Hero Forge® is a platform that lets you design your own miniature figure using a web tool. You can pick from many poses, gear, colors, and facial expressions, then print your design in high-quality plastic or metal.
This innovation has transformed tabletop gaming, allowing enthusiasts and game shops to produce personalized miniatures.
What Happened To Hero Forge?
Over the past 20 years, Hero Forge has built a strong reputation in the 3D printing industry and remains a popular choice.
The company offers a wide range of miniatures, including options for Dungeons and Dragons and medieval warriors. Customers can customize these miniatures with various poses, weapons, and outfits.
In addition, Hero Forge has expanded its offerings, allowing customers to 3D print their own custom board game pieces using affordable plastics and resins.
12 Hero Forge Alternatives In 2025
Eldritch Foundry
Eldritch Foundry is an online platform that lets users design highly detailed, customizable miniatures for tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder.
The site offers a wide range of parts and poses to help users create unique characters. Eldritch Foundry also includes an online marketplace where users can sell their custom miniatures and supports 3D printing, allowing models to be printed in colorful resin or plated metal.
Anvl.co
Anvl is another popular service that allows hobbyists to create customized miniatures using their browser or editor app.
This software provides users with a library of pre-made parts that can be combined to create a unique design. Anvl also offers 3D printing services for high-quality prints in various materials such as brass, bronze and steel.
Desktop Hero
Desktop Hero is a web-based tool designed for easy creation of custom miniatures. It offers an intuitive interface that lets users build their desired character by arranging parts and elements on the screen.
Once finished, Desktop Hero generates a file that can be 3D printed or saved as an STL file.
Thingiverse
Thingiverse is one of the largest repositories for free custom miniatures available on the internet. It houses an extensive database of models in various sizes, game systems and genres, with larger-than-life dragons to iconic characters like Ryu from Street Fighter, all playable thanks to Thingiverse’s massive library.
Models are often submitted by users who allow others to download and modify their artwork for personal use.
Creature Caster
Creature Caster is a software focused on creating customized miniatures. It offers users all the tools needed to design unique characters or creatures, including texturing options and a wide selection of assets.
Creature Caster also supports 3D printing services, enabling users to have their creations printed in either plastic or metal materials.
Hero Mini Maker
Hero Mini Maker is a web application that allows you to create miniatures from existing 3D models. This program features an extensive library of pre-made figures and parts which can be dragged and dropped into the canvas for quick customization.
In addition, you can further adjust elements such as size, color and texture with ease before printing on your own 3D printer or having it professionally printed in full detail.
PCGen
PCGen is a tabletop role-playing game toolkit that includes features to help generate custom figures. This program provides users with an intuitive interface in which they can create characters, enemies and monsters by simply inputting parameters such as race, profession and appearance.
Furthermore, PCGen also allows you to customize the resulting models for printed miniatures before sending them off for 3D printing.
Little You
Little You is a service that lets users create custom 3D-printed figures of themselves. The website offers an easy-to-use editor where users can add features, clothing, and accessories to personalize the model before it is printed with high detail and resolution.
Animate 3D
Animate 3D is a powerful software program designed for creating animated scenes with customizable characters. This program offers a wide range of options, such as textures, lighting and animation, to help users create a unique 3D figure before having it printed in full detail.
Animate 3D also supports online rendering services allowing you to print your creations directly from the web.
DesktopHero 2.0
The DesktopHero 2.0 software is a next-generation platform that simplifies the customization of customizable miniatures with ease.
This program provides an extensive library of pre-made poses, parts and elements which can be combined and manipulated with minimal effort. In addition, DesktopHero 2.0 also supports the 3D printing of models in metalliferous materials such as brass and bronze.
Hero Forge Pro
Hero Forge Pro is a subscription-based software for creating and customizing miniatures for gaming.
It offers a vast library of poses, weapons, and equipment that users can easily drag and drop onto the canvas. Once designed, the miniatures can be professionally printed with full detail. Additionally, Hero Forge Pro allows users to digitally share their models and miniatures with friends and family.
Hero Forge Color
Hero Forge Color is an add-on feature for the Hero Forge® service that lets users customize their creations with vibrant colors.
It provides hundreds of color options for users to choose from while building their custom figures, and also allows them to tint the miniatures during 3D printing with a variety of hues.
FAQs
Q: What materials can be used with Hero Forge?
Hero Forge supports 3D printing in a variety of plastics and metals, including ABS, PLA, silver, bronze and brass.
Q: How detailed is the 3D printing from hero forge?
The resolution for the prints obtained from hero forge is very high, usually corresponding to a maximum resolution of 0.2mm per layer.
Q: How much time does it take for Hero Forge to deliver the print?
The turnaround time varies based on your location and order processing times; however, delivery can range from 3 days (for Express Shipping) or up to 2 weeks in some cases.
Q: Does Hero Forge offer a customer support service?
Yes. You can contact their customer support team via email or social media for any queries or help with your order.
Q: Can I make a custom model using Hero Forge?
Absolutely, The interface allows you to mix and match parts from the available library and even add additional elements, such as weapons and clothing, before printing out your unique figure.
Q: Is it possible to 3D print on the metal options offered by Hero Forge?
Yes. These metal options are printed using a process called electroplating and can be applied in conjunction with plastic or resin-based prints depending on customer preferences.
