Rogue Trader is an RPG that dives deep into Warhammer 40K lore

Warhammer 40,000: rogue trader is a top down RPG on Steam and Good Old Games set in the Warhammer 40K universe, and it’s one of the best games to date at giving the player a glimpse of the scope and scale of that universe. Better yet, it’s one of the rare opportunities players have to actually circumnavigate an entire galaxy and exercise agency. I tasted a demo of it Rogue trader brought to you by Owlcat Games, and there’s quite a bit of choice to be had – but a few disappointing restrictions on player freedom.

The demo included a look at the main campaign, starting with character creation. I got the chance to dress up my new character and choose her augments, home world, origin story and specialties. I chose a noblewoman with an affinity for guns, though I could have been a dirty criminal, dangerous psyker, or veteran of the Empire’s long war. However, all available portraits were of white characters – in a world where humanity has overcome intolerance of skin color or gender in favor of new, exciting xenophobia.

It’s disappointing to feel like I’ve run out of customization options, but this seems to be a by-product of the incomplete beta. When asked for comment, an Owlcat rep said that “there will be MUCH more variety for customizing the character in every aspect, including the portraits.”

The story itself immediately proved intriguing. Rogue Traders date back to the beginning of Warhammer 40,000, and while they’re not as action-oriented or prominent as Space Marines, they’re an important part of the setting. These void sailors are privateers in the service of the Imperium of Man, with a much longer lineage than their peers. They travel, trade and brave the outskirts of the galaxy. Rogue Trader is also an inherited title and the various dynasties endlessly compete for power, wealth and influence.

There are only a limited number of documents authorizing rogue traders to go around, and when I find myself in the running for one, I’m immediately thrust into a world of cutthroat politics. I was betrayed by a colleague, I betray it in turn, and we’re then embroiled in a cat-and-mouse campaign over the stars. I appreciate that this game allows me to start role-playing right away. Owlcat Games added an in-game codex that highlights and explains 40K-specific terms without stopping the dialogue, and I can check those notes as I define my character.

The world of 40K also offers some interesting subversions of the RPG formula. Usually my character is a helpful hero, always inquiring about a villager’s requirements. Rogue trader quickly reminds me that in a grim future of war alone, typical RPG protagonist behavior is read as slavish and pathetic. On the other hand, I’ve quickly gathered a group of dangerous people that I need to keep happy, so I can’t at mean. My skills offer me alternative solutions; I can use my knowledge of the warp to suggest a ritual, or my knowledge of villainous strangers to warn an ally of their machinations.

Rogue trader superbly captures the flavor and tone of the 40K universe as it tells its own story and sets the stakes. All my allies are under the banner of the Imperium of Man, but the schisms and rifts within that banner lead to very different interpretations and executions of the Imperial Creed. It’s also fun to just talk to my Space Marine or Sister of Battle friend and see what they think of the world, even if that doesn’t mean I’m moving forward in a specific quest.

In fact, the game lets me and my allies delve into places that the 40K “main” story doesn’t, like the town of Commorragh in Drukhari. Tucked into the Webway, a system of paths between the extra-dimensional Warp and real space, this city is full of evil elves who make the Sith look like toddlers. Coming to Commorragh is a huge breath of fresh air in a setting so heavily focused on the Imperium, and it makes for a great thrill to explore such a dangerous, otherworldly place with the freedom afforded by an RPG with branching dialogue trees.

Image: Owlcat Games

My allies are also immensely helpful in combat, which takes place on a grid in turn-based combat. This is the same formula used by games like Divinity: Original Sin 2 And Wasteland 3, and it works well with the blood-soaked and bizarre combat traditions of the 40K setting. Nuns with flamethrowers, a Space Wolf that rips heretics to shreds, and the technology of the Adeptus Mechanicus are all used to great effect.

I ran into only a few issues during my time with the beta, albeit some that blocked my progress. At one point, an NPC saved me from an assassination attempt, but refused to let me leave the room until I equipped my gun and bandaged my wounds. The fact that I had already done both things didn’t deter him and I ended up having to load an older save. I’m also looking forward to seeing more character customization options in the full release of the game, as well as avatar options to match the diversity of the Imperium of Man.

Lots of content to come; many of the Rogue trader beta has been marked with warnings that certain backgrounds aren’t fully fleshed out yet, or that dialog options don’t yet exist for specific options. Owlcat Games says more campaigns will be coming after the release of this first adventure. I’m already excited about the final product and to fully immerse myself in the danger and decadence of the Rogue Trader lifestyle.