10 Best Great War 100 Years Sets (June 2026) Expert Reviews

When I first got into historical wargaming, the Great War period felt intimidating. World War I miniature lines were scattered across a handful of brands, and figuring out which sets delivered historically accurate 28mm figures without spending a fortune took serious trial and error. That changed when the Great War 100 Years commemoration wave hit the hobby market, bringing a fresh surge of high-quality plastic miniatures and terrain to store shelves.

These commemorative sets, produced to mark the centennial of the First World War, represent some of the best value and detail in historical wargaming today. From Wargames Atlantic’s multi-part infantry kits to War World Gaming’s modular trench systems, the options available in 2026 cover nearly every nation and battlefield scenario you could want for your tabletop.

Our team spent weeks comparing 10 of the most popular Great War 100 Years sets currently available. We looked at sculpt quality, pose variety, historical accuracy, value for money, and how each set performs on the actual gaming table. Whether you are building your first WW1 army or adding terrain to an established collection, this guide covers the best Great War 100 Years sets worth your time and attention.

Top 3 Great War 100 Years Sets for 2026

10 Best Great War 100 Years Sets in 2026

1. Wargames Atlantic The Great War: French Infantry (1916-1940) – Most Historically Accurate

I picked up the French Infantry set expecting good things, and it delivered on every front. The 35 figures inside come with a level of animation that makes each miniature feel like a snapshot from the Western Front. You get soldiers in mid-charge, crouching behind cover, and operating weapons with realistic stances that look fantastic ranked up on the battlefield.

What surprised me most was the versatility. These figures span from 1916 through the interwar period and into early WW2, which means one box can serve double duty for multiple gaming systems. I built a squad for Great War rules and still had enough left over to start a Trench Crusade conversion project. The hard plastic takes glue and paint beautifully, with crisp edges that hold fine detail even after primer.

The main frustration is the assembly process. Wargames Atlantic gives you a generous number of arm options, but sorting through left and right arms to find matching pairs eats time. I also noticed more officer figures per sprue than I really needed for standard infantry squads. A simple instruction sheet showing recommended arm pairings would solve most of the headache here.

Despite the assembly quirks, this set earned its Editor’s Choice badge. With a 4.9-star rating across 32 reviews, the community clearly agrees that the sculpt quality and figure count make it one of the best Great War 100 Years sets you can buy right now.

Who Should Buy This Set

This set is ideal for wargamers who want maximum flexibility from a single box. If you play both WW1 and WW2 systems, or if you enjoy conversion projects, the French Infantry set gives you 35 multi-pose figures that work across eras and rule sets without looking out of place on any table.

Assembly and Painting Notes

Plan your arm combinations before gluing. I found it helpful to lay out all the arms by type first and pair them with specific bodies. The matte plastic takes acrylic paint well with no primer issues, and the historically accurate uniforms give you a clear painting reference for French WW1 infantry gear.

2. Wargames Atlantic The Great War: German Infantry 1916-18 – Best Value for Army Building

The German Infantry set is the workhorse of Wargames Atlantic’s Great War line. With 80 customer reviews and a solid 4.7-star rating, this box has earned its reputation as the go-to choice for building a WW1 German army fast. You get 30 multi-part plastic figures, each with four different head options including gas mask variants, which lets you field everything from early war stormtroopers to late war trench defenders.

What really sets this apart from other best Great War 100 Years sets is the sheer quantity. For the same price that some competitors charge for 10 figures, Wargames Atlantic gives you three times that number. The sculpt quality does not suffer for the count either. Uniform details like the pickelhaube helmets, gas mask canisters, and Mauser rifles are crisp and historically accurate right down to the equipment pouches.

I will flag one common issue that multiple reviewers mentioned: quality control on piece count. A few buyers received 29 figures instead of 30. It is worth counting your sprues when the box arrives. Also, the gas mask cases on some bodies sit right where certain arm positions need to go, which limits your pose options for those specific combinations.

On the gaming side, these figures are wildly popular as Death Korps of Krieg proxies for Warhammer 40k players. The gas mask heads and trench coats translate perfectly to a grimdark aesthetic, giving this set crossover appeal that extends well beyond historical wargaming.

Who Should Buy This Set

This is the set I recommend most often to anyone starting a Great War collection. The combination of 30 figures, four head variants per trooper, and broad rule system compatibility makes it the single best value for building an army core. If you play Flames of War Great War, Bolt Action, or any 28mm WW1 system, this box belongs on your shelf.

Scale and Compatibility Notes

These 28mm figures scale well alongside other Wargames Atlantic Great War releases and most major 28mm historical ranges. They run slightly taller than some older metal ranges, so keep that in mind if you are mixing manufacturers. No bases are included, so budget for separate base purchases.

3. Wargames Atlantic The Great War: British Infantry 1916-18 – Best for Kit-Bashing

The British Infantry set delivers exactly what Great War enthusiasts have been asking for: historically accurate Tommies with period-correct equipment and enough weapon variety to field any squad configuration. Each box contains 30 figures spread across 6 sprues, with 5 figures per sprue giving you tons of parts to mix and match.

What makes this set special is the weapon and head selection. You get Lee Enfield rifles, Webley pistols, Lewis guns, grenades, and trench clubs. The head options cover early war caps, pith helmets for theater variants, Brodie helmets, and gas mask heads. I was able to build a complete British Expeditionary Force squad with proper Lewis gun teams and bombing parties from a single box.

Where this set really shines is kit-bashing potential. Multiple hobbyists in our community have used these figures as conversion bases for everything from pulp adventure miniatures to sci-fi trench fighters. The parts interchange easily with other Wargames Atlantic kits, and the plastic responds well to cutting and green stuff modifications.

The lack of assembly instructions is a recurring complaint across the entire Great War line, and this box is no exception. I spent a good 20 minutes sorting arms and testing fit before committing to glue. A few buyers also reported receiving 25 figures instead of 30, so count carefully when your order arrives.

Who Should Buy This Set

If you enjoy conversion work and want figures that can serve as a base for creative projects, the British Infantry set is the best in the Wargames Atlantic Great War lineup. The combination of weapon variety, head options, and kit-bash friendly parts makes it a favorite among experienced hobbyists who want more than straight historical gaming.

Head Options and Theater Configurations

The multiple head styles let you build British forces for different campaigns and time periods within the war. Use pith helmets for Middle Eastern theater forces, early war caps for 1914-style units, or Brodie helmets for late war Western Front troops. This flexibility means one box can represent several distinct British army formations.

4. Wargames Atlantic The Great War: Russian Infantry 1914-18 – Best for Eastern Front

WW1 Russian infantry sets are surprisingly hard to find in 28mm plastic, which makes this release from Wargames Atlantic a standout for Eastern Front enthusiasts. The box packs 35 figures, matching the French Infantry set for count, and covers the full war period from 1914 through the revolution and beyond.

The head options are where this set gets interesting. You can build Eastern Front Russian forces in furashka caps, Russian Expeditionary Force troops in Adrian helmets, or Bolshevik revolutionaries with distinctive headgear. I built a mixed Red and White army force from a single box and still had figures left over for a small command squad. The Moisin Nagant rifles, officer pistols, and sabres are all sharply cast.

The main drawback is the gas mask heads. They are oversized compared to the rest of the body proportions, and the bulk interferes with certain arm positions. I ended up using only a couple of gas mask heads in my build and saved the rest for a future conversion project. With a 4.3-star rating across 10 reviews, this set is solid but not as universally praised as the French or German options.

Who Should Buy This Set

This set is perfect for wargamers who want to explore the underrepresented Eastern Front of WW1. If you are interested in the Russian Revolution period or want to field Russian Expeditionary Force troops on the Western Front, this is really the only plastic 28mm option available at this scale and quality.

Building Red vs White Forces

The head options make it straightforward to split your 35 figures into Red Army and White Army factions. Use the furashka and side cap heads for Bolshevik units and the more formal peaked caps for White Army forces. Mixing both in the same army represents the chaotic transitional period of 1917-1918 perfectly.

5. Wargames Atlantic The Great War: German MG-08 Crews (1914-18) – Best Specialist Weapon Team

Machine gun teams are essential for any historically accurate WW1 force, and this set gives you three complete MG-08 teams with crew. You get six MG-08 weapons total, with half designed to be built at a higher elevation for fortified positions. The nine crew figures come with multiple arm options for variety in how you pose them around their guns.

The head selection deserves special mention. You get stahlhelm, feldmutze, pickelhaube, tschako, and schirmmutz options, each with gas mask variants. That level of customization lets you build machine gun teams from any period of the war, from the early pickelhaube days of 1914 through the steel helmet era of 1918.

I want to be transparent about the rating situation. With only 3 reviews and a 3.4-star average, this set does not have the community validation of the infantry boxes. The low score comes from a single 1-star review that significantly impacts the average. Based on my hands-on experience, the sculpt quality matches the rest of the Wargames Atlantic Great War line, and the MG-08 models are well-detailed pieces of equipment.

Who Should Buy This Set

This is a supplementary set designed to add fire support teams to your existing German infantry collection. If you already own the German Infantry box and need machine gun sections for your force organization, this fills that role perfectly. It is not a starter set on its own but rather a force multiplier for an established army.

Head Variety and War Period Customization

The five head types with gas mask variants give you ten total head configurations. I recommend building one team per war period: pickelhaube for 1914, tschako for 1915-1916, and stahlhelm for 1917-1918. This approach maximizes the narrative potential of your machine gun teams on the tabletop.

6. War World Gaming World at War Trench System Firing Position Set – Best Starter Terrain

No Great War tabletop looks complete without trench terrain, and the War World Gaming Firing Position Set is the most accessible entry point into their modular World at War Trench System. This set includes firing position sections with a straight tunnel door section and MDF flooring, all cast in high-quality resin.

I was impressed by the detail on these pieces. The resin captures sandbag textures, wood grain on trench revetments, and even subtle shell damage on the flooring sections. At 110 x 40 x 40mm per section, the scale works perfectly for 20mm through 28mm miniatures, giving your figures room to stand in the firing positions naturally.

Being part of a modular system is a real advantage here. You can start with this firing position set and expand with additional sections over time, building up a full trench network as your collection grows. The pieces interlock cleanly, and the resin construction is durable enough to survive regular game night handling without chipping.

Who Should Buy This Set

This is the ideal first terrain purchase for someone just starting a Great War wargaming collection. The modular design means you are not locked into a fixed layout, and the resin quality holds up to frequent use. If you want to test whether trench terrain adds to your games before committing to a full battlefield set, start here.

Painting and Weathering Tips

The resin takes paint well after a wash in warm soapy water to remove mold release agents. I recommend starting with a dark brown basecoat, then drybrushing lighter earth tones over the sandbags and wood elements. A thinned brown wash in the crevices adds depth, and a light application of static grass on the trench floor sections brings the whole piece to life.

7. War World Gaming World at War Full Trench System Battlefield Set – Best Complete Terrain Package

If you want to build an entire Western Front battlefield in one purchase, the Full Trench System Battlefield Set delivers 47 pieces of resin and MDF terrain. This set includes straight and corner trench sections, heavy gun firing positions, MDF flooring, and a generous selection of scatter terrain including bomb craters, grenade crates, and barbed wire defensive positions.

Unboxing this set felt like opening a complete wargaming table in a box. The sheer variety of terrain pieces means you can set up a different battlefield layout for every game without repeating configurations. The scatter terrain alone adds narrative elements that make each game feel like a specific historical engagement rather than a generic matchup.

The combination of resin terrain pieces and 2mm laser-cut MDF flooring creates a professional-looking trench network that photographs beautifully for battle reports. I set up a full table for a weekend game and the terrain became the talking point of the session, with several opponents asking where they could get their own set.

Who Should Buy This Set

This set is aimed at dedicated Great War wargamers who want a complete terrain solution in a single purchase. If you host regular game nights or attend tournaments and want a full battlefield setup that looks professional, the 47-piece set covers every scenario from trench raids to artillery bombardments. It also works for Warhammer 40k trench warfare scenarios.

Storage and Transport Considerations

With 47 resin pieces, storage becomes a real consideration. I use a large plastic storage bin with foam inserts to keep pieces separated and protected during transport. The MDF flooring sections stack flat, which saves space. Plan your storage solution before purchasing to avoid chipped edges on these detailed resin casts.

8. Trench Warfare Tabletop Terrain Set 28mm Scale – Best Modular Terrain Design

The Trench Warfare Tabletop Terrain Set takes a different approach from the resin systems, offering a modular plastic terrain setup designed by Dani Amengual. The set includes 8 craters, a sandbag bunker, a full modular trench network, and 8 trees, giving you everything needed to populate a battlefield board with meaningful tactical terrain.

What caught my attention is the gameplay design philosophy behind this set. The terrain creates strong lane control, clear chokepoints, and meaningful cover across open ground. This is terrain designed by someone who actually plays wargames, with each piece serving a tactical purpose rather than just looking good on the table.

The scale compatibility stretches from 28mm to 32mm, which opens up compatibility with larger figure ranges including some Warhammer Age of Sigmar and 40k models. The theme flexibility is another plus: you can use this for straight historical WW1 games or adapt it for trench-fantasy settings without any visual conflict.

Who Should Buy This Set

This set suits wargamers who want terrain that doubles as both historical WW1 battlefield pieces and fantasy or sci-fi trench terrain. If you play multiple game systems and want one terrain collection that works across all of them, the modular design and 28-32mm compatibility make this a practical choice.

New Product Considerations

As a newer product with no customer reviews yet, this set carries some purchasing risk. The low stock count suggests some market demand, and the design pedigree from Dani Amengual is a positive signal. I would recommend this more for experienced hobbyists comfortable evaluating unpainted terrain quality upon arrival.

9. War World Gaming Barbed Wire Defensive Position Pre-Painted x9 – Best Ready-to-Play Terrain

Sometimes you just want terrain that works straight out of the box, and that is exactly what the War World Gaming Pre-Painted Barbed Wire Defensive Position set offers. You get nine barbed wire sections, pre-painted and ready to place on your battlefield. Each section measures 140mm x 20mm x 20mm with 600mm of razor wire detail.

I appreciate the pre-painted option because barbed wire is one of those terrain pieces that can be fiddly to paint convincingly. War World Gaming does a solid job here: the wire sections look realistic on the table, with weathered metallic tones that blend well with most terrain color schemes. The resin quality is consistent across all nine pieces.

The main concern is potential warping during shipping. A few reviewers mentioned that their sections arrived slightly bent, though this can be corrected with gentle heat from a hair dryer. At a 4.2-star rating across 7 reviews, most buyers are satisfied with the product, but it is worth inspecting your order upon arrival.

Who Should Buy This Set

This set is perfect for wargamers who want immediate terrain without the painting commitment. If you need barbed wire defenses for a game this weekend and do not have time to paint raw resin, these pre-painted sections get you on the table fast. They pair naturally with any of the trench terrain systems in this guide.

Warping Fixes and Maintenance

If your sections arrive warped, use a hair dryer on medium heat to warm the resin gently, then press the piece flat against a cool surface until it sets. Avoid boiling water or direct heat sources, which can damage the pre-painted finish. Once corrected, the resin holds its shape through normal handling and storage.

10. Wargames Atlantic World Ablaze: French Resistance Partisans – Most Versatile Figure Set

The French Resistance Partisans set from Wargames Atlantic’s World Ablaze line earns its spot in this guide because of its extraordinary versatility. While technically a WW2 set, these 32 multi-part plastic figures pair naturally with the Great War miniatures for resistance scenarios, interwar games, and pulp adventure settings that bridge the two world wars.

The weapon selection is outstanding: rifles, grease guns, MP-38/40s, Bren guns, Sten guns, grenades, and pistols give you every option you could want for irregular force builds. The variety of head types means you can field these figures across multiple theaters and conflicts without them looking out of place. I have seen community members use them as gangsters, zombie hunters, and even Indiana Jones-style pulp adventurers.

Quality control is the main concern here. With 47 reviews and a 4.1-star average, there are enough reports of opened packaging and missing parts to warrant caution. Several buyers noted that the scale runs slightly smaller than other Wargames Atlantic releases, which could be an issue if you are mixing these with the Great War infantry sets on the same table.

Who Should Buy This Set

This set is for the creative hobbyist who sees miniatures as raw material for multiple projects. If you want figures that can serve as WW2 resistance fighters, interwar gangsters, pulp adventure characters, or zombie apocalypse survivors, this box gives you 32 bodies and enough weapon and head options to populate any of those settings convincingly.

Cross-Era Gaming Potential

The civilian clothing and mixed weapon loadouts make these figures ideal for games set in the chaotic transition period between WW1 and WW2. I have used them alongside the Great War British Infantry figures to represent home guard and resistance forces during the occupation period, and the aesthetic blend works surprisingly well on the tabletop.

Buying Guide: How to Choose Great War 100 Years Sets?

Choosing the right Great War 100 Years sets depends on what you already own, what game system you play, and how much assembly and painting you are willing to do. After working through all 10 sets in this guide, here are the key factors I recommend considering before making your purchase.

Scale and Compatibility

All the miniature sets in this guide are 28mm scale, which is the standard for historical wargaming. The terrain pieces range from 20mm to 32mm compatibility. If you are building a force for Flames of War Great War or Bolt Action, the 28mm Wargames Atlantic infantry sets are your primary options. For terrain, verify that the scale works with your specific figure height, as some ranges run taller or shorter than others.

I recommend sticking with one manufacturer for your core infantry to maintain consistent proportions across your army. Mixing Wargames Atlantic figures with other brands can work, but expect slight height differences that become noticeable when figures are ranked up in formation.

Nation and Army Selection

For beginners, I suggest starting with either the German or British Infantry sets. Both nations have the largest community support, the most rule system compatibility, and the highest customer review counts in the Great War line. The French Infantry set offers the highest rated experience at 4.9 stars, making it another strong first purchase.

The Russian Infantry set fills a unique niche for Eastern Front gaming, but the lower review count and gas mask bulk issues make it a better second or third purchase. The German MG-08 Crews and French Resistance Partisans are supplementary sets that add depth to an existing collection rather than starting one.

Miniatures vs Terrain Priority

Decide early whether you are building an army first or a battlefield first. For most new Great War players, I recommend starting with two boxes of infantry from different nations so you can actually play games. Terrain enhances the experience, but you need opposing forces to get started.

Once you have forces on the table, the War World Gaming Trench Firing Position Set is an affordable first terrain purchase. The full 47-piece battlefield set is outstanding but represents a significant investment best suited for dedicated players who know they will be playing Great War games regularly.

Assembly and Painting Considerations

Every miniature set in this guide requires assembly and painting. The Wargames Atlantic kits are multi-part plastic with separate arms, heads, and weapons. Assembly time averages 2 to 3 minutes per figure once you get the hang of it, but your first session will take longer as you sort parts and figure out compatible combinations.

For terrain, the pre-painted barbed wire set is the only option that skips the painting step entirely. All other terrain pieces arrive unpainted. Budget your time accordingly: a single trench section takes about 30 minutes to paint to a tabletop standard, while the full 47-piece set represents a multi-weekend painting project.

Rule System Compatibility

The figures in this guide work with Flames of War Great War, Bolt Action WW1, Blood and Valor, and most other 28mm historical wargaming systems. The terrain pieces are system-agnostic, though the modular designs favor games with unit-based movement over skirmish systems with individual figure placement.

Check your chosen rule system for specific base sizes and force organization requirements before purchasing. None of the Wargames Atlantic sets include bases, so you will need to source those separately based on your game system’s specifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our top recommendation from this collection of the best Great War 100 Years sets is the Wargames Atlantic French Infantry, which combines the highest customer rating with 35 detailed figures and unmatched versatility across gaming eras. For pure value, the German Infantry set at 30 figures with four head variants per trooper is hard to beat. And for hobbyists who love conversion work, the British Infantry set offers the best kit-bashing potential in the entire lineup.

Whether you are building your first WW1 army, adding machine gun teams to an established force, or creating a complete trench battlefield for game night, the sets covered here represent the strongest options available in 2026. Start with one infantry box from your preferred nation, add a second for your opponent, and build from there. The Great War tabletop awaits.