Presented by PC Game Pass

Why Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is one of the hidden gems of PC Game Pass

The hidden gems of Game Pass

(Image credit: Microsoft)

We're checking out the hidden gems of Game Pass over the next few weeks, digging up all the obscure and esoteric games secreted away in our subscription and seeing how they play.

Once again, we're taking a look at some of the hidden gems to be found in the PC Game Pass library. Sure, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle just arrived—it's very good—but maybe you're looking for something a bit more lo-fi. A bit more grimdark. A bit more this gun feels like a nuclear blast with a trigger. Maybe you're looking for Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, one of our favourite boomer shooters of last year.

It's all about the titular Boltgun, and of the power fantasy armed with some of the most powerful weapons to grace the PC. Every single weapon here feels good, and all are meaty enough to tackle the hordes of Chaos that you'll face. Special shout out, as always, to the chainsword too—the linchpin of a fantastic melee system that lets you dash quickly between acts of violence.

Despite the low poly aesthetic, Boltgun is also a treat for Warhammer fans—its attention to detail at home against the game's nostalgic '90s vibe. Pack in some great level design—adding some verticality to the Doom-style mazes—and you've got a game that can stand proudly among the best of the retro shooter revival.

Phil Iwaniuk

Phil 'the face' Iwaniuk used to work in magazines. Now he wanders the earth, stopping passers-by to tell them about PC games he remembers from 1998 until their polite smiles turn cold. He also makes ads. Veteran hardware smasher and game botherer of PC Format, Official PlayStation Magazine, PCGamesN, Guardian, Eurogamer, IGN, VG247, and What Gramophone? He won an award once, but he doesn't like to go on about it.

You can get rid of 'the face' bit if you like.

No -Ed. 

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