Classic BattleTech is a table-top wargame

Wargaming

A wargame is a strategy game that deals with military operations of various types, real or fictional. Wargaming is the hobby dedicated to the play of such games, which can also be called conflict simulations, or consims for short. When used professionally to study warfare, it is generally known as...

 set in the fictional BattleTech

BattleTech

BattleTech is a wargaming and science fiction franchise launched by FASA Corporation in 1984, acquired by WizKids in 2000, and owned since 2003 by Topps. The series began with FASA's debut of the board game BattleTech by Jordan Weisman and L...

 universe that simulates combat between futuristic mechanized forces. Originally published by FASA Corporation

FASA

FASA Corporation was an American publisher of role-playing games, wargames and board games between 1980 and 2001. Originally the name FASA was an acronym for "Freedonian Aeronautics and Space Administration", a joking allusion to the Marx Brothers film Duck Soup. This tongue-in-cheek attitude was...

, the game is now produced by Catalyst Game Labs

Catalyst Game Labs

Catalyst Game Labs was created in May 2007 by InMediaRes Productions, LLC for the purpose of publishing print Classic BattleTech and Shadowrun sourcebooks...

 under license from WizKids

WizKids

WizKids, Inc. is an American New Jersey-based company that first made its mark in the game industry producing collectible miniatures wargames. WizKids was purchased by and is a subsidiary of National Entertainment Collectibles Association. The company was founded in 2000 by Jordan Weisman, a...

. The term "Classic" is used to differentiate from the original game & other variants that have derived from it, such as MechWarrior: Dark Age

MechWarrior: Dark Age

MechWarrior: Dark Age was a tabletop wargame by WizKids set in the BattleTech universe that uses the Clix system...

. The game has an extensive range of 1/285 scale miniatures.
BattleTech is a turn-based, multiplayer game, typically played on a map divided into hexagonal grids

Hex map

A hex map, hex board or hex grid is a gameboard design commonly used in wargames of all scales. The map is subdivided into small regular hexagons of identical size.-Advantages and disadvantages:...

 with figurines or counters representing military units.