Necromunda: Underhive Wars - Gangs Bundle brings tactical strategy to the forefront in the grim Warhammer 40,000 universe, where you command gangs battling for dominance in the underhive of a massive hive city.
Gameplay
In this turn-based strategy game, you lead and customize your gang through intense tactical gunfights. Movement relies on a system of points that allow free third-person navigation rather than a strict grid, letting you position fighters strategically across hazardous environments. Exploit the terrain by climbing raised walkways to gain height advantages, setting traps to hinder enemies, or ambushing foes to force close-quarters combat. Each gang member can specialize with new skills learned over time and equipment looted from battles, evolving your team for better performance in future skirmishes. The core loop involves managing resources, growing your gang's capabilities, and engaging in calculated fights where positioning and timing decide the outcome.
Mechanics emphasize risk and reward, with persistent injuries affecting fighters across missions if not managed properly. You make decisions on gang composition, assigning roles like melee specialists or ranged shooters, and adapt to the dystopian setting's dangers, such as toxic areas or collapsing structures that alter the battlefield.
Game Modes
The game offers a narrative campaign that unfolds through a series of missions in the underhive, focusing on story-driven objectives that introduce mechanics gradually. This mode serves as an extended introduction to the tactical elements, with around 15 missions that build your understanding of gang management and combat.
Beyond the campaign, a sandbox mode provides endless replayability through procedurally generated missions where you can continue developing your gang without a fixed storyline. For competitive play, online multiplayer supports up to four players in gang fights, allowing you to test your customized teams against others in tactical battles.
Factions and Customization
You start by choosing from distinct gangs, each with unique perks that influence playstyle. House Escher focuses on agility and poison-based attacks, making them suited for hit-and-run tactics. House Goliath emphasizes brute strength and heavy armor, ideal for frontline assaults. House Orlock brings balanced firepower with an emphasis on vehicles and mining tools adapted for warfare.
Customization runs deep, as you recruit and level up individual members, equipping them with looted gear and unlocking skills that fit your strategy. This system lets you tailor your gang to specific challenges, whether prioritizing stealth, firepower, or resilience in the underhive's brutal conflicts.
Is It Worth Playing?
With mixed player reception highlighting a 55 percent positive rating from over 2,000 reviews, the game appeals to those who enjoy deep tactical strategy and the Warhammer 40,000 lore. Its core systems deliver satisfying gang progression and terrain-based combat, but issues like slow pacing in battles and occasional AI inconsistencies can frustrate. Released in 2020 without recent updates, it remains a solid choice for fans of turn-based tactics seeking a narrative-rich experience in a dystopian setting, though newcomers might find the learning curve steep. If you prefer strategic depth over polished execution, it offers worthwhile sessions in solo or online play.
