Mantic Games

Mantic Games is a British tabletop-games company based in Bulwell, Nottingham. Trading through Mantic Entertainment Ltd, the company was founded in 2008 by Ronnie Renton, a former Games Workshop managing director, together with two other investors. It began trading in 2009 and initially concentrated on affordable fantasy miniatures designed for mass-battle gaming. Its early products were compatible in scale and intended use with established miniature-wargaming systems, including Warhammer Fantasy Battles, while gradually establishing Mantic's own settings, rules, and intellectual property. The company developed in Nottingham's traditional miniature-manufacturing cluster, sometimes known as the Lead Belt. Its early plastic miniatures were sculpted by Bob Naismith and manufactured using tooling by Renedra in the United Kingdom. Other early figures were cast in metal at Mantic's own facilities. The company initially relied on traditional hand-sculpting, later moving much of its design workflow to digital sculpting. Ex-Games Workshop painter Mike McVey contributed to early art direction and photography, helping define the visual presentation of the emerging range. Mantic expanded beyond miniatures into complete tabletop game systems and board games. Its principal original properties include Kings of War, a fantasy mass-battle game set in the Pannithor universe; Warpath, a science-fiction setting supporting games such as Deadzone and Firefight; DreadBall, a science-fiction sports game; and Dungeon Saga, a fantasy dungeon-crawling line. Other notable titles and properties include Dwarf King's Hold, Project Pandora, Loka, Armada, and later Dungeon Saga Origins. Mantic has also developed licensed games based on brands including Mars Attacks, The Walking Dead, Hellboy, Worms, and Halo. Crowdfunding became an important route for product development. Mantic launched its first Kickstarter campaign for Kings of War in 2012 and subsequently used crowdfunding for additional games, expansions, and product ranges. This approach allowed the company to test demand, finance tooling and production, and involve its community in the development process. Mantic's community-oriented operating model also includes fan-facing Rules Committees, which provide feedback on rules and ongoing game development. Manufacturing methods changed over time. Mantic began producing resin models in-house in 2018, and resin production expanded significantly around the 2020 release of Armada. Since then, resin has progressively replaced traditional metal casting across much of the catalogue, although some metal lines remained in-house as of 2024. In 2015 the company moved to its current headquarters in Bulwell. By the end of 2021, Ronnie Renton had become Mantic's sole owner. The company has also developed digital and 3D-printing services. In 2023 it launched Mantic Companion, a web application providing army-list building tools and access to current rules for its games through subscription tiers. The same year it introduced Mantic Vault, a subscription service for downloadable 3D-printable model assets. In 2025, Mantic Vault added an online store for individual digital-asset purchases alongside the subscription offering. In 2024, Mantic acquired the assets of River Horse Games, the studio founded by designer Alessio Cavatore, strengthening its portfolio of licensed and original tabletop properties. Mantic's positioning combines relatively accessible miniature gaming, proprietary game universes, licensed entertainment properties, crowdfunding, and ongoing community participation. Its products span collectible and army-building miniatures, rules-led miniature wargames, board games, dungeon crawlers, terrain, digital tools, and printable assets.

Mantic Games was founded in Nottingham in 2008 by Ronnie Renton, formerly managing director of Games Workshop, and two other investors. The company began trading in 2009, entering the British miniature-gaming market with fantasy figures intended to be affordable and compatible with established mass-battle gaming conventions. Nottingham provided access to a dense local network of sculptors, artists, manufacturers, and game designers. The company's early production combined plastic miniatures made using Renedra tooling with metal figures cast in-house. Bob Naismith sculpted early plastic models, while Mike McVey contributed to the initial visual direction and photography. For several years, Mantic used traditional hand-sculpting; its design pipeline subsequently shifted toward digital sculpting. The company gradually moved from being primarily a miniatures producer to a publisher of complete tabletop systems and board games. Kings of War became the central fantasy property. Set in the world first known as Mantica and later presented as Pannithor, it developed into a wider group of games including Kings of War, Kings of War: Vanguard, Kings of War: Armada, and Kings of War: Champions. In science fiction, Mantic created the Warpath universe, supporting games such as Deadzone and Firefight. DreadBall provided a sports-themed science-fiction setting, while Dungeon Saga and related releases addressed fantasy dungeon-crawling. Other original or associated projects included Dwarf King's Hold, Project Pandora, Loka, and Terrain Crate scenery. Mantic also pursued licensed tabletop properties. Its licensed catalogue has included games based on Mars Attacks, The Walking Dead, Hellboy, Worms, and Halo. This mix of proprietary universes and recognizable entertainment licenses enabled the company to address both dedicated miniature gamers and broader board-game audiences. Crowdfunding became a recurring part of Mantic's product-development model. The company began using Kickstarter in 2012, initially for Kings of War, and later used the platform for further games, expansions, and miniatures. Crowdfunding provided a way to validate demand and finance production while giving the community an active role in product development. Mantic's broader community model includes Rules Committees, groups of experienced fans that provide feedback on rules and help communicate player concerns to the company. Members may be asked to demonstrate familiarity with a game and contribute narrative material. Mantic moved to its current Bulwell headquarters in 2015. Matt Gilbert joined the company as chief operating officer in 2016, following earlier contributions to Mantic products. Manufacturing continued to evolve: in-house resin production began in 2018 and expanded substantially around the 2020 release of Armada. Resin progressively displaced traditional metal casting across much of the catalogue, although some metal lines remained in-house as of 2024. Ownership also changed. By the end of 2021, Ronnie Renton had become Mantic's sole owner. The company subsequently expanded its digital infrastructure. Mantic Companion launched in 2023 as a web application for army-list construction and access to current rules, supported by subscription tiers. Mantic Vault launched the same year as a subscription service for downloadable 3D-printable models, and in 2025 added one-time purchases through an online store. In 2024, Mantic acquired the assets of River Horse Games, the company founded by designer Alessio Cavatore. Mantic remains an active British tabletop publisher and manufacturer, with operations spanning miniature wargames, board games, licensed properties, terrain, digital rules tools, and printable model assets.

• 2025

  Mantic Vault adds an online store

  [1]Mantic Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  The digital-model service adds one-time purchases alongside subscriptions.

• 2024

  River Horse Games assets acquired

  [1]Mantic Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Mantic acquires the assets of River Horse Games.

• 2023

  Mantic Companion and Mantic Vault launch

  [1]Mantic Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Mantic introduces a digital rules and army-list service and a subscription service for printable 3D models.

• 2021

  Ronnie Renton becomes sole owner

  [1]Mantic Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Renton holds sole ownership of Mantic by the end of the year.

• 2020

  Armada release expands resin manufacturing

  [1]Mantic Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  The fantasy naval game Armada coincides with a major increase in resin production.

• 2018

  In-house resin production begins

  [1]Mantic Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Mantic starts producing resin models internally.

• 2015

  Move to Bulwell

  [1]Mantic Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  The company relocates to its current headquarters in Bulwell, Nottingham.

• 2012

  First Kickstarter campaign

  [1]Mantic Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Mantic uses Kickstarter for Kings of War development and production.

• 2009

  Commercial trading begins

  [1]Mantic Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Mantic begins trading with an initial focus on fantasy miniatures.

• 2008

  Mantic Games is founded

  [1]Mantic Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Ronnie Renton and two other investors establish the Nottingham-based company.

A community-focused tabletop publisher and miniature manufacturer offering accessible original game systems, licensed board games, army miniatures, terrain, and digital gaming services.

• Fantasy miniature wargame

  Kings of War

  Mantic's principal fantasy mass-battle system, set in the Pannithor universe. It uses large formations of miniatures and supports a broad range of fantasy armies. The property has expanded into related formats including Vanguard skirmish gaming, Armada naval battles, and Champions.

• Science-fiction skirmish game

  Deadzone

  A science-fiction skirmish game within Mantic's Warpath universe. It focuses on smaller forces and tactical battles in dense environments, complementing the larger-scale Firefight system.

• Science-fiction miniature wargame

  Firefight

  A larger-scale science-fiction battle game set in the Warpath universe. It is designed for engagements involving units and formations rather than the smaller teams emphasized by Deadzone.

• Science-fiction sports game

  DreadBall

  A science-fiction miniature sports game in which teams compete in a violent futuristic arena. Its rules and miniatures extend Mantic's range beyond conventional fantasy and military wargames.

• Fantasy dungeon-crawling game

  Dungeon Saga

  A fantasy dungeon-crawling property built around heroes, monsters, exploration, and scenario-based play. The line includes the later Dungeon Saga Origins product, broadening the setting's board-game presentation.

• Fantasy naval miniature game · 2020

  Armada

  A naval battle game in the Kings of War fantasy setting. Players command fleets rather than land armies, and its release was associated with a substantial increase in Mantic's in-house resin production.

• Tabletop scenery

  Terrain Crate

  A range of modular scenery and terrain miniatures intended for role-playing games, miniature wargames, and other tabletop environments. The range supports multiple genres and can be used to build gaming tables and scenario settings.

• Digital tabletop-gaming service · 2023

  Mantic Companion

  A web application providing army-list construction tools and access to current rules for Mantic's game systems. It is supported through subscription tiers and extends the company's tabletop products into digital services.

• 3D-printable digital assets · 2023

  Mantic Vault

  A digital service offering downloadable 3D model assets for home printing. It began as a monthly subscription service and later added an online store for individual purchases.

• 2012Kings of War Kickstarter

  International

  Mantic used Kickstarter to support the development and production of Kings of War, establishing crowdfunding as a recurring part of its product strategy.

  Outcome. The campaign began a broader pattern of crowdfunding games, expansions, and miniature ranges.

  Source

• 2024

  Acquire River Horse Games assetsM&A

  Background

  River Horse Games was a tabletop publisher and developer founded by Alessio Cavatore that had contributed games and products to the hobby market.

  Action taken

  Mantic acquired the assets of River Horse Games.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition broadened Mantic's portfolio and asset base, although the cited material does not provide transaction terms.

  Source

• 2023

  Build subscription-based digital servicesStrategy

  Background

  Mantic sought to support its tabletop systems with digital tools and expand into downloadable content for home 3D printing.

  Action taken

  The company launched Mantic Companion for rules and army-list tools and Mantic Vault for printable digital models.

  Aftermath

  Mantic expanded its customer relationship beyond physical miniatures and games; Mantic Vault later added one-time digital purchases.

  Source

• 2018

  Expand in-house resin manufacturingStrategy

  Background

  Mantic had historically used plastic, metal, and external production arrangements for different parts of its miniature catalogue.

  Action taken

  The company began producing resin models in-house and later increased this capability substantially.

  Aftermath

  Resin progressively replaced traditional metal casting across much of the catalogue, particularly after the release of Armada.

  Source

1. 1Mantic Gamesen.wikipedia.org