Warhammer 40,000 (Third Edition)

The 1998 third edition of the grimdark sci-fi tabletop wargame, where painted armies meet across a model battlefield.

Designers: Andy Chambers, Rick Priestley, Gavin Thorpe, Jervis Johnson
Published by: Games Workshop Ltd.

Welcome to the grim darkness of the far future, where there is only war. Warhammer 40,000 (Third Edition) is a 1998 Games Workshop tabletop miniatures wargame in which you collect and paint an army, choose a faction such as Space Marines, Imperial Guard, Eldar, Tyranids or Chaos, and fight over a table full of scenery. There is no board: you measure moves with a ruler, use templates for blasts, roll plenty of dice and trace line of sight. Every model has a points value, so armies can be balanced, and you build your force from the miniatures you own. Think of it as a hobby as much as a game, with painting, collecting and rules disputes included. This is the third edition, not the game as it exists now.

Space Marines, Eldar, Tyranids, Chaos and moreArmies built to a points value from your own modelsRuler-measured movement and template blasts

Who it's for

You enjoy collecting and painting miniatures and want a classic tabletop wargame with a huge universe behind it, played against a friend with their own army.

Not for you if…

You want a game in a single box, quick setup or a small investment. You need to buy and paint armies, and this older edition is out of date.

Vibe's take

Grand, dice-heavy and hobby-driven. The fun lies in measuring, rolling and watching your army fight a scenery-covered table, with a lot of ruleset to master.