Unleashing the Secrets of Warhammer 40,000's Boltgun: Missions 5-8

The addition of Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun to the franchise's video game collection is a pleasant surprise that pays homage to old-school gameplay elements. The game draws inspiration from retro-shooters of the 90s, particularly the iconic Doom, resulting in a blend of classic graphics and gameplay with the futuristic and dark Warhammer 40k universe. This combination offers the best of both worlds and creates a unique gaming experience.

One of the most notable features borrowed from retro-shooters in Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is the inclusion of Secrets. These hidden bonuses, such as Relics and Special Ammo, provide players with powerful enhancements that are crucial for successfully completing challenging missions. In Chapter 1, Missions 5-8, players can discover every Secret available.

Mission Five: Martyrs Crossing (Secrets - Seven)

Secret One - Machine Spirit

From here, they will head left until they reach a snowy cliffside cluttered by pillars. Initially, players will see nothing but a long fall down.

As players turn the corner to their left, they will be greeted by an open crate holding the coveted Machine Spirit Relic. Once activated, this powerup provides a unique upgrade to the player's chosen weapon, turning it into a deadly force to be reckoned with. No matter which armament is selected, the Machine Spirit will undoubtedly transform it into a killing machine.

Secret Two - Assault Doctrine

Immediately upon passing through the door, players are met by an area cluttered with crates, sandbags, and supplies with large metal fences flanking the sides.

Players will come across two crates in front of them, and they should head towards the one on the left. Upon opening it, they will discover the Assault Doctrine Relic, a powerful upgrade that enhances the player's Chainsword. This allows the Chainsword to easily tear through enemies, which it already excels at.

Secret Three - Vengeance Rounds

To uncover Secret Three in Mission 5, players should proceed to the far end of the fenced area. There, they'll spot a button door on their left, which leads to a room. This room is heavily guarded by several foes, all of whom are protecting the coveted Red Key. Players need to vanquish these enemies and collect the key to move forward.

Upon doing so, players must head across from the button door they opened before; they will find the Red Door on the right end of the fenced area.

Secret Four - Vortex Grenade

For Secret Four of Mission Five, players must continue their mission until they take an elevator up to a room with cultists, daemons, and a Chaos banner.

They will move past this room to the corner hallway leading outside. Players will stop here and investigate the blank and seemingly unimportant wall to their left.

As players progress through Mission Five, they will eventually reach a new area that is surrounded by impressive fences and appears to be quite messy. However, this area is unique in that it features a bridge that overlooks the center, providing a different perspective from the previous area. This is where Secret Five of Mission Five is located, requiring players to push forward and navigate through the obstacles to reach their goal.

Upon reaching the center of the bridge, players will discover the Heavy Bolter waiting for them. However, their acquisition of the weapon will trigger a Purge Protocol, unleashing a relentless onslaught of Screamers of Tzeentch. Brace yourself for a fierce battle.

After dispatching this wave of daemons, a door to the left of where the Heavy Bolter was will open, revealing a small alcove.

Secret Six - Munitions Boon

Finding Secret Six of Mission Five requires players to push ahead until they descend an elevator to a room cluttered with crates and a doorway to the left leading outside.

Players will find the Munitions Boon by heading straight ahead to the open crate and looking inside. This powerup increases the ammo capacity of the player's weapons.

Secret Seven - Kraken Rounds

As players advance through Mission Five, they will eventually come across a section with suspended gantries. These platforms are supported by chains, adding an element of danger and excitement to the game. This is the Secret Seven challenge, the final hurdle to overcome in this mission.

On this central hanging gantry, players will find Kraken Rounds — Special Ammo with the unique property of shooting faster than normal Boltgun bullets.

Mission Six: Venerable Bastion (Secrets - Seven)

Secret One - Machine Spirit

Secret One of Mission Six can be found shortly after starting the mission; all players must do is progress until they reach the area with a system of pipes overhead.

Players must reach the open crate by jumping across the gap to it. Within, they will find the Machine Spirit Relic.

Secret Two - Munitions Boon

Players undertaking Mission Six must adhere to Secret Two, which involves continuing with the mission until they reach a specific point. At this point, players will be presented with an area that is heavily populated with crates and corrupted by Chaos. It is imperative that players exercise caution and refrain from descending into this area, as doing so will result in them missing out on the Secret.

Up ahead, players will find the Munitions Boon Relic in front of an Adeptus Mechanicus banner.

Secret Three - Vengeance Rounds

Secret Three of Mission Six requires players to progress until they find the lock for the Red Door.

From here, they will follow the bridge to their right.

After crossing, players will look to the right, seeing an area tainted by Chaos and a crate.

Atop this ledge to the right, players will find Vengeance Rounds.

Secret Four - Vortex Grenade

To find Secret Four of Mission Six, players must push forward until they happen upon a bridge leading to a wall with cone spikes protruding from columns.

Carefully, players must leap to the edge of this cliff and clamber up. They will find a room secluded away to their left.

Within this room, near banners of the Adeptus Mechanicus, players will find the Vortex Grenade Relic.

Secret Five - Emperor's Visage

Secret Five of Mission Six is nearby. Players must continue forth until they come across an area tainted by Chaos, where the Yellow Key resides.

Players must jump to this roof and clamber to the other side before dropping down to the floor below.

From this position, players can spot a bridge below across from them.

Leaping to this bridge will bring players to the Emperor's Visage Relic, which is to their immediate right.

Secret Six - Kraken Rounds

They must then enter and round the corner to their left, bringing them to a small room with a blank wall to the left and a doorway to the right.

Approaching the empty wall to the left allows players to interact with it and open it as if it were a door, revealing a small area where Kraken Rounds can be found.

Secret Seven - Aura Of Doom

Secret Seven, the last Secret of Mission Six, can be found in the final area of the mission. After exiting the elevator, players must go to the left.

Following the path brings players to a ledge splattered with yellow paint. They must clamber atop this ledge and look toward their right.

Players will see a crate and yet another ledge above splattered with yellow paint. They must climb up the container and to the yellow-painted edge, then look to their left.

At first glance, players will see nothing more than some barricades and a crate way in the back, but they should approach the crate, which they will find is open.

Mission Seven: Forbidden Knowledge (Secrets - Six)

Secret One - Kraken Rounds

Secret One of Mission Seven demands players to go through the missions normally until they come across a staircase descending to a room defiled by Chaos.

Upon entering the room, players will find an area ahead with crates stacked atop each other.

They must approach these containers from the right, revealing that the crate on the ground closest to the wall is open.

Secret Two - Machine Spirit

From here, players must progress to find Secret Two of Mission Seven until they find a room with a banner of Tzeentch and the Red Key.

Players will find seemingly ordinary clutter to their left, but moving forward and looking to their left will reveal an open crate.

Secret Three of Mission Seven requires players to move forward until they find a large elevator.

Taking it up will bring players to a space complete with various containers and materials of war, but they must focus on the open crate ahead.

Approaching the crate and looking within reveals it to be open on both sides, leading to a secluded area.

Secret Four - Emperor's Visage

Secret Four of Mission Seven is not far from here; players need only continue a bit further until they come across a banner of Tzeentch.

Players will find a button door to the left of the banner, but they must ignore it and instead turn their attention to the crates on the right.

A closer investigation reveals that the top container is open, and players can reach it by clambering up.

As players progress through Mission Seven, they will eventually reach a section of the game that is blocked off by crates. One of the crates in the center of the area is open on both sides, indicating that this may be the path to Secret Five. It is important for players to continue on and explore this area to uncover all the secrets that Mission Seven has to offer.

After passing through this container, players must look to their left, where they will find a ramp.

Going up this ramp and looking ahead will face players with an empty wall, seemingly ordinary in every sense of the word.

Secret Six - Assault Doctrine

Secret Six, the final Secret of Mission Seven, lies in the last area before players conclude the level.

To the right of where players enter this space is a hole in the ground, descending to a lower level.

Players will find a seemingly normal bookshelf but with an interaction option.

Interacting with the bookshelf will cause it to slide across the floor, revealing a small alcove with the Assault Doctrine Relic.

Mission Eight: Sanctum Magistrum (Secrets - Six)

Secret One - Munitions Boon

Secret One of Mission Eight lies near the area made foul by Chaos, where players will face various daemons.

Rather than follow the staircase up, they must follow the path on their current level winding around towards the right.

Following it to its end brings players to the Munitions Boon Relic.

Secret Two - Vortex Grenade

Secret Two of Mission Eight will take players to a tall tower with an ominous pillar decorating its interior.

Entering the room will bring players to two doorways leading outside, but they should ignore the one on the right.

Going through the left doorway will bring players to a bridge leading to the right.

Following the bridge to its end brings players to the Vortex Grenade Relic.

Upon reaching the uppermost level of the tower in Mission Eight, players will discover Secret Three hidden behind a seemingly unremarkable balcony. The pathway to this secret can be found by following the ramp located near the tower. Don't be fooled by the unassuming appearance of the balcony, as it holds the key to uncovering Secret Three.

However, should players follow the balcony to the right, they will see an area below they can leap to.

Dropping into this space brings players to a building separated from the tower.

Within the structure, players will find a bloody mess surrounding the Machine Spirit Relic.

Secret Four - Dragonfire Rounds

To the right of the room, players will find a smooth and empty wall that seems nothing extraordinary.

As you approach the wall, a hidden mechanism is triggered, causing it to shift open and reveal a secret room. Inside, you will find Dragonfire Rounds, a powerful type of Special Ammo that ignites enemies into flames, ensuring a fiery death for anyone who stands in your way.

Secret Five - Kraken Rounds

Players must go straight forward upon arriving until they come across a divide leading to two portals.

Players must follow the right path and enter the portal.

This gateway will take them to a bridge leading straight to yet another portal, which they will go through.

On reaching another bridge, players will come across a portal ahead, but they need to head towards the left edge of the bridge that is located near the two colossal columns.

Hopping on the wall and looking down, players will see the underside of a bridge, which they will hop down to.

From where they land, players must move forward to the arch marked with a symbol of Chaos.

Players will find the Kraken Rounds by jumping atop the arch and looking down.

Secret Six - Aura Of Doom

They must head to the edge in front of them and drop down to the floor on their right.

Doing so brings players in front of a Warp portal, which they will travel through.

Going through brings them to an ascending walkway they must follow up.

Instead, they will look to their right toward a floating mass across. Players must leap to this afloat structure.

On it, they will find the Aura of Doom Relic, which will prove beneficial for the boss fight occurring in this area.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.