So you've heard about fantasy football tabletop games and you're wondering where to start. Maybe you've seen someone's painted miniatures online, or a friend has invited you to a league - either way, welcome! This guide is written specifically for newcomers and answers the most important question first: what games exist, and how many miniatures do I actually need to play them? Fantasy football tabletop games put you in the role of a coach, moving miniature players around a pitch to score goals, block opponents, and (in some games) cause as much chaos as possible. Each player on the pitch is represented by a physical miniature that you collect, assemble, and often paint. The number of miniatures you need varies quite a bit depending on which game you choose. And that's exactly what this guide is here to clarify.

The Games at a Glance

The table below covers every major fantasy football tabletop game currently available, showing the current edition, how many miniatures make up a team, how many are on the pitch at once, and the player position types you'll be working with.

IMPORTANT: miniature counts can change between editions. Always check you are buying for the correct current edition of whichever game you choose. Each game's full guide (linked below) includes edition history and compatibility notes.

The Games, Briefly

Blood Bowl — Games Workshop

The original and most popular fantasy football tabletop game, first published in 1986 and now in its third season. Teams of 11–16 miniatures compete on a gridiron style pitch. With over 25 fantasy race teams available, from humans and orcs to undead and halflings. As the largest global player community, Blood Bowl is the natural starting point for most newcomers. It also has the widest range of miniatures available and the most active league scene.

👉 Read the full Blood Bowl guide — coming soon

Blitz Bowl — Games Workshop

Blitz Bowl is the streamlined, beginner-friendly version of Blood Bowl. Teams are just 6 miniatures, games take under 30 minutes and the rules are considerably simpler. If you're not sure whether fantasy football tabletop gaming is for you, Blitz Bowl is the lowest-commitment way to find out. Plus, the miniatures are directly usable if you later move to Blood Bowl.

👉 Read the full Blitz Bowl guide — coming soon

DreadBall — Mantic Games

DreadBall takes the genre into the far future - a sci-fi sports arena where corporate teams of robots, aliens, and mutants compete for galactic glory. Teams are built from three specialist positions (Guards, Jacks, Strikers) and played on a hexagonal board. The 2nd Edition starter box is excellent value and includes two complete teams, making it easy to get two players into the game immediately.

👉 Read the full DreadBall guide — coming soon

Guild Ball — Steamforged Games

Guild Ball is the smallest-team game in this guide - just 6 miniatures per side. But what it lacks in model count it more than makes up for in tactical depth. Set in a medieval fantasy world, each player model is completely unique with its own stats and special abilities. Rules are free to download, and Steamforged even offers free 3D-printable starter miniatures, making this the most accessible game for players on a budget.

👉 Read the full Guild Ball guide — coming soon

Myth & Goal — Blacklist Games

One of the newer games in the genre, Myth & Goal is a great choice for players who want variety straight out of the box/. The core set includes four complete teams of 8 miniatures each. It also features a fully integrated solo play mode, making it the only game on this list you can enjoy without a second player.

👉 Read the full Myth & Goal guide — coming soon

Elfball — Impact! Miniatures

Elfball is an independent fantasy football game with a loyal following, using teams of up to 12 miniatures in a circular arena. The rules are completely free to download, and miniatures are available in both metal and digital STL format for 3D printer owners. A great choice for players who want an alternative aesthetic to the mainstream options.

👉 Read the full Elfball guide — coming soon

Slaughterball — Frog the What Games

Slaughterball is the most combat-focused game in this guide, you score points both by putting the ball in the goal and by injuring your opponents. Teams of 12 miniatures are divided into four specialist types, each with a distinctively shaped base so you always know who does what on the pitch. The core box includes four teams, so it's ready to play straight away for up to four coaches.

👉 Read the full Slaughterball guide — coming soon

Kaosball — CMON

Designed by acclaimed board game designer Eric M. Lang, Kaosball is a card-driven fantasy sports game with teams of 13 miniatures. It is currently out of print, so it's only available on the second hand market. Worth knowing about if you're hunting for something different, but not the best starting point for a complete newcomer.

👉 Read the full Kaosball guide — coming soon

Which Game Should I Start With?

Some quick pointers based on what matters to you the most.

What We Stock at Anarky Creations

At Anarky Creations we specialise in 3D printed fantasy football miniatures and accessories. We print to order, so every piece arrives ready for you to paint and play. Here's what we currently carry in our fantasy football range:

UGNI Miniatures — Alternative Fantasy Football Teams

UGNI Miniatures design alternative fantasy football teams in a wide variety of styles and races, along with supporting staff such as coaches, apothecaries, and fans. Their miniatures are system agnostic — compatible with any 28mm fantasy football game on this list. We sell the printed miniatures (not the STL files).

👉 Browse our UGNI Miniatures fantasy football range - UGNI Miniatures

MGPIX — Fantasy Football Trophies

MGPIX produce a set of six fantasy football trophy miniatures — perfect for league play as awards, markers, or display pieces. A great finishing touch for any coach who takes their league seriously.

👉 Browse our MGPIX fantasy football trophies - MGpix Trophies

TXARLI Factory — Fantasy Football Bases

TXARLI Factory produce a single set of themed fantasy football bases, available in round format and compatible with 28mm and 32mm miniatures. These are an excellent way to give your team a consistent, professional look on the pitch. Please note we stock the TXARLI bases only — we do not currently carry their miniature range.

👉 Browse our TXARLI fantasy football bases - Fantasy Football Bases

PLEASE NOTE: Anarky Creations does not stock Games Workshop products or any miniatures where intellectual property restrictions apply. Our range focuses on independent designers and licensed print partners.

A Note on the Wider Third-Party Market

Beyond what we stock, there is a thriving independent market for fantasy football miniatures. Companies like Greebo Games, Willy Miniatures, and Punga Miniatures all produce system-agnostic teams across a wide range of fantasy race archetypes. These are worth exploring if you're looking for a specific aesthetic or race not covered by the major publishers. 

👉 Read our guide to third-party fantasy football miniature manufacturers — coming soon

This article is part of the Anarky Creations Fantasy Football Tabletop Guide series. All information refers to the current editions of each game as of April 2026