Updated 2026-06-17 · 6 minute read
Warhammer is a doorway, not the whole hobby
Warhammer is often the first name people hear when they discover miniature wargaming. Games Workshop publishes several linked hobbies at once: collecting models, building kits, painting armies, reading background fiction and playing battles. Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Age of Sigmar are the two big entry points, but they sit inside a much wider world of historical, fantasy and science-fiction wargames.
Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000, often shortened to 40K, is a far-future game of armies, aliens, armoured warriors, tanks, monsters and grim science-fantasy warfare. It suits players who like strong factions, dramatic battlefields and a large model range. A full army can become a serious modelling project, so beginners should start with a combat-patrol-sized force or starter set before committing to shelves of miniatures.
Warhammer Age of Sigmar
Age of Sigmar is Games Workshop's main fantasy battle game. It has gods, undead, storm-forged warriors, orruks, daemons and other high-fantasy armies. It is a better thematic fit for players who want magical realms rather than gothic space war. Like 40K, it combines painting and play, so the best first army is one you will enjoy assembling and painting as well as using on the table.
How wargaming works
Players bring forces built to an agreed size, move models across terrain, measure distances and roll dice to resolve shooting, melee, morale and special abilities. Some games use large armies; others use small skirmish bands. Some are competitive and tournament-focused, while others are narrative campaigns where the story of the force matters as much as the result.
What to watch for
The cost is not just rules. It is models, tools, glue, paints, storage, terrain and time. A beginner should ask local players what game size they actually play. A smaller format with a painted starter force is usually healthier than buying a huge army that never reaches the table.
Also remember that Warhammer is only one style of wargaming. Historical rules, rank-and-flank fantasy, naval games, skirmish games and model-agnostic systems may suit players who want different periods, cheaper forces or more freedom over which miniatures they use.
Useful next steps
Compare the Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Age of Sigmar profiles, browse the Games Workshop profile, and check wargaming clubs, miniature manufacturers and terrain makers.