When Warhammer 40k: Darktide first launched back in late 2022, my 3060Ti struggled to run the game. It was a cold, disappointing evening that day, and as a big fan of the Vermintide duology, it left me with a deep sense of despair. Fortunately, months later, the performance was improved, and as time has gone on, the game has only gotten better. As one of the best Warhammer 40k games around, Darktide is a brutal and fitting blood-coated gem that the franchise deserves, and now, a new update is bringing a Helldivers-style twist to the experience. So, it's great that it's cheaper than ever right now.
Typically, each level of Warhammer 40k: Darktide will take you through a Left 4 Dead-style linear experience. Hordes of enemies will attempt to murder you and your crew of misfits as you strive to make it to the end, and if you survive, you'll manage to secure some great loot for your class. As you get stronger and learn each level, you can bump up the difficulty for higher challenges, but better rewards. Rinse, repeat, and continue.
Don't get me wrong - that gameplay loop is addictive. However, developer Fatshark isn't keen on keeping things similar to Darktide's fantasy predecessor. Instead, the latest update (which is available now) comes free to all players, with a new mode called 'Expeditions' that will see you leave the confines of Hive Tertium and take the action into more open landscapes than the typical corridor-esque levels of the standard game.
Each adventure in Expeditions starts with a timer, as you get only 15 minutes per run (although it can be extended by entering a Deadsider Sanctuary). Tasked with finding important Tech-Remnants, you'll need to drop in and search through various Scavenge Zones, earning materials and earmarking the Tech-Remnants, while spending your salvage at Sanctuaries for healing, and some new weapons to enjoy.
It's up to you and your friends to decide whether to get as many Tech-Remnants as you can and extract with a Valkyrie before the timer is up, leaving early in order to take back what you've got, or to die and lose everything. No run is the same, with different Sites of Interest and different enemies that are composed by the game randomly, so you'll always be at a slight disadvantage whenever you go on a new Expedition.
If you've been looking for a weird blend of looter-shooter action and extraction FPS games, Warhammer 40k: Darktide is the odd mix for you. Right now, it's a lot cheaper than it's ever been, and you can grab it for just $9.99 / £8.24 at Fanatical - that's a massive 75% discount on the typical price, and for a game that's still getting free content in new updates, it's worth every penny.
Even if you're not a big fan of the Warhammer 40k universe, yet Darktide still looks enticing - give it a go! Videogames aside, I'm not a big Warhammer nerd, and I still have a lot of fun with Darktide, so it's worth giving it a shot.