Two Years On, Space Marine II Still Slices Through Its Story Problems

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II lands on Series X|S, Switch 2, PC and PS5 with a simple pitch: you are a Space Marine, and you are covered in power armor, and you are swinging a chainaxe at everything that moves. The game mostly delivers on that promise, even if its ambitions outstrip its execution.

Trailer, via Saber Interactive.

Power Armor and the Chainaxe

The core loop is a joy to master. You swing your weapon, dodge through the air, and unleash a charged strike that sends enemies flying. The game rewards aggression. Enemies stagger and break apart under repeated blows, and the animation holds up across dozens of encounters.

Combat feels weighty and deliberate. Each swing carries real force behind it, and the game encourages you to commit fully to each attack rather than flailing wildly. That discipline pays off in boss fights, where timing windows narrow and enemies hit harder.

What Works Against You

The campaign leans heavily on scripted set pieces. Some sequences are cleverly designed, but others feel like filler. The pacing dips in the middle stretch, and the story loses momentum during extended stretches of corridor combat.

The game also struggles with frame rate dips on Switch 2. The handheld mode can stutter during busy fights, which breaks the immersion the rest of the game works hard to build. On Series X|S, PC and PS5, the performance holds up better, though not consistently across every encounter.

Boss Fights and Side Content

Boss fights are where Space Marine II shines brightest. The game saves its best design choices for the big moments, and the final stretch of the campaign builds toward a payoff that justifies the earlier missteps.

The side content is less memorable. Missions outside the main storyline offer variation but rarely deepen the experience. They are a pleasant addition, not a reason to return.

Here is how the game’s strengths and weaknesses stack up:

1. Combat: The highlight of the game, with satisfying swings and a strong sense of weight.
2. Boss fights: The campaign’s high points, with tight pacing and memorable encounters.
3. Scripted set pieces: Some are clever, but many feel like padding.
4. Story pacing: The middle of the campaign drags, with repetitive combat sequences.
5. Frame rate: Switch 2 suffers from dips during busy scenes.

Where the Game Falls Short

The narrative is thin. Character arcs are underdeveloped, and the world-building relies too heavily on exposition rather than showing. Players looking for a deep sci-fi story will find disappointment here.

The difficulty curve is uneven. Early fights feel generous, while later boss encounters demand precise timing that the game doesn’t always prepare you for. This contrast can frustrate players who expect a steady challenge throughout.

The multiplayer component, while present, doesn’t match the depth of the single-player campaign. It offers a decent arena-style mode, but it lacks the polish found in the solo missions.

• Combat swings and dodges feel great
• Boss fights deliver memorable set pieces
• Scripted events vary widely in quality
• Story pacing drags in the middle
• Switch 2 suffers from frame rate dips

Final Verdict

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II is a game of highs and lows. Its combat is a standout feature, but the campaign’s pacing and story let it down. The game is at its best when it lets you swing your axe and watch enemies crumble, and at its worst when it forces you through corridors of repetitive combat.

The game earns a score of 7.9 out of 10, reflecting solid combat design weighed against a weaker story and inconsistent pacing.

game review · Space Marine II · Switch 2 · THQ Nordic · Warhammer 40K