Warhammer 40,000 and its fantasy equivalent Age of Sigmar dominate the tabletop miniatures space. They’ve remained popular for decades thanks to their evocative settings, high-quality miniatures, and comfortable rulesets, not to mention endless series of video games, books, and other media. We are not married to Warhammer. Tabletop gamers have other options.
Many alternatives boast their own advantages, such as easy entry, cleaner systems, and innovative twists. Each one is an extraordinary miniature game full of satisfaction and reward.
Marvel: Crisis Protocol
Some say Marvel has peaked cinematically, but it’s still being torn apart on the tabletop. These are fully plastic multi-part models that require careful assembly, but the work pays off. The next thing you will inevitably be struck by is the hefty price. These large miniatures are expensive and you should be prepared when considering this game.
But if you can raise money without hurting your back, it’s worth it. It’s a very open and free-form design, allowing you to mix and match any figure you like in your roster. increase. A Wild with each figure boasting a unique set of special abilities. This is possibly the most dynamic game on this list, with characters throwing terrain and even destroying structures. is.
Marvel: Crisis Protocol is also well supported. It’s produced by Atomic Mass Games, his studio for miniatures currently responsible for X-Wing and Star Wars: Legion, and is releasing dozens of new characters spanning the entire Marvel comic universe. They don’t seem to give up anytime soon.
core space
Core Space is the closest aesthetically to Warhammer 40k on this list. It captures some of that game’s Rogue Trader era and puts the player in the role of a crew of competing starships on a salvage hunt, and unfortunately, opposing traders aren’t the only hurdles. A robotic threat known as The Purge arrives over the course of the game, appearing more frequently over time.
This game is what it looks like. It features 3D cardboard terrain, plastic miniatures, and an attractive neoprene surface. Flexible, players can cooperate or compete with scattered equipment in pursuing scenario objectives. The original Core Space and the sequel he has two separate complete products. FirstbornThe latter focuses on raids on ancient temples and is intended for full co-op or solitaire play as the enemies are more challenging and aggressive. Environments can also be traversed. Tonally, this applies to Firefly, Shadowrun, and every corner of Star Wars scum and villainy.
blood and loot
It’s an exciting time to play Blood & Plunder. This miniature skirmish game has received a new his 2-player complete starter set that recreates the historic battle in which British Captain Maynard defeated the infamous Blackbeard. A complete ruleset allows participants to join a field force made up of soldiers, militiamen, and ship crews representing countries such as Great Britain, France, and Spain. Pirates joined the ranks as the game progressed into his 1700s.
This is an interesting game with new plastic miniatures, an impressive activation system with tactical nuances, and different play modes. With just a few rules added, players can even engage in ship-to-ship combat using giant sloops.
Blood & Plunder is cinematic, but historically true to its time. It’s not a complicated ruleset, but it does have some embellishments to evoke realism. For example, muskets need to be reloaded and morale is paramount. These details add sharp texture to your play and help anchor the experience to the rich Caribbean setting.
Gasland: refueled
Ever wanted to recreate Mad Max in a Hot Wheels car? Gaslands: Refueled is Mike Hutchinson’s ruleset offering car customization, campaign play and maximum carnage. Grab your favorite toy cars and mess them up with dirt and plastic weapon options, or unfold them as-is and let your imagination do the heavy lifting.
As a set of car combat rules, this game is magical. It uses template-based movement similar to his popular X-Wing miniatures game, and a light dice-based combat system for damage and chaos. Initiative and movement are handled with a clever yet streamlined gear system that allows you to model virtually any style of vehicle to stay competitive. Much of the joy is in modding children’s toys, but the hobby aspect here is perhaps the gentlest and most engaging of any game I’ve ever come across. Adding dirt and rust to painted cars You can tear through windshields and bumpers just by doing it.
The game itself is also great. It captures the spirit of the beloved car wars of the 80’s with almost none of the grit and complexity. Invite a few buddies, throw out the Matchbox car and blast each other. Transaction completed.
wings of glory
Wings of Glory is a diverse group of products that could be better thought of as a system. Featuring both WW1 and WWII lines of pre-painted planes, players can pilot beautiful aircraft across the tabletop sky and circle each other in a death spiral. I will try. Much like in Gaslands, movement is done via templates (specifically maneuver cards) that guide the plane through various loops and dives.
This is a very light entry, requiring you to buy a complete starter set with rules and miniatures, or a small rules-only product where you can buy anything. individual planes player wants. At best, multiple participants each pilot his one fighter. This makes for a very modest introduction compared to something like Warhammer. This is because the entire squad buys his one little box.
Rulesets are welcome as well. The basic details can be picked up by an 8-year-old. You can rip boxes and joust in less time than you can watch an episode of TV. Experienced players can layer advanced options such as tailings, variable damage types, and elevation. For sophisticated designs, a good amount of simulation with cinematic framing is possible.
For more, be sure to check out our picks for the best overall board games, best strategy board games, and best war board games.
