Rogue Trader is the latest expansive cRPG from OwlCat Games to release on the Nintendo Switch 2. Here is my full review.
The first impression of the Warhammer 40,000 video games one might get ranges between how gory, thrilling, and massive it all is. Space Marine 2 puts you in the shoes of a foot soldier fighting xenos (aliens), “For The Emperor!” is like. Boltgun, a boomer shooter, opts for a more stripped-down, pure, high-octane action experience. But Rogue Trader, which first originated as a sci-fi tabletop game in 1987 and is now a full-blown CRPG, goes more in-depth. Portraying the adventures of the eponymous hero tasked with exploring systems through intergalactic travel, the final goal is to search for riches while navigating the intricate politics. Out now for Nintendo Switch 2, it feels like a universe in your pocket at a compromise.
I would not blame players for second-guessing trying this entry in particular, but having gone through it myself in detail, it is certainly a propitious starting point for the series. Rogue Traders have the most flexible of storytelling approaches of all the different factions within the W40K universe. That is mainly because they travel from planet to planet, bargaining for resources, solving petty squabbles, and, if the narrative calls for it, saving or destroying an entire race. Akin to a bounty hunter, what sets apart a Rogue Trader is the fact that they are the Lord Captain of a colossal spacecraft called a voidship. Harboring a population within the thousands in said ship, it is no surprise that some unfortunate people live their entire lives there, and entire revolts can occur at some point. This is where our tale begins.
As any great CRPG offers, the option to choose among three preset characters or make your own is possible, with four archetypes available: Warrior, Officer, Operative, and Soldier. The choices to customize your protagonist’s physical appearance are extensive, culminating in selecting a character portrait after. Critical to your origin story is your Rogue Trader’s homeworld and career. It simply cannot be understated how defining these traits you pick will be to the eventual outcome of the game’s story, from the various skill checks to the strategic combat. Being a voidborn or from the Imperial World, the talents and features you have will outline your future, as it were. Finally, the type of voidship you own will also affect the turn-based space combat.
At this point in the review, it might start to feel a bit overwhelming to learn about all the game’s language and mechanics, but thankfully developer OwlCat Games appears to be fully aware of it. A detailed glossary with the thorough Warhammer lore is accessible at all times, from definitions of unique words pertaining to its universe to historical backgrounds of entire species and lineages. I am not outright saying it is easy, because it is certainly not, but it is incredibly rich, and for passionate science fiction fans, there is so much to love here.
Rogue Trader delivers paragraph upon paragraphs of elegant prose. Phrases describing a character’s physical actions before uttering a word—and what talented voice acting—to elevate the emotional impact of their delivery: this is a game that whoever appreciates literature will find themselves at home. Not only because of the excellent writing but also because of its riveting plot, starting with a politically inspired backstabbing right from the get-go.
Your character does not start as the Rogue Trader. Instead, they go through a series of ordeals, learning the ropes as the next in line of the von Valancius bloodline in the voidship you will soon be the leader of. The story is set up in an easy-to-follow way to understand who the enemies are, your personal stakes, and your crew’s perception of your decisions and the risks at large. Every one of your party members develops according to your interactions with them, becoming close confidants or resentful associates depending on what decisions you make.
Much more concise than other fantasy CRPGs in its genre, the gameplay usually consists of facing intense moral conundrums. How to handle proletariat uprisings, ghostly apparitions from the Immaterium (you’ll get there), or executive decisions regarding who will oversee a certain colony are all in a day’s work. It is all a fascinating exploration of the expansive Warhammer lore, told in a comprehensive way. Once you get a hold of it, it is difficult to put down.
As a game originally released in 2023, the reason I took the time to review Rogue Trader is mainly due to the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, as it has all been mostly said and done critically. First, the benefits. Touted by the big N as a game changer, the new Joy-Cons Mouse mode is fully supported, to great effect. The whole UI changes to look like the PC version, easily clicking on where you want the characters to move and what abilities you would like them to perform with precision. The two separate DLCs, Void Shadows and Lex Imperialis, include over 30 hours of more content as well.
Now, the technical shortcomings cannot be ignored, because as much as I fell in love with the game itself, there is still work to be done to wholeheartedly recommend it. Stuttering in between scenes, clunky animations, and low-quality textures and character models remind us that the Switch 2, perhaps, is already falling behind in the specifications department. What mostly soured my experience, though, was the crashes. Not so constant as to become infuriating, but every so often, the game would close, and I would have to reboot it. Luckily, it would go on as if nothing had happened, and no progress would be lost due to the autosave system. But it’s still a persistent issue that I hope is fixed eventually to celebrate it as an otherwise grandiose experience.
Verdict
Warhammer 40,000 is often described as a grimdark universe. It is most palpable in Rogue Trader, where genocide, sacrifice, and abuse are often shrugged at while everyone moves on with their miserable days. What drew me to this militaristic entry is not that, but the power as a new, unexpected entity creating meaningful change in a Kafkaesque world where that seems impossible. While yes, there are still fixes to be made in the Switch 2 entry, it is still a worthwhile endeavor. Mainly because this video game fulfills one of the most powerful fantasies to this day: impactful decision-making in a lawless land.
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Reviewed for Nintendo Switch 2
Thank you to UberStrategist for providing a review key for this title.
Developer: Owlcat Games
Publisher: Owlcat Games
Release Date: December 11, 2025
Pros:
+Elevating prose,
+Expansive Warhammer lore,
+Meticulous & strategic combat,
+Intriguing narrative and characters,
Cons:
- Occasional technical Issues such as crashes and stutters,
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Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
