We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more Games Workshop has published a list of audiobooks to add to your playlist and listen to while sorting out your most recent army additions, or, if you have been lucky enough, Leviathan Box. All of the books listed by Games Workshop can be listened to for free providing you have an Audible account, or if you absolutely insist on adding them to your collection – they can be bought for Kindle or paperback.
The 10th edition of Warhammer 40,000 brings around massive gameplay changes, new game modes, and the overwhelming overhaul of the way the tabletop game unfolds. As is customary for new releases, the arrival of a new format usually introduces new players to the game and gets them involved with painting their armies – which means looking for ways to pass the time, and what better way then listening to the lore and storytelling of the Warhammer universe.
Listening to the Warhammer 40,000 Story as You Build Your Own Army
Games Workshop has outlined a set of audiobooks which are considered some of the best to get you involved in the franchise’s vast universe. The first book, Devastation of Baal by Guy Haley, focuses on an important aspect of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, the Third Tyrannic War, where the Tyranids (an alien race of ever-evolving and lethally smart hive-minded creatures) fight the Imperium of Man, the centralized and dystopian realm of man and those that were spared from purging.
Then, there is Lion: Son of the Forest by Mike Brooks, which recounts the story of Primarch of the Dark Angels. Lion El’jonson was the first Primarch to be created, and the latest to return in the times of the Imperium Nihilus. The Lion: Son Of The Forest captures his very thoughts and emotions after the realization he’d been missing for over 10,000 years. The book has an excellent psychological touch, showing the Primarch’s human side above all else, making for an extremely interesting listen.
If you are in the mood for slightly offbeat and eccentric humor, The Infinite and The Divine by Robert Rath may be what you are looking for. Then, there is Xenos by Dan Abnett and Avenging Son by Guy Haley.
Many of the books written over the past years have been criticized for their questionable authorship and desire to just get content out there. This is understandable, as the Warhammer universe is stupendously vast, rich, and captivating.
Now, players can separate the wheat from the chuff by listening to one of the best literary titles while building and painting their army, or while they are planning their next strategy for extra inspiration. After all, one of the benefits of an audiobook is that it allows you to build and paint with much greater efficiency – and not getting your book splattered with glue and paint is quite the bonus.
Not Listening to the Horus Heresy Audiobooks Is… Heresy!
While there are plenty of books and information on the events prior to the Horus Heresy, it is perhaps the best place to start in order to get a proper footing in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. After all, without the Horus Heresy, there wouldn’t be any Black Crusades and certainly no Imperium Nihilus. An excellent place to start would be Horus Rising by Dan Abnett, followed by False Gods by Graham McNeill, and finally – Galaxy in Flames by Ben Counter. These audiobooks are an absolute must for any hardcore Warhammer fan and are sure to provide you with a ton of context to the recent events of the 10th Edition of Warhammer 40,000.
After listening to the above-mentioned audio novels, and you fancied the Prince of Chaos Slaanesh, you would find great pleasure in Perfection by Nick Kyme. Even if you’re not a fan of Slaanesh or Chaos in general, this audiobook is worth the investment – every character is beautifully voiced, the narration is perfect, the scenes are incredibly descriptive, and the background noise is 10/10. I find myself listening to it periodically, and I’ve never regretted a single listen.
The audiobooks are definitely a good catch, but if you are a bit of a bookworm, then you may consider spending a bit more to grab the paperback copy. Caveat emptor as the paperback copies can cost up to $450.00 whereas the audiobook is only $9.99. If you do want to just listen to the books, though, you can do so for free! All you need is an Audible account.