Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide

Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide is a cooperative action game by Fatshark set in the grim Warhammer Fantasy universe. Five distinct heroes try to defend the city of Ubersreik against the Skaven invasion. Seen from a first-person perspective, they fight with swords, axes, firearms, bows and magic against enemy groups that outnumber them.

The focus is on missions for up to four players, coordinated roles and looting new gear. The maps lead through streets, buildings and underground passages. Unlike the later Vermintide 2, this is exclusively about the first game from 2015.

Vermintide was released for PC on Oct 23, 2015. Fatshark brought the native PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions to market on Oct 4, 2016. The original console version already included large parts of the add-on content previously released for PC.

A standalone PS5 or Xbox Series game was not announced for this first part. The PlayStation store page explicitly lists PS4 as the platform and only notes backward compatibility with PS5. Vermintide 2, released in 2018, is a standalone sequel.

The confirmed native main game versions are PC (Windows), PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. According to the PlayStation Store, PS5 can run the PS4 version through backward compatibility, without this becoming a standalone PS5 version. Likewise, the Xbox One version should not be equated with a separate native Xbox Series release.

PC and consoles offer mission-based co-op with up to four players. On PlayStation, online multiplayer requires a PlayStation Plus membership. The platform versions are not mixed here with Vermintide 2, edition upgrades or paid mission DLC.

The gameplay combines linear but branching missions with enemy waves and specialized elite Skaven. A group of up to four heroes must stick together, control enemies and coordinate resources. If slots are not filled by humans, AI companions can complete the team. According to Fatshark, multiplayer allows players to join and leave during a running game.

Swords, axes, hammers, pistols, muskets, bows and magic staves intertwine. Enemy groups and special enemies appear dynamically, so fights can play out differently even on familiar maps. Especially in narrow alleys and underground rooms, coordination decides success.

Several later expansions enlarged the mission selection of the original Vermintide. Drachenfels arrived in May 2016 with three maps around the castle and the mountains outside Ubersreik. Karak Azgaraz followed in December 2016 with three levels in a dwarf fortress and two additional weapons.

Stromdorf added two rainy maps and another greatsword in May 2017; Death on the Reik brought further adventures in December 2017 along and around the River Reik. Free content such as Last Stand and more mission systems also came along. These add-ons belong to the original Vermintide and should not be confused with the separate expansions for Vermintide 2.

On Windows, Steam lists at least an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9500 with 2.83 GHz or AMD Phenom II X4 940, 6 GB RAM, a GeForce GTX 460 or Radeon HD 5770 with 1 GB VRAM, and 30 GB of free storage. Recommended are a Core i7-4790K or AMD FX-9590, 8 GB RAM and a GeForce GTX 780 or Radeon R9 290.

The original store listing mentions Windows 7 to 10 in 64-bit. For current Steam installs, however, the Steam client is decisive, which now requires Windows 10 or newer. The game offers German on-screen text, while the voice audio according to the store remains English.

The game features five fixed characters: Markus Kruber, Bardin Goreksson, Kerillian, Victor Saltzpyre and Sienna Fuegonasus. They have different weapon arsenals and combat styles. Team setup therefore includes sturdy frontline fighters, ranged specialists and magic.

Unlike free character creation, Vermintide uses preset characters with their own personalities. Differences come mainly from weapon choice, position in combat and how they work with other group members.

At the end of missions, dice rolls award new gear such as weapons, headgear or jewelry. Side quests affect the quality of the loot dice used. Completing extra mission objectives together becomes part of progression.

Looted items change a hero's available gear options. Random enemy groups and gear give reasons to play familiar maps multiple times. The system forms the core of the original Vermintide, without anticipating the advanced careers and later systems of the sequel.

The story is set in the End Times chapter of Warhammer Fantasy. The Skaven, the rat-men, rise from the Underground and invade Ubersreik. The five heroes get caught up in the attacks and follow paths between Magnus Tower, fortresses, streets and tunnel systems.

The story provides the framework for the missions and their locations, while the actual combat is shaped by group coordination and dynamic enemies. The sequel Vermintide 2 continues the story of these heroes, but is a standalone game.