Steam gamers looking for something fun to play with their friends can check out Warhammer 40K: Darktide for free until December 8. First-person action co-op game Warhammer 40K: Darktide originally launched in 2022, and holds a Mostly Positive rating on Steam overall.

Fans of co-op action games may already be familiar with Warhammer: Vermintide 2, a co-op action game set in the Warhammer Fantasy universe. Warhammer 40K: Darktide is a spiritual successor to the game from the same developer, bringing much of the same formula to the table.

Warhammer 40K: Darktide is Free to Play For a Limited Time

Image via Fatshark

As part of developer Fatshark’s 10 Years of Tide celebration event, Warhammer 40K: Darktide is free to play until December 8 at 10 am PST on Steam. The four-player co-op action game recently reached its third anniversary and got a new major update, which introduced a new map, event, and the Hive Scum class. While the new Hive Scum class is locked behind paid DLC, players can enjoy everything the base game has to offer for completely free until Monday.

Fans of games like Left 4 Dead should find plenty to enjoy in Darktide. The original four playable classes, namely Veteran, who focuses on ranged combat and support, Zealot, which doles out strong melee attacks and can buff teammates, Ogryn, a giant humanoid tank that deals high damage against hordes and can stagger enemies, and Psyker, a Warp-wielding mage-like ranged DPS class that doesn’t rely on ammunition are available from the start. All four classes put players in the shoes of an imprisoned reject who gets a second chance to prove themselves by battling against the forces of Chaos. Players can assemble their group at a central hub onboard the Rogue Trader Mourningstar and choose missions to take on there. Playing with bots is also an option in case players don’t have enough members to fill out the team.

There are a wide range of weapon types available for each class to use, including melee weapons, guns, flamethrowers, and staves for Psykers. As players progress through the game, they level up and gain proficiency in the weapons they’re using, and can unlock talents, buffs, and bonuses for their character and the weapons they wield. Players will need them, too, as they face off against the hordes of enemies Darktide will throw at them. In addition to swarming hordes, enemy units also include specialists, which can attack players with flamethrowers, bombs, toxic gases, and incapacitate players, similar to how Chargers and Hunters do in Left 4 Dead. Large bosses will also spawn on some missions which require everyone to work together to bring them down. Teamwork is essential to succeeding in Darktide.

Those who find that they enjoy Darktide will likely be pleased to know that if they want to keep playing it after the free period, the game is currently on sale for a major 75% discount, bringing the cost of the base game down to $9.99 from its usual $39.99. The fifth Arbites class is also discounted by 25%, but as the Hive Scum class is brand-new, it’s only available for its standard price of $11.99 at this time. Players who are more interested in the Warhammer Fantasy universe may want to check out Vermintide 2, which has been discounted by 95% for a price of $1.49. These discounts all end on December 8.

Following Darktide‘s most recent update, the game has seen a major surge in players, so newcomers shouldn’t have much trouble finding someone to partner up with, if they so choose. Additionally, Warhammer 40K: Darktide offers crossplay with both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. While the free weekend is limited to Steam, Darktide is available to play for free with Xbox Game Pass Essential, so friends across multiple game systems may want to check it out together over the weekend.

Released

November 30, 2022

ESRB

M For Mature Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence

Developer(s)

Fatshark

Publisher(s)

Fatshark