Tabletop wargames have all the genre appeal ofthe greatest TTRPGs, but they get right into the heart of the action and stay there all session long.
Classicgames likeWarhammer 40,000are always going to be available at a local gaming shop, but it’s never been easier to make your own custom minis and create the wargame of your dreams. If you’ve got access to a 3D printer (and even if you don’t), then these games can offer you a unique experience for your party’s next session.
Bloodfields
Bloodfieldsis a relatively new addition to the tabletop wargaming scene. Created by Titan Forge,Bloodfieldsbegan on Kickstarter, and it’s continued flourishing since its initial funding campaign ended. This is a perfect place to start for people who want to jump into printing their own 3D wargame figures. There are over 100Bloodfieldunits, and a wide array of landscapes, that you can purchase and print at a reasonable cost. Plus, with streamlined rules and an average playtime of 60 minutes,Bloodfielddoubles as a great intro for wargamers in general.
World War Tesla
There’s no shortage of high fantasy and outer space wargames, soWorld War Teslais ideal for players looking to shake up their usual genre. This is an alternate history game set in a world where Nikolai Tesla helped invent giant robots and ultra-destructive laser weaponry. There are a slew of STLs available for the game, and publisher Fat Dragon Games specifically designed the minis to be as affordable to print as possible.
Grid Wars: Age of Cyberpunk
Looking for a game with smaller-scale battles and some role-playing elements?Grid Wars, another Titan Forge game, might be the system for you and your table. Instead of pitting armies against each other,Grid Warsfocuses on street-level skirmishes in a classically cyberpunk world. The game is scenario based, so individual characters can progress the more you play – though with as many incredible print-and-play minis as there are forGrid Wars, you might want to change characters regularly.
1775: Join or Die
Educational is probably a stretch, but1775: Join or Dieis certainly historical. This game pits revolutionaries against redcoats as players fight their way through the war for American independence. Players can print their own armies, but there are also terrain pieces and unique dangers like roaming black bears available as STL files. Whether you’re looking to reenactThe PatriotorThe Revenant, this game can help transport your table back to the late 18th century.
Modulorka
Modulorka, as the name might lead you to guess, is a modular wargame focused on pitting armies of orcs against each other. Technically, your army can be composed of any kind of creature becauseModulorkais basically mini-agnostic, but there are plenty of orc STL files ready for you to print. This is a game for players who prefer less crunchy games and enjoy prioritizing tactics above strategy, and it has a unique single-player ruleset that lets you play alone or with an AI opponent.
Battlefront Valkyrie
If you tried and enjoyedWorld War Tesla, then you should putBattlefront Valkyrienext on your to-play list. Also from Fat Dragon Games,Battlefront Valkyrietakes the print-and-play format to the stars. The game pits fleets of starships against each other and also has them contend with environmental hazards like asteroids. In addition to the basic rules and STL files, there are also three full expansion packs for players who really want to expand their starfleet.
Gridrunner
Titan Forge and Cyber Forge worked to createGridrunner, a really unique tabletop skirmish game with a cyberpunk setting. What setsGridrunnerapart from so many other games is that it’s entirely designed for solo play. Players print their own scenery and minis, and they work through multiple different scenarios and story arcs laid out on theGridrunnerweb app. Sometimes, you can’t get a group together, butGridrunnercan still get you that wargaming fix.
Reign in Hell
Take command of a cabal of demons and war for control over the fiery underworld inReign in Hell. The game is designed for fast-paced, action-packed battles, but the rules also contain a campaign system that helps you link your battles together into epic narratives.Reign in Hellis meant to be used with any minis, and while there aren’t any official STL files for the system, there’s no shortage of fan-made minis available online.
Gaslands
Gaslandsbrings the energy of aMad Maxmovie to your gaming table. Set in a post-apocalyptic hellscape,Gaslandsentirely focuses on vehicular combat. Gear shifting becomes an initiative-like mechanic as you control a fleet of cars racing and gunning each other down through the barren wastes. LikeReign in Hell,Gaslandsis designed to be used with any kind of mini – evenHot Wheelscars – but there are plenty of apocalypse-ready vehicles available as STLs online.
OnePageRules
When in doubt,OnePageRulesreally can be your one-stop shop for all things wargaming. Under the OnePageRules banner, you’ll find systems likeGrimDark FutureandAge of Fantasy. These are ridiculously simple rulesets that can get your game up and going in minutes, even if you’ve never played a tabletop game before.OnePageRulesalso has a treasure trove of STLs for minis that will fit into any game you might run with either system. In terms of pure simplicity,OnePageRulesis easily the best resource for wargamers looking to get into print-and-play – there’s even a set of paper print-and-play files for people looking to start a game without a 3D printer.
