Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War

I find it most useful to consider this game against its ambitions, not directly compared to titans of the 4X genre. It feels like a fun, if clunky, turn-based strategy more than a 4X. Its strengths are the Warhammer 40k vibe, the clean progression through the early and middle parts of a game, and the compulsive "one more turn" motivation that is the bane of a full night's sleep. It's not as rich in the simulation or world depth as, say, an Endless Legend, which is why I think comparing it to a 4X does it no favors. Age of Wonders (any of the the recent ones, but we'll generously say III) might be a good comparison, except the combat on those games is more tactical and interesting. Still, if you want to simulate fielding an endless supply of troops for a grinding campaign as you slog across the map, this is your game. The late game can grow tedious: slowly marching each unit in an army of dozens across terrain, forcing the front line forward through pressure and casualities alone. In short, it's perhaps the best 40k campaign simulation out there. In the grim darkness etc etc, there is only kind of a slog.

very simple. and very fun, great if your a warhammer fan

This is a 4X game which is very focused on military strength, and where society-related factors play less than second fiddle. But this is obviously in line with the setting, and there are still quite challenging factors, even if they are few, to maintain in order to have your cities perform optimally. This is a solid 4X game in a universe where there is only war and how you engage in those wars, and leverage your factions strenghts, will determine how long your survive.

Got it for free, it lack content and the DLC are overpriced. Easy to figure why they would give away the base game, it's not a gift at all, it's an investment.

As a decades-long fan of Warhammer 40,000, I have a tendency to buy a lot of games that use the licence. Unfortunately, most WH40k games are mediocre at best, and unpolished palette swaps of better games at worst. I'm happy to say that this game is neither. It's a surprisingly polished piece of entertainment that I expect to play for dozens of hours, maybe even hundreds of hours. I recommend this to WH40K fans and non-fans alike.