If you told us a year ago that Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun would spin off into a first-person typing game, we would’ve assumed the Ruinous Powers had finally broken into reality. But here we are — Words of Vengeance is real, it’s grimdark as hell, and somehow, it’s also completely free on Steam.
Revealed during the Warhammer Skulls 2025 digital showcase, Boltgun – Words of Vengeance takes the over-the-top retro FPS chaos of the original Boltgun and distils it into something more cerebral but just as chaotic: a rail shooter where your weapon of choice is a keyboard. Yes, seriously.
FROM BOLTGUN TO QWERTY-CANNON
You step once again into the power-armored boots of Malum Caedo, the Ultramarine-turned-one-man-daemon-slayer who originally blasted his way through Boltgun. But this time, instead of bolter rounds and chainswords, you’re armed with a sacred relic of the Adeptus Mechanicus — a “sanctified input device.” Translation? You’re typing to kill.
Enemies pour in, and your only defense is precision. Words — some simple, some lifted straight from the deepest lexicon of Warhammer 40K lore — flash on screen. Type them fast and accurate, and your foes explode into red mist. Mistype a word, and your kill streak grinds to a halt. Stumble again, and you’re the one painting the walls.
Think Typing of the Dead, but with servo-skulls, and heretical blood rituals.
RETRO STYLE, MODERN INSANITY
Words of Vengeance isn’t just a gimmick — it’s a surprisingly polished standalone experience. Built using the same retro-inspired pixel aesthetic as Boltgun, it manages to maintain the spirit of the original without a single bullet fired.
The presentation is peak Warhammer. Gothic UI elements, vox-screeching background audio, and lore-heavy phrases like “Omnissiah’s Benediction” and “Suffer Not the Heretic” keep it fully embedded in the 40K universe. It’s a typing game, sure — but it still bleeds Warhammer.
It’s also not afraid to be difficult. You’re typing under pressure, and the words escalate fast. Your WPM (words per minute) might determine whether you live or get torn apart by a horde of typing-speed-hating daemons.
WHY IT EXISTS
Words of Vengeance might seem like a weird move, but it makes sense in context. Warhammer Skulls has always been a platform for both big reveals and off-the-wall spinoffs, and Boltgun itself was already a love letter to ‘90s shooters.
This spinoff follows that same pattern: take something beloved, mash it with another genre, and let players go nuts. And for fans of typing games or just those who love bizarre mashups, this one delivers.
Oh, and did we mention it’s 100% free?
A GIFT FROM THE EMPEROR (OR MARKETING)
No microtransactions. No in-game shop. No subscription. Just a pure, standalone, fast-paced typing FPS from Auroch Digital and Focus Entertainment — available now on Steam.
It’s not long, it’s not deep, but it’s absolutely worth your time. Whether you’re looking to improve your typing speed, show off your lore knowledge, or just blast heretics with words, Words of Vengeance is one of the weirdest — and coolest — surprises of 2025.
Download it. Boot it up. And prepare to bring the Emperor’s wrath… one keystroke at a time.
1-Up Games 