Chainswords? Check. Boltgun? Loaded. Purge-ready attitude? Absolutely. Warhammer 40K: Boltgun has finally dropped, and from the first few hours of gameplay, one thing is clear: this isn’t just a love letter to the 40K universe—it’s a headbanging tribute to the golden age of ’90s shooters baseball. If you’re a fan of DOOM, Quake, or Dusk, and you’ve ever dreamed of blasting heretics in the name of the Emperor, this is your moment.
Let’s dive into our first impressions of this brutal, beautiful throwback FPS.
🎮 Gameplay: Pure, Unfiltered Carnage
From the get-go, Boltgun wastes no time getting to the good stuff. You’re dropped into the power armor of an Ultramarine Space Marine—grizzled, silent, and ready to reduce Chaos cultists to a fine red mist.
The gameplay is fast, fluid, and refreshingly simple:
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No regenerating health.
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No aim-down-sights mechanics.
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No time for cover.
It’s you vs. the horde in pure Warhammer fashion, and every weapon feels like it was forged to end heretics. The titular boltgun punches like a cannon, shredding enemies with explosive rounds. The chainsword is equally satisfying, letting you charge into battle with all the subtlety of a freight train covered in skulls.
Add in a classic weapon wheel, pickups for ammo and health, and non-stop arenas full of blood-soaked combat, and you’ve got a game that truly earns its “boomer shooter” status—with a 40K twist.
👁️ Visuals: Pixel-Punk Meets Gothic Grimdark
Boltgun takes a bold visual approach: it’s a modern game made to look like it’s straight out of the late ’90s. Think pixelated sprites, chunky textures, and explosive effects—all wrapped in the grimdark aesthetic of the 41st millennium.
The environments scream Warhammer: gothic cathedrals, corrupted machinery, demon-infested ruins, and shattered industrial complexes. It’s all gloriously over-the-top, and somehow, the retro visuals make it feel more authentically Warhammer than some hyper-realistic adaptations.
The contrast of old-school visuals with modern lighting and particle effects creates a unique vibe: gritty, stylish, and totally unhinged.
🔊 Audio: Every Shot Echoes the Emperor’s Wrath
The sound design is nothing short of thunderous. The boltgun has a teeth-rattling roar. Enemies explode in wet, crunchy splashes. The chainsword revs like a motor possessed by the Machine Spirit.
Backing all this up is an aggressive, synth-heavy metal soundtrack that keeps your adrenaline maxed out during every firefight. The music evolves with the combat, ramping up during intense skirmishes and easing off in quieter (but still creepy) moments.
There’s very little dialogue, but that’s a plus. You’re not here for deep lore drops. You’re here to cleanse and kill, and Boltgun’s soundscape delivers that in spades.
🔥 Weapons and Enemies: Faith, Fury, and Firepower
While the boltgun is your trusty sidearm, you’ll also pick up an arsenal of iconic 40K weapons:
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Chainsword – Perfect for slicing Chaos traitors into bite-sized chunks.
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Shotgun – A close-quarters monster, with meaty knockback and wide spread.
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Plasma Gun – High-damage energy bursts, with a satisfying risk/reward mechanic.
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Heavy Bolter & More – Bigger guns for bigger demons.
On the enemy side, you’ll face waves of Chaos cultists, plague-infested daemons, and corrupted Astartes. They come in droves, and they do not mess around. Expect to be dodging fireballs, ducking rockets, and kiting huge packs of foes constantly.
Combat is less about hiding and more about movement. The faster you go, the longer you live.
🧠 First-Time Player Tips
Jumping into Boltgun? Here are a few survival tips:
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Keep moving. Standing still is a death sentence.
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Switch weapons often to manage ammo and match enemy types.
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Look for secrets. Like any good retro shooter, there are hidden areas packed with rewards.
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Use the chainsword liberally. It’s a health-saving, ammo-free death machine.
🧪 Verdict: First Impressions
Warhammer 40K: Boltgun is a glorious, gory throwback done right. It perfectly marries retro FPS mechanics with the over-the-top violence and gothic grandeur of the 40K universe. It doesn’t try to be the next big AAA experience—it just wants to throw you into the blood-soaked boots of a Space Marine and let you rip and tear in the name of the Emperor.
It’s fast. It’s loud. It’s unapologetically brutal.
And after just a few hours, we’re hooked.
🎯 Final Thoughts
If you’re a Warhammer 40K fan, this is a must-play. If you love old-school shooters, this is a no-brainer. And if you’re both? Congratulations—you’ve just found your new favorite game.
The Emperor protects. But in Boltgun, you’re the one doing the purging.
