"Space Marine" a 40K Boardgame: Review

When I look in the mirror, I see myself just like this...

...but people say that I'm delusional...

There has been a fair amount of news and noise about "Space Marine: The Board Game", a Warhammer 40,000 release from 2023. It was - and is - a Target exclusive [Target is a U.S. department store chain] and comes in at $40 U.S. There are still plenty of YouTube videos on the game, but many are superficial, all [that I've seen] had trouble playing the rules correctly, and most came to incorrect conclusions about the quality of game play.  In an effort to be more thorough, I'm doing a writeup and playtest here, which is easier to scan and skim!

BLUF: This is a GREAT value, has GOOD game play, has MEDIOCRE re-play value [as written], and has rules that are written POORLY - this requires some playtesting and re-reading of all sections to get them right. 

Despite the last two factors, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND getting this game if you either: want an engaging throw-down lasting 30-60 minutes, OR want to introduce newbies to the 40K / miniatures gaming hobby.

CONTENTS

- 23 Citadel push-fit miniatures, 

- Rulebook, 

- hard game board 57cm x 76cm [22"x30"], 

- 6 white dice, 

- ruler, 

- cut-out yourself game markers [bottom left].

One dynamic Titus model; value about $20.

 

20 Termagants w' Fleshborers, 2 Ripper Swarms: Retail about $80 in the past 

[the new box with greater weapon choices on the sprues is $45]

 Top: Not for children but an older kid or young teen can manage with help.

Bottom: You don't want to check on a noise in the next room and see this!

Titus and a Termagant, painted. They are 28mm "Heroic" scale, so bulky in style. Titus is one of the super-sized Space Marines, and has a 40mm [1.5"] base. The 'Nid has a 28mm [1.25"] base. Titus stands quite tall due to the dramatic pose. Obviously the sculpting, style and paint jobs are a matter of taste, but they definitely stand out on the table! All are push-fit and have detailed assembly instructions that make them perfect for a new modeler with modest adult supervision.

40-page rules "Handbook" has tons of fantastic artwork, two "Training Scenarios" that introduce Moving & Shooting and Close Combat respectively, and two "Missions" that present two tactical challenges:

1) "Objective Secured" is a fight to the death, but you need to maneuver for  objectives that help you fight better.

2) "Hold the Line" is about surviving and securing four objectives. This puts a lot of pressure on the heavily outnumbered Titus player to live and keep two objectives for a win. 

The scenarios are pretty clear, and have a diagram and setup, with the Turn sequence on the opposite page.

While the artwork, assembly instructions, and introduction to 40K are all nicely done, the rules of play are scattered across the Handbook in the explanations of the game board, the Training Scenarios, the Turn Sequence pages, and the Datasheet inside the back cover. This required me putting together my own rulesheet: I got it on one page with Ariel 13 font, so there are not a lot of rules.

However, the rules are quite finely tuned and misunderstanding the subtleties will break game play if you don't read them carefully. Ergo, this game is for newbies but they have to be guided by an experienced gamer. So you can't just buy this box and hand it to your 12+yo son and expect him to just run with it - you'll have to help. I think that's OK, as it makes a nice "father-son" type of project.

The hard-mounted game board / mat is 2-sided, 30x22" same as a Kill Team board, folds up conveniently to 7.5" x 11" and has excellent and flavorful graphics - the 2D images nearly look 3D! Probably worth $20-40, but hard to tell as it isn't for sale at GW's web store.

Folded game mat next to box:

One side, mirror symmetrical along the length / width, the red circles are for objectives, quite clever and helpful.

the other side, diagonally symmetrical. The black lines are walls that block line of sight, shooting, movement, etc. Some of the circles are used for setup.

Some people have complained about the mat quality and graphics.  It is very good, and at least as good if not better than other mats that GW has made for Kill Team. These run around $45 from 3rd-party makers [GW presently isn't selling any]. Check out the crushed oil drum and sunken machinery imagery here:

Or how about the Space Marine arm and blood trail leading to a melted hole?

The dead Termagants and oil drum are almost 3D [except for board line going through the one up top, of course].  I got a second game and can have the two boards next to each other for a 60x22" or 30x44" board, great for skirmish gaming.

Below, the Game Markers are glossy paper, and need to be cut out. The red are 10 triangular Wound Markers [for Titus and the Ripper Swarms] and the others are 5 Objective Markers, which are 'Nid on this side, and the SM skull w' sword and wings on the other. The triangles are easy to cut out, but the circular objectives require a deft hand - they should be square, IMHO. Better yet, they should be cardboard punch-outs! As it is, one wrong *sigh* and they will move around.

So, unless you are completely uninterested in Space Marines, Tyranids [Termagants, anyway] a hard board game mat [with 23 free figures], or an intro game for newbies with components worth about $125+ you should "buy this game!"

Next: why you should play this game [with a newbie].