Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide Drachenfels is a co-op action game DLC that expands the original Vermintide experience on PC. Players take on the role of heroes battling Skaven forces in new environments set in the Grey Mountains, focusing on close-quarters combat and objective-driven progression through dangerous locations.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on cooperative fights against waves of Skaven enemies across three distinct maps. Combat emphasizes melee weapons and positioning in tight spaces, with players navigating halls filled with skeletal remains and navigating sections where visibility drops sharply. In darker areas like the dungeons, a torch becomes essential for spotting traps and maintaining awareness during encounters. Objectives include pushing through trap-filled passages and reaching key points to disrupt enemy plans, such as destroying ancient portals that support Skaven reinforcements on Summoner's Peak. The maps introduce verticality and multiple paths, encouraging teamwork to handle ambushes and environmental hazards while advancing through the castle grounds and surrounding peaks.
Game Modes
Drachenfels integrates directly into the existing structure of Vermintide by adding three new adventure maps that players access through the base game's mission selection. These maps support the standard progression of story-style runs where teams complete sequential objectives, from clearing initial areas in the dungeons to confronting portal defenses at the peak. The design rewards coordinated movement and resource management, such as torch usage in low-light zones, across repeated playthroughs of the same locations. No separate standalone modes appear in this DLC; instead, the content enhances the core campaign flow with fresh layouts and enemy placements tailored to the castle setting.
Setting and Atmosphere
The DLC shifts the action outside the walls of Ubersreik into the foreboding Grey Mountains, centering on the long-abandoned Castle Drachenfels. Interiors feature bone-adorned chambers and winding corridors that heighten tension during fights. Summoner's Peak offers open-air sections contrasting the confined dungeon spaces, where players must locate and neutralize Skaven portals amid ongoing assaults. The overall tone draws from the Warhammer universe's grim aesthetic, with emphasis on the Skaven's organized push toward the castle as their target for expansion.
Is It Worth Playing?
Player feedback on Steam rates the DLC Very Positive, with an 84 percent approval from 125 reviews, highlighting consistent enjoyment from the new maps and their integration with existing systems. It suits those already invested in Vermintide who seek additional content focused on varied terrain and Skaven encounters. The maps remain accessible through the base game, providing replay value through different routes and trap navigation challenges. Those preferring cooperative action titles with melee emphasis and objective variety will find the expansion a direct fit, especially if they enjoy navigating dark, trap-heavy environments and disrupting enemy supply lines.
