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Everyone wants Kill Team Exodite for dinosaur riders, but they’re missing the hidden gem underneath
GamesRadar+ argues that the main attraction of Kill Team: Exodite is not simply its Aeldari dinosaur riders, but its substantial single-player and co-operative campaign. The set matters because it gives Warhammer 40,000 players a more accessible way to play without a regular opponent, while adding branching missions and character progression to the skirmish game.
The box pits Exodite Dragon Masters, who defend their maiden worlds, against Beast Snagga Orks hunting local wildlife. Players can use three dinosaur-riding Aeldari alongside two smaller creatures, while the Orks are governed by an automated behaviour system; campaign choices and success affect its route, and characters gain upgrades. The article notes this is Kill Team’s second consecutive solo/co-op-focused release, suggesting a departure from the usual competitive format.
In short
- Exodite’s campaign is presented as its strongest feature.
- Automated Orks enable solo and co-operative play.
- Dinosaur-riding Aeldari remain a major draw.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Whilst dinosaur riders provide striking visual appeal, the campaign system represents the genuine innovation because it delivers substantial accessibility for solo players and offers branching missions with character progression and dynamic opposition. This framework provides meaningful depth and replayability that transforms the release into more than a cosmetic novelty, justifying recognition of the campaign as the real value proposition.
The case against
Whilst the campaign system offers genuine mechanical value, the dinosaur riders are the legitimate primary appeal because distinctive visuals and thematic innovation are fundamental drivers of engagement in hobby gaming. Aesthetic excitement and visual distinctiveness are not shallow concerns but core motivations; the release's primary appeal lies in its striking concept rather than its campaign mechanics, which serve as valuable supplements.
Explained simply
Kill Team is Warhammer 40,000's skirmish game where players control small groups of soldiers in tactical battles. Previously, these battles have typically been between two players competing against each other. Kill Team: Exodite differs by offering a campaign mode for solo or co-operative play against computer opponents.
The Exodite set features two rival factions: the Aeldari, an ancient alien race defending their worlds aboard dinosaur mounts, and the Beast Snagga Orks, scavengers hunting the local wildlife. Players control the Aeldari forces whilst the Orks are governed by an artificial intelligence system.
The campaign includes branching missions where choices and results in one battle affect what happens next, alongside character progression that allows squads to gain upgrades over time. This is the second consecutive Kill Team release to include solo and co-operative play as a primary feature.