EDIT2: The game is now at what I'd consider a playable state. Which is how it should have been released, when ready, rather than capitalising on Christmas Holidays revenue and committed fandom.
The core aspects of gameplay remain untouched, but they seem to have finally fixed a lot of the gameplay issues. Content wise is still a bit lacking, but now that crafting and other aspects are fully released (as they should have from the start) it feels less pointless. Fatshark is also making a commitment to communicate with the player base and address other concerns.
I'm leaving the original review here. Remember to hold your service providers (this is live service, supposedly) accountable, kids.
----
Many people have gone in-depth with what's wrong with Darktide, so let me just focus on simple thoughts.
This has the potential to become the best 40K game ever. (Above the current, low hanging bar)
However, it's all potential. At its current state, I can't fully recommend it. Which pains me terribly.
Yes, I'll keep playing, I love the premise and the gameplay, I want it to get better.
No, don't buy it now. Wait a couple months, wait for a sale, wait for a proper content update.
The game is in an extended Beta state right now.
I wouldn't be as harsh, but after Vermintide 1-2, you would assume the developers learned their lesson and made things work from the start. They did not. They added a Premium Cosmetic shop.
I'll keep playing because the combat is great and the attention to detail top-tier.
But Fatshark is a multi million dollar company making "AAA" games now, not some humble indie developer. They can't just throw a barely running game out there and then act as heroes as they "fix issues and listen to the community". People paid full price for this, some of us got new rigs to play your (badly optimised) game, and have been supporting their Warhammer stuff for almost a decade now.
Show us that you are more than Tencent's latest pet project.

EDIT: Many hours later with dozens of crashes and bugs, we just found out they have dozens of Premium cosmetics ready to go, but the base content is just as squalid. How grand.

EDIT2: The game is now at what I'd consider a playable state. Which is how it should have been released, when ready, rather than capitalising on Christmas Holidays revenue and committed fandom. The core aspects of gameplay remain untouched, but they seem to have finally fixed a lot of the gameplay issues. Content wise is still a bit lacking, but now that crafting and other aspects are fully released (as they should have from the start) it feels less pointless. Fatshark is also making a commitment to communicate with the player base and address other concerns. I'm leaving the original review here. Remember to hold your service providers (this is live service, supposedly) accountable, kids. ---- Many people have gone in-depth with what's wrong with Darktide, so let me just focus on simple thoughts. This has the potential to become the best 40K game ever. (Above the current, low hanging bar) However, it's all potential. At its current state, I can't fully recommend it. Which pains me terribly. Yes, I'll keep playing, I love the premise and the gameplay, I want it to get better. No, don't buy it now. Wait a couple months, wait for a sale, wait for a proper content update. The game is in an extended Beta state right now. I wouldn't be as harsh, but after Vermintide 1-2, you would assume the developers learned their lesson and made things work from the start. They did not. They added a Premium Cosmetic shop. I'll keep playing because the combat is great and the attention to detail top-tier. But Fatshark is a multi million dollar company making "AAA" games now, not some humble indie developer. They can't just throw a barely running game out there and then act as heroes as they "fix issues and listen to the community". People paid full price for this, some of us got new rigs to play your (badly optimised) game, and have been supporting their Warhammer stuff for almost a decade now. Show us that you are more than Tencent's latest pet project. EDIT: Many hours later with dozens of crashes and bugs, we just found out they have dozens of Premium cosmetics ready to go, but the base content is just as squalid. How grand.