Doom: The Dark Ages vs Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II

Doom: The Dark Ages slows down for medieval parrying; Space Marine 2 ramps up co-op Tyranid horde combat. One is a solo grind, the other a team brawl.

Updated 11d ago

Doom: The Dark Ages cover
Doom: The Dark Ages 8.6/10 Strong

The shield-saw parry trades Eternal's dash-juggling for something heavier and just as sharp — Revelations alone earns the price, if you can stand the slower pace.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II cover
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II 8.1/10 Strong

Saves the 40K video game catalog — Space Marine 2's chunky bolter-and-chainsword co-op keeps 8-12k peak players active in 2026 with strong PvE Operations.

By the numbers

Prices checked Aug 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.

Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Aug 7.

Measure Doom: The Dark Ages Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
Value Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II wins on value
Price now $19.87 −72% · GreenManGaming $17.98 −70% · GamesPlanet US
All-time low $19.17 $17.95
Cost / hour $1.40/hr $19.87 · 14 h main story $1.90/hr $17.98 · 9 h main story
Off its low +4% low was Feb 2026 At its low vs $17.95 low
Main story 14 h 9 h
Health Doom: The Dark Ages wins on player health
Steam reviews 88% 44k reviews 84% 221k reviews
Recent reviews 91% 2k votes · vs 88% lifetime 86% 4k votes · vs 84% lifetime
Peak players 13,796 Jul 2026 · ↑ 562% MoM 24,918 Jul 2026 · ↓ 6% MoM
Launch peak 44% of May 2025 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 13% of Sep 2024 launch peak · as of Jul 2026
All-time peak 31,401 May 2025 186,199 Sep 2024
Support
Last patch 10 days ago 11 days ago
Patch cadence 3 in last 90 days 6 in last 90 days
Steam Deck Gold Gold

Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.

Doom: The Dark Ages
May 2025 – Jul 2026
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
Sep 2024 – Jul 2026

What players say

Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.

Doom: The Dark Ages

Love

The campaign and Revelations DLC form a complete package, with the shield-saw parry the move every veteran calls the standout.

Struggle with

Pacing shifts from Eternal's sprint to a tank-like weight divide fans; some find the puzzle detours break the kill flow.

from our August 2026 verdict

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II

Love

The horde combat and class-based PvE operations offer deep customization and cinematic action that long-haul players find addictive.

Struggle with

Excessive loading screens and overpriced DLC are consistent frustrations that even dedicated players call out.

from our May 2026 verdict

Key differences

Combat pacing
Doom: The Dark Ages replaces mid-air acrobatics with grounded parries and heavier hits.
Space Marine 2 focuses on chunky bolter-fire and chainsword combos against Tyranid swarms.
Co-op structure
Doom: The Dark Ages is a single-player campaign with no co-op.
Space Marine 2 is built around 3-player co-op Operations with a persistent player base.
Campaign length
Doom: The Dark Ages offers a longer, more varied campaign with mech and dragon sequences.
Space Marine 2's main story runs 8-12 hours, leaning on repeatable PvE missions.

Which one is for you?

Pick Doom: The Dark Ages if

  • You found Eternal's platforming+ammo-juggling exhausting and wanted weightier Doom.
  • Shield-as-weapon parries and throws interest you more than grappling-hook puzzles.
  • You prefer set-piece scale with mechs and multi-front battlefields over tight corridors.

Pick Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II if

  • You loved Vermintide 2 / Darktide and want third-person Tyranid horde combat.
  • You play 3-player co-op with friends and want grindable Operations runs.
  • You're a Warhammer 40K fan wanting detailed, reverent universe representation.

Bottom line

Pick Dark Ages for a deliberate solo power fantasy; pick Space Marine 2 for co-op horde mayhem with friends and lasting PvE.

More comparisons

Browse every comparison →