Shortly after the release of Dark Heresy, the role-playing game based on their Warhammer 40k miniatures game, Games Workshop closed down subsidiary Black Industries, which produced all their RPG products. Although Dark Heresy garnered strong reviews, it seemed like the system would never see any supplements to expand players' optons. Enter Fantasy Flight Games.

FFG now holds the rights to Dark Heresy, and they're putting out all the handbooks and adventures fans have been waiting for. The Inquisitor's Handbook fills many of the gaps in the system, offering a ton of new character options and paths, and an equipment section that is worth the price of the book by itself. The production values are top notch and the book is filled with stunning art. The coolness factor can pretty much be summed in two words: Metallican Gunslingers. Plus, this makes the perfect companion piece for Dark Heresy: Purge the Unclean, a trilogy of adventures set in the Calixis Sector.

Dark Heresy still only explores a narrow slice of the 40k universe, that of the Imperium Inquisition. No space marines, and not a lot of aliens. But if you're not interested in that other major RPG game released last week, it's worth a look. Image by: Fantasy Flight Games.

The Inquisitor's Handbook [via Amazon]

Car Wars, Steve Jackson Games. Yes, the rules are flawed. It can take two hours to play through two minutes of action. And the "miniatures" were really 2D paper cars. But you can't beat the concept: Road Warrior style running battles between heavily armed and armored cars and trucks. If you've ever gone to a car dealership and asked which options package includes "Autocannon," this is the game for you. Photo by: Steve Jackson Games.

Star Wars Miniatures, Wizards of the Coast. Another game where the concept outshines the rules themselves, which were shoehorned into the Star Wars setting from Wizards' D&D miniatures game. They aren't bad rules, just a little dry. But anything that allows you to recreate the Battle of Hoth is a sure winner. Bonus: you can own your own Stormtrooper army. Photo by yowzer.

Heroclix, Wizkids. If you're looking for a comic book themed miniatures game, Heroclix is pretty much your only option. Luckily, it's a great game. You can choose between both Marvel and DC universes (or mix and match), and unless your tastes run to the impossibly obscure, a version of your favorite character already exists. Heroclix is a quick-playing game that captures the action of a good comic book fight scene.

Warhammer 40,000, Games Workshop. I'm going to confess that I've never played Warhammer 40K, so I can't speak to the rules. The minis are gorgeously sculpted, and the game's near ubiquity means that it will never be hard to find an opponent. Line up your Space Marines against your buddy's Tyranids and make your own "What if Earth waged all-out war against the aliens from Aliens?" scenario. Photo by: Games Workshop.

BattleTech/Mechwarrior, FASA/Wizkids. Whichever flavor you prefer, this classic game of warring giant robots is the godfather of sci-fi minis games. Old-school BattleTech featured metal minis you painted yourself, an intricate and detailed combat system, and the occasional hour-long turn. Bolstered by a rich backstory of galactic politics and conquest, the franchise was revitalized when Wizkids released a clix version. The larger-scale, prepainted miniatures negate the need for paperwork, and the game itself presents a compelling version of combined arms sci-fi warfare.

Top photo by: Catalyst Game Lab.