Imperium Maledictum: The New Dark Heresy?
The grim darkness of the far future has always been fertile ground for tabletop role-playing, and Dark Heresy was one of the most beloved gateways into the shadowy world of the Imperium’s Inquisition. Now, with the release of Imperium Maledictum, many are wondering—does it serve as a spiritual successor to Dark Heresy, or does it chart a new course entirely? With the recent addition of the Inquisition Player's & GM's Guide, Imperium Maledictum feels closer than ever to a true Dark Heresy 3rd Edition. But how do they compare? Let’s break it down.
The Core Concept: Inquisitorial Acolytes vs. Imperial Agents
In Dark Heresy, players assume the role of Acolytes, operatives working under an Inquisitor who sends them on dangerous missions throughout the Imperium. The game thrives on its investigative, grimdark themes, where the players are often nobodies—expendable assets in service to a higher power.
In Imperium Maledictum, the players take on a similar role, but with a broader focus. Rather than exclusively serving an Inquisitor, characters work for a powerful patron—which could be an Inquisitor, a Rogue Trader, a noble house, or any other influential figure. This shift expands the scope of play beyond the Inquisition, allowing for a more diverse range of campaigns while maintaining the same themes of investigation, political intrigue, and survival in a ruthless galaxy.
The deadliness of the setting remains intact in both games—combat is not something to be taken lightly, and a well-placed lasbolt or an inquisitive question in the wrong company can easily get a character killed.
The Similarities: Dark Heresy’s DNA in Imperium Maledictum
Despite its new branding, Imperium Maledictum retains many of the core mechanics and themes of Dark Heresy, making the transition between the two systems fairly smooth:
Percentile (d100) System – Both games use a d100 system, making them mechanically familiar to veterans of Dark Heresy.
Character Creation – Similar to Dark Heresy, Imperium Maledictum uses a structured character creation process with “Home Worlds” and background elements to define a character’s origins.
Shared Stats & Streamlined Skills – The primary attributes remain nearly identical, and the skill system in Imperium Maledictum is a slightly streamlined version of Dark Heresy’s, making it easier to manage while maintaining depth.
Degrees of Success = Success Levels – The classic Dark Heresy Degrees of Success mechanic has been refined into a more intuitive Success Level system in Imperium Maledictum.
Influence System – Dark Heresy had an Influence mechanic that dictated a character’s access to resources, favors, and authority. Imperium Maledictum has a similar system, but now it’s tied directly to the Patron, making it a more roleplay-driven aspect of the game.
For those who love the investigative, low-power style of play, Imperium Maledictum preserves that essence, making it feel like a natural evolution of Dark Heresy.
The Key Differences: What’s New in Imperium Maledictum?
While Imperium Maledictum builds on Dark Heresy’s foundations, it introduces several notable changes that set it apart:
The Patron System
The biggest innovation in Imperium Maledictum is the Patron system. Instead of simply being assigned to an Inquisitor, the players collectively determine their Patron at the start of the game. This decision shapes the tone, themes, and power structures of the campaign.
For example:
An Inquisitor patron makes the game feel more like Dark Heresy, full of purges, heresy-hunting, and paranoia.
A Rogue Trader patron opens up high-stakes smuggling, trade wars, and xenos dealings.
A Noble House patron leans into political intrigue and courtly assassination.
This shift makes Imperium Maledictum feel more personalized and roleplay-driven, as players’ allegiances and resources are tied directly to their chosen faction.
No Careers or Classes
Unlike Dark Heresy 1st Edition, Imperium Maledictum does away with rigid careers in favor of a more open-ended progression system. Instead of selecting a pre-defined class like Arbitrator or Assassin, players build their characters with a combination of background choices.
Streamlined Psyker Rules
Psykers have always been notoriously dangerous in Warhammer 40K RPGs, and Dark Heresy leaned into that with complex rules for Perils of the Warp. Imperium Maledictum keeps Psykers dangerous but simplifies the mechanics, making them easier to run without losing their high-risk nature.
Final Verdict: Is Imperium Maledictum the New Dark Heresy?
With the addition of the Inquisition Player's & GM's Guide, Imperium Maledictum has solidified itself as the spiritual successor to Dark Heresy. It carries forward the core themes of investigation, secrecy, and survival in the Imperium, while updating the mechanics for modern accessibility and a broader scope of play.
That being said, Imperium Maledictum is not a one-to-one replacement for Dark Heresy. Instead, it expands the scope, allowing for more than just Inquisitorial investigations. If you specifically want to play as Inquisitorial Acolytes in a more traditional Dark Heresy experience, you can absolutely do that—but Imperium Maledictum also provides the flexibility to explore other facets of Imperial life.
For many, this will be a huge improvement. But for die-hard fans of Dark Heresy’s more rigid class system or crunchier mechanics, Imperium Maledictum might feel a bit too open-ended.
What’s Next? Rogue Trader 2nd Edition?
One of the most exciting possibilities moving forward is Imperium Maledictum’s potential for expansion. The Patron system makes Rogue Trader a perfect next step—if we get a Rogue Trader sourcebook, we might effectively have Rogue Trader 2nd Edition.
And let’s be real—with the success of the Rogue Trader video game, it’s only a matter of time before we see a TTRPG resurgence as well.
Final Thoughts: Should You Play Imperium Maledictum?
If you loved Dark Heresy, you’ll find a lot to enjoy in Imperium Maledictum. It modernizes the system, expands player choice, and keeps the grimdark investigative horror at its core.
If you want tactical combat, rigid class structures, and a purely Inquisitorial focus, Dark Heresy 1st Edition is still a solid choice.
If you want more flexibility, broader storytelling potential, and a streamlined system, Imperium Maledictum is absolutely worth your time.
For now, Imperium Maledictum might just be the new Dark Heresy—and with more expansions on the horizon, the best may still be yet to come.