Why You Should Take a Look at Frostgrave

Frostgrave is a miniature-agnostic tabletop wargame that’s simple to play, low-cost, and focused on story and narrative over strict competition. You play as a powerful wizard exploring the frozen ruins of a once-spectacular city in search of secrets, riches, and glory. Will you become a mighty necromancer or a humble enchanter? Can you strike it rich before your bumbling apprentice and ragtag crew get in over their heads?

With an easy-to-learn system and dirt-cheap entry point, Frostgrave might just be the story you’re meant to tell.

Miniature-Agnostic and Budget-Friendly

Being miniature agnostic means you probably already have what you need to start playing. Your warband consists of your wizard, their apprentice, and up to eight soldiers or hirelings. Whether it’s models from Warhammer, Middle-earth, or a mixed bag of D&D minis, assembling your team is easy and inexpensive.

Frostgrave doesn’t care what line or race your miniatures are from - as long as it’s clear what each figure represents, you’re good to go!

Gather a few friends, split the cost of some kits, throw in the rulebook, and you can be up and playing for well under $50.

Quick to Learn, Fun to Play

The system is simple, using familiar mechanics and easy-to-understand language. You’ll be slinging spells and chasing loot in no time!

All you need is a d20 - a single die that most gamers already have on hand. Since d20s are among the most common dice in gaming, you can even match your die to your warband’s style if you’re feeling fancy.

Combat is fast and intuitive. Everything runs on opposed rolls, so you don’t need to memorize target numbers to hit or calculate complex damage formulas. Weapons and armor are straightforward; just add a few points to attack or increase your defense, much like armor class in D&D.

Campaigns and Storytelling

Frostgrave shines in campaign play. The battle doesn’t begin (or end) with a single match. Between games, your wizard levels up, recruits new soldiers, buys gear, and even builds a home base. Spells can have effects before and after battles, leading to dramatic swings in your warband’s fortunes.

Whether you play a few linked games or commit to a full season, the story of your wizard and their band continues to evolve.

Magic Your Way

Variety is the spice of life, and Frostgrave delivers with nearly a dozen schools of magic to choose from. Necromancy, Elementalism, Soothsaying; there are both familiar and lesser-seen magical paths to explore.

Each school offers a mix of spells and you can select a few from other schools at a slight casting penalty. You’ll choose eight spells total, shared between your wizard and their apprentice, allowing you to tailor your magic to your preferred playstyle.

Build, Experiment, Explore

If you love theory-crafting and list-building, Frostgrave has plenty for you to sink your teeth into. Want to find killer spell combos? Build the perfect balance of speed and power? Craft a team of elite specialists or a swarm of expendable grunts? It’s all valid.

With no strict “meta,” there are no wrong choices. Even if you lose a game, it’s not the end - just a new chapter in your story. Focus on a powerful wizard, or gear up a crew of hardened mercenaries. The choice is yours.

It’s Not All About Fighting

Unlike many miniature games, eliminating your opponent isn’t the main goal. Frostgrave is about two things: grabbing the loot and surviving to keep it.

Objectives are dynamic. Almost any model can pick up treasure and make a mad dash for the board edge to escape. Getting stuck in a prolonged fight isn’t always the best strategy.

Plus, the board is filled with wandering monsters—neutral NPC enemies with set behavior. This means players aren’t always focused on each other, and no one feels unfairly targeted. Shared threats keep things balanced and fun.

Co-Op and Solo Play

Later expansions build on the core game, offering cooperative play and even the rare gem in tabletop wargaming: solo play.

The Perilous Dark expansion introduces solo missions and co-op scenarios where you and a friend can take on the city’s dangers together. For players who love narrative gaming or just can’t always find a group, this is a fantastic option.

The Bottom Line

Frostgrave is cheap, wickedly fun, and remarkably simple to learn. With an extremely low barrier to entry and a ruleset that feels familiar to most gamers, it’s an easy win for anyone looking to dive into the world of miniature wargaming.

Whether you're new to the hobby or just looking for a fresh, story-driven experience, Frostgrave stands out from the crowd with its d20 mechanics, creative freedom, and focus on loot over kills.

So - what kind of wizard will you be? What story will you tell? Will you fight for riches, glory, and secrets? Or will your journey end too soon, only for a new wizard to rise, in a new hat, ready to try again?