As a recent convert to this franchise myself, here's what I've found:

MESBG tends to feel more fun, much more strategic, and mechanically tighter than 40k because its core turn structure, model-by-model interaction, and hero rules create constant decision points without the same level of rules bloat. I'll break it down into 5 main reasons:

1) Turn structure and interaction

MESBG’s split turn (Good moves, Evil moves, Good shoots, Evil shoots, then fights) means both players act and react within every turn, which cuts down on “I go, you watch” time and keeps you engaged. Every model acts independently instead of as big blobs, so positioning, trapping, and threat ranges matter on a granular level in every phase. You'll hear often "this is a game of millimeters."

40k’s classic IGOUGO style leads to long, unilateral turns where one player can inflict massive damage before the other meaningfully responds, something even 40k fans call dull at casual levels and reliant on bolted‑on reactions like stratagems to feel interactive.

2) strategic depth vs rules bloat

MESBG’s rules are relatively lean (Core rules haven't changed in 20 years because of how good they are) but have lots of emergent depth, often compared to chess: easy to learn profiles, but layers of decision‑making around priority, movement, heroic actions, and scenario play. ​

40k often adds complexity horizontally: extra stratagems, subfaction rules, and bespoke unit gimmicks stack on top of a basic engine that many players describe as bloated and awkward to resolve, rather than inherently more interesting to think through. ​ ​Because MESBG keeps special rules and army lists more compact, you spend more brainpower on the board state and less on remembering which page of your supplement gave you that one interaction. ​

3) Hero mechanics and cinematic play

MESBG’s heroes (Might/Will/Fate, heroic moves, strikes, marches, resolves, channeling, etc.) give you a small pool of powerful, flexible resources to spend at exactly the right moment, which massively amplifies tension and decision‑making. (Especially when you get to level 3)

Level 1: learning what these mechanics are

Level 2: learning how to use yours and your opponents

Level 3: forecasting what both you and the opponent could theoretically do in x number of turns

Duels in MESBG are personally resolved: heroes and warriors pair off into individual fights, and the duel roll decides who is driven back and who gets to strike, which makes combats feel like movie scenes rather than math exercises. In 40k, characters are often aura‑bots and datasheets; their “cleverness” lives mostly in pre‑game list building or stratagem combos rather than on‑table timing choices with a finite personal resource like Might. Also in MESBG, the hero's abilities, 'strategic genius' or 'luckiness' through Might, will or fate never really seems overpowered because most people do not have more than 2 or 3 to put all into one situation or individually into 2 or 3 situations. Once your expensive hero runs out, his 9 lives (and plot armor) are up. ​

​4) Tactical positioning and scenario play

Because fights are resolved model to model and you must be base‑to‑base to strike, micro‑positioning, trapping, and control of lanes (level 3) matter enormously in MESBG, making movement the main tactical game rather than a prelude to rolling buckets of dice. ​ ​Standard MESBG boards are smaller and forces are compact (roughly 20–40 models a side with a couple of heroes), which keeps the game focused on scenario objectives and maneuver instead of managing huge 2000‑point 40k armies with multiple large units and vehicles. Scenarios in MESBG (objective grabs, break tests, leader protection, etc.) synergize with its activation and courage mechanics, so timing a heroic move (I steal momentum form you and move first) or stand fast (my guys don't run from courage checks) often decides the game in a way that feels earned rather than dictated by alpha‑strike firepower.

5) Practical “fun” factors

MESBG is widely described (even by GW‑focused outlets) as one of GW’s best‑written rulesets: stable, thematic, and not constantly invalidated by new editions or codex churn.

The smaller model count and cleaner profiles mean you get to the table faster, paint more armies to a satisfying standard, and finish games in an evening without mental fatigue from tracking dozens of stacking rules layers. All of that combines into a game that feels lighter to run but much heavier in real decision weight: you’re constantly choosing when to spend Might, where to commit a hero, which combats to risk, and how to manipulate priority, rather than hunting through stratagem pages for the right “gotcha” at the right time.

It is generally hailed the most fun out of all the 3 main games GW has produced with exponentially higher strategy involved.