Mechanicus II has been officially revealed, and the Adeptus Mechanicus are returning with reinforcements. This sequel follows the unexpected success of the original game, which brought turn-based tactical combat and a haunting tech-priest soundtrack into the spotlight. Now, Bulwark Studios is expanding both the scope and the cast, with a second faction joining the campaign: the Leagues of Votann.
The announcement trailer confirmed what many suspected. This is not a minor iteration. The sequel builds on the systems of the first game but introduces broader faction dynamics, new story structure, and larger-scale mission design. Players will once again lead a cohort of tech-priests and servitors through forgotten tombs, data-forged battlefields, and corrupted installations, but now they won’t be the only force at work.
The Leagues of Votann arrive not as enemies, but as a playable faction with their own motivations, technology, and interpretation of survival. Lore-wise, their inclusion creates friction. The Votann value logic, kinship, and ancient knowledge. The Adeptus Mechanicus pursue knowledge as worship. Their goals intersect. Their methods clash. Mechanicus sees corruption. The Votann see control.
Each faction will feature its own campaign path. Whether these will converge or remain separate is still unclear, but the promise of dual perspectives opens the door to more reactive storytelling. The original Mechanicus was linear by design, with narrative branches tied to mission selection. Mechanicus II appears to push beyond that. Slivers of dialogue in the trailer hint at factional tension, betrayal, and a wider theatre of war involving more than just Necron tombs.
Combat remains turn-based, but the interface has been rebuilt. The original’s Cognition Point system returns, now refined and expanded to give players more tactical flexibility. Terrain will play a larger role, with destructible cover and interactive objects built into the map design. Early footage shows ambush zones, collapsible walkways, and environmental hazards that can be turned against the enemy or backfire. The goal seems to be deeper decision-making without slowing the pace.
Unit variety is increasing. The Mechanicus side now includes Kastelan Robots, tracked artillery platforms, and enhanced Magos units with unique command abilities. On the Votann side, expect heavily armoured Hearthkyn, Ironkin support drones, and kinblades with modifiers based on proximity and unit cohesion. Their combat style looks more durable and direct, relying less on positioning and more on focused, overwhelming firepower.
Music and sound design again fall to Guillaume David, whose work on the first game became a standout feature. That mechanical chant, equal parts reverence and machine code, will return in new form. The Votann tracks promise a different tone, quieter, colder, built on precision rather than praise.
The art direction also reflects this contrast. The Mechanicus maps drip with glowing circuitry, decaying steel, and sacred logic. The Votann settings appear denser, darker, built around mineral extraction sites and fortified vaults. There’s a sense of history buried in both styles, but interpreted through radically different lenses.
No release date has been confirmed yet. The game is targeting PC and consoles. Whether both campaigns will be available at launch or released in phases hasn’t been stated. What’s clear is that this sequel aims higher. The first Mechanicus was a focused success. This entry looks broader, but still rooted in the same themes: control, sacrifice, and the slow corrosion of certainty.
Mechanicus II has the chance to become something rare in 40K gaming, a sequel that respects what came before while taking real risks. If it delivers on its promise of dual perspectives, deeper combat, and narrative weight, it may not just improve the original. It may redefine what 40K turn-based tactics can look like.
