The best board miniature board games
The best board miniature board games
The term "miniature board games" is a bit of a misnomer, owing to the explosion in the number of miniature-based games throughout the years. Miniatures have also become much more affordable thanks to 3D printing.
As a result, they've become more prevalent in board games and board games. The best miniature board games are listed here.
Our best selections The best miniature board games
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What is a miniature game?
There are two categories that come to mind when I think of miniature games.
- Miniature board games
- Miniature hobby games
Board games seem separate to me from hobby games because miniatures in board games are used to enhance the gaming experience. The board game can use thumbnails, but does not require any additional settings other than opening the box and setting the game.
The miniature board game is the perfect gaming experience in the box. All artwork and construction is complete. You just have to figure out the rules and set up the game.
If you are looking for a list of branched armies, miniature war games and miniature hobby games, check out this article .
Now that we’re all on the same page of what a miniature board game is, let’s dive in and take a look at some of the best miniature games on the market.
1. Hair
the piece took the storm by the world of board games. It is a game for building engines with area control set in a replacement Europe from the 1920s. Players fight for supremacy and land, while farmers struggle in the background, massive mechanoid war machines guarding the edge of their territory.
Scythe is a very interesting area control game that combines several different genres and plays a great standalone game . It also has a competitive war aspect of economy mechanics. Players must also win people’s hearts and minds or risk falling behind rivals.
An epic alternate reality
There are many different mines here, the most interesting being the faction leaders and the bellows themselves. Each faction leader is a character who is longer than his life and is accompanied by an animal he knows. They look really cool and are overshadowed only by factions of individualized mechs.
Throughout the game, players build mechanics that walk around their territory and are incredibly powerful. Each faction has a unique mechanical design and they all look amazing ... except for that giant derby derby coming out of his butt.
- This is a time of unrest in Europe in the 1920s. The ashes of the first ...
- Lead your faction to victory, build bellows, cultivate the land, ...
- Explore the alternate history of 1920 plus Europe through Jacob ...
2. War Rings (Second Edition)
The War of the Rings is probably the best rendition of Tolkien’s work in the form of board games. The War of the Rings is an epic battle between the forces of Mordor and the free peoples of Middle-earth. When played in its entirety, it is one of the few games that has ever covered a large volume of Lord of the Rings .
It is a tense battlefield between Good and Evil. The forces of the free peoples are trying to strengthen all their defenses with a limited number of soldiers and are preparing for a wall of orcs crashing into their ranks. Meanwhile, Sauron's unlimited forces of Mordor walk across the board in endless waves. Through it all, the Fellowship of the Ring continues its quest and creates its own legend.
This is an amazing game with big boxes, which is one of my favorites and I even handle it well by 2 players . If you are even a remote lover of board games, fantasy, war games or Lord of the Rings , I highly recommend you to give it a try.
- For 2 4 players
- Playing takes about 2 hours
- Massive game board measuring 70 x 100 cm in two sections, 16 action cubes, ...
3. Blood rage
You’ll see a lot of CMON games on this list, and there’s a reason for that. CMON knows how to make a mini. (Ghost, that means "Cool Mini or not.")
And Blood Rage , the players control rival Viking clans on the edge of Ragnarök. The world will soon be destroyed and everyone wants to fight in the last battle to win their place in Valhalla. The gods accompany the final struggle and endow those who please them.
In this game of area control, players fight for dominance, recruit ancient monsters and plunder before Ragnarök and the end of the world. Blood Rage is said to be the successor to the wildly popular Rising Sun , which has a very similar style and feel.
- Incredible numbers - from different clans, to ships, to ...
- Breathtaking art - Adrian Smith created with Blood Rage ...
- Custom Clans - Players start with the same abilities, but ...
4. Star Wars: The Imperial Attack
I’m a big Star Wars fan and Imperial Assault brings the nostalgia I had the first time I hired Star Wars: New Hope (I wasn’t old enough to see the original in theaters).
The Imperial Attack is On the Theme of Star Wars a prison-spider with variable characters and abilities. One active player will control the enemy forces and all the others will take control of the rebel hero.
With just the Imperial Assault core set, you’ll get an entire campaign to play with some remarkable miniatures, including Darth Vader and AT-ST. They all look amazing and are pretty easy to paint, even if you’re a beginner.
- WARS UNIVERSE EPIC AGREEMENT GAME: The ...
- STRATEGIC GAME: This game of tactical combat and missions gives you ...
- Enjoy two perfect games: experience an exciting story ...
5. Mechs vs. Minions
Mechs Vs. Minions is a GIGANT box mini. The game was designed by a video game company that brought you the League of Legends. They know video games, but they also show their gaming merits by making a very cool board game.
The chief mechanic used in Mechs vs. Minions, is a software mechanic . It ’s a co-op game so players will need to work together to make sure their bellows are in the right position, to beat many, more minions in a box (and not to accidentally step into each other’s path).
There are several scenarios with which you can play with changing goals, and the four heroes are pre-painted in an imaginatively entertaining artistic style. The remaining minion minis in the box aren’t painted, but once you see how many actually come in the box, you’ll know why.
- cooperative board game
6. Star Wars: The X-Wing
Star Wars: X-Wing is a much smaller cousin of Star Wars: Armada (we'll talk about Armada in a minute). Both are great Star Wars board games that everyone should play.
Star Wars: X-Wing puts players in the cockpit of their own fighters in a small dogfighting scene. Players control one of two factions: the Empire or the Rebels and send ships to capture targets and blow up their opponents from space.
Players can use the system to adjust the unloading of ships, and pilots increase their efficiency. All the miniatures are pre-painted and look so cool when you put them on the table.
Pro Tip: If you don’t want to pay money for a giant play mat (because there’s no real board), you can take some space posters at Target or Walmart and place them behind the playing field.
Extensions are where they are
The only real downside I can knock the X-Wing for is the set of cores. It comes with 1 X-Wing and 2 Tie Fighters. There are huge extensions that add all sorts of flair and different ships.
However ...
The system is designed so that one ship can be equipped in several ways. So even though the model is the same, the tool it carries in the form of equipment charts can drastically change its combat capabilities.
- Star Wars Tactical Space Fight Game for two ...
- Take control of the most advanced star hunters in the galaxy
- It contains three detailed, painted miniatures: one X wing and two ...
7. The rising sun
The old gods, the Kami, have returned and are fighting for supremacy. In this area-controlled game, players send soldiers to fight and die for honor, fame, and a return to the old ways.
Rising Sun was produced by CMON and designed by Eric Lang, so you know that the design and production value will be of the highest quality. In this game, inspired by Japan, CMON presents all the stops for these miniatures and revives Japanese folklore with highly detailed miniatures of gods and demons.
The playing is also pretty deep. Players have multiple paths to victory and in the rising sun, simply having the greatest power to break through territory does not mean victory.
Interesting? Check out our in-depth review of the rising sun and its extensions before you buy!
- For 3 to 5 players. Playback time from 90 to 120 minutes
- Unique combat system: Eric m. Lang has developed completely ...
- Fantasy art: a work of art by the legendary Adrian Smith Will ...
8. Descent: Journeys in the Dark (Second Edition)
The descent is a classic spider dungeon. Honestly, this is my # 1 choice of terrestrial spiders . It’s great for both veterans and new players.
In Descent, one actor takes on the role of a prison dungeon who controls all the monsters and villains down there. The heroic heroes must then try to get to the end of the dungeon ... without killing them.
It can be played in a campaign style with heroes gaining new equipment and skills after each dungeon, but ... even the superior will be stronger.
BBEG is right next to you!
One of my favorite aspects of Descent is the baddie run by the actors. It completely changes the way you play. Have a real human mind against which, instead of a set of pre-programmed movements and probabilities, the problem and outcome of the game changes drastically.
There are mini-heroes that come with Descent, but I think the monsters are the ones that really bring the board to life. Each is so well made and can be played right out of the box. You can paint them, but I kind of like the angry red color they get.
- This is a board game in which one player takes on the role ...
- During each game, the heroes embark on missions and go to ...
- With double-sided modular pieces of boards, countless heroes and ...
9. Other: 7 sins
Other: 7 Sins takes the CMON Zombicide system and turns it into a more horror monster movie vibe.
7 deadly sins have been given physical form, and members of the FAITH (Federal Authority for Prohibition of Transdimensional Horrors) must stop them.
1 against all
Stupid name aside, the game offers a one-on-one situation where one player controls all manifestations of sin and horror walking down the board and wanting to kill the player’s signs of FAITH.
I really like playing 1 against everyone. It creates a lot of tension on the board and no matter which side you are on, everyone walks away from the table with an amazing story.
The real stars of the game are the manifestations of the actual 7 sins. CMON has created some wonderful monsters that remind me of Cthulhu ’s Lovecraftian horror.
- For 2-5 players
- 90 minute playing time
- Modular storytelling! several different aspects of each adventure ...
10. Arcadia Quest
Arcadia Quest is a charming little quarrel game in jail. Players control their little guild of cute heroes and send them to complete quests, objectives and kill some strangely cute monsters.
It’s a very fast-paced game that runs and breaks that I really enjoy. Artistic style and mini design are also unique choices. Many game designers opt for super detailed minis in appearance. These guys are little caricatures of monsters and heroes. They are wonderful.
Arcadia Quest has a lot of things. It has built-in campaigns with high repeatability. Each game is set with a different board layout and a different goal. Players will be able to mingle and create some truly unique scenarios that their guilds will face in the dungeons.
- Super numbers: With twelve very detailed heroes and ...
- Simple battles: confrontations are resolved quickly and easily ...
- Amazing upgrades: players can get items and equipment ...
11. Zombicide: Black Plague
The Black Plague takes the zombicide back in time to the medieval fantasy world. Zombies have been awakened by evil necromancers and an endless horde is coming after you. You will exchange chainsaws for battle axes and swords, crossbow rifles and you will fight in a fantasy fight in the streets against the forces of evil.
The miniatures are in Zombicide: Black Plague are top notch and the other components are also pretty amazing. I especially like the signboards that CMON issues along with the series. Everything is organized on the boards, all the information the players need, and they also look on the table.
- DURABLE ZOMBIE GAME: Black Plague takes your favorite players ...
- COOPERATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP: This game represents a distracted group of survivors ...
- MONSTROUS MINIATURES: High detailed miniature figures represent ...
12. Dungeons & Dragons: The Legend of Drizzt
The Legend of Drizzt is the third game in the D&D Adventure System series from The Wizard of the Coast.
It features the legendary hero Drizzt and some of his companions. Along with the legendary heroes, this stand-alone extension also adds tiles to the cave, allowing players to go from running through the swamp to bumping into a cave full of ugly monsters.
Here, the balance of the game is actually very well done. When you usually add an established game to a legendary hero, they will completely overshadow the generic characters. This is not the case here. The game is extremely balanced, so Drizzt and the gang don’t walk heroes without names from other extensions.
It’s always fun to be able to control your favorite characters in the board game, so if you’re a fan of Drizzt novels, this is a great set to add to your collection.
- Designed for 1 to 5 players
- It contains several scenarios, demanding tasks and cooperatives ...
- Contains: 42 heroes and monsters, 13 link sheets ...
13. Star Wars: Armada
We talked about Star Wars: The X-Wing as a miniature dog-fighting game, and now it’s time to move on to the high-stakes game. Star Wars: The Armada takes you out of the cockpit and puts you on a military chair. Instead of dog fights, you will be responsible for an entire fleet of ships.
You're an Admiral now
The space battles in the Armada are much more extensive and very strategic. But ... just because you have the biggest ship on the table doesn't mean victory. Bombers will be able to assemble your main ships, fighters will be able to counter bombers, capital ships will be able to launch destructive oxen and corvettes will be able to slip behind the enemy line to shoot at weak hull points.
You will organize huge battles, each represented by a pre-painted miniature that looks fantastic. They are ready for the table and showcase straight out of the box. Some larger models support the definition of a thumbnail, but that’s okay too.
- TACTICAL FIGHTING GAME ON THE FLUTE: Experience the drama ...
- STRATEGIC GAME: Command the unsurpassed power of the Imperial Fleet ...
- ARMADA CORE SET: The initial set includes rules, article ...
14. Mice and Mysticism
Imagine that Brian Jacques' novel has turned into a board game ...
Mice and Mysticism is a beautiful lake inspired by a book of stories with a healthy amount of role-playing thrown in. The prince and his court were imprisoned during the coup by the evil witch Vanestra. The only way to escape from the dungeon is for the court wizard to turn everything into a mouse and escape through the sewer grate. The only problem is ... he doesn't know how to get you back.
Tell the story while you escape
Everything about Mice and Mystics is wonderful. It’s probably one of the nicest games I’ve ever seen, and it’s very challenging. It’s all reminiscent of a storybook and the actors actually read big shows during the missions to set the mood and give the story to our muscular heroes.
The game has miniatures for all the heroes and some oversized miniatures for all the enemies you will face. According to the theme, players will fight cockroaches, rats, spiders and scary centipedes. Each one looks fantastic, even unpainted, but they really show up with quick painting. Amateurs will also be able to try their hand at painting here.
Are you ready to dive? Check out our full review of mice and mystics before you go.
- ADVENTURE GAME WITH STORIES: In Mice & Mystics players progress ...
- COOPERATION STRATEGY: Players work together to solve ...
- FUN FOR FAMILY GAMES NIGHT: Mice & Mystics is the perfect game for ...
15. BattleLore (Second Edition)
BattleLore uses a system similar to Memories '44 . The actors go head to head, recreating a fantasy version of The Hundred Years' War .
The combat system is designed to recreate the general view of battle and simulate the inconsistencies of war along with the failure of communication lines.
Players can only place a limited number of orders and the optimal order will not always be available. In the end, you can get a devastating strike ready to deploy, but somehow you won’t be able to receive orders to your troops, so your strike force will be inactive on the ground.
The mechanics are fantastic and if perfectly set up with fairy archers, giant spiders and elementals, the board looks stunning.
- A social game of tense team-based battles for two players
- Command the army in the heat of battle
- Create new scenarios in each game or get involved in the story ...
16. Shadows of Brimstone: A Place of the Elderly
The Brimstone Shadow is a strange blend. Think about it: Western meets Cthulhu. I know the idea of groping horror in a cowboy hat sounds weird, but they actually complement each other pretty well. In Shadows of Brimstone , players delve into the mines of the Old West and search for Darkstone, a newly discovered mineral that gives strange powers.
Shadows Brimstone is a dungeon-spider with some really cool minis. Players can play missions with a single shot, or spread their experience through a complex campaign system with persistent characters who rise, gain incredible strength, cripple injuries, or slowly go crazy over exposure to Darkstone.
Make your own minis
All the miniatures are in keeping with the theme (however strange it may be). One of the major differences between Sence Brimstone and other games on this list, however, is that the miniatures are not pre-made. A little gluing is involved to create all the miniatures, but nothing too crazy.
Be sure to check out our Complete Guide to the Shadows of Brimstone before you buy!
- Load up six shooters, put on a hat and a poncho and ...
17. Zombicide
Zombicide is one of the best best zombie board games out there. It contains everything you could want and a bunch of things you probably didn’t even know you wanted.
The zombicide is full of detailed, creepy, rotting zombies of all kinds. Fast zombies, slow zombies in love, giant mutated zombies and even your favorite giant inflated zombies.
The zombicide system is a wonderful dungeon-spider experience in which players search the rooms, kill zombies and try to escape from abandoned urban areas ... all of which are followed by a relentless zombie horde.
Zombicide system
The system is also designed very well. Players can upgrade and gain stronger abilities as the game continues, but as they get stronger, so can zombies. Zombie networks are determined by the player at the highest level, so if only one player tanks everything, you will quickly find yourself in a swarm and eat. It is one of my favorite cooperative games and it is one of my favorite zombie games .
- Cool Corps - Zombicide is filled with amazing miniatures ....
- Challenging scenarios - players will face ten ...
- Boundless potential - with modular tiles on the map and all zombies ...
18. Zombicide Season 2: Outbreak of Prison
Zombicide Season 2: The prison outbreak is spreading to the Zombicide world. Each version of Zombicide is essentially a stand-alone extension. You can easily choose your favorite and experience the perfect box experience. Or if you really feel the need to kill some zombies , you can start combining the different fields you want to add to any set you already have.
Up close and personal ... With the Berserkers
Prison Outbreak moves the game by focusing on indoor combat and adding lots of weapons to install. Even with this new weapon, you will need this new zombie weapon . They are completely immune to firearms, so you will need to catch them in the immediate vicinity.
The Prison Outbreak is probably one of my favorite zombicide boxes and as always at CMON, you’ll get a box filled with gorgeous detailed minis.
- This is a fast, fun and easy action movie game ...
- Designed as a game that can be played independently or combined as ...
- Survivors must achieve specific goals while constantly ...
19. Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of Ashardalon
The next 3 games on this list come from the D&D Adventure System board game. They are designed to represent a distilled research and development experience without a dungeon master. They are also heavily focused on the combat aspect of Dungeons & Dragons .
Wizards of the Coast is releasing new releases that reflect their role-playing but there is enough there to be able to create your own adventures with miniatures, tiles and heroes as well. Minis and tiles can perform double duties if you want to sit down to play a board game or if you run a regular D&D campaign.
Wrath of Ashardalon was the second game in the D&D Adventure System and Ashardalon represents a mix of one of the oldest red dragons in existence, always looking for a way to become immortal. Players will be able to choose from 5 characters, and each character has multiple skill sets. They are all mutually exclusive, so you will need to play the character in multiple games to achieve the full effect.
If you’re a D&D fan and don’t feel like spending a lot of money on all the crazy miniatures, Adventure System games offer a huge amount of minis and a great D&D board game experience.
- A heavy shadow falls over the land, cast by a dark bell tower, which ...
- The cave of the mouth leads into a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers, and deep ...
- This board game, designed for 1-5 players, includes more ...
20. Dungeons & Dragons: City of Ravenloft
It was the first game in the D&D Adventure System. Ravenloft Castle is home to the ancient vampire Strahda ... which means that Ravenloft Castle double duty actually pulls in as an exquisite Halloween game as well.
Your heroes will have to face vampires, werewolves and zombies . All the monsters are perfectly themed for the creepy and creepy Ravenloft Castle and all the mines that are next to it are very well made. This is one of my favorite games in Adventure System.
- Play from 1 to 5 players
- 60 minutes of play
- A prison crawl campaign and terribly fun searches
21. Dungeons & Dragons: The Temple of Elemental Evil
This version adds the official campaign system to the D&D Adventure System series. Players will be able to use permanent bonuses during games and continue to equalize their characters.
The Temple of Elemental Evil adds brand new characters, minis, and extends the rules of previous games. You’ll get another dragon miniature along with a ton of new villains that surprisingly include a variety of elementals and cultists. Probably my favorite mini in the box, though, is the two-headed creature Ettin. It looks ugly.
- For 2+ players
- 60 minute playing time
- Can be combined with other D&D Adventure System Cooperative games ...
22. Fireteam Zero
The black ops team is completely undercover. All records of their existence have been completely deleted. Players take on the role of each member of the team and are in charge of finding supernatural entities and destroying them.
Fireteam Zero is a horror co- op board game for up to 4 players4 players .
The atmosphere of the game is very dark. I really like all the artwork and super cool monster miniatures. Even ordinary servants are these weird hybrids of human spiders that look fantastic on the board and really add creepy elements to the game.
The game offers a lot of tactical strategy with different powers and player equipment. It is also available with multiple scenarios and goals that bring the story to life.
23. Rivets: Eastern Front
Rivet Wars is a wonderful, very strategic war game . It is similar to the old RTS (Real-Time Strategy) games. The goal is to raise funds to fight enemy units and capture points.
Rivet Wars: Eastern Front has some of my favorite minis on the list. They are absolutely adorable. In your army you will find beautiful spider tanks, single-wheeled reconnaissance vehicles and cartoon land minion-shaped soldiers.
The game gives the same feel as RTS and is a surprisingly deep game of how beautiful and silly all the miniatures look. It reminds me of artwork from the Metal Slug games I played when arcades were still a thing.
- A player's game
- The game lasts about 30 minutes
- Miniature board games
Hybrid game - Kingdom Death: Monster
Kingdom Death: Monster is alone in the category. I don’t think I’ve seen the basic game available for $ 500 yet. I have also never seen a board game that weighs almost 20 lbs. before. Seriously, it’s so big and heavy.
Kingdom Death is a weird hybrid category of board game and hobby game. It falls somewhere in the middle. The first thing is the perfect experience in the box. Everything you need is already there, just like a board game.
The perfect experience ... that you build yourself
On the other hand, the models and miniatures in the game are presented in a hobby style. They are unbuilt on the springs and you have to at least take them off the glue and glue them together before you even start playing your first round. In addition, Poots, a game designer, regularly presents special editions, some of which affect the game, and others that are just fun to watch.
It’s a weird hybrid of both, but Kingdom Death has always been in its category. I was lucky enough to play a friend’s copy and have never seen anything like it. It’s kind of like Monster Hunter and Dark Souls video games have a weird board game of a love kid who became a serial killer.
And King’s Death , you’ll face impossible monsters, use monster parts to make equipment, and then watch your favorite character devour and mutilate. It's an experience.
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