It’s official, the best-selling Warhammer 40,000 strategy series is back with Dawn of War 4. Unfortunately, there is still some time to wait before you hop back in control of the Blood Raven, Ork, Mechanicus, or Necron army of your choosing to vie for planetary superiority.
Whether you have been a fan of the entire series or are new to 40k altogether, there are a few games to play to bide your time until the release date is here. Other 40k games, grand strategy, or just grim universes all dot this list. There are hours of gameplay here to fulfill your grimdark fantasies with.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War 3
There Is Only War
Of course you have to start with the predecessor of Dawn of War 4 if you’re going to talk about games to spend time with until its release date. Dawn of War 3 is a bit aged now, but it holds up surprisingly well as far as games in the strategy genre go.
The simpler graphics are somewhat comforting if you’ve seen how far the series and genre have gone, plus they probably won’t be anything special for your PC to run efficiently. This will also get you caught up on the lore of Kronus and the Warhammer 40k universal lore, as it stands for Dawn of War 4.
Total War: Warhammer 3
Warhammer Meets Fantasy
The fantasy version of the Dawn of War games. Everyone has their own ideals as to whether the Old World or 40k setting of Warhammer is the best, but it doesn’t hurt to give both a shot. Some things will be familiar, such as the chaos armies and orkish ideals, while other things are more tailored to the fantasy universe.
Either way, no matter what army you play as, you’ll find a compelling storyline and some high-intensity strategy battles to keep you entertained. Plus, there’s also the multiplayer aspect to try out once you feel like you’ve mastered your favorite army.
Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2
Naval Combat, In Space
Warhammer games and the strategy genre are synonymous with one another. While Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2 isn’t at the top of the list as far as 40k games go, it is still well worth your time. If not for the in-depth interstellar lore about the imperium’s naval fleets and various enemies, then for the mind-bending strategy concepts that go with flying a battleship through space.
It’s a more challenging look at the strategy genre that may not be best for newcomers, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll feel like a naval commander fit to make the imperium of man proud.
Stacraft 2
A Classic Sci-Fi Game
The similarities between the Starcraft series and 40k have been a point of contention in the past. But, considering you probably don’t represent either of the developers that make the games, you can reap the rewards.
Starcraft and its super-engineered soldiers in power suits fighting swarms of aliens will feel quite familiar to 40k fans, and that’s definitely not a bad thing while you wait for the next Dawn of War title. Either of the Starcraft titles is well worth your time, but Starcraft 2 has a better storyline and overall better ease of play throughout the campaign that will draw you in a bit better.
Battle For Middle Earth 2
One Ring To Rule Them All
If you’re looking for a strategy game that takes place in an in-depth world full of lore, you really can’t go wrong with The Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth series. Battle for Middle-earth 2 builds on the first in a way that doesn’t require a lot of foreknowledge of the series or the universe to enjoy.
Play as your favorite Tolkien army and bend the world to your will. Saving those under the control of more evil forces makes you feel closely connected to the overall universe. Fair warning, though: You may feel the need to watch the movies after a playthrough or two.
Company Of Heroes 3
Grand War Strategy
You don’t have to stick with sci-fi or fantasy to stay entertained while waiting for Dawn of War 4. Sometimes, just an epic war strategy is enough to fill the void while you wait to see what the Necrons have in store for Kronus.
You can’t go wrong with Company of Heroes. Really, any game from the entire series will do. However, Company of Heroes 3 expands on the success of the previous installments. This time, taking place in the less-talked-about Mediterranean theater of the war, you’ll find everything that makes the strategy genre and the World War 2 subgenre great.
Europa Universalis 4
Rise Through The Ages
The intensity of the Dawn of War series draws in plenty of new and old fans alike. While the focus is obviously on the war side of things, other elements of strategy games can sometimes bring out this stress and strain.
Europa Universalis 4 is right up there as far as intensity and interest, but in this game, it’s all about balance. Sure, you can go to war as your preferred country in the Middle Ages, but you also need to keep in mind the political and economic tensions in your preferred lands as well. It’s a lesson in spinning plates that any grand strategy fan will admire.
Hearts Of Iron 4
WW2 Stategy Like No Other
Hearts of Iron 4 is another grand strategy game with war as the mainstay. However, it doesn’t have to be your only option as you make your way through the time period of the Second World War. WW2 settings are a consistent go-to for strategy and grand strategy games, and few do it as well as the Hearts of Iron series.
While some are easier than others, you can pick your own nation to make your mark on the world with. This means there is a considerable amount of replayability for those who can’t get enough of the game or just need to kill more time while they wait.
Iron Harvest
History Meets Mechs
Based on the tabletop strategy game Scythe, Iron Harvest is the perfect next step in gaming if you like interesting worlds based on your own. Taking place in an alternate history right after the beginning of the 1900s, war has taken over the globe.
The difference in this and other World War I strategy games is the giant coal and steam-powered mechs that dominate the battlefield. It’s sort of pulpy in a sense, with one protagonist’s trained bear companion joining her in the fight, but it’s also a fun look at an alternate world full of its own dynamic lore and warring armies.
Stellaris
A Galaxy-Spanning Epic
You can’t be a fan of the strategy game genre for long without hearing about Stellaris. Its universal appeal and discussion aren’t the only reasons it should be high on your list of games to play while you wait for Dawn of War 4, though.
Throughout your journey in this game as the galaxy-spanning civilization of your choosing (or creation), you will meet aliens at various stages of their own expansion. Diplomacy with them is your choice, but if you really want to make it like a 40k game, then you know diplomacy with aliens is a heretical concept.