Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader Review (PS5) | Push Square

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Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader offers a rewarding roleplaying experience set in the grimdark far future of Games Workshop's storied sci-fi universe — something fans have been screaming for forever. Developer OwlCat Games has learned plenty of tricks from its Pathfinder series, and while still a little rough around the edges, largely succeeds in crafting a fitting tribute worthy of the God-Emperor of Mankind.

Rogue Trader casts players in the titular role of a Rogue Trader, a hereditary, semi-divine authority granted to an individual, who then has the right to go out and conquer star systems in the name of the Emperor and govern in his name. This necessitates amassing wealth, establishing trade networks, and controlling subject populations. It's the sci-fi equivalent of privateering and makes for a rich roleplaying setting, with players encouraged to make decisions according to their chosen philosophy.

A classic isometric CRPG in many ways, Rogue Trader maintains convoluted genre conventions but does make some concessions for new players. This means a statistically deep, content-rich gameplay experience that pushes back and demands focus. That's doubly the case if you plan on playing Core difficulty, positioned as the set of parameters that best emulate the setting (and required to unlock certain Trophies, as it happens). For our money, OwlCat Games is the CRPG studio best poised to take advantage of Baldur's Gate 3's breakout success, but players coming from that game should expect a much scrappier experience with a steeper learning curve.

Graphically, Rogue Trader looks great on PS5, with the uber-gothic 40K aesthetic brought to life in expansive environments and through detailed weaponry and equipment. Character models