Combat and Gameplay 8/10

Space Marine 2 combines powerful ranged combat with visceral melee mechanics, enhanced by strategic elements such as the parry and execution systems. There’s a variety of guns and melee weapons and the corresponding sound and visuals complement each one extremely well. A heavy rifle feels weighted and fires with punch, the Chainsword is as viscerally ruthless as one would expect. Combat feels satisfying and tactical, blending big, tough enemies with other encounters that attempt to overwhelm players through the sheer scale of enemies coming their way. It’s not all blasting or hacking away though, either. The armor and health system require that you approach encounters with a strategy in mind, lest your adventure be a short one. Combat can vary quite a bit depending on your squad, though. Playing with 2 AI teammates, they’re OK. They don’t get in your way but don’t expect them to do much heavy lifting either. When playing with 2 friends, especially if they’re skilled and communicate so you’re working together, your squad truly starts to feel like an unstoppable force.

Story 7/10

The rich lore of Warhammer 40k universe’s Imperium and the Tyranid threat are the basis of the Space Marine 2 story, but players with no knowledge of the backstory won’t feel left out. Sabre Interactive does a solid job telling a standalone story in this one. The narrative focuses on Titus’s reintegration into the Ultramarines and the political intricacies of the Imperium set against the relentless Tyranid invasion where every moment seems more dire than the next. It’s mostly well-paced, but the storyline does falter a little towards the conclusion.

Graphics 9/10

Lush environments, detailed character models, and massive enemy swarms significantly heighten immersion and showcase the scale of Warhammer’s grimdark universe. For console players (this review is based on Xbox Series X edition,) this is one of the better visual experiences to date in late 2024/early 2025.

Sound & Music 9/10

The soundtrack and audio design powerfully enhance the atmosphere of constant conflict, complemented by effective voice acting and impactful sound effects that amplify combat intensity. The music is very good, but the sounds of the guns, screeching enemies, and even the weighty steps of your Space Marine take the audio to the next level.

Controls 8/10

The controls are intuitive and responsive, effectively supporting the seamless blend of melee and ranged combat. The dodging and parrying for the most part feel great, but there are times when the game's precision seems to slip a little during larger encounters. It’s not a major issue, but having parrying be hit or miss during the most chaotic situations does hurt immersion at times.

Final Verdict 9/10

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is an extremely fun title with excellent gameplay, graphics, and sound. It’s not quite perfect, but the overall experience is great, especially with a friend. Both longtime 40k fans returning to the franchise and players experiencing the world for the first time will likely find it engaging and rewarding.

Our Takes

Tommy's Take

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 isn't just a game—it's an adrenaline rush wrapped in power armor and chainswords.. I absolutely loved charging into battle alongside my pal Doc T, tearing through waves of alien scum with ridiculously powerful weapons, especially that hammer. Oh god I love that hammer.

The co-op campaign is genuinely impressive. It nails the balance of challenge and making each mission feel like a cinematic blockbuster. Teaming up with my friends turned every battle into an unforgettable event filled with chaotic brawls and interesting puzzles to solve like holding off enemies with a flame thrower while my team flips switches to open doors.

Operations mode is even more fantastic, offering endless replayability and strategic depth. I constantly had to coordinating with my squad, holding objectives, and desperately fighting off waves of enemies created some genuinely epic moments.

Visually, the game is simply stunning—every location is detailed and atmospheric. I can't even tell you how many times I said damn this game looks amazing to my friends. We would often pause just to soak in the spectacular chaos we created.

Space Marine 2 masterfully delivers a game that's as thrilling as it is visually impressive. If intense co-op battles and epic sci-fi warfare are your thing, there's nothing better out there right now.

More From Doc

Space Marine 2 was one of my favorite games of 2024. I had no experience or interest in the 40k universe, but SM2 tells an interesting standalone story with engaging, brutal gameplay.

On Xbox Series X, the graphics are incredible. This was the first game that had me thinking "wow, THIS is a next gen game!" Credit to Sabre Interactive for making this one exclusive to PS5 and the Xbox Series level consoles, the visual, audio, and gameplay quality are outstanding. The campaign and online modes are fun solo, but 10x better if you have a friend or two to take into battle with you. Playing solo, your companion's AI is sufficient, but the experience pales in comparison to taking down hordes of enemies with your mates. The online raid missions, called Operations, are just as epic as the campaign missions. In Operations, there are six separate classes to pick from adding extra depth - one Marine has a shield, another has a jet pack and a giant hammer, it def adds a lot to the replayability.

One of the negatives for me is on the higher difficulty levels of Operations missions, the game throws hundreds of Tyranids at you, so you'll be parrying then returning fire for what feels like an eternity. Unlike other games where at the highest difficulty, the AI gets better by flanking, etc., in Space Marine 2 it's "fight even MORE enemies!" In the campaign, the game does an excellent job mixing up the baddies so it never felt this repetitive.

My other criticism might not be fair, but like any online game, the experience varies wildly depending on the matchmaking. On Operations "Threat - Average," the second easiest difficulty, one game you'll tear through your enemies like a superhero then the next, you'll get absolutely annihilated in the first 10 minutes. Solid teammates who communicate and understand how to make the best use of their class are hit or miss and they make a HUGE difference.

Bring your friends and you'll have a great time.

Good luck, Marine!

Screenshots

Captured on Xbox Series X