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The replacement game can either fill 2 reuirments: a large numbers game, a grimdark game
1. A large numbers game. One thing I like about 40k is that you can play very large games with it. Is it easy for me to get such games? Heck no, 40k rules are so bloated that any hame, even at 1500 takes a long time to play (if I had all the time in the world to do wargame in I would have so many apoc games). So what other miniture game out there supports larger battle, but has rules streamlined enough to make games faster.
2. Is it grimdark enough? This is an optional requirment, I'm more concerned for a game system instead of aesthetics....but I will say it has to have futuristic elements in it, whether it's hard Scifi, or steampunk!
3.doesn't have to be an official published game, a current game, or a popular game! This is just an alternative that has easy to find rules (online or elsewhere ).

So far, I found one that not many people talk about, "one page 40k". It's rules are simple enough to host large games, this batrep I did with my nephew had a fare large number of models, but didn't take longer then 2 hours http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/682028.page#8490462
So any sugestions are welcomed, have you guys found decent replacememts? This thread is based on the hope that we haven't wasted that much muny to get into 40 just to throw away when the system goes bottom up/out of print/ unplayable/ or just plain aosed

privateer press' Warmachines or Hordes
If you want grimdark, play Cryx or Legion of Everblight. It is a fantasy slash steampunk game with a number of viable strategies and win conditions across any number of game types or sizes.
you can have relatively quick 10-15 point games all the way up to day long 100+ point slugging matches.

beyond that, hold onto your old rulebooks and codecils. I play Tau, I have every edition rulebook and codex from 3rd onward (when tau were introduced), and I'm generally willing to play a game with any of them (with some advance notice so I can brush up on the rules). If you are an imperial player, you can even go back to rogue trader and\or necrumunda as well. If enough of us do so, the game will continue on for a good long time after GW dies its (inevitable, hypothetical) death.

Another thing that you could do with your miniatures could be to play d20 modern or future, and use your miniatures like D&D minis could be used for its game.

There's no real direct replacement for 40k.

It's time for another iteration of "unsupported games are not dead games". One of the largest, most popular wargames in the world will still have an audience if it suddenly goes belly-up. The circumstances between 40k and a game like say, Mercs, with a very much smaller audience, are totally different after something ending the game as a supported product.

People are still playing Warhammer in the face of it's death. People would still likely play X-Wing if it stopped, etc. Is your gaming group fragile enough that they would quit playing a game they currently play cold turkey if GW stopped supporting it?

There are lots of custom rule sets out there. I know there are some people use a rule set called FUBAR to play large scale star wars battles. I was working on a large battledroid army but ran into a block with not being able to find their troop transports for any decent price...


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A lot of people like Xwing too but I have no idea how well that game scales.

First of all there is Warpath which can act as a 40k replacement the same way Kings of War worked for Warhammer.

Then there are a lot of Fan Made rules like " In the Emperors Name" , OnePage40k, 40k army lists for Starship Troopers, (I am writing my own version of 40k) etc.

And last to add would be the bunch of generic SciFi rules which are out there.

Well, there's always stuff like One Page 40k. It doesn't do huge battles yet but it's certainly streamlined.

Go back to good old Laserburn.

Grimdarkness is a function of the fluff rather than the game rules.

Maybe try Maelstrom's Edge?

I'd pick up dropzone commander.

I'd go for Warmachine/Hordes. It has a tight rule set and also a decent rule set for tournaments aka steamroller.

One Page 40k all the way. I like the game when I play with a friend's models as it has a very 5th edition feel.

Honestly, 40k is cool.

Tournament Organisers don't like it because it's hard to pin down. However, 40k has cool models, a cool back story, extensive rule sets and a wide player Base. GW had also recently asked for player questions to compile a FAQ.

GW has released games with themes like death watch and genestealer cult. Both things players have been crying out for - not to mention the recent harlequins codex which players have also been crying out for.

Is 40k dead? No it is not. It's just cool to bash GW. They have made mistakes and some things they have done are rubbish but you will not get such a rich, immerse universe to play with anywhere else. I think the future of 40k is bright and I don't think you should give up on it right now.

warzone, gates of antares, and I think there are a couple more out there similar.

Starcraft lol.

Depends.

1. Are you keeping your models and want new rules to play them with?

There are quite a few sci-fi rulesets out there that can handle the aliens/mutants/psionic freaks/superman marine-things ideas, some more generic than others.

I don't know about you, but it's models that get me into a toy soldiers game. If I dump the game (which for me, is just the rules) then I still have the models I can use for some other set of rules.

2. Are you wanting a complete replacement game - new armies, new rules?
This is an entirely different bucket of fish. Pick your model scale (6mm, 10mm, 15mm, 28mm, etc), pick your game scale (skirmish, platoon, battle) and see if a given game fits your needs.

If Games Workshop went bust tomorrow ...

I don't care. I've got opponents and armies, so let's get gaming.

If the gaming police came around and started issuing fines for opening a 40k rulebook, then I'm sure I'd carry on playing 40k using a different set of rules. Blasters And Bulkheads is a pretty decent set that should do large skirmish/small battle games (about the size of 2nd edition games) no problem.

With a willing opponent, I could play a game of 2nd edition right now, with 20 year old books. Any group who likes the game enough could just keep playing with what they have. No new stuff will come out, but if you need to keep the game fresh, just start additional armies instead, from disillusioned players who ebay all their stuff.