BigGame Mahlwinkel

BigGame Mahlwinkel is a large-scale scenario paintball event held at a former Soviet military airfield near Mahlwinkel in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. The event brings together recreational paintball players and organised scenario teams for several days of woodsball, objective-based missions, camping and a paintball equipment trade exhibition.

Mahlwinkel has been associated with major European paintball gatherings for more than two decades. Events at the site have operated under several names, including Euro Big Game (EBG), United Big Game (UBG) and, since 2025, Paintball BigGame Mahlwinkel. These represent successive event organisations rather than one continuously operated series.[1][2]

During the Euro Big Game period, attendance reportedly reached approximately 2,000 players, making it one of Europe's largest recreational paintball gatherings.[1]

History

Euro Big Game

The original Euro Big Game was established by German paintball retailer and field operator Christian Kammerer.

The event initially took place in Veckring, France, before relocating to Mahlwinkel in eastern Germany. The event subsequently changed playing areas within the Mahlwinkel site.[1]

The former Soviet military installation offered extensive woodland terrain, bunkers, trenches and military infrastructure suitable for large-scale paintball competition.

By September 2012, Euro Big Game Mahlwinkel was attracting approximately 1,500 players. A contemporary report published by Planet Eclipse documented participation by Dutch scenario teams Black Bandits and Ghost Squad, including three days of competition involving flag objectives, defensive positions and missions across the former military base.[3]

The event continued expanding during the 2010s.

A December 2017 preview published by Paintball Sports reported that Euro Big Game regularly attracted more than 2,000 players. The event included military-style vehicles, organised missions, a substantial vendor exhibition and several days of camping and entertainment.[4]

Euro Big Game operated at Mahlwinkel until the period preceding the establishment of United Big Game in 2021.

United Big Game (2021–2024)

Following the end of the original Euro Big Game organisation, a new event was established under the name United Big Game.

The project was developed by organisers Robert and Steffen, who sought to continue the tradition of major scenario paintball events at Mahlwinkel.

The first United Big Game took place in May 2021 and attracted approximately 250 players.

The second event, held in May 2022, attracted approximately 730 ticket holders, according to figures published by Paintball Sports.[5]

Participation subsequently increased, with the 2023 event approaching 1,000 players.

The 2024 event was held over the traditional German Ascension Day holiday weekend. Contemporary reporting described improvements to compressed-air provision, paintball supply and event infrastructure.[6]

Despite the event's growth, United Big Game ceased operating following the 2024 edition. Paintball Sports reported that financial problems and disagreements within the organisation contributed to its conclusion.[2]

BigGame Mahlwinkel relaunch (2025)

In December 2024, Airsoft-Helden announced plans to continue the Mahlwinkel paintball event under a new organisational structure.

Airsoft-Helden had previously provided infrastructure for United Big Game and operated the Dark Emergency airsoft event at the same venue.

The new organisation collaborated with Paintball Sports and Weekend Warrior Shop, bringing together event infrastructure, paintball industry exhibitors and scenario game management.[2]

The relaunched event took place from 28 to 31 May 2025 under the name Paintball BigGame Mahlwinkel.

Approximately 550 participants attended the first edition under the new management structure.[7]

The event introduced a revised mission system featuring two opposing factions, the Red Reapers and Blue Brigade.

The Blue Brigade, commanded by Ken, won the 2025 event against the Red Reapers, commanded by Stephan.[7]

2026 event

The 2026 BigGame Mahlwinkel was scheduled for 13–17 May at Airfield Mahlwinkel.

The programme included an arrival day on Wednesday, an open playing day on Thursday and the principal scenario missions on Friday and Saturday. Sunday was reserved for departure.[8]

The organisers continued the collaboration between Airsoft-Helden, Paintball Sports and Weekend Warrior Shop, with plans to expand participation and improve battlefield reinsertion points.[9]

Venue

BigGame Mahlwinkel takes place at a former Soviet military airfield near Mahlwinkel, within the municipality of Angern in Saxony-Anhalt.

The site includes extensive woodland, open ground, roads and surviving military infrastructure.

Historical Euro Big Game events incorporated bunkers, trenches, towers and defensive positions across the playing area.[3]

The organisers of the relaunched event described a playing area of approximately 500,000 square metres for the 2026 edition.[9]

The venue also accommodates camping areas, compressed-air facilities, catering and a central marketplace for paintball equipment vendors.

Game format

The event uses large-scale objective-based paintball competition between two opposing armies.

The specific missions, rules and team identities have changed between the Euro Big Game, United Big Game and subsequent BigGame Mahlwinkel organisations.

During the Euro Big Game period, gameplay included flag capture, attacks on fortified objectives, defensive missions and organised team movements.[3][4]

Modern format

The 2025 relaunch introduced two principal factions:

Red Reapers: The red faction.
Blue Brigade: The blue faction.

The game incorporated multiple objectives spread across the playing field.

Major missions required teams to capture and hold designated control points. Electronic domination boxes recorded possession of these objectives, with accumulated holding times contributing towards the event score.

Additional missions involved collecting large gold-coloured tokens known as Mahlwinkel Coins and transporting them to designated bases.

The 2025 format incorporated separate mission routes for the two factions, with each team completing comparable objectives across the Friday and Saturday playing periods.[7]

Special missions were also available for magazine-fed paintball players and designated specialist units.

Trade exhibition and camping

The event has historically combined large-scale paintball competition with an equipment exhibition and social programme.

During the Euro Big Game period, manufacturers and retailers attended to demonstrate and sell paintball equipment.

The 2017 event programme included a large vendor area, evening entertainment and camping for thousands of visitors.[4]

The 2025 relaunch featured 18 exhibition tents, with participating brands including Planet Eclipse, DYE Precision, HK Army, Tippmann, First Strike and DLX Technology.[7]

Camping and evening activities have remained established components of the event.

Significance

BigGame Mahlwinkel occupies an established place in European recreational paintball history.

Its association with the Euro Big Game brought large numbers of international players to eastern Germany, with contemporary reports documenting approximately 1,500 participants in 2012 and organisers promoting attendance exceeding 2,000 during the late 2010s.[3][4]

Although the event has changed organisers and identities, the Mahlwinkel venue has continued hosting major scenario paintball gatherings.

The transition from Euro Big Game to United Big Game and subsequently to Paintball BigGame Mahlwinkel reflects successive attempts to maintain and develop large-scale recreational paintball competition at the former military airfield.

References

External links

BigGame Mahlwinkel official website