Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Eyes GOTY on Steam Deck

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: A Deep Dive Review – Steam Deck & PS5 Impressions

For years, anticipation has built for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. While I wasn't initially familiar with the original, my exploration of the Warhammer 40,000 universe through titles like Total War: Warhammer, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader piqued my interest. After a captivating reveal, I dove into Space Marine 2, logging roughly 22 hours across my Steam Deck and PS5, utilizing cross-progression and online features. This review-in-progress reflects my experiences so far, pending full online multiplayer testing and official Steam Deck support (expected by year's end).

Gameplay and Campaign: A Brutal Masterpiece

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 delivers a visceral third-person action shooter experience. The tutorial effectively introduces combat mechanics, setting the stage for engaging battles aboard the Battle Barge hub. From there, you'll select missions, game modes, customize your appearance, and more. Combat is incredibly satisfying, with a perfect blend of ranged and melee combat. The melee, in particular, is incredibly brutal and rewarding. While the campaign shines in solo and co-op, I found the defense missions less compelling.

Co-op and Online: A Blast from the Past (in a Good Way)

Playing co-op with a friend overseas felt like a modern, high-budget take on classic Xbox 360 co-op shooters – a style rarely seen today. The game's addictive quality is comparable to titles like Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4. My pre-release experience has been exceptional, but a full assessment awaits post-launch testing with random players.

Visuals and Audio: A Feast for the Senses

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is visually stunning, particularly in 4K on PS5. The environments are richly detailed, the swarms of enemies impressive, and the texture work and lighting exceptional. The voice acting and sound design are top-tier, enhancing the overall immersive experience. While the music is good, it doesn't quite reach the same heights as the other audio elements.

PC Port Features: Robust and Customizable

The PC port boasts extensive graphical options: multiple presets, resolution scaling (TAA, FSR 2, with FSR 3 planned), dynamic resolution, V-sync, and numerous quality settings. It supports both keyboard/mouse and controller input, including PlayStation button prompts and adaptive triggers on the DualSense controller.

Steam Deck Performance: Currently Suboptimal

While technically playable on Steam Deck, the game currently struggles to maintain a stable 30fps, even on low settings with FSR 2.0. This makes the experience less than ideal. Hopefully, future updates will optimize performance.

PS5 Experience: Smooth and Responsive

On PS5, the game performs well in Performance mode, although dynamic resolution scaling is noticeable at times. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Cards enhance usability. Currently, gyro aiming is absent.

Cross-Progression: Seamless (With a Caveat)

Cross-save functionality between Steam and PS5 works well, although a two-day cooldown exists between platform transfers.

Multiplayer Impressions (So Far): Promising

Online multiplayer functions flawlessly on Steam Deck. My co-op sessions were enjoyable, but broader testing with random players is needed for a complete assessment.

Future Updates: Wishlist

Future updates should prioritize Steam Deck optimization, HDR support, and haptic feedback on PS5.

Final Verdict: A Strong Contender (Pending Further Testing)

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong Game of the Year contender. The gameplay is superb, and the visuals and audio are exceptional. However, Steam Deck performance needs improvement. PS5 is highly recommended. A final score will be provided after comprehensive multiplayer testing and post-launch updates.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review Score: TBA