Steam has applied a 100% discount to Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War making it a free purchase for all of its users. Is the game worth a download? Well, we can look towards reviews while we’re at it, but there’s no reason to argue with a completely free game, though do note that this special promotion is only available until May 30th at 6PM BST.

The game is even rated as playable on the Steam Deck if you want to give it a try, though this kind of strategy game will work best on a keyboard and mouse setup for the record.

Relics of War breakdown

Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War is a strategy game set in the grim and dark universe of Warhammer 40,000 (read as 40K). You can choose one of four factions: the technologically advanced Space Marines, the massive horde of the Orks, the ever-expanding Astra Militarum, or the robotic Necrons. Each faction has its unique playstyle, units, and technology tree.

You’ll explore a randomly generated world, build your cities, secure resources, and develop your military to dominate your rivals. Now, while this may sound up your street, it is still to light up the gaming community since its release in 2018. With not-so-great critical reviews, we beg the question – is this game even worth the free download?

Mixed reviews

Despite its interesting premise, the game received mixed reviews. Some players found the diplomacy options lacking and the AI uneven and difficult to manage. The focus on warfare over other elements and a sometimes clunky user interface also turned some players away, as did the simplicity and DLC-focused business model. On the flipside, this free promotion has certainly diluted many of the new reviews – simply recommending it based on the non-existent price tag.

The game requires a minimum of 4GB of free disk space to install, though the developers recommend having closer to 8GB of free space on your drive, assumedly for extra DLC, updates, or maybe even mods. That’s not a whole lot of space or downloading time to commit if you want to try it out. If you’re a fan of Warhammer 40,000 and turn-based strategy games with a strong emphasis on combat, you might find Gladius to be a worthwhile free addition to your library.

About the Author

Tom Valentine

Tom is a tech writer with a detailed view on ensuring the best buying advice, most useful information, and latest news makes its way into PC Guide's articles.