A wargame set in the Warhammer universe, set in the year 40,000 AD (See Timeline of 40k Universe). In this dark future hummanity is surrounded by alien enemies, threatened by its own Chaos corrupted elements and by its evolution into a Psychic race.

Naturally, being a wargame, the setting of WH40K is a violent one, but it cannot be argued that 40K is more violent than most. "In the Grim Darkness of the Future there is Only War" runs the motto on the 40K 2nd Edition box, and there is certainly little hope in the universe we are presented with. Indeed part of the first edition Realms of Chaos, had to carry a warning that it was for "mature readers only", and though the second edition was markedly toned down (in an echo of AD&D's removal of Devils and Demons in its 2nd edition to asway Fundamentalist Attacks) to suit a new and much younger (8-13) audience it remains a game obsessed with violence and blood (far more so than the fantasy equivalent Warhammer Fantasy Battle).

For those of more sensitive temperament the only race with any hint of higher feeling (and a lot of pathos), is not humanity but the Elf-like Eldar. (See Eldar Online Language Guide).