Necromunda: Underhive Wars stands out as a turn-based strategy game rooted in the grim Warhammer 40,000 universe, where players command gangs battling for dominance in the chaotic Underhive. The Van Saar Gang expansion introduces a technologically advanced faction equipped with protective suits and deployable turrets, enhancing the tactical depth for those seeking disciplined, high-firepower approaches in multiplayer and single-player scenarios.
Gameplay
In this strategy title, the core experience revolves around leading and customizing your gang through intense tactical confrontations. You specialize individual members, equipping them with looted gear and unlocking new skills as they progress. Battles unfold in hazardous environments filled with raised walkways and ambush points, where exploiting terrain becomes key to outmaneuvering rivals. Set traps to control the flow of combat or climb to gain height advantages for ranged attacks. The Van Saar Gang adds layers with their unique mechanics, such as turrets that provide automated support and suits that boost survivability, allowing for strategies focused on sustained firepower and defensive positioning.
Customization plays a central role, letting you evolve your gang over time. Each fighter gains experience from engagements, opening up options for skill development that fit your preferred playstyle. Melee clashes mix with gunfights, demanding careful resource management and positioning to avoid devastating losses. The expansion's new perk for Van Saar further refines this, offering bonuses that reward disciplined tactics and tech reliance.
Game Modes
The game features a narrative campaign that draws you into the Underhive's story, guiding your gang through a series of missions tied to power struggles and survival. Operations mode allows for persistent progression, where you build and maintain your gang across multiple sessions, facing AI or player opponents in structured scenarios.
Skirmish mode delivers quick, standalone battles ideal for testing strategies or jumping into action without long-term commitments. For competitive play, four-way online gang fights support up to four players, pitting customized squads against each other in tactical showdowns. The Van Saar Gang integrates seamlessly into Operations and Skirmish, available for both player control and AI opposition, expanding faction choices in these formats.
Factions and Mechanics
Core factions include Escher, known for agility and poisons; Goliath, emphasizing brute strength; and Orlock, focused on balanced firepower and mining expertise. The Van Saar Gang, added via expansion, brings a high-tech edge with protective gear that preserves health and turrets for area control, making them suited for ranged dominance.
Mechanics emphasize gang growth through looting and skill acquisition, with each faction offering distinct perks. Online elements allow for cross-faction matchups, while cosmetic options, like weapon skins for Van Saar, let you personalize appearances without altering balance.
Is It Worth Playing?
With mixed player reception reflected in 55 percent positive reviews from over 2,000 English-language assessments, the game appeals to those who enjoy turn-based strategy with a Warhammer twist, despite criticisms of pacing and AI behavior. It remains available on Xbox One and Xbox Series consoles, with no ongoing seasons or major updates since its 2020 release, but the core systems hold up for dedicated fans.
If you favor tactical depth in smaller-scale squad battles and appreciate customizing gangs in a dystopian setting, it offers solid value. Casual players might find the slow battles less engaging, but strategy enthusiasts drawn to terrain-based tactics and faction variety could find it rewarding, especially with expansions like Van Saar adding fresh options.
