Developer: Mindscape
At a glance
46 Steam reviews rate it “Mixed” (61% positive). Released on April 13, 2026 by Mindscape. Current price: $5.99.
Description
Re-release
Originally released in 1995, Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat was the first RTS title set in the Warhammer Fantasy universe. It laid the foundation for future entries with its dynamic yet strategic battles. This is the first time the game is available on Steam, with adjustments to support modern systems (see "WHAT’S INSIDE THIS RELEASE" in the section below).
About the Game
Stormclouds gather over the Border Princes, unnoticed by the reclusive Wizard engrossed in the study of his profound discovery – an ancient crystal of Elven origin, together with something far more sinister…
SOUND THE CHARGE, WE GO TO WAR!
In the grim world of Warhammer, powerful armies clash in cataclysmic battles. Orc hordes batter at the gates of the Empire, mighty bastion of humanity, whilst the twisted and malign servants of Chaos gnaw at the very fabric of society from within.
For those who can read the signs, a hideous and terrifying pattern is emerging through the haze of strife and warfare. The oracles and portents all tell of much worse to come, of an impending time of death and destruction unrivalled in the history of the world.
As the leader of the infamous Grudgebringers, you are unwittingly drawn into this insidious plot. Your mercenary army must halt the unstoppable tide of evil that assaults the Empire before all is lost. Rivers of blood will surely flow before the flood is finally stemmed, but try you must, for every sword has a part to play in the titanic struggle to destroy the servants of the Horned Rat.
WHAT’S INSIDE THIS RELEASE
This edition updates Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat to run smoothly on modern Windows systems, delivering improved stability and enhanced compatibility. German, French, and Italian language versions have been added, and long loading times between screens have been resolved. Higher-fidelity CD audio tracks are now supported, allowing players to switch between CD music and classic MIDI in the settings menu.
FEATURES
Over 40 battles featuring varied battlefields and challenging strategic encounters
Command a mercenary army, choosing from over 25 troop types
A campaign-driven story that links battles across the Warhammer world
Real-time battles presented in 3D environments
More than 25 story-driven animations and detailed mission briefings
Atmospheric sound design, from trumpet fanfares to the clash of steel
WARHAMMER CLASSICS
Warhammer Classics is a collection of the greatest titles from the annals of Warhammer video game history, spanning the last 30 years, brought back to life as a series to celebrate their iconic legacy. These games have been revived in their original state. Because of their classic nature, some of the content may not accurately reflect current depictions, lore, or presentation within the current Warhammer universes and settings.
Supported languages: english, french, italian, german
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Description and screenshots are provided by the publisher via the Steam Store page.
System Requirements
Windows
- OS: Windows 10/11
- Processor: 1.8 GHz
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: DirectX 9.0c Compatible Graphics Card
- DirectX: Version 9.0c
- Storage: 1 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
User Reviews
I recommend only because it is classic. But the game is broken badly. Cannot proceed after the gates' missions. The squads are doubled, which is a great bummer. Shame on devs for not fixing it.
UPD.:
I loved the music and the gameplay. I liked factions adding to the main force more than in Dark Omen. Yet, in the sequel, it is more balanced I guess. It is a pity some of the forces are never back. The balance is brutal. Sometimes, you defeat the Rat Ogres in a sec and sometimes all forces run from them. In any case, the game is worth remaking and even playing in the current old state.
Blast from the past! My first ever warhammer PC game. Runs as one would expect - very smoothly. Issues so far include messed up enemy reinforcements timing while attempting to reinforce zhufbar - boarboyz and wolfriders just swarm the column early on, making it nigh impossible to get inside without suffering catastrophic casualties. Older version of this game allowed some precious minutes for MOST of the carts to reach the gate, which doesnt seem to be the case now, and these were already two of the hardest missions ever....
It is what it is. It's the ancient first warhammer game released 31 years ago as of writing.
It's controls are clunky, it's decisions opaque and it's combat difficulty heavily dependent on RNG which makes the game much harder than we are used to.
The story is great and it's visuals still hold their charm. It's a really fun albeit occasionally frustrating experience that is worth trying. Use the manual and guides to shamelessly avoid silly time traps (some missions are unwinnable and the magic item hunt it a pin in the bum). Save often - if the rng hurts you just quit and reload. You get used to the controls.
This is the classic version, they have not re-developed this game. I would be very interested in seeing what that looked like.
Old school game, that i still have on CD, good enough to buy it again on steam.
Graphics are dated, music is still great, gameplay still has enough to keep me recommending it.
30 years after I first played it, I remembered it was hard but its probably a good thing that they dont make games like this anymore
Would like to recommend as re-living an old classic and its a good copy with regards massive RNG topics making it very tough and unforgiving.
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Additional Information
| Developer | Mindscape |
| Platforms | Windows |
| Age rating | None |
| Release date | April 13, 2026 |
| User reviews | 61% positive (46) |
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