Battlefleet Gothic: Armada

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada, Tindalus Interactive and Games Workshop, PC, £29.99, Website

Set in Games Workshop's hugely popular Warhammer 40k universe, Battlefleet Gothic: Armada is a new Real Time Strategy game based on 1999's tabletop game of the same name.

The game features a single-player campaign, pitting the Imperium against Abaddon the Despoiler and acts as an excellent tutorial to the game. The player controls a variety of ships with various weapons and abilities and requires tactical skill to outwit and outmatch the enemy in a variety of different scenarios.

In addition to the campaign mode, the game also features an excellent multiplayer mode in which you can develop your own fleet, improving both ships and crew as you battle and gain experience and in this mode you can play as Imperium, Eldar, Orks or the dreaded Chaos fleet. Each faction has it's own play style from the fast moving Eldar vessels to the huge made-for-ramming Ork machines.

There's also an option to run custom matches or quick solo skirmishes, good for when you just want a quick fix. 

The unique feel of the Warhammer 40k world is really captured and the ability to customise your fleet as you advance really give you the feeling of a tabletop wargame. With the original board game no longer (currently) available, this makes an excellent alternative.

This review first appeared on the British Fantasy Society website