Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is available for Steam users to grab for free until November 7. It isn't often that Steam gives out a game that usually has a price tag on it for free, but the platform has been known to do it in the past. Some games are free-to-play on Steam all the time such as DOTA 2 and CS:GO, but it's typically a special occasion when the platform decides to remove the price tag from a title. When this does happen, Steam users will only get to grab their title for a short amount of time, such as when Ninja Stealth was made free earlier this year for a few days.

Some saw it as a surprise when it was revealed that Warhammer: Vermintide 2 could be claimed for free. Likely, this is tied to Fatshark nearly being ready for the release of its latest title Darktide, as it gives a sort of demo to those who may not be familiar with the style of game the developer makes. For whatever reason, Steam decided to make Vermintide 2 free, it's certainly a title gamers shouldn't disregard.

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The Many Appeals of Vermintide 2

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There are a fair amount of games that focus on co-op gameplay and fighting off hordes of enemies. Left 4 Dead 2, for example, inspired a lot of zombie games that followed, including 2021's Back 4 Blood. Warhammer: Vermintide 2 also follows a gameplay loop centered around killing vast amounts of enemies with a party of unique characters. However, Vermintide 2 immediately sets itself apart by ditching the traditional hordes of zombies and replacing them with bipedal, giant rats.

While this will put off those who suffer from a fear of rats, Vermintide 2 is a lot more than just a clone of Left 4 Dead featuring rat-men. Between the game's five characters, there are a load of classes to choose from in Vermintide 2, giving players a lot of options in how they want to take on the grim fantasy world of Warhammer. There is the Shade subclass should a player enjoy using stealthy tactics around groups of enemies and dealing big damage to bosses, or for those wanting to get into the thick of the action, there's the Grail Knight subclass which was added as a DLC.

Each of Vermintide 2's unique characters blend together to create a party that stands out. Over hundreds of voice lines, the characters of Warhammer: Vermintide 2 add a bit of levity to the dark tone of the game. As well, through these character interactions, Vermintide 2 gives a unique introduction to Warhammer Fantasy without overloading players with the enormity of the setting. While Fatshark's upcoming game Darktide also has thousands of voice lines, these aren't tied to unique characters which makes Vermintide 2 worth visiting to see the well-crafted cast.

Despite releasing back in 2017, Vermintide 2 has only grown since its release thanks to a positive reaction from fans and critics and Fatshark's willingness to support the game over time. While the traditional levels and gameplay loop of the game remain solid, for those who might get bored by playing the same levels over and over again Vermintide 2 added a new mode known as the Chaos Wastes last year. The Chaos Wastes act as Warhammer: Vermintide 2's roguelike mode, giving players a variety of buffs and gear as they fight through procedurally generated maps until they either beat the final boss or perish in the attempt to do so.

With a solid gameplay loop, fun co-op, and a cast of characters and classes that are diverse and interesting enough to keep players coming back, Vermintide 2 is a game Steam users shouldn't miss, especially if they can get it for free. Going beyond Fatshark's continued support for the title, there are also plenty of mods for Warhammer: Vermintide 2 that elevate the experience to a new level.

Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is currently available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

MORE: Fatshark Discusses the Ongoing Evolution of Vermintide 2