Hardwar, a new 6mm round base tactical mech game from Modiphius built for fast turns and smart decisions, is taking aim at BattleTech.
The mech wargaming scene hasn’t exactly been short on options, but if you’ve ever found yourself eyeing a BattleTech campaign and quietly muttering, “Love the setting, but can we get through this turn before dinner?”, you’re not alone. Hardwar, the latest project from Modiphius, answers that with a firm nod, round bases, and a tray of 6mm resin miniatures.
This is mech-on-mech violence in the 22nd century—leaner, easier, and refreshingly snappy.
Why Hardwar Isn’t Just Another ‘Mech Game
At first glance, Hardwar looks like it’s from the same family as BattleTech. We’ve got armored units, advanced weapon systems, tactical objectives, and enough acronyms to make an aerospace engineer blush. But this isn’t a nostalgia reprint.
Hardwar steps in with rules that are streamlined from the ground up for modern wargamers.
Combat is based on a clever D12 pool system. Attackers roll dice equal to their unit’s firepower; defenders roll for armor and cover. Matching dice cancel each other. Anything left gets grouped together to beat the target number (range + armor). Roll a double? That’s a critical hit. It’s clean, quick, and a massive break from the flowchart-level crunch that slows down many mech-based games.
The visual identity is tight too—Modiphius has remastered every miniature with improved detail, better stand mounts (goodbye, wobbly brass rods), and sharper manufacturing fidelity. These 6mm mechs punch above their weight visually, and they actually hold up on the table.
Hardwar Is The Action Movie Cousin of BattleTech
If you’re worried that Hardwar cuts complexity in the name of speed, don’t. The game still offers plenty of tactical crunch. Each Element (unit) gets two actions, and you’ll need to manage movement, position, and special roles on a tight budget.
Want to scout ahead with your sentient drone swarm? Fine. Want to drop cyberwarfare attacks while your tanks hammer the front line? You’ve got the tools.
And the AI system for solo play isn’t an afterthought. With branching logic that actually reacts to your battlefield state, it’s good enough to use for warm-ups, campaign narrative scenarios, or straight-up training runs before your next PvP grudge match.
The Scale and Setup Make It Easy to Start
Hardwar doesn’t require a full afternoon or a dining table-sized play area. A standard game involves 6–10 models per player and can be finished in under 90 minutes.
Setup is minimal. Models are small, the footprint is tight, and you’re not spending 20 minutes referencing armor facings or heat sinks.
That makes it ideal for casual players, newcomers, or anyone who’s been turned off by the more glacial pace of other mech games. For veterans, it offers a chance to run a more fluid campaign without losing depth.
BattleTech Comparison: What’s the Draw?
So, is Hardwar a straight-up replacement for BattleTech? No. The two games serve different purposes. BattleTech is fantastic for players who love RPG-style depth, detailed pilot tracking, and long-form campaigns.
Hardwar is for those who want the same thematic feel—mechs, firepower, tech variation—but want to skip the spreadsheet work and still get a satisfying tactical hit.
It’s similar to how Kill Team serves a different itch than full-blown Warhammer 40K. Same universe, different tempo.
Is Hardwar Worth Backing?
With a new Kickstarter live and the full rulebook updated to include former PDF-only content, Hardwar is shaping up to be more than just another indie darling.
Modiphius has put serious development time into the minis, solo rules, faction variety, and visual presentation. You’re not buying into a skeleton system—they’ve backed this with experienced sculptors, rules writers, and narrative design muscle.
For fans of fast-paced skirmish games or anyone who wants a break from the data-heavy legacy of other mech games, Hardwar is a welcome addition. This is one of those titles that feels designed by players who wanted to stop talking about playing and just play.
Final Thoughts on Hardwar
Hardwar hits that sweet spot between crunch and chaos. It’s fast without being flimsy, smart without bogging you down, and stylish enough to look good doing it.
Think of it like the action movie cousin of BattleTech—less boots-on-the-ground realism, more cinematic firefights in a cyberpunk future. If you’ve got love for mechs but want your games to finish in one sitting, this one’s worth watching.
Back The Project on Kickstarter Here!
Hardwar isn’t new. It used to be owned by Strato Mini Studios, a Polish company. Modiphius took it over, either through license or buying the IP, I can’t remember which.