Realms of Ruin: A Deliberate and Authentic Warhammer Experience
If you’re a fan of the Warhammer Age of Sigmar world, then Realms of Ruin will probably appeal to you. Its focus on objective control and seizing and holding ground against enemy attacks is familiar to anyone who’s played Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War or its sequel, with the added twist of the endless tides of the Nighthaunt faction throwing themselves at your forces.
The game’s three factions – Stormcast Eternals, Orruk Kruleboyz, and Nighthaunt – are faithful to the world’s lore, and are represented by authentic units, battlefields, and terrain. The former two factions are well-rounded and versatile, with each unit having a unique role and form pleasing to Sigmar. However, the latter is relentless and throws itself at you until your forces are wiped out. If you’re a newcomer to the lore, this will likely be the faction you gravitate towards as it’s easy to grasp, yet versatile.
Realms of Ruin’s objective-based campaigns offer a slower-paced alternative to traditional RTS games that fans may appreciate. Each unit has a role and purpose that is easy to grasp within the context of the game. For example, cavalry units are good at catching enemy infantry units, while artillery is good at taking out enemy artillery. Pivoting isn’t quick or easy, so you’ll need to make the right moves at the right time, as simply deploying all your units and spamming the attack button won’t work.
On the flipside, this deliberate gameplay may not be for everyone, especially those accustomed to the lightning-fast combat of StarCraft 2 or the Dawn of War games. Each unit has a cooldown between attacks, and pivoting isn’t as easy as simply clicking on a location and queuing up your moves. This isn’t a huge downside for me, but those who are accustomed to RTS games and are looking for a StarCraft: Remastered-style experience, Realms of Ruin may not be for you.
This deliberate gameplay is paired with an accessible UI and a modest number of units to control. If you’re a newcomer to the Warhammer Age of Sigmar universe, then Realms of Ruin is a great way to ease yourself in. The campaign maps are faithful to the lore, providing an authentic experience that fans will appreciate. The story itself is delivered through cutscenes featuring earnest and cheesy dialogue that, much like the Warhammer 40,000 universe, suits the mythic fantasy setting.
The cutscenes also give you the opportunity to get to know the characters, and they’re likeable enough that I’m looking forward to finding out more about them in the full game. The Nighthaunt unit roster is where the franchise shines. These units are resilient and versatile; each one has a role and form that suits Nagash. The gameplay and counterplay is also likeable. Each infantry type has strengths and weaknesses against other types, making for a rock-paper-scissors mechanic that is easy to grasp.
Realms of Ruin’s full release is set for November 17 and will include a campaign for each of its three factions, in addition to a multiplayer mode. The game’s ongoing solo content will be supplemented by a Conquest mode that’s repeatable and provides ongoing solo content for those less adept at multiplayer RTS gameplay. If you’re a fan of the Dawn of War games and are looking for something to tide you over until Dawn of War 3, Realms of Ruin will likely hit the spot.
Check out the full trailer below:
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