Introduction: Crowds Vote for the Best of 2025
After a year packed with astonishing sculpts, meticulous painting, and fierce competition, the Warhammer Miniature of the Year 2025 has been decided by the community. Thousands of players and hobbyists weighed in, voting across three major categories to crown the standout pieces that defined 2025 in the worlds of Warhammer 40,000, Kill Team, and Warhammer Age of Sigmar. Here are the winners, the stories behind them, and what makes these models so beloved by fans around the globe.
Category 1: Warhammer 40,000 — The Best of the Grimdark
The Warhammer 40,000 category honors the grand scale and cinematic drama that define the 41st millennium. This year’s winning model captures a moment of grit, power, and narrative tension, resonating with players who build war-scarred tableaux and firefight dioramas. The winning miniature stands out for its sculptural stance, dynamic pose, and painterly depth—details that translate both on the tabletop and as a display piece. Judges praised the miniature’s contrast, texture work, and subtle weathering that tells a story of battle-worn resilience.
Notable runners-up
Other top contenders showcased the breadth of 40k’s ever-expanding universe, from towering commanders to skirmishing elites. Collectors who favor narrative setups appreciated how these pieces inspire dramatic table histories and painting challenges alike.
Category 2: Kill Team — Small-Scale Brilliance
Kill Team rewards compact, expressive miniatures that shine in tight playgrounds of terrain and tactical nuance. The 2025 winner excels in micro-sculpting—the kind of detail that reads clearly at game distance yet rewards close inspection for hobbyists. The piece demonstrates expert layering, precise edge highlights, and a cohesive color scheme that communicates the unit’s role within a Kill Team’s lore. Its presence at the center of hobby conversations speaks to how even small figures can carry ambitious storytelling and showpiece quality.
What makes a Kill Team winner pop?
Voters highlighted the model’s readability on the tabletop, the balance of color and shadow, and the painter’s command of texture, from reinforced armor plating to fabric folds that feel life-like under regular lighting. The model’s stance also invites narrative possibilities, a key factor for Kill Team players who build their own micro-games around character and backstory.
Category 3: Warhammer Age of Sigmar — Epic Fantasy in Miniature
Age of Sigmar winners celebrate grand mythic scope and theatrical presence. In 2025, the top piece demonstrated sweeping motion, regal poise, and a storytelling gesture that echoes the lean into heroic fantasy. Voters rewarded not just technical prowess, but the sense that the miniature could command a narrative moment—whether on a tabletop campaign or a display shelf. The winning entry blends sweeping fabric, dynamic weaponwork, and luminous palette choices that echo the magical energies characteristic of the Mortal Realms.
Why These Winners Matter
The Warhammer Miniature of the Year awards aren’t just about technical ability; they spotlight pieces that spark imagination, drive the hobby forward, and encourage others to push their own painting and conversion skills. This year’s winners highlight a healthy diversity of styles—from gritty realism to high-fantasy spectacle—demonstrating the community’s broad tastes and the hobby’s creative potential.
What’s Next for Winners and Voters
With the announcement behind us, winners can look forward to features in upcoming hobby magazines, gallery showcases, and social media spotlights that celebrate their work. For voters, the enthusiasm doesn’t end with a vote—reviewing the runner-ups and close calls offers ongoing inspiration for conversions, color schemes, and narrative ideas for 2026. The Warhammer community continues to thrive as painters, players, and story-makers share tips, paint guides, and battle reports that fuel the next year of miniature artistry.
Conclusion: A Year of Incredible Miniatures
2025 proved once again that the world of Warhammer is a living canvas. Whether you play on a grand battlefield or paint for display, the winners of Warhammer Miniature of the Year 2025 remind us why this hobby captivates millions: remarkable craftsmanship, storytelling through miniature form, and an ever-welcoming community eager to celebrate and learn from each other.
