Classic Warhammer game gets a Genestealer-fuelled new release that’s Necromunda meets Space Hulk

Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Recent updatesWe’re not quite ready to put a score on Necromunda: Hive Secundus yet, so here are our initial thoughts to give you a sense of what the new Warhammer box set is like. Recent updatesWe’re not quite ready to put a score on Necromunda: Hive Secundus yet, so here are our initial thoughts to give you a sense of what the new Warhammer box set is like. Recent updates We’re not quite ready to put a score on Necromunda: Hive Secundus yet, so here are our initial thoughts to give you a sense of what the new Warhammer box set is like. For people of a certain age (ie.myage) there’s no bigger Warhammer baddie than the Genestealer. Sure, the forces of Chaos are canonically the arch foes of the Imperium, but I grew up playing Space Hulk before I ever got my hands on a copy of 40K and there’s just something classic about the thought of purple-skinned ‘stealers swarming through shadowy corridors. You can imagine my delight, then, when Necromunda: Hive Secundus was announced. I was an avid player of first edition Necromunda and while I’ve only dipped my toe into the most recent edition a few times, this looked like an excellent way to get me properly involved. The game pits treasure hunters from Necromunda’s technologically advanced House Van Saar against a Genestealer cult and even features a new adaptation of the beastie: the Malstrain Genestealer. Lovely! (Actually, they’rehorrible, but you know what I mean.) Well, I’ve got my hands on a copy of Hive Secundus now and have been able to spend a week or so getting to grips with the new set. Here’s what I made of it. What’s in the box? Beware the Genestealers(Image credit: Will Salmon) In the box you get a Hive Secundus-specific edition of the Necromunda Rulebook, two “double-sided paper playing surfaces,” and a deck featuring Archeo-loot, Underhells Territory, and fighter cards. You also get a sprue of bulkheads, dice (have that, Age of Sigmar!) and, of course, the models for the two opposing factions. These are beautiful but fiddly miniatures(Image credit: Will Salmon) The Van Saar Tek Hunters are a neat evolution of the regular House Van Saar gang. There’s a cool, quasi-Still Suit look to the Van Saar design, which predates the Dune movies, but has a similar aesthetic. And the new Spyre Hunters are simplygreat– hulking, insectile-looking blends of man and machine. These pampered rich kids with heavy weaponry were always one of the original game’s most evocative ideas, but the minis didn’t quite do them justice before. These redesigned models are a vast improvement. Also shout out to the horrible, cherub-like Caryatid Prime, a lovely bit of classic 40K weirdness. On the other side, the Malstrain Genestealers are leaner and creepier than the regular models, but bigger and with weird, distended carapace spikes growing out of their backs like stalagmites. The Malstrain Tyramites, meanwhile, are tiny flying bugs that attach to clear flight stands. However, these bring their own set of woes: namely, tiny limbs that are so fragile that they break without warning. Use your sharpest clippers and beverycareful when cleaning up any bits of flash or mold lines. The Brood Scum, as mentioned above, are older models with new heads, but I really like how much character they have for, essentially, canon fodder. All of the models come with sculpted Necromunda bases – a really nice touch. Lore and rules Hive Secundus is falling apart in-world, but in real life the game’s poor-quality mats don’t help(Image credit: Will Salmon) The new Genestealer from Hive Secundus (left) and the old version (right)(Image credit: Will Salmon) In Necromunda: Hive Secundus, one player takes on the role of the technologically-advanced gangers, the other the Malstrain cult. The book contains seven scenarios to play out, ranging from the Van Saar’s first breaking into the Underhells, to Genestealer ambushes, and purge missions. All good stuff, if quite familiar in theme. It still feels like there are a lot more stories to tell about Hive Secundus, which is presumably where the forthcoming Book of Desolation supplement will come in. Games are played out on the supplied double-sided “paper playing surfaces” – and that’s where my major criticism of the set comes in. Put simply, they’re not very good – flimsy poster-paper thick mats with big folds in them that will wear out quickly. I’ve no idea how much it would have cost Games Workshop to make these in durable card, like the gorgeous boards used in Warhammer Underworlds – perhaps it was simply economically impractical – but it feels like a cut corner, especially given how high-quality everything else in the set feels. Early verdict Hive Secundus acts as another way into Necromunda as a game(Image credit: Will Salmon) Necromunda: Hive Secundus, gripes about the playing surfaces aside, is a great set full of amazing models, cool lore, and a fun new way of playing this cult classic game. It does, however, feel a little confused about its place in Games Workshop’s ecosystem. This isn’t the only big box relaunch Games Workshop has offered recently - it’s also revamped its fantasy game, Age of Sigmar (you can see what’s new in our guide to all of theWarhammer Age of Sigmar 4th Edition rules changes). It’s certainly a good move if you ask me;Warhammer Age of Sigmar used to scare me, but Skaventide changed all that… Latest26 years later, Codemasters’ Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene?See more latest► Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene?See more latest► Latest26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene?See more latest► Latest 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time"Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final seasonSquid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene? 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time” 26 years later, Codemasters' Chris Southall talks Colin McRae Rally: “We wanted to do something that was an authentic rally experience for the hardware of the time” Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final season Squid Game season 3: Everything we know about the Netflix show’s final season Squid Game season 2 post-credits scene explained: Does episode 7 have a post-credits scene? 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Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”