Lancer creator’s Magnagothica: Maleghast melds Necromunda with Doom for a hell of a good time

Magnagothica: Maleghast is one of the year’s quieter releases. It’s an indie skirmish wargame, intended for virtual tabletops (no physical miniatures, but playable on Roll20, Tabletop Simulator and so on), and the whole thing is masterminded and illustrated by Tom Bloom, half of Massif Press - responsible for mech RPG Lancer - and all of webcomic Kill Six Billion Demons. It first caught my attention thanks to its creator’s significant pedigree and its commitment to a Hell-themed look. (The game released on Halloween and is sold for $6.66 on Itch.io.) But, after playing it, I’ve discovered that Maleghast is a brilliant little game that punches far above its weight class in terms of look, pace and sheer fun. The first thing you’ll notice about Maleghast is its aesthetic. Granted, it’s hard to miss. Described influences are ‘heavy metal and gothic horror’, but this doesn’t quite do it justice. The game takes aesthetic notes from H.R. Giger, Doom, Necromunda and classic fantasy in equal parts, a wildly exuberant aesthetic tied together by Bloom’s artistic talent, experience and eye for action. Bloom is an unabashed maximalist, his necromancers adorned with everything from unholy grimoires to cigarette packets. This aesthetic mastery is best put to work in Maleghast’s vibrant, distinct factions. CARCASS is a private military company adorned with calcified spec ops gear. The Goregrinders fuse Mad Max engines with slasher-flick hockey masks. The Deadsouls feed on classic Satanic Panic motifs of horned devils, inverted crucifixes and exorcist-inspired Banshees. This culminates in an overall feel that is in equal parts camp and creep, and sure to mesmerise before a single line of rules text is read. Read more