Warhammer AoS Deathmaster Mixes Assassination With Unique Platforming

Preview

Written by Andrew Stretch

Published: September 2, 2026 11:00 AM

Earlier this year, Old Skull Games and Dotemu announced Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Deathmaster. A game where you play Vihneek, a Skaven assassin working their way through Skavendom to work his way to the top. We got to go hands-on with a short build of the start of the game, and I couldn't help but be disappointed when I wasn't able to play any more of it.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar Deathmaster starts with Vihneek in a precarious position. Having been bundled up with the corpses of other Skaven and tossed into a body pit, you rise up from the bodies and free yourself before looking for a way to escape to safety.

Watch Vihneek Become A Deathmaster

As you start with nothing and begin to make your way through the 2D world, you're slowly introduced to the different mechanics of the game. Running and landing from a tall drop makes a noise, fire reveals you, bushes and hanging fabrics can be used to hide you, and if you happen to get caught by another Skaven, it's death on sight.

Fleeing from the first area, you're saved by a Skaven of Clan Skrell who doesn't hesitate to let you know you now owe him your life and that you work for him now. You're then sent on a mission to locate and take out another clan that's nearby in the Skavendom.

Once the game opened up, it almost became a small puzzle game as you'd enter a new area, get an idea of the different ways you can make your way through the terrain, as well as take note of the enemies and their walking patterns. Being a Skaven, you don't just walk, run, and jump, but also climb up walls and onto ceilings that have wooden platforms.

It was incredibly satisfying to plot a route across a roof and past a light, to drop down into a hidden tunnel and come up behind an enemy to assassinate them quietly. Already, from experiencing the early rooms, I was excited to think about how much these encounters will develop and grow as you get further into the game.

Aside from being able to assassinate enemies, other mechanics that are introduced throughout the course of the short demo were the ability to drag bodies to hide them, objects you can throw to create a noisy distraction or lure an enemy from their post with a tasty scent, and into your clutches.

The world was also hidden with all kinds of secrets. Shadowy corners of the map teased areas to drop into and puzzle through to reach a skill point on the far side or a different kind of item. While I only got a chance to look at the first tier of upgrades, they included increased mobility options like a Grappling Hook, items like a Smoke Grenade satchel, and a variety of upgrades to make you harder to detect, like eliminating noise made when falling or running.

I was worried at first when I saw that eliminating noise while running would cost 6 skill points, thinking that it would take a long time to accumulate. However, in the first area alone, there are 13 skill points on offer hidden around a variety of corners. A player enjoying exploring all of the map might quickly find themselves very powerful…

The art style of Warhammer Age of Sigmar Deathmaster really stands out, blending illustrative designs with a very vibrant and colorful world, even if it's set in the dark world of the Gnaw. The terrain is vibrant and incredibly clear about what you can interact with and what you can't.

I also really enjoyed the variety and volume of death animations that were on display during my time playing. Vihneek will decapitate enemies, shove them down, stab them in the side, and more. Each death is entertaining and flashy, and I'm sure it will only advance as you learn to kill enemies in even more ways.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar Deathmaster really impressed me with the combination of easy world exploration and the satisfying feeling of 'solving' a room and leaving no one alive. When I reached the 'thank you for playing' screen, I was genuinely sad, hoping to explore the world a bit more and track down some secret collectibles.

I'm looking forward to the full release to see not just how differently the game plays as you unlock additional abilities, but how the different rooms will continue to grow in complexity as you master the movements of a Skaven Assassin.

At the moment, Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Deathmaster is planned to be released in 2027.

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Deathmaster was previewed on PC via Steam with a code provided by the publisher over the course of 1 hour - All photos were provided by the publisher.

Andrew Stretch | Senior Content Manager

Andrew has written Video Game and Entertainment news, reviews, and guides for 10+ years. As Senior Content Manager, he assists in creating and editing… More about Andrew