The fifth Warhammer Quest set in the new branded game series is from 2025 called Darkwater. Set within waterlogged underground caverns beneath the Jade Abbey you will be encountering nurgle creatures and pestigors in a linked campaign or taking short one off scenarios to prevent the corruption of the Everspring. 
This quest game contains new features and diverges from the dice allocation and destiny dice mechanics previously utilised. Here actions are initiated via three action cards which are tapped each turn to move, attack or support other characters. Heroes have their own stat cards and miniatures, with differing special ability and health, attack or defense. Games are no longer played on revealed tiles but use a large map book which sets up the location for the scenaio, but each can be populated in different ways to vary the challenge or change a scenario.
As with previous games in the series, the tactical game elements are light, not a deep thinking experience, and the game aims more at the fun and easy to set up and play style. However, there are many cards to change or expand your experience and add variety each time you play, and scenarios do present a mini puzzle to co-operatively tackle with a doom style time tracker.
The artwork style of the game is again impressive, the models are excellent with great heroes, four initially available at the start, but three more that unlock during the campaign to give you the excitement of progression. The map book is amazing, the artwork especially thematic for the waterlogged rooms and as a concept it feels like a really nice change to the usually seen separate tiles, There are enough maps and different set ups for high variety, and although the surprise reveal factor is removed, it felt a good time for the series to try out something new. There are nice deck holders to store and save your campaign, and overall the box felt worth the high price when you consider the hobby side of the game and miniatures included. This perceived value may drop if building and painting is not something you enjoy as part of the whole game experience.
As a Warhammer Quest collector this game is another one i really like, for its nurgle and pestilence theme, the great hero characters and a gameplay that is more streamlined in concept to both Blackstone Fortress and Cursed City. Much of the unneccessary grind for the sake of slow progression is removed, as here each scenario is a mini game in itself. Quest games are never perfect, however this is a set i am delighted to own and build.
Coming soon, my 2026 painting journey with this game.
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Expansions
Related expansions to this game will almost certainly be added and shown below (my additions highlighted green = own, blue = part owned, red = not purchased) :