Warhammer 40,000
A British miniature wargame set in a grimdark far future.
It is the most popular miniature wargame in the world, and is particularly popular in the United Kingdom. The game is set in the distant future, where a stagnant human civilisation is beset by hostile aliens and supernatural creatures, and is considered the foundational work of the grimdark genre of speculative fiction.
- type
- Miniature wargame
- publisher
- Games Workshop
- setting
- Distant future, grimdark science fantasy
- tagline_origin
- "In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war"
Lore & Background
The two settings share some themes and characters but are independent of each other. Players enact battles using miniature models of warriors and fighting vehicles on a tabletop battlefield, resolving fights with dice and simple arithmetic. The game's fictional setting has been developed through a large body of novels published by Black Library, Games Workshop's publishing division. The assembly and painting of models is a major aspect of the hobby. The game does not use a grid system; distances are measured in inches with a measuring tape. Players construct their own custom-made battlefield using modular terrain models. Players choose their armies from a catalogue of datasheets, each corresponding to a particular model with gameplay statistics. In official tournaments, only Games Workshop models are permitted, and substitute models are forbidden; 3D-printed miniatures are banned. Kitbashed models are occasionally allowed if they consist of 51-75% Games Workshop plastic and are easily identifiable.
Reader's Guide
A line of role-playing games was produced through partnerships with Fantasy Flight Games and later Cubicle 7.
Did You Know?
- The word 'grimdark' is derived from the series' tagline: 'In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war.'
- Games Workshop has banned the use of 3D-printed miniatures in official tournaments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Warhammer 40,000?
It is a British miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop in which players command armies of painted tiny figures across tabletop battlefields. It is the best-selling miniature wargame in the world and holds a particularly strong following in the United Kingdom.
What is the Warhammer 40,000 setting about?
The universe takes place in a very distant future where a stagnant human civilisation is perpetually threatened by hostile alien species and supernatural entities. The famous tagline, 'In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war,' captures the relentlessly bleak tone of the lore.
Why is Warhammer 40,000 considered important?
It is widely regarded as the foundational work that defined the grimdark subgenre of speculative fiction. Its influence has spread well beyond the tabletop into novels, video games, and broader pop culture.
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