by Henri had already been lying in wait for ten hours in the former industrial wasteland district of Caldrion. Armed with a hardened steel sword and a shield, he watched the Steamwoken wander aimlessly across the old docks. The objective of the mission, which had been explained to him the previous day by the Champion, was simple: to locate the Marteliers’ assembly units. For the moment, the assemblers seemed to be switching on and off for no apparent reason, wandering in front of the factory. Their movements on the quays appeared completely chaotic. As if these machines were strolling about to admire some ‘je ne sais quoi’…
He seriously doubted their individual intelligence, given that all night long, the dozen or so units he was observing had done nothing but that. But, deep down, he told himself that perhaps this was how machines stood guard in front of an important strategic location. It was clear that their movements were genuinely difficult to predict; under these conditions, with no patrol path or relay points, infiltration proved perilous.
Suddenly, in the distance, the whistle of steam rang out. The assemblers froze in unison for a few seconds, before all heading, in orderly fashion, towards the entrance to Factory XIII. A coordinator had appeared, wearing a black bowler hat. Walking with a cane, he mimicked the foremen from before the great conflagration.
A steam barge entered the dock at Factory XIII. The smoke from the boiler filled the air, leaving a pungent, acrid smell of burning in Henri’s throat. The Champion gave a simple order: ‘Come on, soldier, let’s go and see what those fitters are unloading from that boat!’
Steamfront, the new skirmish game in French
This new skirmish game, available since January 2026, was created by the studio Hydraproduction.
It took the two designers over a year and a half to create it.
Their backgrounds are different yet complementary: Fred comes from the narrative gaming scene, and Martial from competitive gaming. The blend of the two sets the tone for the rules: simple, fast-paced mechanics, easy-to-read character profiles, yet with effective depth of gameplay. Chance adds the spice to the game; no action is ever truly guaranteed to succeed or fail, although the statistics favour the profiles of the most experienced fighters.
Depth and tactical potential?
The structure of your warbands will, in any case, be built around a framework that ensures a natural balance. So, there will be no ‘advantage’ for one faction over another, but rather mechanisms that will give each warband its own strengths and weaknesses, which you’ll need to exploit to win the game.
In a few weeks’ time, a points system will be released, allowing you to further enhance the competitive aspect of your games. This will further deepen your gaming experience and introduce a planning phase for your warbands, enabling you to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each of your tactical options.
It’s also an opportunity to create unbalanced scenarios with specific narrative objectives and, why not, embark on a campaign.
Their aim is to offer you a fast-paced skirmish game. Efficient in terms of gameplay, the very simple mechanics fit onto two sheets of paper. Each faction in the game has its strengths and weaknesses, which you will need to exploit and anticipate.
The points system
A team is worth 200 points; each miniature profile has a specific ‘cost’ in points, which allows you to build a list.
There is another restriction: the army structure, which limits the maximum number of roles in your army:
- Regulars are limited to a minimum of 3. Range: 5–20 points.
- Veterans are limited to a maximum of 3. Range: 15–25 points.
- Elites are limited to a maximum of 2. Range: 20–40 points.
- There can only be one Leader. Range: 30 to 50 points.
Creating a list will therefore be quick and easy.
The game system
Taking turns to act allows players to react and keeps the game moving at a brisk pace. With no downtime, players are constantly in the thick of the action. Kill Team players will feel right at home. Taking turns also allows players to plan their moves or improvise as the turn progresses, reacting to the opposing team’s actions.
All miniatures have a profile that reflects the quality of their training, their abilities and equipment, as well as their specific characteristics and skills.
Their scores are rated from 0 to 8, representing the number of six-sided dice rolled.
Here, there is no difficulty threshold to reach. You simply need to roll doubles, triples or more of the same number to achieve success by rolling the number of skill dice.
Here, for example, we have 2 successes (three 4s) with 6 dice.
This unique system allows you to quickly assess the success of an action. A combat action can be countered with an armour roll. Thus, an attack roll can be countered by an armour roll if the latter exceeds the number of successes on the attack roll.
Battle system
Certain weapons, currently flamethrowers, grant a set number of automatic successes. In such cases, there is no need to roll the dice. This mechanic guarantees a minimum level of success, but makes the outcome highly predictable for your opponent. As a result, they will be able to anticipate who to ‘place’ in front of your troops equipped with this type of weapon.
The movements
The movements are measured in inches, but if you’d like to try using centimetres, that’s fine too. All you need to do is agree on the unit of measurement with your playing partner.
The various orders
Each time a unit is activated, it can move and perform an action:
- Pass
- A shot
- A combat action
- A charge that grants a bonus
- A Steam action that allows you to accumulate bonuses to be spent later.
A resource management system allows you to activate your miniatures beyond their limit and make them more powerful. However, these activations are limited, so once you run out of this resource, your gang becomes less effective.
This aspect of the game is fascinating and offers multiple layers of strategic depth. The real appeal of the game lies in managing resources: accumulating them and spending them at the right moment.
This system demonstrates that a combination of simple mechanics can result in a game that is complex to master, yet accessible and enjoyable right from the very first playthrough.
Univers of Steamfront
The setting is original, offering a blend of fantasy and steampunk. Thinking machines, workers rising up in revolt, and nobles trying to cling to their privileges in a city devastated by disaster.
The authors have devised a whole backstory for their universe and wish to expand it beyond the miniatures game. However, at present, the plan is to add new factions to broaden the scope of scenarios, but also to make inroads into the world of competitive gaming.
A squad builder is available and already allows players to create custom squads with the aim of forming balanced teams.
The developers plan, at some point in the future, to create a setting to expand the universe into a Steamfront role-playing game. This is a concept that has already been explored in the opposite direction with the game Olomoc.
I tried the game and I liked it !
I tried out the game at Ludivers Paris 2026. Several weapons were available: bows, light and heavy flamethrowers, swords and axes. I was lucky enough to be shown the ropes by Fred, one of the game’s two designers. I really appreciated the tactical depth of the game.
The introductory game highlighted the game’s natural simplicity and how easy it is to pick up. The game is fairly short, making it easy to arrange a rematch. Expect 6 rounds and between 45 and 60 minutes of play.
The admission ticket
Expect to spend around a hundred euros to get started with the starter set.
It contains two balanced armies:
Luminarch: the faction of the nobility. The miniatures are elegantly and sophisticatedly equipped, reflecting their social status prior to the catastrophe.
Steamwoken: these are robots endowed with mechanical intelligence. The catastrophe set them free, and now, instead of wearing out their gears in vast workshops on behalf of the Luminarchs, they have risen up against their former masters.These two factions are therefore natural adversaries and provide the backdrop for numerous narrative scenarios.
You can also simply buy a single unit for around fifty euros. An additional faction is also available:
the Iron Dominion: Composed of former military personnel, they see the catastrophe as an opportunity to destroy the old order and establish a new era of Caldrian domination. Their faction opposes the ancient nobility of the Luminarchs and sees the machine uprising as a golden opportunity to train and destroy this enemy from within.
Their equipment, consisting of devastating weapons (flamethrowers, battle axes and even steamballs), gives them a strong visual identity, but also offers strategies you won’t find in the other two factions.
This makes it a very accessible game. The scenery isn’t necessarily specific, although there is a real added bonus to playing on a well-laid table.
Quality of the figurines
The miniatures are 3D-printed in resin. Whether painted or unpainted, I haven’t noticed any of the typical flaws associated with some 3D prints. The painting can also be taken to the next level: with around ten miniatures per squad, if you want to go for maximum detail, you can take the time to create some magnificent works of art. The intricate detailing of the sculpting is a great incentive to do your very best.
Would you like to read the rules and view the profiles?
On the ‘Resources’ tab of the website:
You will find the rules, character profiles, scenarios, 2D scenery elements to print and cut out, and game pieces.
The website is currently available in French only. However, an English version will be available in a few months’ time.
Steamfront backdrops and gaming tables
Imagine a city in ruins, the aftermath of a great fire. This setting provides the perfect opportunity to repurpose your existing props or design your own creations. Thanks to the game’s unapologetic Steampunk aesthetic, you can easily convert industrial structures to build unique, themed gaming tables. Renaissance-style residential districts ravaged by fire, or the remains of ancient churches, some in ruins, others partially rebuilt.
Rules that enhance the game
In the rulebook, interactions with the terrain are designed to be simple and seamless. The key lies in communication: simply agree with your opponent before the game on the nature of each feature, whether it’s a wall, a barricade, a crater or a suffocating cloud of steam.
Is Steamfront right for you?
In short, Steamfront is the ideal choice for those seeking the intensity of skirmish combat without the burden of complex rules. More balanced and straightforward than its rivals, it shifts the challenge from the rulebook to the battlefield: here, it is your sense of timing and resource management that will make all the difference.
Affordable, fast-paced and highly replayable, it’s a game that respects both your time and your budget. Whether you’re a strategy buff or a model-making enthusiast ready to convert your industrial ruins, the ruins of Caldrion are just waiting for you!
What does the future hold for Steamfront?
The game, which is already based on its first three factions, is expanding rapidly. Fred and Martial are currently working on two new factions to enrich an already highly original steampunk fantasy universe.
With these foundations, it’s easy to imagine campaign systems where your miniatures would gain experience, climbing the ranks from Regular to Veteran, until they become the Elite, or even the Champion of your band. According to the authors, this narrative dimension should be arriving very soon. Whilst the universe is already promising, there is still much for us to discover. The website offers a few clues, but we eagerly await the arrival of named characters or heroic figures to fully embody the stakes of Caldrion.
An English version is expected to be released by the start of the new academic year in September 2026.
A video presentation in French?
Written by :
Maurice, Bolt Action chronicler
I have been passionate about imaginative worlds since childhood, between toy soldiers and role-playing games. In the 90s, I delved into wargames like Squad Leader and Warhammer 40K. Today, I spend my time painting miniatures, working on my own game, and playing Bolt Action, my current favorite wargame.
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