Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution is an expansion developed by Relic Entertainment and published by THQ. Released in 2011, it concluded the Dawn of War II trilogy and brought some long-desired features. For the first time, players could experience the campaign with six different factions: Space Marines, Chaos Space Marines, Orks, Eldar, Tyranids, and Imperial Guard.

The story takes place ten years after the events of Chaos Rising. The Imperium has sent an Inquisitor to cleanse the entire sub-sector—literally through Exterminatus. Only by tracking down the true threat could the annihilation be averted. The different campaigns showed various motivations and objectives from each faction's perspective.

Unlike its predecessors, Retribution returned to more traditional RTS elements. Instead of playing only with heroes, players could now build real armies and lead them into battle. The equipment system was replaced by an honor-based system that unlocked upgrades and special abilities.

Retribution marked a turning point: it was the last Dawn of War game released before the heavily criticized Dawn of War III. With its extensive content, six playable factions, and improved Last Stand mode, it offered a worthy conclusion for the trilogy.