The Other Side vs Malifaux: Which Wyrd Miniatures Game Is Right for You?

Quick answer

Pick Malifaux if you want a character-driven skirmish game with small crews, deep faction lore, and a low entry cost. Pick The Other Side if you prefer larger battles with big monsters, titans, and a company-based army feel. Both are Wyrd Miniatures games, so both reward painting and assembly, but they ask for different amounts of time and table space.

Choosing between The Other Side and Malifaux usually comes down to one question: do you want a tight skirmish with a handful of characters, or a bigger clash with monsters and ranked units? Both games share the Wyrd Miniatures design philosophy of cinematic moments and meaningful list building, but they scale very differently.

This comparison breaks down the practical differences using real products from the Wyrd Miniatures store, so you can match a game to your hobby time, budget, and the kind of table you actually want to play on.

Scale and model count: how many miniatures you actually need

Malifaux is a skirmish game. A typical crew is a small, hand-picked group of characters, which means you can start playing with one core box and add a few key models later. The Other Side uses larger companies with multiple units and titans, so the model count climbs quickly. If you have limited painting time, Malifaux gets you to the table faster.

That difference shows up in the product range. A Malifaux box like Malifaux Third Edition: Necropunks gives you three models that slot into Amalgam and Transmortis crews. A The Other Side Titan Box like The Other Side: Alpha Crawler is a single centerpiece model that anchors a whole company. Neither is better, but they represent very different commitments.

• Count your realistic painting hours per week before choosing a scale.
• Malifaux crews often start with one core box; The Other Side companies usually need several unit boxes plus a titan.

Factions, keywords, and list building

Malifaux organizes models by faction and keyword, which keeps list building focused. For example, Malifaux Third Edition: Slate Ridge is an Arcanists box with the Chimera keyword, containing two Slate Ridge Maulers and three Molemen. That keyword tells you exactly which crews it supports, so you can plan purchases without guessing.

The Other Side uses allegiances and companies, with roles like Titan and units that fill specific battlefield jobs. The Other Side: Alpha Crawler is the signature Titan for the Gibbering Hordes, a company that wins by feeding, healing, and returning. If you enjoy building a themed force with clear internal synergy, both games deliver, but Malifaux leans more on named characters while The Other Side leans on unit roles.

• Check the keyword or allegiance on a box before buying; it is the fastest way to know if a model fits your force.
• Malifaux keywords like Versatile appear on boxes such as Malifaux Third Edition: Residents of Rottenburg, which can slot into multiple Resurrectionist crews.

Play style and table feel

Malifaux plays like a tense, objective-driven skirmish. Small model counts mean every activation matters, and losing a key piece hurts. The Other Side feels more like a battle line: bigger footprints, titans that absorb punishment, and units that trade blows across a wider front. If you like maneuvering a few specialists, Malifaux scratches that itch. If you want the drama of a monster crashing into enemy formations, The Other Side delivers it.

Neither game is simpler than the other in terms of rules depth. They just distribute complexity differently: Malifaux rewards knowing your crew's tricks, while The Other Side rewards positioning and synergy across multiple units.

• Try a demo or watch a battle report for each game before committing to a full company or crew.
• If you already play one Wyrd game, the other uses familiar concepts like fate decks and card-driven resolution, which shortens the learning curve.

Cost, storage, and hobby footprint

Entry cost tracks model count. A Malifaux crew can be built from one or two boxes, while a The Other Side company typically needs several unit boxes, a titan, and possibly an allegiance box. Storage and transport scale the same way: Malifaux crews fit in small cases, while The Other Side armies need more space and a bigger play area.

That does not make The Other Side expensive by default; it just means the buy-in is spread across more purchases. If you prefer to collect slowly and paint everything before moving on, Malifaux's smaller boxes suit that rhythm. If you enjoy batch-painting units and seeing a full army take shape, The Other Side gives you that project.

• Measure your available storage before starting a The Other Side company.
• A single Malifaux core box plus a fate deck is often enough for your first games.

Trade-offs at a glance

• Model count and painting time: Malifaux crews are small and character-focused; The Other Side companies field more units and titans. Choose Malifaux if you want to paint fewer models to a high standard; choose The Other Side if you enjoy batch-painting a full force.
• Table space and storage: Malifaux fits in a small case and a compact play area; The Other Side needs more room for units and big models. If your hobby space is limited, Malifaux is the easier fit.
• List building style: Malifaux uses faction and keyword synergy; The Other Side uses allegiance and company roles. Pick the system whose list-building logic matches how you like to plan a force.

Products that show the difference

• Malifaux Third Edition: Necropunks: Three Necropunks combine corpsework, machinery, and the stubborn need to keep moving. They support Amalgam and Transmortis crews in the Resurrectionists faction. A low-cost, three-model box that demonstrates Malifaux's skirmish scale and keyword-driven list building.
• The Other Side: Alpha Crawler: This Titan for the Gibbering Hordes turns nearby casualties into protection, absorbs punishment, and crashes into enemy formations. Shows The Other Side's larger scale and the kind of centerpiece model that anchors a company.
• Malifaux Third Edition: Slate Ridge: Slate Ridge Maulers and Molemen bring the mountain down in fur, claws, and churning earth. Chimera crews gain beasts for both the surface and everything beneath it. An Arcanists box with the Chimera keyword, illustrating how Malifaux boxes are built around faction and keyword synergy.
• The Other Side: Gibbering Hordes Fabric Patch: A 2-inch fabric patch that brings the Gibbering Hordes' feral identity to jackets, bags, and hobby cases. A small, low-cost way to show allegiance and personalize your gear, useful if you are still deciding between games.

Which game is right for you?

Best for

• Players who want a small, character-driven skirmish with a low entry cost and quick table time.
• Hobbyists who prefer painting a few detailed models and building crews around keywords like Chimera or Versatile.

Not for

• Players who want large battles with titans and multiple units right away; choose The Other Side instead.
• Hobbyists who dislike assembling and painting miniatures; both games require preparation and assembly.

Both The Other Side and Malifaux are worth your time, but they serve different appetites. If you want a focused skirmish with named characters and a low buy-in, start with Malifaux. If you want the spectacle of a larger company led by a titan, The Other Side is your game. Pick the one that matches your hobby hours and table, and you will get to playing faster.