With Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War, you can currently grab one of the best strategy games in the Warhammer franchise for free on Steam. But you should be quick.
How do I get the game for free? Right now, you can secure the strategy game Warhammer 40K: Gladius – Relics of War for free as part of the Warhammer Skulls event on Steam. The promotion runs until May 26, 2025, at 7:00 PM. To add the game to your library, you simply need to grab it via the store page.
However, you need to be quick, as the free period is subject to the condition that the promotion may end early if supplies are exhausted. Once it’s in your library, you can keep it forever and save €40.86.
Moreover, all DLCs are discounted by 25% – 50%, so you can snag them at a lower price. It’s worth taking a look for all Warhammer and strategy fans, as Gladius is one of the best strategy games in the Warhammer franchise and is rated “Very Positive” on Steam with 81% positive reviews (as of May 23, 2025).
Like Civilization in the 41st Millennium
What kind of game is this? Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War is a turn-based 4X strategy game that initially resembles Civilization 6. At its core, the games are very similar, so one could almost call Gladius a Warhammer-Civilization. However, Gladius does without diplomacy and focuses more on the “War” part of its name. Nonetheless, there is also an economy in the game that needs to be managed.
You take control of one of four factions – Astra Militarum (Imperial Guard), Space Marines, Orks, or Necrons – each with unique gameplay mechanics, technology trees, and units. Through the DLCs, you can obtain additional factions, races, and units that expand the gameplay experience.
The goal is to gain control of the planet Gladius Prime by building cities, gathering resources, researching technologies, and battling enemy factions. The game world is divided into hex tiles and is procedurally generated, with the terrain offering strategic advantages or disadvantages.
MeinMMO editor Benedict Grothaus has thoroughly examined the game for you and is convinced: Gladius is one of the best strategy games ever. In his article, he also tells you why: A 6-year-old Warhammer game is becoming my new favorite strategy game
