Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Winter Assault remains faithful to the base game’s RTS roots while introducing fresh elements that keep the experience engaging. You’ll find yourself managing resources, constructing buildings, and fielding squads just as in the original Dawn of War, but the addition of the Imperial Guard brings a new strategic dimension. Their heavy-hitting armored units, such as the Leman Russ tank and Baneblade super-heavy tank, require different tactical considerations compared to the existing factions.

The two distinct campaigns—Order and Disorder—offer varied mission structures. As the Imperial Guard’s Cadian 412th Command or the Eldar Ulthwé Command, you’ll focus on conventional objectives like point captures and structure assaults. Conversely, playing as the Ork Mob Gorgutz or Chaos Blood Legion of Khorne forces you to employ more aggressive, melee-focused strategies. The campaign’s occasional forced race switches keep you on your toes, requiring seamless adaptation to each faction’s unique playstyle in the midst of battle.

Mission design leans heavily into storytelling, placing primary objectives front and center. While you still gather requisition and power through strategic point control, some missions reward exploration—discovering hidden squads or vehicles on the battlefield. This dynamic pacing ensures that every battle feels purposeful, with clear narrative-driven goals rather than a simple race for map domination.

Beyond the campaigns, Winter Assault enriches skirmish and multiplayer matches with the Imperial Guard as a fully playable faction. Their Sentinel walkers can uncapture strategic points, a feature unique until the Dark Crusade expansion. Coupled with over 20 new maps and balance tweaks to existing races, the expansion breathes fresh life into both casual and competitive play, challenging veterans to revise their established strategies.

Graphics

Visually, Winter Assault builds upon Dawn of War’s solid art direction and crisp unit models. The Imperial Guard units stand out with industrial detailing on tanks and textured infantry gear, conveying a gritty battlefield atmosphere. Each faction’s color palette remains distinct, ensuring clarity during the heat of skirmishes and allowing you to quickly identify friend from foe.

The winter-themed battlefield environments are a highlight, with snow-covered terrain, frosted buildings, and swirling blizzards that add atmospheric depth. These cosmetic effects do more than look pretty—they can subtly impact visibility and immersion, making frozen rivers and ice-laden forests memorable backdrops for brutal engagements.

Animations in Winter Assault feel polished, from the mechanical stomping of Titans and Baneblades to the visceral blood splatters and explosion effects. The new winter theater also introduces environmental interactions—crumbling ice under heavy armor, for example—that give battles a lived-in, dynamic quality.

While the engine doesn’t radically change from the original, the expansion’s graphical tweaks and seasonal overhaul successfully refresh the game’s presentation. Even on modest PC setups, Winter Assault runs smoothly, maintaining solid frame rates during large-scale clashes without sacrificing visual flair.

Story

Winter Assault’s narrative unfolds on the frozen planet Lorn V, where the galaxy’s greatest powers clash over a buried Imperator-class Titan. This colossal war machine serves as the story’s focal point, driving conflicts between Order and Disorder in a grimdark struggle for supremacy. The dual-campaign structure allows you to witness the planet’s fate from opposing viewpoints, adding depth and replayability.

The Order campaign emphasizes disciplined warfare, featuring tense stand-offs and strategic relay points as the Cadian 412th fights alongside Eldar Ulthwé forces. The dialogue and mission briefings convey a sense of desperate resolve, with commanders wary of Chaos corruption and Ork brutality. In contrast, the Disorder campaign revels in chaos—rampaging Ork hordes and bloodthirsty Chaos Marines bring a savage, unrelenting tone.

Winter Assault smartly interweaves lore and flavor text, fleshing out minor characters and giving context to battlefield events. Finding hidden relics or intercepting enemy communications adds narrative layers beyond simple base building. Although the story isn’t as expansive as later expansions, it offers a satisfying arc that culminates in a climactic showdown for control of the Titan.

Branching choices toward campaign end further enhance storytelling by offering different allies and potential outcomes. These mission forks don’t drastically alter the core plot but provide enough variation to warrant multiple playthroughs, letting fans explore both sides of key decisions.

Overall Experience

As an expansion, Winter Assault delivers substantial content without overhauling the core mechanics that made Dawn of War a hit. Its campaigns are concise yet varied, and the introduction of the Imperial Guard brings new strategies and unit compositions. If you enjoyed the base game, this expansion feels like a natural extension rather than a mere add-on.

Multiplayer and skirmish aficionados will appreciate the expanded roster of units and fresh maps tailored for both casual and competitive matches. The balance changes strike a reasonable compromise, though some veteran players may debate the relative strength of Guard armor versus other factions. Regardless, the new dynamics ensure that no two skirmishes feel identical.

Graphically and aurally, Winter Assault holds up well. The winter environments are atmospheric, and the sound design—ranging from rumbling artillery barrages to the crack of freezing air—immerses you in Lorn V’s frozen hellscape. Performance remains stable even in large-scale engagements, making for a smooth experience on a wide range of hardware.

Ultimately, Dawn of War – Winter Assault stands as a worthy expansion that enriches the original game’s narrative scope and tactical depth. While it requires ownership of the base game, the extra campaigns, the Imperial Guard faction, and the improved multiplayer offerings make it a compelling purchase for Warhammer 40,000 fans and RTS enthusiasts alike.

Retro Replay Score

8.1/10