How to play the Warhammer 40K games in order

The Warhammer 40k game series started as a tabletop miniature wargame by Games Workshop. The first game, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, was released in 1987. Many sequels and supplements, including digital games, have since followed it. With so many options available, knowing where to start with the Warhammer 40k games can be difficult.

Best order to play the Warhammer 40K games

Here is a suggested order for playing the various Warhammer 40k video games:

1. Chaos Gate
2. Rites of War
3. Fire Warrior
4. Dawn of War (I, II, III, and expansion packs)
5. Kill Team
6. Space Marine
7. Space Hulk
8. Armageddon
9. Space Wolf
10. Storm of Vengeance
11. Ascension
12. Regicide
13. Deathwatch – Tyranid Invasion
14. Freeblade
15. Eternal Crusade
16. Sanctus Reach
17. Inquisitor - Martyr
18. Mechanicus
19. Inquisitor - Prophecy
20. Dakka Squadron
21. Battle Sector
22. Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters
23. Shootas, Blood & Teef
24. Darktide

Related: All Weapons in Warhammer 40k Darktide

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate is a turn-based tactics video game set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The game was developed by Random Games Inc. and published by Games Workshop in 1998. The story of Chaos Gate takes place during the Horus Heresy, a fictional civil war within the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The player takes control of a squad of Space Marines from the Ultramarines chapter who are sent to investigate strange happenings in the Imperial world of Cyrene.

Next comes Rites of War and Fire Warrior, which give you more of the story and context behind the Warhammer 40k universe. Then there's the main game: Dawn of War. It has three parts, each with expansion packs that add more races, units, and maps. The rest of the games, such as Kill Team, Space Marine, and Armageddon, are all spin-offs focusing on specific aspects of the Warhammer 40k universe.

Take note that the Warhammer 40k games offer different gameplays. Some are turn-based, while others are real-time strategies. There are also tactical shooters if you're interested in that genre. However, they all have the same objective: to battle it out and be the last one standing. While starting with the first game on this list is unnecessary, we recommend doing so. Playing through the games in order will give you a much better sense of the story and how the different factions interact with each other.

For more coverage on Warhammer 40k, check out Best Psyker Psykinetic Build in Warhammer 40k Darktide and All Warhammer 40K Darktide Weapons Traits list here at Pro Game Guides.