Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

A turn based fight with Orks is a pretty good thing to have waiting while you’re getting your steps in, because the game doesn’t need you to react the instant something moves. I’d play Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader at an easy pace and let the workout keep going while I argue with myself about where to put everyone.

Gameplay

I think this is a good game with a lot of very slow stretches, and I mean that as both a compliment and a warning, because the writing and choices are what give it a personality, but they also ask you to sit and read when you might have planned to jog. You’re leading a group through the grim Warhammer 40,000 setting, making decisions in conversations and then taking your party into turn based fights. The fights are interesting enough that I’d want to think about them, and the conversations are interesting enough that I’d want to read them. There’s a lot of wanting to sit down.

The combat gives you time to plan, which I like, and then it asks you to understand what your characters can do, where they can move, and how abilities fit together. Cover matters, and so do positioning and the actions you can take during a turn, so charging ahead because you’re trying to keep up with your pace is probably going to get somebody hurt. Orks are a nice straightforward problem to have in front of you, but the harder encounters can turn into a little group project with a lot of menus.

I don’t know that I’d call the story a distraction in the bad sense, because a big part of the appeal is seeing how your choices play out and getting to know your companions. But you can go a long time between fights, and the game expects you to care about lore, dialogue, and the details of the setting. If you want something that keeps your hands busy every minute, I’d probably look elsewhere. If stopping to read a conversation while the belt keeps moving sounds fine, there’s a lot here to get into.

The whole grimdark thing is very committed, and I mean that in a good way, but I’d want to play it when I have enough attention for the names and factions to stop blurring together. There are heretics, xenos, and plenty of people who seem to have had a very bad week, and it can be fun to make decisions in a world where nobody is having an ordinary afternoon. I’d take the story in smaller chunks rather than try to absorb every detail while exercising. That’s probably how I’d enjoy it.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

The turn based combat makes this much more workable on a treadmill than a game that expects you to aim and dodge in real time, and controller support means you don’t need to reach for a keyboard while you’re moving. I’d keep the pace comfortable, use the controller, and take my time on turns instead of trying to make the workout more intense at the same time as the decisions. The game can wait. My knees have never offered that option.

The parts I’d watch out for are the stretches of reading and the amount of menu work, because you’re not always making one quick choice and getting back to the action. I’d probably slow down or pause the workout for important conversations and complicated fights, especially when several characters have abilities I need to compare. There’s no shame in letting a workout become a walk for a few minutes while I figure out what the party can do.

On a bike, I think the steady turn based pacing is easier to manage, since you can keep pedaling through a dialogue scene without every bump in the belt moving your hand. But I wouldn’t call it a game where you can ignore the screen, because combat still rewards careful positioning and picking the right action. A relaxed ride and a controller seem like a sensible combination. Sprinting while checking the details of a character build does not.

I’d skip trying to rush through dialogue just to keep a workout moving. That’s where a lot of the game’s appeal lives, and skipping it would be like buying a long book and then speed reading the chapter titles. I’d rather lower the effort for a bit, enjoy the story, and get back to a steadier pace when I’m in a fight or exploring.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The minimum requirements are friendly to older or modest computers, and the listed integrated graphics options make this less demanding than a lot of big role playing games. I’d check that your computer has the storage space available, since the game needs a decent chunk of it. The machine doesn’t need to be the star of the workout.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

This is a good choice for a slower workout when you like reading, planning fights, and spending time in a detailed setting. Skip it if you want constant action, but if the idea of thinking through a turn while you keep moving sounds appealing, I’d give it a try.

Overall Score: 2.67 out of 3