Who would have thought a regular pixelated FPS would make such an evident difference in 2023? And yet – Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun proved the world still craves low-spec classics.
Showered with thousands of very enthusiastic reviews on Steam, WH40K: Boltgun has become a historical phenomenon among video games inspired by the 90s. Finding itself in a boomer shooter genre, it impresses with smooth animations, dynamic gameplay, legendary atmosphere, and retro graphics. It is the type of game where you can freely kill hordes of demonic opponents to gain endless satisfaction and feel like a born mythical game-changer.
Amazingly, such a simple title has become an outstanding success uniting history with the future! To learn more about this total masterpiece, we break down all its essential features to take a closer look.
The Return of Pixel and Retro Gaming
Retro madness is nothing new. This term means nostalgia for things from the 1960s – 90s and has an entirely different meaning for everyone interested. First Star Wars action figures and bell bottoms are retro, although they come from various periods and backgrounds. But share one common thing – they get more desired with each passing year. And wanted themes always mean a new way to make money. At this point, we can return to video games.
Retro gaming is playing old or new video games inspired by classic titles.
Boltgun is an example of the latter activity, but it is not the only case in this category. In recent years, the world has seen many addictive titles inspired by golden oldies like Project Warlock, Stardew Valley, Celeste, Dead Cells, and Undertale, along with first-person shooters or boomer shooters like Ion Fury, Prodeus or Star Wars: Dark Forces.
Genre doesn’t count anyway, as all that matters is that people want these video games. Why? Players provide specific reasons – childhood memories, cute graphics, a sense of comfort, or just because. The last motivation is especially valid, as old themes, regardless of the field, always come full circle and inspire the future – just like in fashion or our favorite gaming.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – A Tribute to the 90s
Boltgun is not a game for everyone – its fast-paced combat and pixel graphics are mainly a response to the needs of Warhammer 40K fans and players who miss the 90s. These features make it stand out from other games on Steam. There isn’t much plot, you’re a Space Marine working for the Emperor, and your job is to kill anything that might threaten humanity.
Exploring the galaxy, you’ll eventually reach an enemy-infested location and proceed straight to the activity fans of titles like Doom, Quake, and Warhammer love the most – killing monsters. Don’t overthink, as this is not a game made for contemplating – it’s a game made for doing stuff fast! And that’s why it’s the ultimate tribute to the simplicity of the ’90s.
The Gameplay: A Fusion of Past and Present
Boltgun may look like it came to life in the 90s, and it wouldn’t be surprising if some players expected it to feel exactly like one of the typical stuttering pixel games from this decade. But it does not. Running on the Unreal Engine, this impressive title shines with wild smoothness and dynamic animations. There’s beautiful lighting, extraordinary depth of 3D environments, and slightly over-saturated nostalgic graphics that make it so much treasured.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun also features fantastic audio with epic music and narrators revealing the complex story of this chaotic universe without the need to stop the game. It’s as if this title wants you to forget all your everyday problems and lose yourself in this energetic beat calling to slay horrid monsters.
Source: Focus Entertainment
The Strategy Behind the Slaughter
We must learn some of its behind-the-scenes details to understand why Boltgun gathers such ecstatic reviews on Steam. This game is an old-school first-person shooter having more to offer than just running around and killing enemies. However, that’s part of its undeniable magic. According to psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, FPS games create flow – meaning a state of complete happiness and continuous presence. The outside world doesn’t matter. Players feel exceptional control over everything that happens on screen, and the whole experience is a sheer joy that anyone can return to whenever they want.
Such a game is a priceless blessing in everyday challenging life and serves as a perfect relaxation boosting self-esteem. And the fact that it’s retro makes each new playthrough even more comforting. Sure, other video game genres also offer activities like shooting, exploring, and planning upcoming actions. But first-person shooters do it incredibly fast, forcing players to make split-second decisions. And accomplishing success in such a challenging game brings bliss.
Conclusion: The Future of the Past
Newer games like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive require at least a bit of strategy. You’ll never see some random dude running around the map like crazy, shooting everyone and everything in his path. Sure, players can play like that, but the thing is, they don’t want to.
Meanwhile, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is all about that play style. The enemies are always evil and often hideous, players can get as aggressive as they want, the weapons are absolutely massive, and the levels are a constant reminder that this world is dangerous yet epic. It all makes players feel empowered like never before, and that’s why Boltgun is so much fun.
But what is the future of games inspired by the good old days? Sadly, this trend peaked with the 2016 release of DOOM. Everyone decided to milk the nostalgia cow, and new indie games sprang up like mushrooms after the rain. Today we can be sure of two facts – one day, the indie scene will inevitably end, and quality games created with sincere passion will live forever. Luckily, we already know that WH40K: Boltgun is doomed — pun intended — to the latter fate.