The Warhammer 40k roleplay games are tabletop RPGs that drop you into the 41st millennium as an Inquisitor’s agent, a rogue trader, a Space Marine, a Chaos follower, a Guardsman, or a servant of a powerful patron. They’ve been published in several waves since 2008, each with its own flavour and rules.
What the warhammer 40k roleplay games are
They’re pen-and-paper roleplaying games set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. You and your friends take on characters, one person runs the game as Game Master, and you play through missions, investigations, or campaigns.
The line started in 2008 with Dark Heresy from Black Industries. Since then the license has passed through Fantasy Flight Games, Ulisses Spiele, and Cubicle 7. Each publisher added new games or new editions.
The Fantasy Flight era (2008-2016)
Fantasy Flight Games supported a family of five standalone RPGs that shared a core d100 system with small tweaks. Each one zooms in on a different slice of the setting, so you can pick the flavour your group wants.
They were designed to be playable on their own and to fit together if you wanted to mix characters and campaigns.
- Dark Heresy (2008): you’re an Acolyte working for an Inquisitor, rooting out heresy.
- Rogue Trader (2009): you’re a senior crew member on a ship exploring and trading across the stars.
- Deathwatch (2010): you’re a loyalist Space Marine of the Deathwatch, built for combat.
- Black Crusade (2011): you’re a follower of Chaos, or a Chaos Space Marine.
- Only War (2012): you’re an Imperial Guardsman in the thick of war.
After Fantasy Flight: Wrath & Glory and Imperium Maledictum
When the license moved to Ulisses Spiele, the system got a redesign. Wrath & Glory arrived in 2018 and lets you play characters from many races and backgrounds, with a card deck used alongside dice.
In 2019, Cubicle 7 took over Wrath & Glory. They kept supporting it, re-released the old Fantasy Flight books as digital-only, and then published Imperium Maledictum in 2023. Imperium Maledictum is a spiritual successor to Dark Heresy, using a d100 system and focusing on investigation, intrigue, and survival. Instead of working only for the Inquisition, you serve one of many Imperial institutions, called Patrons.
How they connect to the wider lore
These games aren’t a separate canon. They’re set inside the same galaxy, and the events you read about in novels and codexes form the backdrop. The Fantasy Flight games largely sit around the 41st millennium’s familiar status quo, while Wrath & Glory and Imperium Maledictum can be set after the Great Rift opened, with the Noctis Aeterna and the Indomitus Crusade shaping the setting.
Imperium Maledictum, for example, takes place in the Macharian Sector in Segmentum Pacificus, a region conquered by Lord Solar Macharius and now struggling to rebuild after the Great Rift’s opening.
If you know the lore, you’ll recognise the factions, the dangers, and the tone. The RPGs just put you inside them instead of watching from outside.
Key facts
- The first Warhammer 40k RPG, Dark Heresy, launched in January 2008 from Black Industries.
- Fantasy Flight Games published five linked RPGs: Dark Heresy, Rogue Trader, Deathwatch, Black Crusade, and Only War.
- Ulisses Spiele redesigned the system and released Wrath & Glory in 2018.
- Cubicle 7 took over Wrath & Glory in 2019 and published Imperium Maledictum in 2023.
- Imperium Maledictum is a d100 system set in the Macharian Sector, focused on investigation and serving a Patron.
FAQ
What’s the difference between Dark Heresy and Imperium Maledictum?
Both use a d100 system and focus on investigation, but Dark Heresy ties you specifically to the Inquisition. Imperium Maledictum broadens that to many different Imperial patrons, so you can serve a Rogue Trader, a Mechanicus magos, or other powers.
Can you still buy the old Fantasy Flight 40k RPG books?
Cubicle 7 re-released them as digital-only after taking over the license. Physical copies are out of print, so you’ll mostly find them second-hand or as PDFs.
Which 40k RPG is best for beginners?
It depends what you want. Wrath & Glory is the most flexible for mixed parties. Dark Heresy or Imperium Maledictum suit investigation-focused groups. Deathwatch or Only War are better if you want combat.