Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 landed yesterday on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and the critical verdict is in: Auroch Digital has delivered one of the strongest boomer shooters in recent memory. IGN awarded the sequel 8/10, calling it “a gore-geous pixelated boomer shooter” that builds on its predecessor with an engaging, replayable campaign.
Released three and a half years after the original, Boltgun 2 pits players against the Chaos demigod Vashtorr the Arkifane — a being so powerful he’s essentially building a demonic Death Star. The mission is straightforward: blast, chainsword, and melta-blast your way through hordes of heretics, corrupted soldiers and Chaos Space Marines to stop him.
Two Heroes, Two Combat Styles
The headline change from the first game is the dual-protagonist setup. Ultramarine Malum Caedo returns — still voiced by the charismatic Rahul Kohli — wielding a Chainsword and frag grenades with the heavy, deliberate pace of a Space Marine should feel. Joining him is Sister of Battle Nyra Veyrath, voiced by games industry writer Alanah Pearce, who brings a faster, more agile playstyle with a Powersword and Melta Bomb.
PSU’s review described the addition as transformative: “The shift from predominantly corridor-based action to semi-open biome action is well-judged,” they wrote, noting that Veyrath’s faster movement gave the game “Doom Eternal vibes.” GamingBible went further, calling Nyra “an excellent new addition who even outshines Caedo.”
Branching Paths and Bigger Arenas
Beyond the character variety, Boltgun 2 introduces branching mission pathways that thread through the story campaign. While some levels are mandatory, players are often given the choice between two paths — making replayability feel organic rather than forced. Each planet is themed around a different enemy faction, and reviewers praised how faithfully the different foes translate from their tabletop counterparts.
Price: Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 is priced at $24.99 / £19.99 — a refreshingly modest sum for a campaign of this calibre.
The level design has drawn particular praise. Where the original Boltgun was criticised for repetitive corridor-based action, the sequel opens up into semi-open biomes with significantly less backtracking. HeyPoorPlayer noted that the Heavy Flamer is “one exceptionally satisfying weapon to use, flooding an area with fire that lights up your entire field of vision.”
Not Perfect, But Close
The reviews aren’t without caveats. HeyPoorPlayer flagged the inability to upgrade character abilities between levels as “a major missed opportunity,” ultimately scoring the game 4/5. IGN noted that the campaign can feel repetitive by nature and that the dense Warhammer terminology may alienate newcomers to the setting.
GamingBible’s one significant gripe was the absence of multiplayer: “I’m gutted that a multiplayer component wasn’t included,” they wrote, though they still awarded 9/10 and called the game “a bombastic, fun-filled romp from start to finish.”
“In every way that a sequel can and should improve over its predecessor, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 succeeds.” — PSU, 9/10
The Emperor Protects — and So Does This Game
With scores ranging from 8/10 to 9/10 across major outlets, Boltgun 2 is shaping up as one of the strongest Warhammer 40K games in years — and, crucially, one that works for players who know nothing about the tabletop setting. The pixel-art style is gorgeous, the combat is thunderously crunchy, and the soundtrack slaps.
For fans of retro shooters who’ve been waiting for something between the pixelated fury of the original Boltgun and the arena-scale chaos of Doom Eternal, this is it. The Emperor protects — and so does Sister Nyra Veyrath, melta-bomb in hand.
