Building a Wargame Collection: Print and Plays

If you’re just starting your wargaming journey, welcome! We hope you have some open shelf space. But before you spend a lot of money and haul a lot of heavy boxes home, consider starting with print-and-play (PnP) games, many of which are easily accessible online, and often free of charge. You’ll get to try out different mechanics and elements, and explore various subjects and themes, without too much of a commitment.

We mounted the paper print outs on chip board. Battle for Moscow teaches variable movement, terrain modifiers in battle, and other key concepts. Learn for yourself why you shouldn’t march on Moscow in the winter. Photo © 2026 WargamesandWhisky.com

Where to Find PnP Games:

Board Game Geek should be your first stop for many questions, including where to find PnP links: https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/19588/historical-wargamesseries-with-free-print-and-play

Brian Train - designer of our featured Ukrainian Crisis - maintains a list of free PnP games he has designed on his blog: https://brtrain.wordpress.com/free-games/

Many of Hollandspiele’s games are available in a PnP format from Wargame Vault: https://www.wargamevault.com/en/publisher/10383/hollandspiele

Supplies:

If you’re too old for school supply lists but want to relive the joy of getting brand new things and doing some crafts, below you’ll find a list of materials we use for our print and plays. Most of these have enough material/pieces for over several games. Instead of investing in a printer, you can also print at your local library (often free of charge for a few pages a month) or send your printer orders to a local print shop. (Note: we earn a small commission if you use our affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.)

Printer that prints on cardstock https://amzn.to/466H36i

Cardstock to print slightly weightier pieces directly https://amzn.to/4qQW9GF

Spray glue https://amzn.to/4dcKNHa

Chip board to make those counters feel more solid https://amzn.to/4cnggGo

Alternatively, print on sticker paper: https://amzn.to/46eLdcm

And stick to black cards: https://amzn.to/4xvgN0R

And for Counters: Precut 1×1 Square Label Paper: https://amzn.to/4ypvJhL

Sharp scissors https://amzn.to/4gxhy4e

Card corner rounder https://amzn.to/4qYx6S4

Zipper bags for components https://amzn.to/4iNtTT4

Plastic boxes to store the small pieces https://amzn.to/4xt8BPb

Plastic boxes for cards https://amzn.to/3Uv9MPL