Warhammer 40,000: Darktide puts four players into the bowels of the Underhive and asks them to survive the night. It is a co-op dungeon crawler built around the grim universe of Games Workshop, and it mostly earns that comparison through sheer density. The game is out now for PC, Xbox Series X|S and PS5, and it demands a steady hand, a reliable headset and a willingness to die often.
Trailer, via Fatshark.
The Hive Beneath the City
Darktide drops players into a labyrinthine hive city, where the streets run deep and the air stinks of decay. The setting is familiar to anyone who has read a Warhammer novel, but the game treats it as a vertical playground rather than a static backdrop. Corridors twist back on themselves, staircases lead to dead ends, and every floor hides a new ambush.
The combat is brutal. Enemies close fast, hit hard and do not stop coming. Players can choose from four classes, each with its own loadout, and the game rewards coordination over solo heroics. A tank can hold aggro while a ranged player picks off targets from a distance, and a medic can keep the team alive long enough for a retreat.
Four Heads Are Better Than One
Co-op is the heart of Darktide. Playing alone is possible, but it is a lonely affair. The game is designed for groups, and the difficulty spikes sharply when a player dies. A downed companion is not just a loss of firepower; it is a hole in the group’s strategy.
The game tracks each player’s performance and adjusts enemy spawn rates accordingly. A group that clears a wave quickly sees fewer enemies, while a group that struggles triggers a flood. This feedback loop keeps every run feeling tense, even after dozens of hours.
The Tech Struggles
On PC, latency is low, and the game feels responsive. On console, the picture quality suffers, and the frame rate dips during busy encounters. The game is a showcase for Nvidia Reflex, but it is also a reminder that hardware matters.
The load times are long, especially on PS5. Players will spend minutes waiting for a map to generate, and that pause breaks the momentum of a run. The game also suffers from occasional stuttering, particularly in tight corridors where the camera struggles to keep up with the action.
Death Is a Fact of Life
Darktide does not hold hands. When a player dies, they respawn at the nearest checkpoint, and the game does not offer a save option mid-run. That design choice means every mistake carries weight, and it forces players to think about risk management.
The game also features a permadeath mode, where characters permanently die when they fall in battle. It is a bold choice, and it adds a layer of tension that single-player games rarely achieve. In this mode, failure is not just a setback; it is a permanent loss.
The Classes at Your Disposal
Each class in Darktide brings a distinct playstyle to the table. The medic heals allies and buffs stats, making them invaluable in a tight spot. The tank absorbs damage and disrupts enemy attacks, acting as a living shield for the group. The ranged player deals heavy damage from afar, and the melee specialist closes the distance with a blade.
Players can customize their gear and abilities between runs, and the loot system rewards exploration. Chests are scattered throughout each level, and finding them requires patience and a good map. The game encourages players to search every room, even those they have cleared before.
The Difficulty Curve
Darktide is not for everyone. The early levels are forgiving, but the difficulty ramps up quickly. By the middle of the campaign, players will be facing waves of enemies that require precise positioning and constant communication.
The game also features a series of challenges, each with its own set of objectives. These missions test everything from stealth to firepower, and they reward players who experiment with different strategies. They are optional, but they add replay value to an otherwise linear campaign.
A Schedule of Runs
A typical session of Darktide follows a familiar rhythm:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 0:00 | Load the game and select a difficulty |
| 0:15 | Spawn at the start of a new level |
| 0:20 | Clear the first wave of enemies |
| 0:30 | Reach the midpoint and trigger a boss encounter |
| 0:40 | Clear the boss and continue to the next area |
| 0:50 | Find loot and upgrade gear |
| 1:00 | Reach the final wave and complete the level |
| 1:05 | Return to the hub and plan the next run |
That schedule is rough, and it varies depending on the difficulty and the group’s skill. A skilled team can clear a level in minutes, while a struggling group might take an hour or more. The game respects that range, and it does not punish players for taking their time.
What Stands Out
The best moments in Darktide come when the group works together. A well-coordinated push through a wave of enemies feels rewarding, and the game’s audio design amplifies that feeling. The sound of blades clashing and gunfire ringing out creates a sense of urgency that few other games manage.
The worst moments come when the game fails to communicate. Some encounters are unclear, and players may not know which enemy to target or which objective to pursue. The game’s menus are also dense, and navigating them takes practice.
Darktide is a demanding game, but it is also a rewarding one. It offers a shared experience that few other co-op titles deliver, and it respects the intelligence of its players. The game is not perfect, and its technical issues will frustrate some players, but its core loop is strong.
The game is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PS5, and it supports cross-play across all three platforms. That support is a significant draw for players who want to play with friends on different systems, though the performance differences between platforms remain notable.
Darktide is a game that rewards patience and punishes greed. It is not for players looking for an easy victory, but it is for players who enjoy a challenge. The game is currently available for purchase, and it has sold well since launch.
The game’s strength is its design, not its polish. The combat is punishing, the pacing is uneven and the menus are dense, but the moment when four players coordinate to survive a wave is something few other games can match. Darktide scores 7.8 of 10.
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