gameplay as they build their space empire. [4] Space combat is also present. The game also supports a cooperative multiplayer mode. [5]

The alignment system allows the player to make Dogmatic choices that are typically merciless but in keeping with the setting's fervent belief in the God-Emperor, Iconoclastic choices that challenge the status quo, or Heretical choices that are Chaos-aligned. These choice radically alter conversation options and equipment availability.

Setting

Rogue Trader takes place in the Koronus Expanse, a little charted and unknown region of space. The player, the titular Rogue Trader, is a member of the hegemonic Imperium of Man, given special permission by the Imperium to explore, trade, and conquer, all for the benefit of the Imperium and Mankind as a whole. [6]

The player character, a distant relative of Theodora Von Valancius, unexpectedly rises to power in the Koronus Expanse.

Reception

Rogue Trader received generally positive reviews upon release, according to review aggregator Metacritic. [7]

Rock, Paper, Shotgun applauded the alignment system, citing that both extremes and the middle of the road option had playable value. [10] Leana Hafer from IGN described the game as a "ultra crunchy, 130-hour space epic with excellent writing and combat", though she criticized the presence of various software bugs. [8]

Jody Macgregor from PC Gamer praised the game's tone and atmosphere, though he disliked the combat and the game's technical issues at launch. [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Warhammer 40,000</i> Miniature wargame

Warhammer 40,000 is a miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop. It is the most popular miniature wargame in the world, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. The first edition of the rulebook was published in September 1987, and the tenth and current edition was released in June 2023.

Space Marine (<i>Warhammer 40,000</i>) Fictional futuristic supersoldiers

In the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, the Space Marines, also known as the Adeptus Astartes, are superhuman warrior-monks who fight for the Imperium of Man. They wear mechanised suits of armour and have modified genomes that grant them superhuman strength and endurance. Some Space Marines have betrayed the Imperium and serve the Gods of Chaos, and are thus known as Chaos Space Marines.

Inquisitor was a tabletop miniatures game based in Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 universe. Whereas the main line of Warhammer 40K games is based on squad based tactical warfare, Inquisitor focused on a small group of player characters akin to many role-playing games. Inquisitor miniatures are no longer produced by Games Workshop but, whilst they were, the game had its own website and 54 mm scale models were available as "Specialist Games" from the Games Workshop catalogue.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader</i> 1987 miniature wargame rule book

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is the first edition rule/source book for the Warhammer 40,000 miniature wargame by Games Workshop. The subtitle "Rogue Trader" was dropped in subsequent editions.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War</i> 1999 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War is a turn-based strategy game based on the Panzer General 2 engine by SSI. It is set in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. It was produced by Games Workshop in 1999, and concerns the invasion of a Tyranid Hive fleet and the Eldar and Imperial efforts to defeat it. The game was re-released in 2015 on GOG.com.

Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay is a role-playing game system with multiple source books set within the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The first game using the system, Dark Heresy, was created by Black Industries, which closed soon after the initial release. Official support by Fantasy Flight Games was discontinued in September 2016. The license was later acquired by Ulisses Spiele, who published a new game, Wrath & Glory, in 2018.

<i>Rogue Trader</i> (role-playing game) Tabletop role-playing game

Rogue Trader is a Science-fiction role-playing game published in 2009 that uses the Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay system.

<i>Battlefleet Gothic: Armada</i> 2016 video game

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada is a real-time tactics video game developed by Tindalos Interactive and published by Focus Home Interactive. It is set in the fictional universe of Warhammer 40,000, and is specifically an adaptation of the miniature wargame Battlefleet Gothic by Games Workshop.

<i>Space Hulk: Tactics</i> 2018 video game

Space Hulk: Tactics is a turn-based tactics video game developed by Cyanide and published by Focus Home Interactive. The game is set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe and is based upon the turn-based strategy tabletop miniatures board game Space Hulk. The game was released on 9 October 2018.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus</i> 2018 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is a turn-based tactics video game developed by Bulwark Studios and published by Kasedo Games for the PC in November 2018. It is based on Games Workshop's tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Darktide</i> 2022 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is a first-person action video game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, developed and published by Fatshark. It is a spiritual successor to the Warhammer: Vermintide series. It was released for Microsoft Windows on 30 November 2022. It also was released for Xbox Series X/S on 4 October 2023.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters</i> 2022 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters is a turn-based tactics game set in the Games Workshop's Gothic science fiction Warhammer 40,000 fictional universe.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2</i> Upcoming 2024 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II is an upcoming third-person shooter hack-n-slash video game developed by Saber Interactive and published by Focus Entertainment. A sequel to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine (2011), the game is scheduled to release for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X and Series S on 9 September 2024.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector</i> 2021 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector is a turn-based tactics video game developed by Black Lab Games and published by Slitherine Software for Windows on July 15, 2021. It is based on Games Workshop's tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon</i> 2014 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon is a computer wargame developed by Flashback Games and The Lordz Games Studio, and published by Slitherine Software for Windows on 26 November 2014. It is based on Games Workshop's tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War</i> 2018 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War is a turn-based strategy 4X video game developed by Proxy Studios and published by Slitherine Software for Windows and Linux on July 12, 2018. It is based on Games Workshop's tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach</i> 2017 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach is a turn-based strategy video game developed by Straylight Entertainment and published by Slitherine Software for Windows on January 19, 2017. It is based on Games Workshop's tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000, specifically The Red Waaagh! campaign.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch</i> 2015 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch – Tyranid Invasion is a turn-based tactics video game developed and published by Rodeo Games for iOS on July 16, 2015. Ports for the Windows and PlayStation 4 were released later as Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch – Enhanced Edition. It is based on Games Workshop's tabletop wargame Warhammer 40,000. The game has been described as a spiritual successor to Hunters series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owlcat Games</span> Video game developer

Owlcat Games is a video game developer founded in 2016 by Oleg Shpilchevskiy and Alexander Mishulin. It is headquartered in Cyprus, with satellite offices in Moscow and Armenia. It is best known for developing computer role-playing games such as Pathfinder: Kingmaker (2018), its successor, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (2021), and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (2023).

References

  1. "OWLCAT GAMES ANNOUNCES WARHAMMER 40,000: ROGUE TRADER". Owlcat Games. My.com. Retrieved 29 Nov 2023.
  2. Saver, Michael; Pung, Julia; Stanton, Devon (2024-01-04). "Made with Unity: 2023 in review". Unity Technologies . Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  3. Reuben, Nic (June 15, 2022). "Owlcat Games on exploring the Koronus Expanse and going full heretic in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader". Rock, Paper, Shotgun . Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  4. Marshall, Cass (December 6, 2023). "Rogue Trader's role-playing embraces the brutality and freedom of Warhammer 40K". Polygon . Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  5. Marshall, Cass (November 2, 2023). "Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader's co-op campaign is super flexible". Polygon . Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  6. "ABELARD WERSERIAN: A MAN OF HIS DUTY". Owlcat Games. Retrieved 29 Nov 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader review". Metacritic . Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Hafer, Leana (December 16, 2023). "Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Review". IGN . Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  9. 1 2 Macgregor, Jody (December 6, 2023). "Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader review". PC Gamer . Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  10. Evans-Thirwell, Edwin (28 Nov 2023). "Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader's most intriguing aspect is the most boring part of other RPGs - the middle ground". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 29 Nov 2023.