{"id":1083629,"date":"2026-01-23T17:45:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T17:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.polygon.com\/?p=501674"},"modified":"2026-01-23T17:45:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T17:45:08","slug":"miniatures-skirmish-games-like-battletech-infinity-and-kill-team-are-ready-for-a-blowout-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/miniatures-skirmish-games-like-battletech-infinity-and-kill-team-are-ready-for-a-blowout-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Miniatures skirmish games like Battletech, Infinity, and Kill Team are ready for a blowout 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Miniatures skirmish games have exploded in popularity these past few years, and with nearly a dozen high-profile titles currently in active development, the genre is poised for a breakout year in 2025. But what makes these wargames so sticky with fans?<\/p>\n

Most mainstream miniatures wargames require dozens, sometimes a hundred or more miniatures to be present on the table all at the same time. Games like Warhammer 40,000<\/a>, Flames of War<\/em>, and Conquest: The Last Argument of Kings <\/em>fall firmly in this category. But many modern gamers simply don\u2019t have the time to paint all those miniatures, or the space in their home to store them. That\u2019s where skirmish wargames come in.<\/p>\n

Skirmish games only require a handful of miniatures on either side of the table, often from six to 12 for each battle group. That makes the games easier to set up and tear down, and easier still to store on a shelf or in a closet. The genre thrives on collectibility, with small unit counts making it easier for players to own and field multiple factions. But they also encourage customization, with kitbashing and exotic paint jobs turning heads online and in person.<\/p>\n

Here are our picks for the nine best miniatures skirmish games on the market right now, with details on what to expect from them in the year ahead.<\/p>\n

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BattleTech<\/h2>\n

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Catalyst Game Labs is just one of the modern stewards of the combined BattleTech\/MechWarrior license<\/a>, and the team there has made incredible strides<\/a> at reviving the beloved tabletop game from the 1980s. With dozens of different models of mechs available for purchase online and at your local game store, it\u2019s among the least expensive ways to enter the modern tabletop hobby. Miniatures always come fully assembled and ready to paint, and the game has multiple styles of play. Whether you’re into fast and punchy or slow and crunchy, these big stompy boys have a lot going for them \u2014 including the new BattleTech: Mercenaries<\/em><\/a> boxed set arriving at retail early next year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cyberpunk Red: Combat Zone<\/h2>\n

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Monster Fight Club licensed the Cyberpunk Red intellectual property from R. Talsorian Games, whose original work on Cyberpunk 2020<\/em> became the foundation for CD Projekt Red\u2019s epic role-playing video game Cyberpunk 2077<\/em>. That partnership directly led to the launch of its skirmish miniatures game, Cyberpunk Red: Combat Zone<\/em><\/a>, in 2023. Thanks to an affordable starter set, easy-to-assemble miniatures, and a dirt-simple ruleset, the experiment was an instant hit. Expect the latest entry, Cyberpunk Edgerunners: Combat Zone<\/em><\/a>, to be another winner when it arrives at retail early next year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Halo: Flashpoint<\/h2>\n

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Mantic Games revived the Halo franchise on the tabletop in 2024 with Halo: Flashpoint<\/em><\/a>, a small-unit skirmish game with loads of style. While the game draws its lore from the classic video game series, the gameplay is truly unique. It uses a cube-based movement system that encourages fast, fluid traversal of in-game terrain. It teaches incredibly quickly, and I can\u2019t wait to see how the British company expands the franchise in 2025.<\/p>\n

Infinity<\/h2>\n
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