Best Miniature Companies (That Aren't Games Workshop!)

The aesthetics (and prices!) of modern Games Workshop miniatures aren’t for everyone – especially folks who grew up in the 90s. With that said, what are the best miniature companies out there if you’re in the market for some quality alternatives?

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It’s a familiar story. Man who played Warhammer as a kid suddenly finds himself diving back into the hobby in his mid-30s. For those returning hobbyists, there can be a lot of nostalgic excitement.

There can also be a bit of disappointment, though.

The loveable charm of the miniatures you remember has been replaced by a situation where even the lowliest rank and file soldier is an elite bodybuilder in a cinematic pose.

The good news is that there are an almost infinite amount of other miniature companies out there these days. This short list features what are – in my humble option – the best miniature companies out there right now.

Midlam Miniatures

Midlam Miniatures were the first company I discovered when I got back into the hobby. I’ve bought a lot from them over the past few years. I like them so much that I asked them to sponsor a few episodes of the Tabletop Miniature Hobby Podcast. They have a diverse range of miniatures, but I feel they really excel with their civilian and villager characters. I recently picked up a bunch of their junior townsfolk, which were a lot of fun.

Knightmare Miniatures

Spain-based Knightmare Miniatures are one of the best tributes to the Oldhammer era that you’re likely to find. I’ve built warbands of beastmen, goblins, and Chaos warriors from their excellent range. If you like to play any type of Chaos or greenskins then you’ll love a look through their catalogue.

CP Models

CP Models offer a lot of fun and genre variety in their range. They stock a multitude of scales from 6mm to 32mm, though it’s 28mm were most concerned with here. You’ll find Lovecraftian, steampunk, and retro-futurist miniatures on the CP site. I think they’re one of the best miniature companies for building Necromunda-style gangs.

Diehard Miniatures

Whilst I can’t confirm whether or not Diehard Miniatures are Bruce Willis’ favourite miniature company, they certainly are one of mine. I used their range to build my undead space marine crew for Stargrave.

Oathsworn Miniatures

Oathsworn Miniatures are one of the most unique companies of its kind. They specialise in anthropomorphic animals, predominantly created for their signature game Burrows & Badgers. As I kid, I loved Brian Jacques’ Redwall Abbey books, and these miniatures rekindled something in me when I first came across them. A truly amazing-looking range.

Otherworld Miniatures

Otherworld Miniatures are another company I’ve spent a fair bit of money with. Though, admittedly, that has a lot to do with their weird way of calculating shipping costs. Still, don’t let that take away from their superb range of miniatures. In particular, they excel at undead and anything that looks like it lives in a dungeon. I’ve used them a lot for our games of Rangers of Shadow Deep.

Best Miniature Company Alternatives

There are few things you can’t buy on Amazon, and miniatures are no exception. If you’re looking to beef up your armies without breaking the bank, or, would like some lower-cost minis to test out some new painting techniques, then check out some of these.

The following links are affiliates which means I’d earn a small commission should you decide to buy through them – never at any extra cost to yourself!

Etsy is also a popular marketplace for the miniature hobbyist, and you can find a lot of cool and interesting stuff on there. I’ve picked out a handful of miniatures that caught my eye recently.

Best Miniature Companies

So there you have it – six of my favourite miniature manufacturers at this moment in time, plus some budget bonus options.

And, if these have given you plenty of ideas for creating some new warbands or adventure parties, then be sure to check out our list of miniature agnostic games to use them with, too!