In the gritty world of Warhammer, where fantasy meets strategy, Frontier Developments will soon be inviting players to conquer the wild and savage Realm of Ghur in their upcoming real-time strategy game, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin. Set in the hugely popular Warhammer universe, this title promises an immersive experience that dives into the desperate conflicts of a savage realm with a rich narrative co-penned by Black Library writer Gav Thorpe. With classic RTS gameplay, players will lead four unique factions, including the stalwart Stormcast Eternals, the brutish Orruk Kruleboyz and the ethereal Nighthaunt, in a cinematic campaign for survival and dominance.
What We Know:
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin is a real-time strategy game set in the iconic Warhammer universe, where players take command of four distinct factions battling for dominance in the savage Realm of Ghur in a narrative-driven campaign. Players can also engage in comprehensive cross-platform multiplayer matches, climb competitive ladders, and participate in a single-player challenge mode with procedurally generated wildlands. The game boasts an innovative Map Editor for player-created content, allowing endless creativity, along with a Gamepad-Ready Warfare system designed for console play.
What We Saw:
We had the opportunity to go hands-on with Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin during Gamescom, immersing ourselves in two distinct scenarios that showcased the game’s engaging mechanics and strategic depth while also showing how the narrative ties into some of the mission through twists and turns.
What We Thought:
Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin left a great first impression, blending classic real-time strategy elements with a fresh, Warhammer-flavored twist. The absence of traditional base-building in favor of Arcane Conduit capture proved to work well, shifting the focus to critical points on the battlefield. This mechanic injects a sense of urgency and tactical depth into every engagement, demanding thoughtful positioning and resource management and keeping the pace up.
The factions, each with their unique playstyles and abilities, offer a diverse array of tactical options. Choices feels meaningful and impactful and the variety of units, from squads to heroes, monsters, and machines, provides ample room for experimentation and strategic innovation.
Visually, “Realms of Ruin” impresses with its detailed and dynamic battlefield. Zooming in on the action reveals beautifully rendered units engaged in visceral combat, while zooming out provides a strategic overview of the evolving conflict. The level of detail is a testament to the developers’ dedication to capturing the essence of the Warhammer universe.
While our experience primarily focused on capture-and-hold missions, we hope to see a diverse range of objectives and mission types in the full release. This variety will be pivotal in maintaining long-term player engagement, but we already liked what we saw – a blend of influences that should appeal to fans of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings (especially with the new Nighthaunt faction) and of course Warhammer.
Overall, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin shows great promise as a captivating RTS that successfully blends the nostalgia of classic RTS titles with innovative gameplay mechanics and a modern presentation. With its November 17th release date on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, it’s one to look forward to later this year.
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