Six great wargaming alternatives to Games Workshop
Games Workshop is certainly the top dog when it comes to tabletop wargaming, but they're not the be all and end all of little plastic soldiers.
In fact, there's a whole world of wargaming out there away from the industry's biggest and most recognisable manufactuer. From a galaxy far-far-away to the hellish trenches of 1914 to adventurous toads and fearsome badger knights, there are some incredible games out there for gamers and hobbyists to get their teeth into.
So: let’s actually put our money where our mouth is and take a look at some of the alternatives to Games Workshop.
"So: let’s actually put our money where our mouth is and take a look at some of the alternatives to GW."
Best for - grimdark fans: Trench Crusade
How can we not start by talking about the internet’s latest grimdark darling: Trench Crusade. Fresh off the back off an incredibly successful kickstarter, Trench Crusade is a skirmish game set in alternate 1914, where the forces of humanity face off against the denizens of hell across the trench strewn horrorscape of the holy land. Think Mordheim in the levant - which is appropriate, given that the rules have been penned by the legendary Tuomas Pirinen.
If you're keen for more of the grimdark vibe that has long been 40ks hallmark, the world of Trench Crusade might be right up your street. Crazed heretics clash with the diabolical forces of the arch-demons of hell across the mud of no-man's land and before the walls of New Antioch. The breadth of the lore available is growing, but is already a rich, bizarre and downright horrible alternative history, complete with demi-god Paladins, Stigmatic Nuns, the bomb-toting Artillery Witch and the powerful yet tragic, twisted and broken meta-Christs - clones of Jesus himself. Really.
There are official models are available to download, print and (hopefully soon) to buy and they are stunning, but players are encouraged to get creative with their models, making use of period models and kitbashes to create their own warbands. Even better, the rules set and extensive lore primer are available online for free, so getting started is a cinch.
Best for - Rank and flank fans: Conquest the Last Argument of Kings
From Parabellum Wargames comes Conquest: one of the most inventive wargames I've yet come across. It's factions are incredibly well thought out and highly compelling - from vikings who have survived their own version of Ragnarock, to twisted aliens fleshcrafters orphaned from their homeworld and even orcs riding dinosaurs.*
Supported by a highly-regarded rules set and boasting a burgeoning competitive scene, Conquest features alternate reactions and a nicely engaging rules set that captures the madness of its high-fantasy setting.
If the Old World hasn’t taken your fancy, then this might be a great alternative. The miniatures are close to GW prices, but they're also larger than the Warhammer equivalent and bursting with detail and flavour, reflecting the rich world of Ea and its developing roster of warring nations.
Best for - superhero fans: Crisis Protocol
How this game isn’t absolutely huge, I don’t know. It’s Marvel. It’s Marvel heroes beating each other up. It’s Marvel heroes beating each other up, and you can throw bus stops at each other.
Given the current internet hype around Marvel Rivals, which is essentially just this game but in video game format, I wonder if Crisis Protocol could be due a massive popularity boost in the very near future.
The game boasts an extensive (and growing) range of heroes and villains now available from Atomic Mass Games, mostly in resin but detailed and dynamic enough to tempt even the most seasoned painter. Avengers, X men, Spiderverse - pretty much every major Marvel property is covered and the gameplay promises fast and frenetic action worthy of the big screen. Plus, who doesn't want to wang Ultron in the face with a dustbin..?
Best for - cosy gaming: Badgers and Burrows
If you're a fan of Redwall, this is absolutely the game for you. Badgers and Burrows is a skirmish game from Osprey Games. In it, you'll be commanded a merry band of adventurous critters - from the likes of the Squirrel Witch to Mouse Shieldmaidens - across an extended campaign as they attempt daring deeds against other bands of woodland friends. The focus on narrative progression and development for your band is at the core of what makes Badgers and Burrows endearing, as unpredictable narratives are created by your gameplay and your dice.
The game is supported by a range of metal (yes, metal) miniatures from Oathsworn Minis. A starter band costs just north of £20 and they minis are packed with kitsch charm and whimsy. If you hanker for the good old days of Rogue Trader and early Warhammer Fantasy with a distinctly cosy, retro aesthetic, this is a fantastic game to check out.
Best for - getting your dad to play: Bolt Action
If, like me, you always had an urge to get your dad into playing wargames, but failed to do so**, then perhaps Bolt Action is a game worthy of consideration.
Bolt Action is a massed battlegame set in WW2, produced by Warlord Games as one of their considerable roster of historical miniatures games. The miniatures may not quite hold up to GW-levels of scrutiny but they're characterful and fun, allowing players to marshal forces from across the various theatres of WW2 and build beautiful battlefields for them to fight over***. It's a much more considered, less killy game than 40k, featuring alternate activations and smaller forces, but will still give you
If you have a wargames-agnostic friend or relative who has fallen into the middle-aged, male trap of already being far too interested in WW2, this is absolutely the game to get them hooked on little plastic soldiers.
Best for - come on, it's Star Wars...: Star Wars Legion
Saving perhaps the most applicable alternative to 40k til last, we couldn't not cover Star Wars Legion. Another entry on the list for Atomic Mass Games, this sprawling tabletop wargame gets cloests to emmulating the mass-battle format of 40k and Age of Sigmar, allowing players to recreate key battles in the history of a galaxy far, far away across the Clone Wars and Galatic Civil Wars periods.
Legion has an ever-expanding roster of miniatures available, from fan-favourites straight from the core films to increasingly esoteric and fun factions drawn from the wider universe's animated shows and books. I particularly like the idea of running a Black Sun force. Because being a bunch of gangsters and mercenaries rocking up to a battle in a bus to duke it out with Jedi and armoured commandos really speaks to me.
Legion is complemented by the release of Shatterpoint, a larger-scale, multi-hero skirmish game which, while not compatible with Legion, does make use of its larger scale to produce some really stunning display grade models.
That little list barely even scratches the surface of the game's available to wargaming fans away from the worlds of Warhammer. There are incredible indie studios developing their own rules and miniatures in a dizzying array of formats and styles, which is amazing to see.
There's definitely scope for a part 2 of this list, in time, but for now - what's your favourite non-Games Workshop tabletop game? Let me know below and on socials!
Until next time,
Alex
*Proper ones with feathers and everything.
**We played one game back in about 2006. He didn't like the rules. We never tried again.
***Like, seriously. Bolt Action boards just hit different. Makes you want to never see an L-shaped ruin again as long as you live.
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