Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 preview – A sequel that aims to offer you more variety

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That’s a motto to live by, but when it comes to video games, it can lead to stagnation. It’s perhaps why, when developing its follow-up to Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, Auroch Digital hasn’t been all that revolutionary, instead opting to deliver what it hopes to be a bigger and better experience with more variety. Sometimes that’s all you need.

It’s certainly all I need: after going hands-on with Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 for an hour or so, I’m more pumped up for it than ever before. This is a game that keeps the fast-paced, first-person shooter gameplay of its predecessor, along with its 90s inspired visual style. But to keep things fresh, there’s a new playable character, new weapons, new enemies, new locations, and even one or two gameplay tweaks.

The introduction of a new playable character is perhaps the most impactful change in Warhammer: Boltgun 2, as it presents a new way to play. You can stick with the protagonist of the first game if you wish, Malum Caedo, making use of his familiar repertoire of weapons and skills to dispatch your enemies including his chainsword and frag grenades. If you want a character that’s a bit more agile, however, you might want to switch over to Nyra Veyrath instead. She has a nifty sliding attack and, when low, her faith will automatically regenerate a little.

Whichever character you choose, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 promises a thrilling single-player experience with branching paths, meaning that you’ll likely want to play through it multiple times. And to keep things even more interesting, there’s greater variety when it comes to its locations. I’ve been able to play through two levels as part of this preview, the first of which, a lush jungle, felt very fresh. And even the one after that, an enemy base built into a snowy mountain, provided some unique sights and mechanics. Why spend time shooting a formidable enemy when you can just smash the ice beneath them?

Factor new enemies and weapons into the mix, and you have a game that’s shaping up to be a very worthy sequel indeed. Just in the small slice of the game I’ve played, I’ve been able to slice up Flesh Hounds with a power sword and cook Bloodletters with a flamethrower – who knows what else awaits. And another change here, the removal of the Strength system, means there’s a little less friction and confusion for newcomers – no longer will you shoot at some enemies and wonder why you’re not doing much damage.

Providing you’re not expecting a completely new experience then – and why would you? – Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 should prove to be very entertaining if you’re a fan of the first game. And even those who are new to the series should be able to have a good time decimating the forces of Chaos. The good news is that you can try it for yourself thanks to a demo available on Steam. Check out the trailer below then maybe give it a download.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 launches later this year on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.