PC gamers hunting for an unforgiving tactical challenge can currently pick up Mordheim: City of the Damned for just $1.39 on Steam, marking a dramatic 93% discount from its standard $19.99 price tag. Originally released in late 2015 by developer Rogue Factor, this turn-based squad RPG translates the tension of Games Workshop's classic 1999 tabletop game directly into a dark digital ruin.
For less than the price of a cup of coffee, players get access to a hardcore strategy experience where every decision carries permanent weight. Set in the immediate aftermath of a catastrophic twin-tailed comet crash that flattened the Imperial city of Mordheim, you command small warbands competing for fortune, survival, and valuable Wyrdstone fragments amidst total anarchy.
High-Stakes Tabletop Tactics in the Warhammer Universe
Unlike traditional turn-based strategy titles where fallen squad members simply visit a medical bay after battle, Mordheim: City of the Damned enforces strict permadeath. If one of your veterans falls in battle, they are gone forever, making resource management and tactical positioning critical to long-term success.
Players choose from four distinct starting factions: the fanatical Sisters of Sigmar, the mutated Cult of the Possessed, the stealthy Skaven, and the versatile Mercenaries from the Empire. Each faction features distinct unit trees, specialized skills, and customized gear progression. As warbands gain experience across skirmishes, units earn stats and abilities, but carrying severe injuries into subsequent fights can permanently diminish their battlefield effectiveness.
Exploration during combat plays as vital a role as combat itself. Searching ruined houses and cobblestone alleyways reveals hidden weapons, armor, and Wyrdstone shards that can be sold on the open market to pay warband upkeep. However, straying too far from support to grab loot leaves units vulnerable to lethal ambushes by rival squads or AI enemies.
Harsh RNG and Atmospheric Depth: Who Is This Deal For?
Holding a 70% positive review rating on Steam across more than 8,400 user entries, Mordheim: City of the Damned is widely praised for its thick, atmospheric dark fantasy aesthetic and unyielding difficulty. It rewards patient tacticians who enjoy calculating risk, utilizing vertical terrain, and setting up overwatch lines.
The game is not without its caveats. Critics frequently point out that the underlying random number generator (RNG) can feel merciless, occasionally causing fully prepared tactical setups to fail due to consecutive missed dice rolls. Additionally, long load times and occasional minor technical glitches remain present, reflecting its mid-tier development budget.
At $1.39, however, these drawbacks become far easier to overlook for strategy enthusiasts. For players who appreciate punishing squad-based combat like XCOM or Darkest Dungeon, Mordheim offers dozens of hours of deep tactical depth before the promotion ends on Steam.
