Heartwarming / Total War: Warhammer

• The "Shield of Civilization" gives an unintentional one for the entire Warhammer franchise. In a nightmarish world defined by perpetual and often senseless conflict, it's not only possible that the various civilised peoples can come together to beat back the End Times, but it's possible (even after the developers patched it) that the alliances formed would last long after the threat has passed, leaving a better shot at lasting peace than ever before in the world of "only war". The Apocalypse Brings Out the Best in People, indeed.
• The game gives you the opportunity to take one of the most infamous examples of the Crapsack World trope ever conceived, and through your leadership and determination, turn it into a far better place to live (assuming you play the right faction, IE Empire or Dwarfs).
• The lore regarding Bretonnia makes it abundantly clear just how poorly the peasants are treated by their erstwhile lords; it's rare to read a paragraph mentioning the peasantry where they aren't abused in some way. Yet should you actually play as Bretonnia, you can go out of your way to protect them in battle, side with them whenever a civic decision pops up, provide almshouses and better tools throughout your kingdom, or even shell out several thousand gold out of charity. In a setting where the Arthurian Ideal is depicted as a hypocritical farce, you are given free rein to be every bit as noble and chivalrous as the legends say.
• In a setting where everyone is running on adrenaline in a grimdark crapsack and cynical world, naturally the only love story could come from two characters who are literally dead inside. Against all odds, Vlad and Isabella von Carstein are truly in love and have a deeply loving centuries long marriage (filled with the slaughtering of thousands). Not only does their love form the basis for their sub-faction (the von Carstein campaign is for Vlad and Isabella to take back their lands and to get back at the usurper who betrayed them), provides actual combat benefits, and is constantly a focus in Isabella's Battle Cries ("For my own husband!" and "Love eternal!" to name a few); but those who know their tragic fate in the official Warhammer canon realize they are actually in a much better place in Total War: Warhammer. Even if it's not obvious from Vlad's constant scowl, they are very happy to be together again.
• In a similar vein to Vlad and Isabella, let's have a big ol' "awwwww!" for Skarsnik and Gobbla. Setting aside the fact that the former is an unspeakably devious and brutal Night Goblin warlord, and the latter is basically a rabid ball of teeth and hatred with a stomach attached, their story is undeniably sweet. When Skarsnik was just a runt, he saved Gobbla - much the same - from being abused by some other gobbos. Remember: Night Goblins are reviled even among other goblins for being especially cruel and vicious, always willing to torture and abuse. But Skarsnik helped another living thing, and when Gobbla met him again years later, he remembered him. They've been inseparable ever since, and it's pretty explicit that they are friends, not just pet and owner. Gobbla even licks Skarsnik's face in their map animation! Given their species, they shouldn't even be capable of that much empathy for each other, but there they are, best buds without any hidden agenda.
• And it seems the popularity of the game series has been so great Games Worskhop has decided to bring Warhammer Fantasy Battle back as Warhammer: The Old World.