Rogue Trader’s role-playing embraces the brutality and freedom of Warhammer 40K

By James On Dec 6, 2023

“In the grim darkness of the distant future there is only war.” That's the tagline of Warhammer 40,000, one of the most over-the-top and brutal sci-fi settings out there. But even in a brutal, brutal dystopia that grinds the population into dust, some enjoy being at the top of the food chain. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is about the dangers and pleasures of being at the top of that particular hierarchy.

Rogue Traders in 40K are freelance explorers who explore the far frontiers of the Imperium of Man. It's a risky career, but it comes with luxurious rewards: choice, freedom, power, and a giant flagship. As a player, I explore an Empire system with a loyal crew of companions, make impactful choices, and determine the fate of those around me.

A rogue trader is a computer role-playing game along the lines of Baldur's Gate 3 or pillars of eternity. I create my own protagonist and determine stats and bonuses based on my backstory, homeworld, and so on. I am then placed in a high-pressure job interview as a potential heir to a rogue trader aboard her flagship. We don't know that a coup is in the making, and that there are traitors on board the ship. After a deadly battle against heretics and demons, I ascend to the position of Rogue Trader. I am now the captain, and I get to decide how I steer my ship.

A sister of battle as depicted in Rogue Trader by Owlcat Games. She is a member of the Sisters of our Martyred Lady and holds a huge bolt in both hands.

This is a huge game, with tons of features you'd expect from a CRPG: companions (each with their own story paths and conversation trees), top-down strategic combat, and branching choices that affect the world around you. I get to make choices all day long – in fact, that's part of being a Rogue Trader. Some are more important than others; whenever I get to specific points in the story, I can choose from one of three main paths. Dogmatic choices glorify the God-Emperor and abhor the mutant and the witch, the heretical options seek corrupting power, and the Ionoclast path is the closest thing to modern “good guy” morality.

After the events of the tutorial, my beautiful void is empty and my staff is struggling. As the newly anointed Rogue Trader, I must trek around the various planets of the Koronus Expanse to acquire a new Navigator, refurbish my ship, and avoid major diplomatic incidents with the locals. My emptiness is the size of a modern city; I am both governor and captain, and I must manage the ship, its cargo and its many occupants.

As I get back on my feet, I discover a nefarious cult and a deep conspiracy. It's not an easy job, but I'm blessed with a handful of Imperium companions to help me. I can summon them to unlock doors or perform other environmental controls, but they are most useful in combat.

When I encounter opposition, it's very satisfying to control my troops in a turn-based battle. Each battle takes place on a grid; it's very similar Baldur's Gate 3 or even XCOM2. Some positions provide cover, while others are out in the open. Friendly fire is also a very real concern. An arc of automatic fire from a bolter, or the opening of a Navigator's third eye, can harm friend and foe alike. My Rogue Trader is a sniper and she would be lost without her Senechal taking the front lines. There's a lot of firepower at my disposal, and it's usually quite satisfying to use – even if I occasionally tear my poor Senechal apart with a devastating AOE.

A Rogue Trader and his companions find themselves in the middle of a battle, showcasing the grid-based movement and cover systems of Owlcat Games' new CRPG.

I can chat with the companions between battles and learn more about their past. Most of them have deep and dark secrets that I can uncover with a little time or patience, and they have fascinating stories to tell. Abelard, my senechal, is a man who is morally worthless, but will support me to the utmost. I came to enjoy hearing about his days in the Imperial Navy, and he was the only man I felt I could trust. Augusta, a Sister of Battle, starts out as a one-note fanatic, but cracks appear in that facade when I learn about her past and doubts. Cassia and Pasqal both represent two sub-factions in 40K, and they have a lot to say about the Navigators and Tech-Priests.

My absolute favorite companion is Marazhai Aezyrraesh, a dark space elf who feeds on the suffering of sentient beings. He's cruel, depraved and an absolute hoot. Yes, he may skin a few too many people for my taste, but he is the best companion to take to a party.

In the grand scheme of things, this is one of the most complete and detailed explorations of the 40K universe you'll find. The game pays tribute to Fantasy Flight Games' Warhammer 40K RPGs, including A rogue trader And Dark heresy. I spent years as a teenager and young adult studying these sourcebooks (which A rogue trader is inspired by), learn about the small details of life in the Empire. Developer Owlcat Games has paid the same attention to every detail of the Koronus Expanse. I delve into ancient facilities manned by technology priests of the Machine God, the hostile xenos city of Commorragh, or vast cities built to honor the God-Emperor of humanity.

I love the characters, the environments, the writing, the lore, and the flow of combat. But I'm worried about the pace of the game. By the end of the first chapter I had leveled up 16 times. Each level offered marginal rewards, such as the ability to move slightly further during the character's turn in combat or an increased chance to parry when attacked. A slow drip system means that each level feels less important, and even though I'm getting stronger, I don't get that sense of long-term satisfaction.

A nefarious space for scientific experiments, with stretchers and green lighting, in the world of Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

It's especially frustrating to hit a roadblock like the one at the end of Act 1, where an incredibly tough boss comes out of nowhere and gives my crew a beating – and I can't leave to gain experience elsewhere. I eventually discovered a way to subvert the fight by focusing on the positioning of my melee fighters, but it took me far too long to hit my head against the wall. The victory tasted like ash in my mouth after all that frustration.

Voidship combat is another aspect that feels clunky and frustrating. Like the squad-based skirmishes, the naval battles are also turn-based, where positioning is extremely important. Naval combat in space should feel tense, but instead what irritates me most is having to constantly rotate my ship and set my attack zones. I wish I could delegate these annoyances to my senechal – to delegate the tasks of character leveling and ship combat, to better appreciate all things. A rogue trader doing so well.

A rogue trader is a compact, expansive game, and much of it is clearly made with love for the vast lore of the 40K canon. While there are minor annoyances and clunky features along the way, I'm hooked by the political intrigue, cast of characters, and moral choices. For 40K fans, this is a rare treat: a game that digs past the heroic facade of shootouts and battles and taps into the grim dystopia that makes this particular sci-fi setting so damn appealing.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader will be released on Windows PC on December 7. The game was reviewed using a pre-release download code from Owlcat Games. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, although Vox Media may earn commissions on products purchased through affiliate links. You can find Additional information about Polygon's ethics policy can be found here.