Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat

Warhammer: Shadow of the Horned Rat is a single-player real-time tactics game set in the Warhammer Fantasy world, based on the tabletop miniatures game. Developed and published by Mindscape, it launched for Microsoft Windows in November 1995 and for PlayStation in November 1996. Players command a band of mercenaries, taking jobs from various clients, but eventually get drawn into a Skaven conspiracy.

The entire game is a single-player campaign where the player manages their mercenary force, choosing which units to bring on missions, how many replacements to assign, and which contracts to accept. The campaign follows a linear path, but the player can influence the story’s direction and take optional missions for extra gold. Choices affect which units become available and which battles occur. Each mission starts with a briefing outlining goals and a fee, which includes an advance payment (if offered) and a completion fee, adjusted for penalties (like harming innocents) and bonuses (such as kills). After selecting a mission, the player picks units from their roster, each costing money to deploy—except the leader’s unit, which is always required, and some units that are free.

Units are drawn from the Warhammer setting and include cavalry, infantry, ranged troops, artillery, magic users, and specialists. Availability depends on campaign progress: more units can be hired later, some are tied to the player’s chosen path, and others are temporary, staying only until a certain milestone is reached. Once units are chosen, the mission begins, usually with at least one battle. Battlefields vary, featuring obstacles and terrain, and enemy units may appear immediately or arrive later. Before battle, players deploy units within a designated zone during a “Deployment Phase,” unless ambushed—then they start in the marching formation they set. The main objective is to rout all enemy units; failure occurs if all player units are killed or routed.

Like other battlefield RTS games, players can change formations, charge enemies, or let the AI control behavior. A “boost” system temporarily strengthens a unit in combat, but must be used sparingly. Magic works more simply than in later games like *King Arthur: The Role-Playing Wargame*. Magic-using units can cast spells, gaining more as they improve through use.