Wyrd Games wraps The Other Side painting challenge, winners decided by razor-close votes

The clearest signal from Wyrd Games’ first The Other Side painting challenge was not just that people showed up, but that they showed up hard. The wrap-up said the contest drew an incredible number of entries across every Allegiance, and the voting was so tight that some placements came down to a single vote, tie-break discussion, or split judges.

That kind of finish tells you a lot about where the community is right now. This was not a casual participation ribbon situation. The submissions were strong enough that Wyrd Games and its contributing partners had to separate pieces on the margins, which usually means the field was deep with clean paint, smart basing, and the kind of creative presentation that can make one model stand out over another on a crowded gallery page.

The challenge mattered because Wyrd set it up as a broad showcase from the start. Announced on April 16, 2026, it was billed as the company’s first The Other Side painting challenge and opened to everyone. Painters could enter physical miniatures or STL models from Wyrd Games’ MyMiniFactory store, and each person could submit up to three entries. That meant the contest was built to reward both the collector pulling an older model off the shelf and the hobbyist assembling something fresh from a digital file.

Wyrd also made the judging criteria feel like a real hobby showcase rather than a simple popularity contest. Entries could include bases, plinths, and diorama-style presentations, and the company asked for neutral backgrounds, strong lighting, and multiple angles in collage-style final images. In practice, that pushes painters to present a finished piece, not just a painted miniature, and the wrap-up made clear that the extra effort paid off. The post highlighted painting, basing, conversions, and general creativity as the strengths that filled the field.

There was practical payoff too. Every participant was promised an Alternative Lord of Steel Commander STL delivered through MyMiniFactory, while prize winners would be contacted for shipping and reward fulfillment. Wyrd said participation rewards should start rolling out soon, as long as entries were filled out correctly. That makes the challenge feel like a properly run community event, not just a splashy one-off.

Wyrd closed the loop by thanking the community and hinting at future painting challenges, which fits the tone of the whole wrap-up. The close votes did more than crown winners. They showed that The Other Side has enough hobby momentum now to make every Allegiance, every conversion, and every carefully built base matter.