In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. Also giant robot priests, immortal skeletal murder machines and enough techno-religious chanting to shake the walls.
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II is now available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC, bringing back the tactical warfare, oppressive atmosphere and deep strategy systems that made the original one of the better modern Warhammer adaptations around.
Published by Kasedo Games and developed by Bulwark Studios, the sequel expands the scale considerably this time too, introducing dual campaigns, two playable factions and a much larger planetary conflict.
At A Glance
- Game: Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II
- Developer: Bulwark Studios
- Publisher: Kasedo Games
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC
- Genre: Turn-Based Strategy
- Price: £34.99 Standard Edition / £44.99 Mechanicus Anthology
The Mechanicus And Necrons Go To War Again
Mechanicus II picks up with a fresh conflict between the Adeptus Mechanicus and the ancient Necron dynasty led by Vargard Nefershah.
After awakening from millennia of slumber, the Necrons begin reclaiming their world from the Mechanicus forces unknowingly occupying it. In response, Magos Dominus Faustinius returns to lead humanity’s defence effort against an enemy that simply refuses to stay dead.
Unlike the first game, players can now experience the conflict from both sides through two separate campaigns. That means controlling either the heavily augmented Tech-Priests of Mars or the cold, mechanical legions of the Necrons – each with completely different abilities, tactics and battlefield approaches.
Choosing between robot zealots and robot tyrants feels very Warhammer 40K.
Bigger Battles And More Strategic Depth
The core gameplay remains focused on turn-based tactical combat, but Mechanicus II clearly aims to expand things far beyond the original.
Environmental mechanics now play a much larger role, with the Mechanicus using terrain for cover while Necron forces can simply destroy it outright. Outside battle, players also manage territory control, defend regions and gather resources across an entire planet-wide war.
There is also deeper unit customisation this time around, allowing players to build Tech-Priest teams or customise courts of Necron nobles depending on their chosen faction.
Basically, if you enjoy numbers, upgrades and carefully positioning units, while terrifying music plays in the background, this probably has you covered.
That is amplified in that one of the original Mechanicus game’s biggest strengths was atmosphere, helped enormously by Guillaume David’s now-iconic soundtrack. He returns here once again, alongside veteran Black Library author Ben Counter, helping continue the strange mechanical horror and religious intensity that gave the first game such a strong identity within the wider Warhammer universe.
The Original Set A High Standard
Back in 2020, we reviewed Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus and came away seriously impressed, calling it “one of the better Warhammer 40,000 games” we had played. Our review praised both the tactical combat and huge replayability, while also highlighting just how enjoyable the constant battle against the Necron threat became.
Mechanicus II certainly looks positioned to build directly on those strengths – only now with bigger stakes, more factions and a full planetary war unfolding around players. We’ll find out in review soon.
Anthology Edition Also Available
Alongside the £34.99 Standard Edition, players can also pick up the Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus Anthology for £44.99. That bundle combines Mechanicus II with the original game, making it a solid entry point for newcomers wanting the full mechanised nightmare package in one purchase.
The usual stores will sort you out; the Xbox Store, the PlayStation Store, and Steam.
