This is one of the most exciting new wargames right now, but you've probably never heard of it

There's no shortage of brilliant wargames that, realistically, you probably haven't heard about. The grimdark Trench Crusade. Apex Legends' tabletop adaptation, which blends skirmishing with the best board games. But for all of them, I don't know if any excite me as much as Malediction.

As someone with a toddler and way too many hobbies for my own good, I don't have a lot of time for grand, sweeping games. That's why smaller, more focused experiences that won't take up a full afternoon are my speed right now – Kill Team, Underworlds, that sort of thing. Malediction falls neatly within that camp, but it has a key distinction; it doesn't cost a silly amount of money. Did that get your attention? I thought it might.

Although it launched last year (and we certainly appreciated the debut in our Malediction review), the game is enjoying something of a relaunch in 2026 with new beginner boxes.

Loot Studios, the team behind Malediction, sent me a glossy press pack to kick off this fresh start, and I was psyched to see it land on my doorstep. Not because it came with a lore primer and fancy USB stick modelled to look one of the in-game relics you're trying to collect, but because it featured the game's first two-player starter set – and I've been looking for an excuse to get my teeth into Malediction, but hadn't had an opportunity.

This box set features the usual gear you'd expect from something like this; two armies, some terrain, rules, dice, and the cards necessary to make it all run. So far, so predictable. But the thing that helps Malediction stand out is its emphasis on accessibility. Instead of cramming high-quality (but high cost) plastic miniatures into the box or compromising on looks with cheaper alternatives, Loot has opted for cardboard standees instead. That means you can literally start playing without needing to touch sprue clippers or a paintbrush, lowering the cost significantly and providing lunchtime gamers something to play. That approach reminds me of Free League's Mutant Year Zero: Zone Wars, and it's much appreciated when so much of the competition requires such an outlay of free time – brilliant though they are.

That doesn't mean you have to go without all that cool, crafty stuff, however. If you've got access to a 3D printer or know someone who does, you can print off miniatures for all of the box's troops and terrain… and the same is true for all other boxed Malediction products, too. I adore this approach; it lets you engage with the game as much or as little as you want, meeting it at your pace. And because I can see those same models being great for use in the best tabletop RPGs (which is no surprise, seeing as Loot Studios provide a monthly subscription for fantasy and sci-fi RPG miniatures), it's a double win.

I'll be diving into Malediction and its incredibly bleak yet compelling Elden Ring-style world soon, so will report back with what I think as a newcomer to the system. But in the meantime, I'm honestly just thrilled to have a wargame that doesn't require me to spend countless hours painting soldiers before I can get stuck in.

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