Warcry is Warhammer at its best, and the new second edition proves it

polygon.com:

Warcry came as a big surprise when Games Workshop announced it in 2019. But after the release of Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team, the community was primed for another miniature skirmish game, this time set in the fantasy world of Warhammer: Age of Sigmar. The appeal was similar — a meaty game that only requires a handful of miniatures to play, and a system with the potential for strong narrative campaigns and a bustling competitive scene. The result was a hit with both fans and critics alike. Warcry: Heart of Ghur is the second Warcry box set, released to retail in August, and it marks a simple yet effective revision of what was already Games Workshop’s best ruleset.

Heart of Ghur is set in the Gnarlwood, a rugged swampland twisted and possessed by the bleeding life force of an extraterrestrial ship. Its treasures lay nestled in the wicked environs, protected by malevolent beasts, carnivorous trees, and other warbands thirsting for blood and fortune.

The box includes a thick board to battle on, enough terrain to fill the area, and two complete warbands for head-to-head play. The Rotmire Creed are a psychotic group of plague alchemists who are committed to defending their territory from the aggressive Horns of Hashut, a rabid band of despoilers intent on scorching the land and laying waste to everything they encounter. While these two factions of heinous Chaos-worshippers are featured in this release’s main storyline, other warbands from across Games Workshop’s product line can also enter Gnarlwood in search of alien artifacts.

The distinct setting is a large part of the allure with Heart of Ghur. One of the strongest features of Games Workshop’s skirmish titles — Kill Team, Necromunda, and even Blood Bowl to some extent —