GUIDE TO Tabletop WARGAMING

Written By Jacob Shaw

What’s out there, how hard they are to learn, and which games are perfect for new players

Tabletop wargaming can look overwhelming from the outside — rulers, dice, terrain, army lists, rulebooks. But the truth is, there’s a huge range of games available, and many are designed specifically to be easy to learn and fast to play.

This guide breaks down the main types of tabletop war games, how approachable they are, and which ones stand out for beginners — including your own game, Travers, which fits beautifully into the “easy‑to‑learn skirmish” category.

⚔️ Types of Tabletop War Games (and Their Ease of Play)

Disclosure: The following blog contains Amazon Associate links. Using these links to make a purchase costs you nothing, but I may earn a small commission as an Amazon Associate.

Skirmish‑Scale Games

  • Small model count

  • Short games

  • Simple rules

Ease of play: Easy Why they’re great for beginners:

  • You only need a handful of models

  • Rules are usually streamlined

  • Games finish in under an hour

Examples:

  • Frostgrave

  • Stargrave

  • Kill Team

  • One‑Page Rules (Grimdark Firefight)

Army‑Scale Games

  • Large forces

  • More complex rules

  • Longer playtime

Ease of play: Medium to Hard Why they’re harder:

  • More units to track

  • More special rules

  • Longer setup and playtime

Examples:

  • Warhammer 40,000

  • Age of Sigmar

  • Kings of War

These are great once a player has confidence, but they can overwhelm newcomers.

Historical War Games

  • Real‑world armies

  • Scenario‑based play

  • Often tactical and grounded

Ease of play: Varies Some historical systems are extremely beginner‑friendly, while others are simulation‑heavy.

Examples:

  • Bolt Action (easy)

  • Chain of Command (medium)

  • Flames of War (medium)

One‑Page & Rules‑Lite Games

  • Minimal rules

  • Fast to learn

  • Cheap to start

Ease of play: Very easy These games are perfect for players who want to jump straight into the action without reading a thick rulebook.

Examples:

  • One Page Rules

  • Fistful of Lead

  • Song of Blades and Heroes

⭐ Beginner‑Friendly Standouts

These tabletop war games consistently get recommended to new players because they’re simple, affordable, and fun from the first session.

🔥 Song of Blades and Heroes

  • Uses only a few models

  • Elegant, simple activation system

  • Great for teaching tactics without complexity

🔥 Bolt Action

  • Historical but very accessible

  • Clear turn structure

  • Easy to collect and paint small forces

🔥 One Page Rules (OPR)

  • Free rules

  • Works with any models

  • Extremely beginner‑friendly

🔥 Frostgrave

  • Narrative‑driven

  • Small warbands

  • Easy to learn, fun to customise

🌟 Featured Beginner Game: Travers

Travers

  • Beginner‑friendly rules

  • Fast, intuitive gameplay

  • Easy to teach and learn

Travers is designed from the ground up to welcome new tabletop players. The rules are clear and easy to follow, the gameplay flows naturally, and players can get through their first match within minutes. With its small model count and straightforward mechanics, Travers removes the intimidation factor that often comes with larger wargames.

It’s an ideal starting point for anyone curious about tabletop war gaming but unsure where to begin.

🧭 Final Thoughts

Tabletop wargaming doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With so many beginner‑friendly skirmish systems — and with accessible titles like Travers — new players can enjoy tactical, exciting battles without needing to learn hundreds of rules or buy huge armies.

We’ll be exploring each of these tabletop war games in its own dedicated blog, where we’ll break down the rules, playstyle, and what beginners can expect.

SHOP

Jacob Shaw
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