GUNDAM ASSEMBLE is Bandai’s brand-new competitive miniature tabletop game launching in October 2026, and it might just be the most exciting thing to happen to the Gundam hobby since Gunpla itself. Think Warhammer 40,000 but with iconic mobile suits from across the Gundam universe — you build, paint, and battle with roughly 5 cm miniatures on a hex-grid game board. Whether you’re a Gunpla veteran or a tabletop gamer curious about Gundam, here’s everything you need to know.
What Exactly Is GUNDAM ASSEMBLE?
GUNDAM ASSEMBLE is a squad-based tactical miniatures game from Bandai. Players assemble and paint approximately 5 cm unpainted plastic miniatures — capturing that familiar Gunpla joy of building and customising — then take them to the battlefield on a hex-based game board. It combines the hands-on satisfaction of model kits with the strategic depth of tabletop wargaming.
The game launched in Japan and is rolling out globally in October 2026, with five products hitting shelves simultaneously. Bandai plans more than 30 items within the first year, with monthly releases keeping the lineup fresh. The mobile suits span multiple Gundam series — from the original RX-78-2 to Iron-Blooded Orphans’ Barbatos Lupus Rex.
How Does GUNDAM ASSEMBLE Work?
The core gameplay is designed to be fast-paced and accessible. Here’s the rundown:
- Squad size: Minimum 3 vs 3 units, scaling up to 5 vs 5 in the Deluxe Sets
- Game board: Hex-grid map with cardboard terrain included in the set
- Unit activation: Each mobile suit has a Unit Card. On your turn, activate a unit and perform up to four actions (move, attack, special ability, defend) in any order
- Tactics Cards: Strategic cards that tie to squad affiliations — mixing series gives you different tactical options
- Timeline System: The game is divided into 10-round Phases with a Timeline tracking unit activation order
- Victory Points (VP): Earn VP by defeating enemy units and achieving scenario objectives
Matches are designed to be short and decisive — perfect for a hobby night or a lunchtime game. You can play narrative scenarios that tie into iconic Gundam storylines, or build a custom squad mixing mobile suits from different universes.
What’s in the GUNDAM ASSEMBLE Starter Set?
The Starter Set 01 (ST01) retails at approximately USD $35 and is the best way to jump in. It contains absolutely everything you need for a 3 vs 3 game:
- 6 unpainted miniatures: RX-78-2 Gundam, Char’s Zaku II, Wing Gundam Zero EW, Gundam Epyon, Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex, Gundam Vidar
- 18 Tactics Cards
- 6 Unit Cards
- 1 Game Map (hex grid)
- 1 Set of 10-sided dice
- Cardboard terrain set
- Game tokens
- Handbook + Quick Reference Sheets
The miniature selection is brilliant — you get two classic Universal Century suits for new Gundam fans, two Wing suits for the ’90s crowd, and two Iron-Blooded Orphans kits for more recent fans. It’s a great cross-section of the franchise that immediately gives you different playstyle combinations to experiment with.
Full Product Lineup at Launch (October 2026)
Five products are dropping simultaneously at launch:
- Starter Set 01 [ST01] — ~USD $35 | 6 miniatures, full 3v3 game contents
- Deluxe Set 01 [DX01] — ~USD $100 | 13 miniatures, epic 5v5 battles, original Mobile Suit Gundam theme
- Deluxe Set 02 [DX02] — ~USD $100 | 14 miniatures, 5v5 battles
- Expansion Pack 01 [EX01] — 3 additional miniatures to expand your squad
- Expansion Pack 05 [EX05] — 3 additional miniatures with new tactical options
After launch, Bandai will release new products monthly, with 30+ items planned within the first year. Expect Expansion Packs to introduce suits from Gundam SEED, 00, Unicorn, and more.
How Is GUNDAM ASSEMBLE Different from Regular Gunpla?
Great question! Here’s how they stack up:
- Scale: GUNDAM ASSEMBLE minis are ~5 cm tall (roughly 1/350 scale), far smaller than your HG 1/144 kits. They’re quick to assemble — more like snap-fit minis than a full Gunpla build.
- Purpose: Regular Gunpla is display and collection-focused. GUNDAM ASSEMBLE minis are built to play with — they sit on the game board and take dice hits.
- Painting: Both reward painting, but GUNDAM ASSEMBLE minis come unpainted and use simpler block-colour schemes typical of wargame miniatures. Your Gunpla panel-lining and weathering skills transfer perfectly.
- Community: Bandai is launching an official event platform called BANDAI TABLETOP GAMES at bandai-tabletop-games.com, centralising tournaments, event discovery, and match tracking globally.
If you already love Gunpla, GUNDAM ASSEMBLE adds a whole new dimension: your favourite mobile suits finally get to fight each other on a proper battlefield.
Should Malaysian Gunpla Fans Get Excited?
Absolutely. Bandai is doing a full global rollout — the game will be available across regions worldwide, which means Malaysia and Southeast Asia are firmly in scope. With the Gunpla scene in Malaysia growing stronger every year (especially after the opening of Gundam Base at Fahrenheit88), tabletop gaming offers a new way for the community to gather, compete, and show off their painting skills.
The pricing is accessible too — a Starter Set at ~USD $35 (roughly RM160–170 at current exchange rates) is a very reasonable entry point for a game that includes six miniatures and everything you need to play. Compare that to a single MG kit and it’s genuinely great value.
Watch out for pre-orders opening as we get closer to October 2026. We’ll keep you updated here on the Gundam.my blog as local availability details are confirmed.
Where to Follow GUNDAM ASSEMBLE
Stay plugged in through these official channels:
- Official site: global.bandai-hobby.net/en-us/site/gundam-assemble/
- Instagram: @g_assemble_official
- Facebook: gundamassembleofficial
- YouTube: @gundam-assemble — the Quickplay Guide video is a great 5-minute intro
Start Stocking Up on Gunpla While You Wait
October 2026 can’t come fast enough! In the meantime, if the thought of building and painting miniatures has you itching for some hobby action, there’s no better time to dive into Gunpla. Whether you’re after a beginner-friendly HG, a detailed Real Grade, or a showpiece Master Grade, Gundam.my has Malaysia’s best selection of Bandai kits, tools, paints, and accessories to keep your hobby table busy until GUNDAM ASSEMBLE drops.