Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II Climbs Steam Charts at $35.99

A return to favor for the Adeptus Mechanicus

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II has resurged in Steam's top sellers this week, buoyed by a 10% discount that brings its price down to $35.99. The Bulwark Studios game — which already delivered the first Mechanicus in 2018 — returns to the turn-based tactical formula that won over Games Workshop universe fans, enriching it on multiple fronts. Seeing this title land in Steam's best sellers is far from trivial: the Warhammer tactics segment is crowded, and only the best survive there long-term.

What Mechanicus II actually changes

Compared to the original, Mechanicus II expands Tech-Priest customization options with more branching skill trees and a more stratified resource system. Mission maps gain verticality, and the Necrons — quasi-unavoidable enemies of the franchise ever since Games Workshop gave them a central place in the lore — benefit from overhauled AI that's less predictable mid-battle. The game fully commits to its cerebral tactics DNA: no handholding for the inattentive, no shortcuts for the impatient.

On the technical front, the game runs smoothly on mid-range PC configs, broadening accessibility without compromising its visual proposition — the metallic and organic environments typical of the Omnissiah retain their polished aesthetic.

$35.99: A price that makes sense in today's market

At a time when AA games often launch above $40 and blockbusters approach $80, Mechanicus II positions itself in a price bracket consistent with its ambition. The 10% discount likely plays a role in current sales momentum, but the fact that the game remains in the charts weeks after launch suggests solid word-of-mouth within the PC Warhammer community — one of Steam's most active and demanding audiences.

For reference, the original Mechanicus built a lasting reputation through its serious treatment of lore and embraced difficulty. The sequel appears to capitalize on that legacy without coasting on it.

Who should keep an eye on it?

Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II clearly targets players with patience and an appetite for deep systems. If you appreciated XCOM 2 (Firaxis, 2016) for its tactical rigor or Gears Tactics (The Coalition, 2020) for its ability to transpose a strong universe into turn-based format, Mechanicus II checks the same boxes — with the added bonus of 40K's narrative density. Those expecting a real-time action game or a mainstream entry point to the universe will be looking elsewhere.

Top-seller status on Steam doesn't guarantee quality, but it confirms one thing: Bulwark Studios has found its audience, and that audience is buying.