How to Play Warhammer Online — Digital & Remote Options

You can play Warhammer remotely using Tabletop Simulator (TTS) on Steam, webcam games over Discord, or fully digital platforms like Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus. TTS with community mods is the most popular option for playing full games of Warhammer 40k and Age of Sigmar online.

Not everyone lives near a gaming store or has regular opponents. Whether you are in a remote area, want to practice lists before a tournament, or simply prefer the convenience of playing from home, there are several solid ways to play Warhammer online. Each method has trade-offs between visual quality, ease of use, and social experience.

This guide covers every major option for playing Warhammer remotely, with setup instructions and honest assessments of each.

Warhammer Online: Your Options at a Glance

There are three main ways to play Warhammer online: Tabletop Simulator (TTS) on Steam with free community mods, webcam games over Discord using your own painted models, and official digital games such as Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus. For full games of Warhammer 40k or Age of Sigmar, Tabletop Simulator is the most popular choice and the closest thing to the real tabletop.

To find opponents, join the TTS 40k or TTS AoS Discord communities, which also run regular online tournaments.

Tabletop Simulator (TTS)

Tabletop Simulator is a physics-based sandbox game on Steam that lets you simulate tabletop games digitally. It is the dominant platform for playing Warhammer 40k and Age of Sigmar online, with an active modding community that has created virtually every model, terrain piece, and accessory you would need.

How to Get Started with TTS

1. Buy Tabletop Simulator on Steam — It costs around $20 USD (frequently on sale for $10). No subscription or additional purchases needed
2. Subscribe to Warhammer mods — Open the Steam Workshop and search for “Warhammer 40k” or “Age of Sigmar.” Subscribe to mod packs that include the armies you play. Popular packs include complete faction sets with every unit
3. Download terrain packs — Search for “40k terrain” or “Warhammer terrain” in the Workshop. Community-made terrain ranges from simple scatter to elaborate city boards
4. Learn the controls — TTS has a learning curve. Practice spawning objects, measuring distances (built-in ruler tool), rolling dice, and moving models before your first game
5. Find opponents — Join TTS Warhammer Discord servers where players organise games. The TTS 40k and TTS AoS communities are active and welcoming to newcomers

TTS Pros

• Play any army without owning the physical models
• No setup or cleanup time — save and load game states instantly
• Built-in measurement, dice rolling, and objective markers
• Free army building — test lists before buying models
• Active community with regular updates and new models
• Cross-platform (PC and Mac)

TTS Cons

• Learning curve for the interface — physics can be finicky
• Models are 3D representations, not your painted miniatures
• Loses the tactile hobby element of physical gaming
• Can feel impersonal compared to face-to-face games
• Some mods may be taken down periodically due to IP concerns

Webcam Gaming Over Discord

Webcam gaming lets you play with your actual painted models while your opponent does the same from their location. Each player sets up their half of the table, points a webcam at it, and communicates via Discord (or any video call platform).

How to Set Up Webcam Gaming

1. Camera setup — Mount a webcam or phone camera above your gaming table pointing straight down. A desk lamp clamp or flexible phone holder works. Bird’s-eye view is essential so your opponent can see the board clearly
2. Lighting — Good, even lighting eliminates shadows that obscure model positions. Two desk lamps on either side of the table work well
3. Table setup — Set up terrain on your half of the board. Both players should agree on terrain placement and mirror approximate layouts
4. Communication — Use Discord or Zoom for video and voice. Some players use two cameras: one overhead and one at table level for better perspective
5. Trust system — Measurements and dice rolls happen on each player’s side. This requires trust, but the Warhammer community is generally honest in this format

Webcam Gaming Pros

• Play with your actual painted models — the hobby stays alive
• More personal and social than TTS — you see and talk to your opponent
• No software learning curve beyond basic video calling
• Free (assuming you own a webcam or phone and models)

Webcam Gaming Cons

• Camera angles can make precise positioning difficult to verify
• Requires physical models and a gaming table at both locations
• Setup and cleanup still required
• Relies heavily on trust for measurements and line of sight
• Internet quality affects the experience — lag and low resolution are frustrating

Official Digital Warhammer Games

Several officially licensed Warhammer video games offer competitive play, though none replicate the full tabletop experience exactly:

Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus (Mobile)

• Turn-based tactical game with official Warhammer 40k units
• PvP arena mode for competitive play
• Free-to-play with microtransactions
• Simplified rules — not a direct simulation of the tabletop game
• Good for casual Warhammer gaming on the go

Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector

• Turn-based strategy with campaign and skirmish modes
• More detailed than Tacticus, closer to tabletop feel
• Limited factions (Blood Angels, Tyranids, others via DLC)
• Single-player focused but has multiplayer

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin

• Real-time strategy game set in the Age of Sigmar universe
• Not turn-based — different gameplay feel from tabletop
• Online multiplayer with ranked modes
• Four factions at launch with DLC expansions

Warhammer 40,000: Gladius – Relics of War

• 4X strategy game on a hex grid
• Multiple factions available
• Multiplayer supported
• More about empire-building than tactical combat

None of these games perfectly replicate the tabletop experience — they are adaptations with their own mechanics. TTS remains the closest digital equivalent to actual Warhammer tabletop gaming.

Online Tournament Platforms

Competitive Warhammer has established online tournament scenes:

• TTS Tournament Circuits — Multiple Discord communities run regular TTS tournaments with full 2000-point matched play rules. Events use official tournament packs and are taken seriously by competitive players
• Best Coast Pairings (BCP) — While primarily for tracking in-person events, BCP is used for online event registration and results. Many TTS tournaments use BCP for pairings and scoring
• Tabletop.to — Event management platform used for both in-person and online Warhammer events

Online tournaments typically follow the same rules as in-person events but with accommodations for the digital format — agreed-upon terrain layouts, screenshot verification for disputes, and round timers managed through Discord bots.

Discord Communities for Online Warhammer

Discord is the hub of online Warhammer gaming. Key communities include:

• TTS 40k — The largest Tabletop Simulator community for 40k. Game-finding channels, rule discussions, tournament announcements
• TTS AoS — The equivalent for Age of Sigmar players
• Various faction-specific Discords — Most factions have dedicated servers where players organise both in-person and online games
• Local gaming community Discords — Many local gaming stores and clubs have Discord servers that organise webcam games alongside in-person sessions

Is Online Warhammer as Good as In-Person?

Honest answer: no, but it is a solid alternative when in-person play is not possible. Here is what you gain and lose:

What Online Gets Right

• Accessibility — play any time, from anywhere
• Variety — access to opponents from around the world
• Cost (TTS) — test armies without buying models
• Convenience — no travel, no carrying cases, no setup time

What In-Person Offers

• The tactile experience of moving painted models on real terrain
• Social atmosphere — table talk, shared excitement, community bonding
• Visual spectacle — a fully painted army on a terrain-rich table is genuinely impressive
• Physical dice rolling — surprisingly important for the “feel” of the game
• The complete hobby loop — build, paint, play

Many players use online gaming as a supplement to in-person play rather than a replacement — practising lists on TTS before a tournament, playing friends who live far away via webcam, or staying engaged with the hobby during travel.

What Equipment Do I Need for Webcam Gaming?

At minimum, you need a webcam or smartphone, a stable internet connection, and your models and terrain. For a good experience, invest in a flexible mount to position the camera overhead, proper lighting (two desk lamps eliminate most shadows), and a decent microphone. Total cost for a basic webcam setup is around $30-50 on top of what you already own. If using a phone, a flexible goose-neck phone holder clamped to the table edge is the cheapest effective solution.

Can I Play Kill Team or Other Specialist Games Online?

Yes. TTS has mods for Kill Team, Warcry, Underworlds, Necromunda, and other specialist games. These smaller-format games actually work better online than full-scale 40k or AoS because the smaller board size and fewer models reduce the complexity of digital play. Kill Team is particularly popular on TTS, with an active competitive scene and regular tournaments. Webcam gaming also works well for specialist games since the smaller play area is easier to capture with a single camera.

Is It Legal to Use TTS for Warhammer?

This is a grey area. Games Workshop has not officially endorsed or sanctioned TTS for Warhammer gameplay. The game rules themselves cannot be copyrighted (game mechanics are not protected intellectual property), but the 3D models on the Steam Workshop may infringe on GW’s trademarks and copyrights. Occasionally, GW has issued takedown notices for specific Workshop content. In practice, the TTS Warhammer community has been active for years without systematic enforcement, and many prominent community figures (including tournament organisers and content creators) use TTS openly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to play Warhammer online for free?

Tabletop Simulator costs $20 (often $10 on sale) but all Warhammer content is free via Steam Workshop mods. After the initial TTS purchase, there are no ongoing costs. Webcam gaming is free if you have a camera and models. For fully free options, some online communities play via shared screen with one player controlling the board.

Can I practice army lists online before buying models?

Yes — this is one of the biggest advantages of TTS. You can build and play any army without owning a single model. Many players use TTS specifically to test lists before investing in physical models, saving significant money by confirming they enjoy a playstyle before committing.

How do online tournaments handle cheating?

TTS tournaments typically use screenshot verification for disputed situations, stream key games for oversight, and rely on community reputation. Persistent cheaters are banned from tournament circuits. The online competitive community is smaller and more interconnected than in-person scenes, so reputational consequences are significant.

Do I need a powerful computer for TTS?

No. Tabletop Simulator has modest system requirements — most computers made in the last 5-7 years can run it smoothly. Heavy mod usage (many detailed models on the table) can cause slowdowns on older machines, but standard game sizes run fine on mid-range hardware.

Can I play Warhammer online on mobile?

Not through TTS (PC and Mac only). For mobile, Warhammer 40,000: Tacticus offers competitive play, and webcam gaming via Discord mobile is possible but awkward. The best mobile option for tabletop-style gameplay is using army builder apps to theorycraft lists and then arranging TTS or webcam games on your computer.

Can I play Warhammer online on console?

Yes, but only through the video games. Tabletop Simulator is PC and Mac only. Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin and Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector are also on PlayStation and Xbox, with online multiplayer. Neither plays like the tabletop rules, but both let you fight other players with Warhammer armies.

Is there an official way to play Warhammer Underworlds online?

Yes. Warhammer Underworlds: Online is a licensed digital version of the card-and-miniatures game for PC, released in 2020. It uses the game’s warbands and decks, and it plays far closer to the tabletop than other Warhammer video games. Tabletop Simulator mods also exist for Underworlds if you want the newer seasons.

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