Publisher Catalyst Game Labs, known for tabletop titans BattleTech and Shadowrun, has announced a partnership with Crunchyroll and Toho to create a miniatures game based on the hugely popular anime, My Hero Academia.
The forthcoming My Hero Academia: Miniatures Game is a competitive experience for two or more players. Each player will take control of a team of three characters, choosing from a roster of aspiring heroes from U.A. High School or the series’ formidable villains.
Gameplay revolves around completing missions while your opponent tries to do the same. The design aims to capture the feel of the show, with players needing to impress the Pro Heroes by observing the match. Unexpected villain appearances can disrupt the flow of battle, and the game promises detailed terrain that directly impacts strategy. A player’s success will depend on how well they can synergise their team’s unique Quirks to overcome challenges.
A significant feature of the game is its miniatures. Catalyst has stated that all minis will come pre-assembled and pre-painted to a high standard. The goal is to offer a premium, “right-out-of-the-box” experience that appeals to both tabletop gamers and collectors of anime merchandise. To achieve this, Catalyst is working with Liya International, a manufacturer that has produced miniatures for companies like WETA, Dragonsteel, and Jasco Games.
Randall N. Bills, Creative Director at Catalyst Game Labs, shared his personal connection to the project. He noted,
I started down the path of anime watching G-Force and Space Battleship Yamato when I was just a kid. Taking that passion and pairing it with another great love in tabletop miniatures, alongside my son, Bryn, well…that’s a dream come true. And like all great dreams, we immediately wanted to reach for the stars. We didn’t just want a game. We wanted display-quality miniatures for every fan of this ground-breaking anime around the world.”
My Hero Academia first aired in 2016, adapting the manga by Kohei Horikoshi. It’s set in a world where around 80% of the population is born with a superpower, known as a Quirk. The story follows Izuku Midoriya, a boy born without a Quirk, on his journey to become the world’s greatest hero. The anime has become a global phenomenon and is expected to air its eighth and final season in the autumn of 2025.
A pre-launch page for the My Hero Academia: Miniatures Game is now live on BackerKit, where interested fans can sign up for notifications about the upcoming Kickstarter campaign.
Quick Links
- BackerKit: My Hero Academia
