There are cheaper miniature games out there. Gaslands is Mad Max/ Death Race inspired and you use standard toy cars to play. There’s also Turnip28 that’s pretty much post apocalyptic Napoleonic Wars. There are cheap Napoleon era miniatures people modify for it, but I’ve also seen some goofier builds, like using toys and actual vegetables. I will say I haven’t really played either, but they are the two miniature games I often consider getting into.