Fun throwback shooter with plenty to love in the new Boltgun 2 demo
Like its predecessor, Boltgun 2 is a fun, bombastic romp through the Warhammer galaxy. You get to choose to play as either a Sister of Battle or a Space Marine, mowing down heretics, xenos, and the forces of Chaos in a gloriously bloody boomer shooter that wears its throwback aesthetic as a badge of honor.
The game leans hard into nostalgia for classics like Doom and its ilk, and it earns every bit of it. The boomer shooter market has grown crowded in recent years, but the Boltgun franchise has consistently been one of its standouts, and the sequel shows no signs of slowing down.
Warhammer fans are in for a treat. Where Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 plays things straight-faced and cinematic, Boltgun 2 embraces the gleeful excess of the universe with full commitment. The iconic arsenal is here, chainsword very much included, and fun bit of gameplay is the ability to trigger war cries and barked dialogue at the press of a button. Hearing your Marine hype himself up for the Emperor or threaten his foes is hilarious.
Beyond the ultraviolence (pun very much intended), the demo’s handful of levels are packed with secrets to hunt down. The design feels authentically old-school. The puzzles and hidden routes will scratch a very specific itch for anyone who grew up crawling through id Software levels looking for hidden switches.
If you loved the first Boltgun, this is an easy recommendation. And if you skipped it? Boltgun 2 is a perfect entry point whether you’re a Warhammer devotee, a genre enthusiast, or just someone who misses the days of pixel blood and pure arcade aggression. No prior knowledge required to have a great time.
We’re eagerly awaiting a release date so we can schedule a proper BattleHits launch party and dive into the full game. Until then, for the Emperor!