Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review (in Progress) – GOTY Contender, but Play It Elsewhere for Now
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2: A Deep Dive Review (Steam Deck & PS5)
For years, many Warhammer fans eagerly anticipated a sequel to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine. While I wasn't initially aware of the original, my exploration of the Warhammer 40,000 universe through titles like Total War: Warhammer, Boltgun, and Rogue Trader led me to finally experience the first game and subsequently, the highly anticipated sequel. This review covers my extensive playtime on both Steam Deck and PS5, leveraging cross-progression and online multiplayer testing.
This review is ongoing for two key reasons: thorough cross-platform multiplayer evaluation and the pending official Steam Deck support promised by Focus and Saber (targeted for year-end). My impressions are based on approximately 22 hours of gameplay across both platforms, utilizing Proton GE 9-9 and Proton Experimental on the Steam Deck. Screenshots with performance overlays are from my Steam Deck OLED; 16:9 shots are from the PS5.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 delivers a thrilling third-person action shooter experience, blending brutal combat with stunning visuals and addictive gameplay. The tutorial effectively introduces core mechanics, leading to the central Battle Barge hub for mission selection, customization, and more.
The moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional. While ranged combat is viable, the visceral melee combat is truly captivating. The executions are satisfying, and mowing down hordes of enemies before confronting stronger foes remains consistently engaging. The campaign is fantastic solo or with friends in co-op, although I found defense missions less enjoyable.
Playing online with a friend overseas, the game felt like a modern, high-budget take on classic Xbox 360 co-op shooters—a genre rarely seen today. It hooked me much like Earth Defense Force or Gundam Breaker 4, and I hope to see a modernized version of the original campaign.
My Warhammer 40,000 knowledge is primarily derived from the games mentioned earlier. Despite this, Space Marine 2 is a refreshing and enjoyable experience, ranking among my favorite co-op games in years. While it's too early to declare it my favorite Warhammer 40,000 game, the Operations mode, class diversity, and mission progression keep me coming back for more.
My co-op experience has been superb thus far, although a full evaluation requires testing with random players post-launch. I look forward to assessing cross-platform online play.
Visually, the game is impressive. On PS5 in 4K mode (played on a 1440p monitor), the environments are breathtaking, and the detail in textures and lighting is remarkable. The sheer number of enemies adds to the visual spectacle. The voice acting and customization options further enhance the experience, showcasing a clear dedication to player expression.
The single-player photo mode offers extensive customization, although some effects appear less refined on Steam Deck with FSR 2 and lower resolutions. The PS5 photo mode, however, is exceptional.
Audio is another highlight. While the music is good, it's the voice acting and sound design that truly stand out. The music perfectly complements the in-game experience.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Graphics Options
The PC port (tested on Steam Deck) offers a comprehensive range of graphics settings: display mode, resolution, render resolution, quality presets (balanced, performance, ultra performance), upscaling (TAA, FSR 2), dynamic resolution target, v-sync, brightness, motion blur, FPS limit, and individual quality settings for textures, shadows, ambient occlusion, reflections, and more. DLSS and FSR 2 are supported at launch, with FSR 3 planned for later. I hope for future 16:10 support and improved Steam Deck performance.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PC Control Options
The game features keyboard and mouse support, along with full controller support. Initially, PlayStation button prompts weren't displayed on Steam Deck by default, but disabling Steam Input resolved this. Adaptive triggers are supported, and button remapping is available. The DualSense controller works seamlessly over Bluetooth, including adaptive trigger support.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Performance
While technically playable on Steam Deck without configuration changes, the game pushes the handheld's limits. At 1280x800 with low settings and FSR 2.0, maintaining a stable 30fps is challenging, with frequent dips. Even at lower resolutions, frame rates fall below the target. I hope future updates improve performance. There were also occasional freezing issues on default Proton, but Proton GE 9-9 proved stable. The game also sometimes doesn't exit cleanly.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Multiplayer
Online multiplayer functions well on Steam Deck, with no anti-cheat interference. Co-op play with a friend was smooth, aside from some minor internet-related disconnections expected in a pre-release environment.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 PS5 Features
On PS5, performance mode delivers a mostly smooth experience, although dynamic resolution scaling is noticeable at times. Load times are fast, and PS5 Activity Cards are supported. Gyro controls are currently absent.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Cross-Save Progression
Cross-save progression between Steam and PS5 worked well during the pre-release period, with a two-day cooldown between syncs. The final implementation of this feature remains to be seen.
Is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Worth It for Solo Play?
A definitive answer requires further testing of online matchmaking post-launch. I will update the review after assessing the online experience in Operations (PvE) and Eternal War (PvP) modes.
Desired Future Features
Future updates should prioritize improved Steam Deck performance and HDR support. Haptic feedback would also be a welcome addition.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is a strong contender for Game of the Year. While a final score awaits full online testing, the gameplay, visuals, and audio are exceptional. While I don't recommend it for Steam Deck currently, the PS5 version is highly recommended. This review will be updated with a final score and further impressions after launch.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Steam Deck Review Score: TBA