Vallejo Game Color Extra Opaque Paints Review

A product review by Daclaud Lee

Vallejo Extra Opaque paints

Just to make things clear, Vallejo did not pay me to write this article about their Game Color Extra Opaque Paints, and I don’t even sell their products on my website. This is an honest review of my experience with this product and what I thought about it. All of the photos are real results using the products that I purchased with my own money.

My Personal Experience with Vallejo Game Color Extra Opaque Paints

Here’s my review of Vallejo Game Color Extra Opaque Paints. I know I’m a bit late to the party since this line has been out for quite a while (Vallejo has a newer version of the Game Color Extra Opaque paints, but I do not own them, this is the older version), but I finally picked up a set from Amazon and decided to give it a shot. For my test project, I used the Heavy Blue as a basecoat for the uniforms on my Dwarf Warriors by Old Realm Forge. The coverage was incredible—I only needed one coat (slightly watered down) to get a smooth, vibrant finish. After applying a wash, I added another layer of Heavy Blue for the first layer of highlights on the clothes, and the results were pretty awesome considering I am a rather lazy painter. 

If I ever find time, then maybe I can go back with additional highlights using a lighter blue. 

For the wash, I experimented with Vallejo Game Inks, mixing Black Ink and Skin Wash to create a slightly earthy tone. This custom mix added depth and paired beautifully with the shading on their beards. I painted the beards using Heavy Gold Brown and a mix of Heavy Red and Heavy Sienna, also from the Game Color Opaque line. The paints layered easily and gave the beards a rich, textured look that really brought the miniatures to life.

You can see that the inks really hit the recesses of the Dwarfs beards and clothing to make them stand out. 

To finish the details, I applied a thinned coat of Heavy Charcoal to the weapons for a slightly worn look and used Leather Brown from the Vallejo Equestrian set for their shoes. The combination of colors worked perfectly to tie the minis together. Overall, I’m impressed with the performance of the Game Color Opaque paints, and I couldn’t be happier with how these minis are going to turn out!

The metallic portions and the extra highlights will be applied later. For now, this will suffice to an “almost” table-top standard of painting. 

Old Realm Forge Dwarf Warriors regiment for Warhammer Fantasy

These are just 5 paints from the full Vallejo Game Extra Opaque 16-color set: Heavy Charcoal, Heavy Golden Brown, Heavy Blue, Heavy Red, and Heavy Sienna. I’ll review the rest once I’ve had a chance to use them! The models above are by Old Realm Forge and were 3D printed on a Elegoo Mars 3 Pro.

What Colors Do You Get in the Set?

The Vallejo Extra Opaque Game Color Set includes the following paints, offering a rich palette with excellent opacity for base coating and layering miniatures:

  1. Heavy Black Green
  2. Heavy Green
  3. Heavy Khaki
  4. Heavy Grey
  5. Heavy Bluegrey
  6. Heavy Blue
  7. Heavy Violet
  8. Heavy Brown
  9. Heavy Red
  10. Heavy Orange
  11. Heavy Goldbrown
  12. Heavy Warmgrey
  13. Heavy Charcoal
  14. Heavy Sienna
  15. Heavy Ochre
  16. Heavy Skintone

 

How Well Do Vallejo Extra Opaque Paints Work for Green Orc Skin?

When it comes to painting Green Orc skin, Vallejo Extra Opaque paints offer some excellent options. Here are two examples to consider. One model was painted with Heavy Khaki, and the other with Heavy Grey. Both colors have a subtle greenish undertone, making them surprisingly suitable for Orc skin tones.

In this example, I used a set of Orc Crossbowmen (Rudlug’s Armored Orcs from the Dogs of War set). The Orcs base-coated in Heavy Khaki were inked with Vallejo Game Color Ink Green, while those base-coated in Heavy Grey were left without additional shading. The difference is noticeable: the green ink over Heavy Khaki brings out a richer, more vibrant tone, while the Heavy Grey base gives a more muted, natural look.

Overall, the results are quite impressive for both combinations, offering versatility depending on the look you’re going for. Whether you prefer vibrant greens or subtle earthy tones, these paints are a solid choice for Orc skin.

Rudlug's Armored Orcs painted with Vallejo Extra Opaque paint and Game color inks

The first rank of Orcs were painted with a base coat of Vallejo Heavy Khaki and then inked with Vallejo Game Ink Green. 

Two different types of Orc Skin painted on Rudlug's Armored orcs.

The front rank above is painted with Vallejo Heavy Grey without shading or inks. 

Warhammer Orcs with Pig head conversions. Skin Tone

Here is another example of the Vallejo Heavy Skin basecoat with Skin Wash from the Game Ink set. These Orcs are “Pig Faced Orcs” converted with Pig Orc Heads sold by PuppetsWar

About Vallejo Game Color Extra Opaque Paints

  1. High Opacity
    These paints are specially formulated for strong pigment density, ensuring solid coverage over dark or light primers. This high opacity allows you to achieve vibrant, uniform color with fewer coats, saving both time and paint. Whether you’re painting small details or large surfaces, the opacity ensures consistency across your miniatures.
  2. Smooth Application
    The paint’s creamy texture is designed for effortless application with a brush or airbrush. It flows smoothly, preventing streaks or clumping, which is essential for achieving clean and professional-looking finishes. This smoothness also makes blending and layering easier, enabling seamless transitions between colors.
  3. Matte Finish
    A matte finish is highly desirable for miniature painting, as it reduces unwanted glare and enhances the realism of the model. The flat surface also provides an ideal base for further techniques like washes, glazes, or dry brushing, as these effects adhere better to matte finishes.
  4. Vibrant Colors
    The Game Color Opaque range features bright, intense colors tailored for fantasy, sci-fi, and tabletop gaming themes. Whether you’re painting bold reds for space marines, earthy greens for orcs, or shimmering blues for magical creatures, these colors stand out beautifully on the table. The vibrancy ensures that your miniatures catch the eye, even during gameplay.
  5. Water-Based and Non-Toxic
    As acrylic-based paints, Game Color Opaque is water-soluble, making cleanup with water quick and hassle-free. They are also non-toxic and free from harmful chemicals, making them safe for prolonged use in indoor spaces and suitable for hobbyists of all ages.
  6. Dropper Bottle Design
    The 17ml dropper bottles are a standout feature. They allow precise control over how much paint you dispense, minimizing waste and preventing the paint from drying out. This design is particularly useful for mixing custom colors, as you can easily measure and replicate mixes.
  7. Quick Drying
    The fast-drying formula allows you to work efficiently, especially when layering or detailing. You can apply multiple coats without waiting long, speeding up the process while maintaining crisp lines and smooth finishes.
  8. Excellent Pigment Retention
    Vallejo Game Color Opaque paints are known for their long-lasting, fade-resistant pigments. Over time, miniatures painted with these colors will retain their brilliance, even with exposure to light or handling during gameplay.
  9. Compatibility with Other Vallejo Products
    These paints are part of Vallejo’s extensive range and work seamlessly with their primers, washes, varnishes, and additives. This ensures you can create cohesive effects, from base coating to final sealing. For example, you can pair Game Color Opaque with Vallejo’s airbrush-ready primers or matte varnish for a fully integrated painting process.
  10. Beginner and Pro-Friendly
    The combination of vibrant colors, smooth application, and ease of use makes these paints accessible for beginners while still providing the quality that professional miniature painters demand. Whether you’re new to painting or an experienced hobbyist, Vallejo Game Color Opaque can help bring your miniatures to life.

What I Didn’t Like About Vallejo Game Color Extra Opaque Paints

There really wasn’t much that I disliked. My main gripe is that the paints tend to have a lot of color separation, so you’ll need to do quite a bit of shaking to get them to their intended color. If you don’t want to spend a couple of minutes each painting session shaking your arms like a madman, then I’d suggest adding paint mixer balls to make the job easier. As for the paint consistency, it is on the thicker side—but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, the thickness means you get more value since you’ll need to thin them down slightly before use. Just don’t thin them down too much, because too much water can cause the paints to not look good on your miniature. However, as I have previously mentioned, this is actually not a bad thing and if you are new to miniature painting, then you will need to be aware of this issue and thin the paints down before applying them to your minis.

Purchase Miniatures to Paint with the Vallejo Extra Opaque Paint Set

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