The History of WizKids

When it comes to tabletop miniatures, collectible games, and licensed properties, few companies have had as much impact as WizKids. Over the past two decades, WizKids has grown from an ambitious startup into a worldwide name in gaming, shaping the way players collect, paint, and play.

The Early Years: A New Idea in Tabletop

WizKids was founded in 2000 by Jordan Weisman, a veteran of the tabletop industry best known for creating BattleTech. His idea was to combine the collectible model of trading card games with miniatures—something that hadn’t been widely attempted before. Instead of static rulebooks and traditional wargaming, Weisman envisioned a line of miniatures with rotating combat dials that would track stats during play.

This innovation became the foundation of Mage Knight, WizKids’ first big hit. Mage Knight fused miniature wargaming with collectible mechanics, allowing players to assemble armies quickly without needing a massive upfront investment. For many, it was a first step into the world of tactical miniatures.

The Rise of HeroClix

The true breakthrough came in 2002 with HeroClix. By licensing characters from Marvel Comics and later DC Comics, WizKids tapped into a global fan base. Suddenly, players could stage battles between Spider-Man and Batman, or pit the Avengers against the Justice League. The click-dial system made it simple for new players to learn while offering enough tactical depth for competitive play.

HeroClix grew into a worldwide phenomenon, spawning thousands of figures, organized play events, and a dedicated collector base. To this day, HeroClix remains one of WizKids’ flagship lines.

Innovation Beyond Clix

WizKids didn’t stop there. They experimented with new formats such as:

• Pirates of the Spanish Main (2004), the world’s first constructible strategy game, where players punched ships out of plastic cards and sailed them in miniature battles.

• MechWarrior: Dark Age, which brought back BattleTech in a collectible format.

• Star Trek: Attack Wing, adapting the FlightPath system to ship-to-ship combat in the Star Trek universe.

These innovations demonstrated WizKids’ willingness to experiment and bring fresh ideas to tabletop gaming.

The NECA Era and Beyond

In 2009, WizKids was acquired by NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association). Under NECA’s stewardship, WizKids expanded its portfolio, particularly with pre-painted miniatures for roleplaying games. Today, WizKids produces high-quality miniatures for Dungeons & Dragons and Pathfinder, filling a much-needed niche for dungeon masters and players who want ready-to-use figures without the need to paint them.

They also developed Dice Masters, a dice-building game that drew in fans of collectible gaming once again.

WizKids Today

From humble beginnings to a global brand, WizKids now serves both players and collectors. Their miniatures, board games, and HeroClix sets continue to draw in gamers who love the blend of accessibility, quality, and creativity.

At The Hidden Lair, you’ll find a wide range of WizKids products—perfect for RPG enthusiasts, HeroClix collectors, and anyone looking to add stunning pre-painted figures to their gaming table.

Shop our Wizkids collection here!