Both games share a manufacturer, similar mechanics, and comparable price points. But they're genuinely different hobby experiences. Choosing the wrong one — purely because a friend plays it, or because a particular model caught your eye — can mean months of building an army you don't enjoy playing. Here's an honest comparison.
The Settings: Fantasy vs Science Fiction
Warhammer 40,000
Set 38,000 years in the future. Humanity spans the galaxy under a rotting theocratic empire, beset by alien races, daemonic corruption, and its own internal collapse. The aesthetic is gothic science fiction — cathedrals on warships, power armour covered in religious iconography, tanks that look like they belong in a medieval siege engine factory. The tone is deliberately excessive and dark. The tagline "In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war" is accurate.
Factions include: Space Marines (superhuman soldiers), Chaos Space Marines (their corrupted counterparts), Imperial Guard (ordinary humans in vast armies), Orks (alien brutes), Tyranids (alien swarm), Necrons (ancient undead robots), Tau (technologically advanced aliens who believe in diplomacy — briefly), Eldar (ancient psychic space elves), and more. Each is radically visually distinct from the others.
Age of Sigmar
A high fantasy world — the Mortal Realms, a series of interconnected mystical planes. Magic is real and visible. Gods walk among armies. The aesthetic swings between heroic high fantasy (gold-armoured Stormcast Eternals) and baroque horror (Nighthaunt ghosts, Ossiarch bone constructs). Less grimdark than 40K; more mythic and elemental.
Age of Sigmar replaced the old Warhammer Fantasy Battles game in 2015 after Games Workshop controversially destroyed the old world setting. The new setting divides opinion among veterans, but the models are widely praised as some of the best miniatures Games Workshop has ever produced. Factions include: Stormcast Eternals, Fyreslayers, Daughters of Khaine, Seraphon (space lizards, genuinely), Gloomhaven, Skaven (giant rats who are also mad scientists), and the various Chaos Legions.
Gameplay Differences
Both games use the same basic structure: movement, shooting, combat, morale. But there are meaningful differences in how they play.
Warhammer 40K
More complex. The 10th Edition rules are streamlined compared to previous editions, but the number of special rules, strategems, and faction-specific interactions is substantial. A game at 2,000 points typically takes 2.5-3 hours even between experienced players. The shooting phase is dominant — most armies do the majority of their damage at range, with melee as a secondary tool (exceptions: Orks, World Eaters, Genestealers).
Terrain matters significantly. Cover saves, line of sight rules, and terrain traits (Dense Cover, Obscuring, etc.) are explicitly defined. You need proper terrain to play a proper game.
Age of Sigmar
Slightly more streamlined at the base level, though the latest edition has added more complexity. The game is generally more melee-focused — shooting is significant but the game is designed around armies crashing together. The "battle traits" system gives each faction very distinct play styles that change how the game feels dramatically.
One significant difference: 40K uses alternating turns (I go, you go). Age of Sigmar uses a similar turn structure but with a priority roll at the start of each round — meaning you don't know who's going first until both players roll off. This adds a layer of tactical uncertainty and decision-making that many players enjoy.
Model Range
Both games have enormous model ranges. Neither is inferior — the difference is aesthetic.
40K Model Aesthetic
Sci-fi military. Tanks, artillery, infantry in armour, alien creatures that look like organic weapons systems. The design language is consistent across factions — even the most alien-looking force (Tyranids, Necrons) fits within the visual grammar of the universe. Models are highly detailed and increasingly poseable. The level of miniature engineering in modern Primaris Space Marines kits is genuinely impressive.
Age of Sigmar Model Aesthetic
Far more varied and experimental. The freedom of the fantasy setting allows for very different visual approaches within a single game. Lumineth Realm-lords (literally living in a world modelled on Shinto Japan meets classical European fantasy) look completely different to Ossiarch Bonereapers (undead armies where every model is made from constructed bone). The model range is arguably more adventurous visually than 40K. If there's a specific look you want — ancient Egyptian undead, demonic cavalry, elemental fire dwarves — Age of Sigmar may have it.
Army Sizes and Points
Standard game sizes:
- 40K Combat Patrol: ~500 points, 20-40 models
- 40K full game: 2,000 points, 50-100+ models depending on faction
- Age of Sigmar Vanguard: ~1,000 points, 20-40 models
- Age of Sigmar full game: 2,000 points, similar model counts to 40K
Horde armies in both games (Orks in 40K, Skaven in Age of Sigmar) can run considerably more models. Elite armies (Custodes in 40K, Stormcast in Age of Sigmar) run fewer. Your model count is largely determined by faction choice rather than the game system.
Cost to Start
Starting costs are comparable between the two games. Both have Combat Patrol/Vanguard-equivalent starter boxes at the £75-95 range. Rules cost is similar. Paints and tools are shared between the two (Citadel paints work for both).
Where the costs diverge is in expansion. 40K has more factions and more sub-faction supplement books, which can mean more books to buy if you want to stay current competitively. Age of Sigmar has historically had lower model counts for full armies in some factions, which can mean lower overall model costs for armies like Stormcast Eternals or Ogors.
Practical advice: don't project into the future. Compare starter box prices at the faction you want. That's your real upfront cost. Browse our full Warhammer range for current pricing on boxes and kits for both game systems.
Painting Complexity
Both games support painting at every level from basic tabletop standard to display-quality masterwork. The difference is what the models reward.
40K Painting
Space Marines — the most popular 40K faction — are well-suited to beginners because the large, flat armour panels are forgiving. Contrast paints (Citadel's single-coat system that simultaneously adds colour and shade) work particularly well on smooth armour surfaces. Vehicles are excellent for learning washes and weathering techniques. The overall 40K aesthetic benefits from gritty, worn painting — which is actually easier to achieve than clean, pristine results.
Age of Sigmar Painting
Some Age of Sigmar models are among the most detailed miniatures Games Workshop produces — Lumineth, Daughters of Khaine, and Nighthaunt in particular. Nighthaunt (ghostly undead) are actually very beginner-friendly to paint: undercoat white, apply Nighthaunt Gloom (Contrast paint), drybrush lightly, done. The ethereal effect that takes advanced painters hours is achieved simply with Contrast paints. The Stormcast Eternals gold armour is achievable at tabletop standard with Retributor Armour spray + Reikland Fleshshade shade + Liberator Gold highlight. One of the best beginner paint jobs in either game.
Community and Tournament Scene
40K Community
Warhammer 40K has the larger global community. More players, more clubs, more tournaments, more online content creators. If finding opponents is a priority, 40K gives you the best chance of finding someone local through Games Workshop's store finder or the Warhammer Community app. The competitive scene (ITC, GT circuits) is extremely active, with major events running most weekends somewhere in the UK.
Age of Sigmar Community
Smaller but dedicated. Age of Sigmar has a passionate community that includes some of the most creative hobbyists in the Games Workshop ecosystem — the fantasy setting encourages more creative army building and basing. The competitive scene has grown significantly in recent years. Narrative/open play gaming (using your models for story-driven campaigns rather than tournament play) is arguably more developed in Age of Sigmar than 40K, partly because the setting lends itself to it.
Which Is Better for Beginners?
Honestly: Age of Sigmar has a slight edge on rule simplicity at the entry level, though 10th Edition 40K has narrowed the gap considerably. The Combat Patrol rules for 40K and the Vanguard rules for Age of Sigmar are both designed to be accessible starting points.
The more important question is which setting excites you. If you like sci-fi military fiction, 40K. If you prefer high fantasy with a dark edge, Age of Sigmar. Enthusiasm for the lore and the aesthetic will carry you through the learning curve of either game far more reliably than choosing based on rule complexity.
Read our Warhammer beginners guide for an overview of both game systems and where to start. If 40K is calling you, our starter sets guide covers the best entry points at every budget.
Can You Play Both?
Yes, and many hobbyists do. Roughly half of all Games Workshop customers collect from both game systems. The paints, tools, and techniques are identical. Many players maintain a 40K army for competitive gaming and an Age of Sigmar army for more narrative and experimental play — or vice versa. The only constraint is time and money, both of which are finite. Start with one, get comfortable, then expand if the hobby has you.
Summary: Which to Choose
| Warhammer 40K | Age of Sigmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Sci-fi grimdark | Dark high fantasy |
| Rule complexity | Moderate-High | Moderate |
| Community size | Larger | Smaller, dedicated |
| Starter cost | Comparable | Comparable |
| Best for beginners | Space Marines are very accessible | Stormcast/Nighthaunt very accessible |
| Model variety | Enormous range | More adventurous design |
| Tournament scene | Very active | Growing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Age of Sigmar the same as Warhammer Fantasy?
No. Age of Sigmar replaced Warhammer Fantasy Battles in 2015 after Games Workshop destroyed the old Warhammer World setting (the "End Times" storyline). The game uses some of the same faction names but it's set in an entirely new universe — the Mortal Realms. Old Warhammer Fantasy armies are not directly compatible with Age of Sigmar without using a third-party conversion tool (The Old World has since been relaunched as a separate game, using the classic setting).
Which game has better lore?
Completely subjective. 40K has 35+ years of accumulated lore in Black Library novels, codexes, and supplementary material — it's vast, sometimes contradictory, and endlessly compelling. Age of Sigmar is younger (10 years) but has built a coherent and expanding lore base quickly. If you value breadth and depth of existing lore, 40K. If you like being there for the building of something, Age of Sigmar.
Can I use Age of Sigmar models in 40K?
Not in standard games. The models are the wrong scale (both are 28-32mm "heroic" scale, but the aesthetics don't mix) and have no rules in the other game system. Some hobbyists use Age of Sigmar models as proxies in narrative 40K games (Chaos Daemons in particular have crossover lore), but this requires your opponent's agreement.
Which game is more beginner-friendly to paint?
Age of Sigmar has some of the most beginner-friendly paint schemes available (Nighthaunt, Stormcast Extremis gold). 40K Space Marines are also extremely accessible. Both games benefit enormously from Contrast paints, which produce a shade-over-basecoat result in one step. For a genuine beginner, either game is paintable to a satisfying tabletop standard within the first few models.
Is the competitive scene very different between the two games?
Yes. 40K's competitive scene is larger, more structured, and more globally active — there are major events most weekends across the UK, Europe, and North America. Age of Sigmar tournaments are growing but less frequent and often smaller. If competitive play is important to you, 40K has the more established infrastructure. If you prefer narrative campaigns and hobby-focused events, Age of Sigmar's community leans that way.
Shop Warhammer at Access Models
We stock the full range of Warhammer 40K and Age of Sigmar — starter sets, Combat Patrols, single kits, and accessories. Fast UK dispatch. Browse the range and find the game that's right for you.