2026-04-09T04:39:10Z

Wordman:

<div class="meta">
If you are reading this, chances are you asked a question like "what kind of games are there that do X?" someplace and have been directed to a section of this page. The format and links here share a lot in common with the the wiki of the r/rpg subreddit, because I (as u/omnihedron) wrote most of content like this for that wiki. I don't use reddit anymore, though, so wanted a place for this sort of reference. It is not meant to be exhaustive, but rather to provide quality examples of particular types of gaming.

Games marked with ¤ are either free or pay-what-you-want. This page does not use affiliate linking.
</div>

== A Short List ==

If your exposure to roleplaying has been a single system, these offer a number of directions to other ways of gaming:

* [http://www.onesevendesign.com/ladyblackbird/ Lady Blackbird]¤
* [http://www.dog-eared-designs.com/ Primetime Adventures]
* [https://bullypulpitgames.com/games/fiasco/ Fiasco]
* [https://hankerinferinale.wixsite.com/icrpg Index Card RPG]
* [http://danielbayn.com/wushu/ Wushu: the Ancient Art of Action Roleplaying]¤
* [https://200wordrpg.github.io/2017/rpg/winner/2017/04/15/MECHANICALORYX.html Mechanical Oryx]¤
* [https://www.evilhat.com/home/scum-and-villainy/ Scum and Villainy]
* [https://trophyrpg.com/ Trophy]
* [https://ufopress.co.uk/our-games/legacy-life-among-ruins/ Legacy: Life Among the Ruins]
* [http://gregorhutton.com/boxninja/threesixteen/ 3:16 Carnage Among the Stars]

== Universal Systems ==

=== Minimalist ===

Minimalist systems attempt to use as few rules as possible to cover a wide range of genres.

* '''[https://korbohned.itch.io/the-bean-engine The Bean Engine]'''¤ — a skill-based system using summed 2d6 (or best two of three for advantage/worst two of three for disadvantage), trying to hit 8+. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY-SA 4.0])
* '''[http://www.capricciorpg.com Capriccio RPG]'''¤ — Easily adaptable, free, generalist two-page system with 4 attributes, powers and skills.
* '''[https://as-if.itch.io/core-micro CORE Micro]'''¤ — a minimalist hybrid (trad/narr) SRD designed by Tod Foley, basis of “DayTrippers” and other games. (CC BY 3.0)
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/153484/Cornerstone-RPG--Basic Cornerstone RPG]'''¤ — a dialog-heavy, simple d6-based system, intended to run zero-prep one-shots.
* '''[https://www.gildorgames.com/gildor-games/ Elemental]''' aims to be “a fast and flexible roleplaying game for any character, any setting, any story”. It is a skill-based system with free one-page rules, but deeper support materials.
* '''[https://www.perilplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/FU2-Beta-V1.1-Oct-2020.pdf Fast FU]''' is a two-page minimalist version of Freeform Universal within the [https://www.perilplanet.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/FU2-Beta-V1.1-Oct-2020.pdf 2nd edition PDF].
* '''[http://www.fudgelite.com Fudge Lite]''' is a rules-light generic RPG that uses natural language to describe character traits (fair, good, great, etc.) The game is designed to let the mechanics fade into the background and allow the players to focus on playing the game.
* '''[https://heroictalesrpg.com/ Heroic Tales]''' is a “genre-neutral, rules-light role playing game of heroic problem solving.”
* '''[https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/share/-zMNd4JOoJvv Paper-Free RPG]''' is a one-page RPG for situations in which character sheets are not very feasible, such as during nature hikes or night-time car-rides. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/28315/QAGS-Second-Edition QAGS]''' — “Quick-Ass Game System”. Minimalist RPG first published in 2001, notable (notorious?, infamous?) for its explicit use of edible tokens as a dice modifier currency called “Yum-Yums”.
* '''[https://www.risusrpg.com/rules Risus: The Anything RPG]''' — a free four-page game with a [http://www.risusiverse.com large following], supporting a variety of play styles.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/296464/SHARP-Simple-Handy-Adaptable-RolePlaying SHARP]''' — a lightweight descriptive system, ''Simple Handy Adaptable Role-Playing'' claims to be a “love child” of ''WaRP'', ''FitD'', and ''Gumshoe''. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://pjfelix.itch.io/septible Septible (aka Alpha-7)]'''¤ — a lean, flexible system playable with pools of any type of 50/50 randomizer (dice, coins, etc.). ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0])
* '''[https://enpublishingrpg.com/collections/simply6/products/simply6-a-fast-universal-rpg Simply6]''' — A simple d6 pool system.
* '''[https://irpgdb.com/supplement/tricube-tales/ Tricube Tales]''' — a free “minimalist, narrative-driven” system using 3d6 and some tokens. Aims to be kid-friendly and is supported by a number of settings. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ CC BY 3.0])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/96367/TWERPS-Basic-Rules-2nd-Edition TWERPS]''' — minimal system from Zocchi Games first published in 1987, “The World’s Easiest Role-Playing System”. Notable for being published by Lou Zocchi of GameScience “precision” dice fame.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/320403/Ultra-Accelerated-One-Page-RPG Ultra Accelerated]''' — a one-page simplification of the already streamlined ''Fate Accelerated''. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ CC BY 3.0])
* '''[http://dominowriting.com/games/tabletop-gaming-3/unbelievably-simple-roleplaying/ Unbelievably Simple Roleplaying]''' — three stats, simple dice, and a narrative currency, in two pages.
* '''[https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Universalis-PDF.html Universalis]''' — token-based system to share out story-telling authority
* '''[https://wuderpg.itch.io/wude-the-five-powers 五德 (Wu De) — The Five Powers]'''¤ — a narrative RPG, system based on the east-asian philosophy of Yin & Yang and the 5 Elements. Requires 6 d6 in two different colors.

=== Hackable ===

Simple games intended to be (or, at least, in actuality) co-opted and hacked into other published games.

* '''[https://jasontocci.itch.io/24xx 24XX]'''¤ — the system from ''2400'' prioritizes “description and narrative positioning over detailed rules processes”. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
* '''[https://the-black-hack.jehaisleprintemps.net The Black Hack]''' — an OSR fantasy game that spawned a [https://www.dieheart.net/the-black-hack-resources/#tbh-standalone-games vast number] of games in other genres. ([https://the-black-hack.jehaisleprintemps.net OGL])
* '''[https://d6xd6.com D6xD6]''' — an open system using two d6 multiplied together and characters that can be written on a business card. Provides the framework for many games and settings. ([https://d6xd6.com/faq-licensing-etc/d6xd6-rpg-licensing/ D6xD6 OSL])
* '''[https://bladesinthedark.com Forged in the Dark]'''¤ — [https://bladesinthedark.com/basics SRD] based on the award winning [https://bladesinthedark.com/ Blades in the Dark RPG], a game focusing on daring heists and building a criminal organization. Generally specializes in episodic, story-driven play with a set gameplay cycle. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ CC BY 3.0])
* '''[http://freeformuniversal.com FU: the Freeform Universal RPG]'''¤ — a lightweight system supporting degrees of success that “lends itself to a ‘seat of your pants’ style, where little preparation is needed.” ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
* '''[https://fudgerpg.com/about/about-fudge/fudge-overview.html Fudge]'''¤ — supports a number of dice rolling systems, including using the eponymous [https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/44946/fudge-dice Fudge dice], to drive a “rules-light role-playing game engine providing a common set of game mechanics that can be used to create any role-playing game you desire”. ([https://fudgerpg.com/fudge-publishing.html OGL & FSTL])
* '''[https://talsorianstore.com/products/fuzion-core Fuzion]''' — a crunchy system that (somewhat quietly) forms the backbone of dozens of games (e.g. ''Artesia'', ''Cyberpunk v3'', ''Victoriana''), built to unify “the best of the Hero System (''Champions'') and Interlock (''Cyberpunk'')”. (Currently unclear licensing. At one point, ''Action!'' was an OGL system mostly compatible with ''Fuzion'', but it is no longer.)
* '''[http://www.onesevendesign.com/laserfeelings/ Lasers & Feelings]'''¤ — originally a sci-fi game, but its [https://rendedpress.blogspot.com/2017/07/lasers-feelings-assorted-l-mods.html many modifications] tune its very simple system to widely different ends. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ CC BY-SA 3.0])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/311250/microlite20-rpg-collection-2020-edition?src=hottest_filtered Microlight20]'''¤ — the d20 system stripped as bare as possible, currently supporting over a hundred different games. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[http://www.antipaladingames.com/p/mini-six.html Mini Six]'''¤ — a slimmed down version of the ''OpenD6'' system (see below). ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://brunobord.github.io/micro-rpg-catalog/minimald6.html minimalD6]'''¤ — a minimalist game engine with [https://yochaigal.github.io/minimald6/ over two dozen] games written using it, by a variety of authors. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY-SA 4.0])
* '''[https://thirdeyegames.net/pip-system/ Pip System]''' — aimed at beginning role-players, but with scaling complexity, using opposing pools of black and white d6. Supported by a number of kid-friendly games using the system, as well as a number of genre-specific guides.
* '''[https://questworlds.chaosium.com/ Questworlds]'''¤ — A flexible system, with characters defined by key words and a resolution mechanic that covers all challenges, be they physical, mental or social. ([https://github.com/ChaosiumInc/QuestWorlds/blob/master/0.1_Legal_Information.md Questworlds OGL]) Based on ''HeroQuest'', which was an alternate system to play in the Glorantha setting of ''RuneQuest''.

=== Unusual dice/randomizer ===

Games that leverage atypical randomizers to support many genres of play.

* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/18098/Fastlane-Everything-All-The-Time Fastlane: Everything, All the Time]''' — Uses American or European roulette wheels, though rules for dice are included as well.
* '''[https://fate-srd.com Fate]''' — uses [https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/44946/fudge-dice Fudge dice] (dice with equal numbers of blank, −, and + faces) to back “story-focused tools” that “puts the narrative and fiction first”. In addition to a number of published games and settings built on top of it, Fate comes in three “flavors”, divided by degree of complexity:
** [https://www.evilhat.com/home/fate-core/ Fate Core] — the full, medium-crunchy, version, with more options and examples. Also supports of line of world and toolkit books. ([https://www.faterpg.com/licensing/ OGL & CC])
** [https://www.evilhat.com/home/fate-condensed/ Fate Condensed] — a compact, stand-alone version of ''Fate Core'' streamlined for clarity and ease of reference. ([https://www.faterpg.com/licensing/ OGL & CC])
** [https://www.evilhat.com/home/fae/ Fate Accelerated] — a greatly simplified version of the system, designed to be quickly read and low prep. ([https://www.faterpg.com/licensing/ OGL & CC])
* '''[https://www.edge-studio.net/categories-games/genesys/ Genesys]''' — uses dice with customized symbols, “with a system so adaptable and expansive you can explore every popular roleplaying genre”. The main book contains five settings, and other games use the system for a particular setting. ([https://www.drivethrurpg.com/cc/27/genesys-foundry Genesys Foundry])
* '''[https://rosetterpg.com/books/diceless/ Rosette Diceless]''' — “dedicated to a consensus-based, story-first, and improvisational approach”, using no randomizers at all.
* '''[https://spiraldice.itch.io/sapio Sapio]''' — “lightweight, flexible framework for telling the stories” making use of pools of d12s with combinations of three symbols on each face.
* '''[https://sidecarstories.itch.io/silverbulletrpg Silver Bullet RPG]'''¤ — A coin-based system that gets newbies playing quickly — building characters and learning ''as they play'', and gives the PBTA crowd a generic that feels familiar and natural.
* '''[https://rowanrookanddecard.itch.io/unbound Unbound]''' — features “session zero” tools for collaboratively figuring out what genre/setting/concept you want to play in the first place. The system itself uses decks of playing cards for randomization.

=== Toolkit ===

Toolkit systems offer numerous options or subsystems, with explicit guidance to mix and match a subset of the parts for a specific campaign or experience.

* '''[https://dorkland.blogspot.com/p/the-4c-rules.html 4C]'''¤ — explicitly a toolkit “foundation for you to build upon”, using a lightweight percentile/chart lookup system, heavily influenced by FASERIP. The title is an abbreviation of “four color”, owing to the game’s superhero roots. (text is public domain)
* '''[https://www.pigames.net/store/default.php?cPath=21 Active Exploits]'''¤ — diceless generic rpg system from Precis Intermedia first published in 2002.
* '''[https://welshpiper.com/packages/chimera-rpg-core-rules/ Chimera RPG]''' — a 64-page “framework for gaming in any conceivable genre” using d12 non-binary checks and opposed polyhedral rolls, that is “easy to learn and optimized for fast play”. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0])
* '''[https://www.cortexrpg.com/ Cortex Prime]''' — a mid-complexity, “multi-genre, modular, session-centered” toolkit, with explicit knobs for tuning the system for a desired campaign. Evolved from earlier iterations of ''Cortex'' that powered many games from Margaret Weis Productions.
* '''[https://artofthegenre.com/ FAST System]''' — “a new generic setting gaming system based solely around a D10 mechanic from Art of the Genre. It is designed to be ‘anti-bloat’, with everything geared toward an easy gamemaster experience and quick resolution mechanics for the players.”.
* '''[https://www.heroforgegames.com/forge-engine/ Forge Engine]'''¤ — a mid- to high-crunch system using opposed d10 dice pools with degree of success. Tunes available skills and equipment to the genre. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
* '''[https://gilarpgs.itch.io/lumen Lumen]'''¤ — A lightweight toolkit for action packed, power fantasy games, providing the framework for several dozen games, and growing. Mixes a 2d6 degree of success system with tactical, fast, combat-heavy play. (Free to use, with credit given.)
* '''[http://opend6project.org/ OpenD6]'''¤ — originally the house system for West End Games, now a free, open, mid-complexity system. Attributes and skills available to characters are defined based on genre/setting with actions resolved using a summed pool of d6. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/311958/Solar-System Solar System]''' — based on the early 2000’s indie RPG ''The Shadow of Yesterday'', the first game where a “Key”-based XP system was presented.
* '''[https://www.woinrules.com WOIN]''' — “What’s OLD is NEW, three toolkit-oriented tabletop roleplaying games designed to work together”, using a fairly crunchy mechanics driving a summed d6 pool for resolution. ([https://www.woinrpg.com/community-tools-sharing-3pps WCPS])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/371431/UGIS-Rpg UGIS]'''¤ — the “Universal and Generic Imagination System”. Low complexity and rules-lite with a focus on character development and roleplay. Opportunity to create any setting and genre with numerous options for customization. Resolution works with d6 pools against difficulties. Has its license open to all types of hack or additional material.

=== Toolkit + genre book ===

Toolkit systems that go a step further, offering products tuned to specific genres or settings.

* '''[http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/ GURPS]''' — the original “generic universal role-playing system” has accumulated a huge number of supplements over the years, each adapting the basic concepts of the game to particular genre or setting. A 32-page “distillation of the basic GURPS rules” is [http://www.warehouse23.com/products/SJG31-0004 available for free].
* '''[https://6d6rpg.com 6d6]'''¤ — combines characters defined by a collection of “advantages” with a token system measuring their “potential” (how many advantages they can actually use at a particular time) to build a summed dice pool. Adapts to different genres with setting and adventure books. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ CC BY-SA 3.0])
* '''[http://everywhenrpg.wikidot.com Everywhen]''' — a medium-crunch system “designed for high action roleplaying and suitable for campaigns in any era or background”, based on ''Barbarians of Lemuria''. [http://everywhenrpg.wikidot.com/supplements:settings Setting books] provide examples of using the system for particular genres. ([http://everywhenrpg.wikidot.com/everywhen:license custom license])
* '''[https://www.runehammer.online/index-card-rpg Index Card RPG]''' — a system that “throws out all the clunky parts” while providing numerous choices for characters. Class-based, but with available classes tailored to the genre. Provides a number of “world” books which customize the game for a given setting or genre. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
* '''[https://www.jagsrpg.com JAGS]'''¤ — Just Another Gaming System claims to be “rules-heavy”, and interested in a very wide power scale, a “variance in lethality”, and nice production. Several setting books tune it to particular genres.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/208688/OneDice-Universal-Revised OneDice]''' — a system based on rolling a single d6, with dozens of genre-specific variations.
* '''[https://yggdrasildistro.wordpress.com/free-diy-roleplaying-material/ Saga]'''¤ — a low- to mid-crunch storytelling system, with several setting books as examples of use for particular genres. While it contains “a deadly and believable combat system, it is ''not'' combat focused”. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0])
* '''[https://gallant-knight-games.myshopify.com/collections/tinyd6 TinyD6]''' — a very light system using descriptors and a pool of one to three d6, with genre specific books (e.g. ''Tiny Wastelands'', ''Tiny Frontiers'') to expand it into specific genres.

=== Comprehensive ===

Systems aiming to offer options for every possibility at once.

* '''[https://www.herogames.com/hero_system_basics.html/ HERO System]''' — The 400 pound gorilla of point-buy, crunchy, high character customization systems, originally extracted from the ''Champions'' superhero game. Resolution pits a summed d6 pool (usually 3d6) against a target.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/316410 Cosmic Cutthroats]''' — a complex, “kitchen sink” sort of system built to support multi-genre dimension-hopping. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY-SA 4.0])
* '''[https://www.btrc.net/eabav2-119 EABA]''' — stands for “End All Be All” and routes everything through a universal chart, taking the sum of the best three d6 from a pool. (Custom open license)
* '''[https://openlegendrpg.com Open Legend]''' — a mid-complexity system using pools of exploding dice. Claims to be “open-source”, by which it means using a license reminiscent of the OGL. ([https://openlegendrpg.com/community-license Open Legend Community License])
* '''[https://greenroninstore.com/collections/true20/products/true20-adventure-roleplaying-revised-edition-pdf True20]''' — a simplified (three-class) version of the d20 system (the open portions of ''D&D 3.5''), liberated from some of d20’s license restrictions. ([https://greenroninstore.com/pages/true20-adventure-roleplaying-trademark-license OGL/True20])

=== Specific ===

Systems that support a particular type of play in a genre-agnostic way.

* '''[https://www.ppmgames.co.uk/3deep/ 3Deep]''' — a lightweight system “designed to emulate the episode structure” of TV, and also dedicating a significant section of the book to support solo play.
* '''[https://adepticarus.com/what-do-you-want-your-arium-to-be-2/ Arium]''' — two books, Arium: Discover is a streamlined RPG system that is built to run games in any world built with Arium: Create.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/252107/blackwind-core-rulebook Blackwind]''' — might be what would have happened if RPGs were originally made by novelists instead of wargamers. Uses lots of the technical tools of writing.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/274623/Dogs DOGS]''' — “a genre and setting agnostic” interpretation of the now out-of-print ''Dogs in the Vineyard'', using a dice pool and wagering system that is “heavily intertwined with the narrative… ideal for games where the players are solving mysteries, settling disputes, and making moral and/or ethical decisions”.
* '''[https://bullypulpitgames.com/collections/fiasco-1 Fiasco]''' — A narrative game of ”powerful ambition and poor impulse control”, supported by [https://fiascoplaysets.com hundreds of playsets].
* '''[http://www.room209gaming.com Forthright]''' — a mid-complexity system based on non-binary results of a d20 roll. Heavy emphasis on expectation setting (both for the game as a whole, and for each die roll), collaboration, and GM guidance. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
* '''[https://pelgranepress.com/index.php/gumshoe/ Gumshoe]''' — offers an engine designed for building investigative, mystery-solving games, regardless of genre. A kickstarter opened the [http://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/the-gumshoe-system-reference-document/ SRD] for the system. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ CC BY 3.0])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/128522/ngs-the-narrative-game-system Narrative Game System]''' — rules-light, heavily targeting narrative, collaborative play. Bulk of the book details fifteen example settings.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/210088/The-Pool The Pool]'''¤ — a free, simple system using a “dice pool gambling mechanic” to decide narrative control, and advancement is handled by adding words to your character’s story.
* '''[https://itsmrwilson.itch.io/primetime-adventures Primetime Adventures]''' — designed to create games that feel like television shows of any genre.
* '''[http://www.genesisoflegend.com/products/spark/ Spark]''' — “purpose-built to foster creating dynamic, custom settings” where play is “about challenging values and beliefs”. The main book contains example settings for “shogunate science fiction”, “montreal police drama”, and “fantasy under siege”. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ CC BY 3.0])
* '''[https://www.strikerpg.com/strike.html Strike!]''' — a medium-complexity system built around grid-based tactical combat, aiming for “variety without complexity” and non-binary resolution using a single d6.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/80626/Theatrix-Presents-The-Core-Rules Theatrix]''' — originally published in 1993, this diceless system leans into many theatrical metaphors in its structure.

=== House systems ===

Systems that back a particular company’s line of games, usually extracted into their own setting-agnostic book.

* '''[https://modiphius.net 2d20]''' — the backbone of a large number of games produced by Mōdiphiüs, though they have never produced a “generic” book for the system.
* '''[https://greenroninstore.com/collections/age-system AGE]''' — powers a number of Green Ronin’s games, using complex system built around a 3d6 pool where one of the dice is special and determines degree of success and some other factors.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/17304/AM1-Amazing-Engine-System-Guide Amazing Engine]''' — genre-neutral system published by Wizards of the Coast in 1993 primarily used to drive a series of genre-specific supplements.
* '''[http://cypher-system.com Cypher System]''' — drives the various titles of Monte Cook Games using an “I’m a ''blank'' ''blank'' who ''blanks''” approach to character building and “GM intrusions”.
* '''[https://www.era-games.com/whats-era-d10/ Era d10]'''¤ — an extraction of the pool of exploding d10s system behind the ''Era: …'' games from Shades of Vengeance.
* '''[http://www.fraggedempire.com/ Fragged Rules System]''' — a high-crunch 3d6, system using “tactical miniature combat” and “best for long sandbox games”, supporting several games from Design Ministries. They treat the first half of the ''Fragged Empire Core Rules'' as the baseline rules engine.
* '''[https://www.pigames.net/store/default.php?cPath=107 Masterbook]''' — originally a house generic system from West End Games from 1993, still available via DTRPG. Made extensive use of custom cards called [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/87230/MasterDeck-for-MasterBook--Shatterzone Masterdeck]
* '''[https://kheperapublishing.com/khepera-publishing-home/mythic-d6/ Mythic D6]''' — based on the idea that all RPGs are basically superhero games with different trappings, using a modified d6 success pool. House system for Khepera Publishing.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/58424/PDQ-Sharp PDQ Sharp!]'''¤ — A generic version of the house system used by Atomic Sock Monkey press in games such as ''Truth and Justice'' and ''Swashbucklers of the Seven Skies''
* '''RuneQuest descendants''' — first published in 1978, ''RuneQuest'' has gone through a number of revision and more than its fair share of legal maneuvering. Out of all this have come a number of generic games:
** [https://www.chaosium.com/basic-roleplaying/ Basic Role-Playing] — a common distillation of the games produced by Chaosium. A fairly crunchy percentile skill-based system. ([https://www.chaosium.com/orclicense/ ORC])
** [https://srd.mythras.net/ Mythras Imperative]¤ — a “free introduction to the Mythras system, and geared towards generic adventures”. A fairly crunchy percentile skill-based system. ([https://www.chaosium.com/orclicense/ ORC])
** [http://www.alephtargames.com/en/revolution-d100-menu Revolution D100] — “proposes a new approach to percentile-based role-playing games, while keeping the unique flavour of the classic D100 engine”. A fairly crunchy percentile skill-based system.
** Note that ''QuestWorlds'' (listed in the “Hackable” section above) is based on ''Heroquest'', which was an alternate rules system for playing in the Glorantha setting of Runequest.
* '''[https://www.peginc.com/product-category/savage-worlds/ Savage Worlds]''' powers Pinnacle Games. It has a liberal (though not open) license as well, so many settings have been published for it.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/368/TriStat-dX-Core-System-RolePlaying-Game Tri-Stat dX]'''¤ is the free, generic expression of the games first made by Guardians of Order, revived with the latest edition of ''Big Eyes, Small Mouth''.
* '''[https://www.atlas-games.com/otelegacy#warped WaRP]''' — for the 20th anniversary of ''Over the Edge'', Atlas Games released the “Wanton Role-Playing System”, an open expression if its system. (OGL)

=== Historical ===

Systems that are no longer available but were notable in their time.

* ''Cortex'' was once the house system of Margaret Weis Productions, when they still produced RPGs, now supplanted by ''Cortex Prime'' (see above).
* The ''D6 System'' formed the basis of games by the bankrupted West End Games like ''Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game'', and now lives on as ''OpenD6'' (see above).
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lords_of_Creation_(role-playing_game) Lords of Creation]''' — an early generic game published in 1983 notable for its publisher (Avalon Hill) and its author (Tom Moldvay).
* '''[https://www.btrc.net/corps CORPS]''' — generic toolkit game from Blackburg Tactical Research Center published prior to, and considered superseded by, EABA.

== Fantasy ==

All the editions, revisions, competitors, knock-offs, revolutions, renaissances, and ”killers” of “the world’s greatest roleplaying game” mean there are nearly endless fantasy games. This list doesn’t attempt to catalog all their branches, mostly because it doesn’t care. It cares even less if a game is “really” a TLA game (where “TLA” is whatever three-letter acronym you care about).

=== Retroclones ===

When gamers realized that [https://www.rpglibrary.org/articles/faqs/copyright.php rules can’t be copyrighted] a great many built games by cloning rule sets wholesale. Few are exact clones, many are close (so will show up in this section), and many heavily mutate the original (so will not show up in this section). Where that line falls is fuzzy, and this list is ''far'' from comprehensive. It is worth noting that retroclones are often less for players (who, after all, could just play the original) and more for writers who want to publish new content for these closed systems.

* The Original “White Box” D&D (1974)
** '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/208991/microlite74-ultimate-edition-digest-epub Microlite74]'''
** '''[https://www.mythmeregames.com/collections/swords-wizardry Swords & Wizardry]'''
** '''[https://whitehackrpg.wordpress.com Whitehack]'''
* Holmes D&D (1977)
** '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/208800/blueholme-journeymanne-rules Blueholme]'''
** '''[https://mazesandperils.com Mazes & Perils]'''
* AD&D (1977)
** '''[https://osricrpg.com OSRIC]'''
* B/X D&D (Moldvay/Cook, 1981)
** '''[https://www.basicfantasy.org Basic Fantasy RPG]'''
** '''[https://goblinoidgames.com Labyrinth Lord]'''
** '''[https://necroticgnome.com/pages/about-old-school-essentials Old School Essentials]'''
* BECMI (1983)
** '''[https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/114003/darker-dungeons Darker Dungeons]'''
* Second Edition (1989)
** '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/156530/for-gold-glory For Gold & Glory]'''¤
** '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/106055/myth-magic-player-s-guide Myth & Magic]'''
* Rules Cyclopedia (1991)
** '''[https://gurbintrollgames.wordpress.com/dark-dungeons/ Dark Dungeons]'''
* Some others
** '''[https://www.vsdarkmaster.com Against the Darkmaster]''' — mostly clones ''Middle Earth Roleplaying System (MERPS)'' ([https://www.vsdarkmaster.com/open-license/ Openoo])
** '''[https://www.mongoosepublishing.com/collections/legend Legend]''' — mostly clones ''Runequest''
** '''[https://gurbintrollgames.wordpress.com/lightmaster/ Lightmaster]'''¤ — mostly clones ''Rolemaster 2E''.
** '''[https://openquestrpg.com/about/ OpenQuest]''' — mostly clones ''Runequest'' ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])

=== Old-ish School ===

Games that have an "old school feel", and might (or might not) pull from old-school origins (or mash up several), but have more modern design or "drift" the concept in a new way. (Some of these drift out of fantasy entirely, so can be found in above in the "universal" section.)

* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/178359/the-black-hack The Black Hack]''' — streamlined design emphasizing speed of play ([https://the-black-hack.jehaisleprintemps.net OGL])
* '''[https://cairnrpg.com Cairn]''' — exploring a dark and mysterious Wood filled with strange folk, hidden treasure, and unspeakable monstrosities ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
* '''[https://freeleaguepublishing.com/games/dragonbane/ Dragonbane]''' — “mirth and mayhem roleplaying”, refined from the 1982 Scandinavian game ''Drakar och Demoner''. ([https://freeleaguepublishing.com/dragonbane-community-content/ Dragonbane Open License])
* '''[https://goodman-games.com Dungeon Crawl Classics]''' — unusual polyhedrals (d16, d24, etc.), a massive catalog of quality adventures, and a history of bringing old classics back into print.
* '''[https://www.fivetorchesdeep.com Five Torches Deep]''' — bills itself as "5e skeleton, OSR meat", less than 50 pages
* '''[https://questingblog.com/knave-2e/ Knave]''' — modular design, slot-based inventory, GM tools
* '''[https://mindjammerpress.com/monstersandmagic/ Monsters & Magic]''' — compatible with old school adventures, but with more narrative gaming elements (OGL)
* '''[https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/pages/shadowdark Shadowdark]''' — a "nostalgic-but-new adventuring" system with familiar elements of classic fantasy gaming, but unafraid to embrace new ideas from the last 50 years
* '''[https://oldskull-publishing.com/sharp-swords-sinister-spells/ Sharp Swords and Sinister Spells]''' — rules light, custom system.
* '''[https://www.burningwheel.com/collections/torchbearer Torchbearer]''' — dungeon delving, managing light, built on a simplfied ''Burning Wheel'' system.
* '''[https://trophyrpg.com Trophy Gold]''' — ”tells the story of the treasure-hunters' obsessive drive to seek ever greater riches in a desperate bid to stay alive”, driven by a specific adventure template.
* '''[https://sine-nomine-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/worlds-without-number Worlds Without Number]''' — tools for sandbox play

=== Prominent ===

A few fantasy systems outside of TSR/WotC have risen to support large product lines and dedicated fanbases.

* 13th Age — created by the lead designers of D&D 3e and 4e, a year before 5e was published, avoiding mistakes from all three ([https://www.13thagesrd.com/legal/ OGL])
** '''[https://pelgranepress.com/13th-age/ 13th Age]'''
** '''[https://pelgranepress.com/13th-age-second-edition/ 13th Age Second Edition]'''
** '''[https://www.chaosium.com/13th-age-glorantha/ 13th Age Glorantha]''' — adapts the system to play in the setting popularized by ''RuneQuest'' (see below)
** '''[https://www.13thagesrd.com 13th Age SRD]'''
* '''[https://www.daggerheart.com Daggerheart]''' — polished, collaborative high fantasy from the people behind ''Critical Role''.
* '''[https://www.dungeon-world.com Dungeon World]''' — easily the most played fantasy game Powered by the Apocalypse, supporting a [https://www.dieheart.net/dungeon-world-resources/ massive amount of fan content], an [https://www.dungeonworldsrd.com SRD] and a number of games building from it ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA] and [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
** '''[https://johnharper.itch.io/world-of-dungeons World of Dungeons]''' — a minimalist version of the original
** '''[https://www.dungeon-world.com/tag/dw2/ Dungeon World 2]''' — a new edition in the works, by different authors
** '''[https://chasingadventuregame.com Chasing Adventure]''' — an evolution of the original ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA] and [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
** '''[https://cannibalhalflinggaming.com/2023/08/30/fantasy-world-review/ Fantasy World]''' — inspired by the original ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
** '''[https://spoutinglore.blogspot.com/2018/07/homebrew-world.html Homebrew World]'''¤ — a revision of the moves, class playbooks, and equipment rules for Dungeon World optimized for one-shots or short campaign play ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA] and [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
** '''[https://tomkinpress.com/pages/ironsworn Ironsworn]''' — a darker fantasy, supporting solo play ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA] and [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
** '''[https://yochaigal.itch.io/oneshotworld One Shot World]'''¤ — a more streamlined presentation, built for short form games ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA] and [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
** '''[https://plusoneexp.com/collections/stonetop Stonetop]''' — a "hearth fantasy" version, with a lot of thought and tinkering of the main moves
** '''[https://troypress.itch.io/uncommon-world Uncommon World]''' — collects years of hack, tweaks, and subsystem replacements from the original DW into one place ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA] and [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
* Exalted — god-like fantasy in one of the best settings and [http://exalted.xi.co.nz/wiki/ fan wikis] of all time. It has had several editions with a couple of publishers:
** '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/115326/complete-collection-exalted-1st-edition-bundle Exalted: First Edition]'''
** '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/3671/exalted-second-edition Exalted: Second Edition]'''
** '''[https://theonyxpath.com/category/worlds/exalted/ Exalted: Third Edition]'''
** '''[https://theonyxpath.com/now-available-exalted-essence/ Exalted Essence]'''
** The game‘s dense rules have bred a slew of [[Exalted Alternative Systems|alternate systems]]
* '''[https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/legend-of-the-five-rings-roleplaying-game/ Legend of the Five Rings]''' — great samurai clans vie for control
* '''[https://paizo.com/pathfinder Pathfinder]''' — continued evolution and refinement the D&D 3.5/d20 concept, now in its second edition tons of fan-made tools and references ([https://paizo.com/licenses OGL, ORC, others])
* Runequest — first published in 1978, ''RuneQuest'' has a [https://runequest.org/rqpast.htm timultuous past], with a number of revision and offshoots:
** It spawned many "universal systems", described above under "House systems".
** '''[https://www.chaosium.com/runequest-1st-edition-pdf/ 1st Edition]''' — 1978, Chaosium
** '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/177116/runequest-2nd-edition-1980 RuneQuest 2nd Edition]''' — 1978, Chaosium, became '''[https://www.chaosium.com/runequest-classic/ RuneQuest Classic]'''
** '''[https://rpggeek.com/rpg/762/runequest-3rd-edition RuneQuest 3rd Edition]''' — 1984, Avalon Hill
** RuneQuest 4th Edition/Adventures in Glorantha — planned in the late 1980's, but never officially published.
** '''[https://rpggeek.com/rpg/1971/runequest-mrq RuneQuest (MRQ)]''' — 2006, Mongoose
** '''[https://rpggeek.com/rpg/4351/runequest-ii RuneQuest II]''' — 2010, Mongoose
** '''[https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/129251/runequest-sixth-edition RuneQuest 6]''' — 2012, The Design Mechanism, became '''[https://www.mythras.net/ Mythras]''' after licensing changes
** '''[https://www.chaosium.com/runequest-rpg/ RuneQuest: Roleplaying in Glorantha]'''- 2018, Chaosium
** The more narrative HeroWars/HeroQuest/QuestWorlds became a more universal system (see the "Hackable" section above)

=== Thematic ===

Some systems target particular types of fantasy or styles of play.

* '''[http://agon-rpg.com Agon]''' — “epic heroes who face trials from the gods in an ancient world of myth and legend”, on its second edition, with an SRD supporting numerous hacks ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
* '''[http://animaprimerpg.com Anima Prime]''' — combines narrative freedom in character scenes, combat maneuvers, powers, megaswords, and summoning with a flexible goal system lets you infuse any fight with meaningful story decision points and unlimited tactical options ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/ CC BY-SA 3.0 US])
* '''[https://evilhat.com/product/band-of-blades/ Band of Blades]''' — mission based military fantasy ([https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://theblackcompanyrpg.com The Black Company]''' — soliders in service to an ”empire ruled by wicked sorcerers with the powers of gods”, based on the novels of the same name
* '''[https://breakrpg.com Break!!!]''' — anime-inspired high fantasy about exploration & teamwork
* '''[https://www.burningwheel.com/collections/burning-wheel Burning Wheel]''' — an interlocking arrangement of sub-systems, heavily driven by characters’ beliefs
* '''[https://www.mcdmproductions.com Draw Steel]''' — high fantasy tactical combat ([https://www.mcdmproductions.com/draw-steel-creator-license DS Creator Licence])
* '''[https://magpiegames.com/collections/epyllion Epyllion]''' — play as dragons
* '''[https://need.games/fabula-ultima/ Fabula Ultima]''' — heavily influenced by Japanese-style console RPGs
* '''[https://liberigothica.itch.io/fellowship-a-tabletop-adventure-game Fellowship]''' — one player is the Overlord, out to destroy the world, the others a band of heroes out to stop them ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA] and [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
* '''[https://www.ageofravensgames.com/hearts-of-wulin Hearts of Wulin]''' — wuxia melodrama surrounding skilled martial artists in a world of rival clans, conspiracies, and obligations ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://www.housesoftheblooded.net Houses of the Blooded]''' — “Set in the fantastic world of ven myth and legend, players take the roles of powerful characters bent on conquering their world, destroying their enemies and possessing all they desire”. [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/93409 Coronets But Never Crowns] is a “family and politics” expansion for the game.
* '''[http://www.lumpley.com/wicked.html In a Wicked Age…]''' — a narrative swords & sorcery game driven by random "oracle" prompts, and where players move through characters and time in an anthology style.
* '''[https://sandypuggames.itch.io/monster-care-squad Monster Care Squad]''' — elite vets save and heal infected monsters
* '''[https://swordsedgepublishing.ca/nefertiti-overdrive/ Nefertiti Overdrive]''' — high-octane action in Ancient Egypt, defying physics and common sense
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/171413/on-mighty-thews On Mighty Thews]''' — pulp swords & sorcery, built for one shots and rapid play
* '''[https://tabletop.itch.io/perilous Perilous]''' — plain language, freeform character generation, tag based mechanics
* '''[https://atomicovermind.com/reign/ Reign]''' — a high fantasy game where you can give quests instead of taking them, in a world full of complex cultures, old grievances, religions in conflict and sullen old schools of wizardry ([https://nemesis-system.com/index.html ORE])
* '''[https://magpiegames.com/collections/root Root]''' — woodland creatures fighting for money, justice, and freedom from powers far greater than them
* '''[https://genesisoflegend.itch.io/sig-city-of-blades Sig: City of Blades]''' — clever spies, renegade sorcerers, and reckless smugglers in the city at the nexus of the multiverse ([https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://bullypulpitgames.com/products/the-skeletons The Skeletons]''' — meditative structured freeform game, playing skeletons cursed to guard a tomb for eternity
* '''[https://wheeltreepress.wordpress.com/scup/ The Sword, The Crown, and The Unspeakable Power]''' — “focuses on power, politics, and intrigue in a setting you create using a unique world building exercise. … Take control of powerful sorcerers, regal nobles, and hardened warriors as you plot your rise to glory” ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://unwrittenearths.itch.io/swords-without-master Swords Without Master]''' — laser focused on swords & sorcery
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/181420/red-mists-swords-against-sorcery Red Mists: Swords Against Sorcery]''' — lightweight swords & sorcery, built on [http://freeformuniversal.com FU]
* '''[https://fraserronald.itch.io/sword-noir-2e Sword Noir]''' — cooperative, narrative hardboiled crime fiction in the worlds of sword & sorcery
* '''[https://shop.gallantknightgames.com/products/tiny-dungeon-second-edition Tiny Dungeon]''' — minimalist fantasy roleplaying game, including a dozen settings, using a single d6
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/103576/wandering-monsters-high-school Wandering Monster High School]''' — humorous fantasy where you take the roles of monsters going to school
* '''[https://www.zozergames.com/zenobia.html Zenobia]'''¤ — adventure and magic in the ancient world, using a fast and easy-to-use 2d6 mechanic

=== Franchises & Setting-Focussed ===

Games for playing in specific fantasy settings that are most known from books, films, tv or other media.

* '''[https://swordandbarrow.com/wp/?page_id=153 Artesia]''' — built for the world of the comic of the same name, leans on a tarot-like structure, and is built on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuzion Fuzion] system.
* '''[https://kheperapublishing.com/khepera-publishing-home/atlantis-the-second-age/ Atlantis]''' — the second edition of a much older game, featuring very different classes and "races" than most fantasy games.
* '''[https://magpiegames.com/collections/avatar-legends-the-roleplaying-game Avatar: Legends]''' — licensed game for ''Avatar: The Last Airbender'' franchise ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://www.modiphius.net/collections/conan Conan]''' — for Conan the Barbarian, using the 2d20 system.
* '''[https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Dictionary-of-Mu.html Dictionary of Mu]''' — a pulp fantasy setting “where demons are dead things, bits of history made wrong” and players add to the dictionary through play. Uses the [https://rpggeek.com/rpg/447/sorcerer Sorcerer] system.
* '''[https://www.modiphius.net/products/dishonored-the-roleplaying-game-core-rulebook-pdf Dishonored TTRPG]''' — for the video game by the same name
* '''[https://greenronin.com/dragonagerpg/ Dragon Age]''' — for the video game series with the same name, using the AGE System.
* '''[http://anthroposgames.com/earlydark/ Early Dark]''' — built for "a world of magick, yes, but not a world of fantasy… to invoke a world populated with realistic human minds and ecologies". All PCs are human, and the technique used for world building is interesting.
* '''[https://fasagames.com/earthdawn-whatis/ Earthdawn]''' — conceived as a fantasy world that explicitly rejects most Tolkien (and, therefore, D&D) fantasy tropes. It has [[Earthdawn Alternative Systems|many versions and hacks]].
* '''[https://www.modiphius.net/collections/john-carter-of-mars John Carter of Mars]'''
* '''[https://freeleaguepublishing.com/games/forbidden-lands/ Forbidden Lands]''' — sandbox survival roleplaying in a cursed world
* '''[https://peginc.com/savage-settings/lankhmar/ Lankhmar: City of Thieves]''' — one of many takes on Fritz Leiber's city, this one for ''Savage Worlds''
* '''[https://www.edge-studio.net/games/midnight/ Midnight]''' — play in the aftermath of the victory of a dark lord
* '''[https://freeleaguepublishing.com/games/the-one-ring/ The One Ring]''' — the current holder of a license from the Tolkien estate.
* '''[https://schwalbentertainment.com/shadow-of-the-demon-lord/ Shadow of the Demon Lord]''' — streamlined, brutal dark fantasy in a world collapsing toward apocalypse
* '''[https://pelgranepress.com/product/swords-of-the-serpentine/ Sword of the Serpentine]''' — a fantasy investigation game of “daring heroism, sly politics, and bloody savagery” set in an intriquing Venice-like city ([https://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/category/products/gumshoe-general/ Gumshoe])
* '''[https://rowanrookanddecard.com/product-category/game-systems/resistance/spire/ Spire: The City Must Fall]''' — revolutionary dark-elves rebel against oppression. The companion game '''[https://rowanrookanddecard.com/product/heart-the-city-beneath-rpg/ Heart]''' expands the setting and gameplay
* '''[https://www.tekumel.com/gaming.html Tékumel]''' captures the world of M.A.R. Barker in RPG form. Even though TSR originally published it, it is not based on D&D. The world is way more interesting than the game.
* '''[https://talsorianstore.com/collections/the-witcher-trpg The Witcher TRPG]''' — for the books & video games by the same name

=== System Agnostic Fantasy Settings ===

A surprising number of fantasy setting books exist containing little or no system-specific information.

* '''[https://greenroninstore.com/products/the-pirates-guide-to-freeport-print Pirate's Guide to Freeport]''' — a pirate city, with a long publishing history
* '''[https://www.chaosium.com/the-guide-to-glorantha-slipcase-set/ Guide to Glorantha]''' — a set of heavy coffee-table books detailing one of the earliest fantasy settings
* '''[https://columbiagames.com/harnworld/ HârnWorld]''' — a detailed, realistic, flexible, and system-neutral setting for medieval fantasy adventures
* '''[https://www.sasquatchgamestudio.com/products/primeval-thule/ Primeval Thule]''' — a savage, intense campaign setting designed for multiple game systems
* '''[https://www.montecookgames.com/welcome-to-ptolus/ Ptolus]''' — a heavy detailed fantasy city, with versions supporting several games, supported by several adventures and [https://rpg.divnull.com/ptolus/ptolus-battlemaps.html detailed maps]
* '''[https://shop.swordfishislands.com/the-swordfish-islands// Swordfish Islands]''' — agnostic island setting controlled by six evocative factions
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/201034/Uresia-Grave-of-Heaven-2nd-Edition-AllSystems-Library Uresia: Grave of Heaven]'''

== Like Now ==

Games set in the modern day real world, or a rough approximation thereof, and usually with a twist (often supernatural).

=== Urban Fantasy ===

Magic exists in urban fantasy games, but it is often hidden or secret, allowing more of the ”real world” to remain familiar. PCs are almost always in on the secret.

* The many editions of the different '''[https://www.paradoxinteractive.com/games/world-of-darkness/products/tabletop-roleplaying World of Darkness]''' games cast a long shadow in urban fantasy roleplaying. These games are somewhat infamous for promising game play (intrique and politics) they they never delivered (here's 200 pages of combat rules).
* '''[https://www.savourcn.com/dark-places-demogorgons Dark Places & Demogorgons]''' — 1980s teenagers from a small town where strange occurrences began popping up all around.
* '''[https://www.jim-butcher.com/books/dresden/the-rpg Dresden Files]''' — based on Jim Butcher’s series of novels ([https://faterpg.com FATE])
* '''[https://renegadegamestudios.com/game-world/kids-on-bikes/ Kids on Bikes]''' — “everyday people grappling with strange, terrifying, and powerful forces that they cannot defeat, control, or even fully understand”
* '''[https://modiphius.us/collections/liminal Liminal]''' — supernatural misfits solving mysteries and managing tensions at the edge of the hidden world
* '''[https://evilhat.com/product/monster-of-the-week/ Monster of the Week]''' — well supported modern day monster hunters ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/monsterhearts Monsterhearts]''' — “the messy lives of teenage monsters… create stories about sexy monsters, teenage angst, personal horror, and secret love triangles” ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://atlas-games.com/overtheedge Over the Edge]''' — “a fantastic cornucopia of fringe science, conspiracy, and hyper-reality”
* A number of games build on '''[https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com SCP Foundation]''', a long-running collaborative wiki of speculative fiction about secretive organization that contains anomalous or supernatural items and entities away from the eyes of the public (all SCP information is [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ CC BY-SA 3.0]):
** [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/474650/scp-the-tabletop-rpg-2nd-edition-full-book-free SCP The Tabletop RPG]¤ — mission-based, degree of success
** [https://www.fearinthefoundation.com/ Fear in the Foundation] — a somewhat traditional d20 system
** [https://warpedworldrpg.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Warped World]¤ — narrative and collaborative
** [https://scp-directors.com/ SCP: Directors] — management-focused
* '''[https://loop-rpg.com/ Tales From the Loop]''' — based on Simon Stålenhag’s illustrations of an alternate 1980's Scandinavia. Won five Gold ENnies in 2017, including Best Game and Product of the Year.
* '''[https://www.atlas-games.com/unknownarmies/ Unknown Armies]''' — in its third edition, occult horror about broken people trying to fix an equally broken world where magick is real but hidden
* '''[https://magpiegames.com/collections/urban-shadows Urban Shadows]''' — vampires, werewolves, faeries, wiards on a political battleground layered just under the reality we think we know ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])

=== Espionage ===

Spy games range from serious, to cinematic, to over the top.

* '''[https://elizabethsampat.itch.io/blowback Blowback]''' — basically ''Burn Notice'', the RPG.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/128259/Classified Classified]''' - retro clone of the old ''James Bond 007'' game.
* '''[https://gallantknightgames.com/products/cold-shadows-softcover Cold Shadows]''' — a more grim/realistic/LeCarre style, based on ''Houses of the Blooded''.
* '''[https://www.storyweaver.com/Deniable/deniable Deniable]''' — a story game of "unwitting spies temped by fast money".
* '''[https://www.herogames.com/store/product/824-danger-international-3rd-edition-pdf/ Danger International]''' — revised and updated the earlier ''Espionage!'', bringing "action with fast cars, vital secrets and high-tech hardware… and special game mechanics to simulate any modern adventure setting" to ''HERO System 3rd Edition''.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/211831/mspe-mercenaries-spies-and-private-eyes-combined-edition-rpg Mercenaries, Spies & Private Eyes, Combined Edition]''' — is a modern merging of the prior Blade (1983) and Sleuth (1986) editions, similar in system to ''Tunnels & Trolls'' but "more of a skill based system… based on modern abilities".
* '''[https://soliver.itch.io/minutes-to-midnight Minutes to Midnight]''' — a crew of spies trying to disrupt the balance of power in a modern cold war ([https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://modiphius.us/collections/spy-game/products/spygame_corerulebook The Spy Game]''' — the (perhaps inevitable) 5e “spiritual successor” to ''Spycraft''
* One of the first espionage RPGs, '''Top Secret''' has been through many editions:
** The ''First Edition'' was revised and updated within a year, and hard to find
** The revised ''Second Edition'' is mired in legal rights issues, and neither the box set or missions are legally available digitally
** Ditto for the thrid edition, "Top Secret/SI", which changed the system significantly, and leaned into more cinematic espionage
** [https://topsecretrpg.com New World Order] is a crowd-sourced reboot
** [https://dwdstudios.com/whitelies White Lies] is a sort of “spirirtual successor”, based on ''Swords & Wizardry WhiteBox''
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/91955 Wilderness of Mirrors]''' — a fourteen page exercise in using [https://memento-mori.livejournal.com/175828.html The Big Three] questions to build an espionage game

=== Supernatural espionage ===

* '''[https://handiwork.games/cold-city-hot-war Cold City]''' — the espionage portion of a pair of related games, in a 1950’s Berlin and “grapples with the legacies of twisted sciences, occult experiments, and the reality-fracturing horror of war”
* '''[https://www.edenstudios.net/conspiracyx.html Conspiracy X]''' — “a world just like yours, if you could see beyond the lies” ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/627/unisystem Unisystem])
* '''[https://www.delta-green.com Delta Green]''' — “agents fight to save humanity from unnatural horrors, often at a shattering personal cost”
* '''[https://cubicle7games.com/en_US/our-games/the-laundry-roleplaying-game The Laundry]''' — cosmic horror, tech-driven magic, and occult spycraft, based on ''The Laundry Files'' by Charles Stross
* '''[https://pelgranepress.com/nights-black-agents/ Nights Black Agents]''' — “puts you in the role of a deadly secret agent, taking down the forces of darkness” ([https://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/category/products/gumshoe-general/ Gumshoe])
* '''[https://evilhat.com/project-perseus/ Project Perseus]''' — superspies vs. supernatural forces at the end of the 20th century with a focus on “dynamic action, hard choices, and troubled trust issues” ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])

=== Special Ops/Military ===

* '''[https://mega-corp.itch.io/the-company The Company]''' — corporate special forces “responding to industrial accidents and experiments gone wrong”
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/123056/covert-ops-role-playing-game Covert Ops]''' — uses d00Lite system, somewhat like early ''Top Secret'', focusses on covert operations.
* '''[https://claymorerpgs.itch.io/fist FIST]''' — disposable paranormal mercenaries ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY-SA 4.0])
* '''[https://bullypulpitgames.com/products/grey-ranks Grey Ranks]''' — assume the roles of a young Polish partisans before, during, and after the disastrous 1944 Uprising against the Germans
* '''[https://handiwork.games/cold-city-hot-war Hot War]''' — the Cold War goes hot, and operatives have to “deal with relationships, loves, hatred, and hidden agendas against the backdrop of a collapsing, ravaged, horror-strewn Britain”
* '''[https://bullypulpitgames.com/products/night-witches Night Witches]''' — women bombing fascists from biplanes in WWII. Rotating gamemaster

=== Mystery/Investigation ===

Games with investigation a the primary activity.

* '''[https://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/brindlewood-bay.html Brindlewood Bay]''' — play a group of elderly women who help the authorities solve murder cases in a picturesque New England town ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/106921/carved-from-brindlewood CfB)
* '''[https://pelgranepress.com/2017/06/01/cthulhu-dark/ Cthulhu Dark]''' — short, focussed, Lovecraftian, investigative horror ([https://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/category/products/gumshoe-general/ Gumshoe])
* '''[https://pelgranepress.com/product/the-esoterrorists-2nd-edition/ The Esoterrorists]''' — elite investigators combating the plots of a loose affiliation of occult terrorists ([https://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/category/products/gumshoe-general/ Gumshoe])
* '''[https://tannerjwil.itch.io/magic-school-mystery Magic School Mystery]''' — solve clues, cast spells, cause mischief
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/83837/Meddling-Kids Meddling Kids]''' — kids and their anthropomorphic sidekick solve mysteries and save the day.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/55567/Trail-of-Cthulhu Trail-of-Cthulhu]''' — investigative horror set in the 1930s ([https://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/category/products/gumshoe-general/ Gumshoe])
* '''[https://carnivoregames.com/?page_id=298 The Unexplained]''' — part time paranormal investigators ([https://fudgerpg.com/about/about-fudge/fudge-ogl-requirements.html Fudge])

=== Thematic ===

Different styles, approaches, and takes on modern-day roleplaying.

* '''[https://evilhat.com/product/apocalypse-keys/ Apocalypse Keys]''' — monsters bound by fate, love, and power holding back the apocalypse ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://magpiegames.com/collections/cartel/products/cartel Cartel]''' — stay alive in a dangerous game of drugs, money, and power, emulating Mexican narcofiction ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://www.gregstolze.com/adirtyworld/ A Dirty World]''' — noir roleplaying about secrets, deception, betrayal and hidden vice ([http://arcdream.com/home/2011/04/a-one-roll-engine-tutorial/ ORE])
* '''[https://samnite.itch.io/escapefromdinoisland Escape From Dino Island]''' — intrepid heroes trapped on an island overrun with creatures from a lost age; one-shot friendly ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/148541/Feng-Shui-Second-Edition-digital Feng Shui 2E]''' — a Hong Kong martial arts inspired game, with sourcebooks for playing in Wuxia settings
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/182628/the-final-girl The Final Girl]''' — horror movie emulation where the characters are picked off one by one until only one survivor remains to confront the killer
* '''[https://studio2publishing.com/collections/hollow-earth-expedition Hollow Earth Expedition]''' — pulp adventure roleplaying
* '''[https://www.renegadegamestudios.com/kids-on-brooms Kids on Brooms]''' — taking on the lives of witches and wizards at a magical school
* '''[https://twolittlemice.net/outgunned/ Outgunned]''' — cinematic action roleplaying
* '''[https://magpiegames.com/collections/pasion-de-las-pasiones-1/products/pasion-de-las-pasiones-core-rulebook Pasión de las Pasiones]''' — passion, drama, secrets, delights, and heated conflict, telenovela style ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://potatocubed.itch.io/pigsmoke Pigsmoke]''' — a roleplaying game of sorcerous academia ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://www.strikerpg.com/tailfeathers.html Tailfeathers Academy of Magic]''' — students at a school of wizardry, and the magic sport they play
* '''[http://danielbayn.com/wushu/ Wushu: the Ancient Art of Action Roleplaying]'''¤ — high-flying, hyper-stylized action, where over the top description makes success more certain ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY-SA 4.0])
* '''[https://ndpdesign.com/wwwrpg/ World Wide Wrestling]''' — feuds, championships, betrayal, righteous victory… and what the audience thinks ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])

== Post-apocalyptic ==

For some reason, there are ''a lot'' of post-apocalytpic RPGs.

=== Wander the Wasteland ===

Characters wander a generic wasteland, trying to survive/find adventure. The nature of the apocalypse is either unspecified, forgotten in the distant past, a general multi-faceted collapse, or some other “classic” wasteland.

* '''[https://www.fantasygamesunlimited.net/fgu/618-2/ Aftermath!]''' — a 1980’s era, detailed reality simulator that features levelless, classless and skill based characters. Beloved by many, but very crunchy.
* '''[http://www.apocalypse-world.com/ Apocalypse World]''' — a narrative, character-driven wasteland game, based on playbooks and triggered “moves”. The somewhat infamous sex moves are removed in [https://lumpley.games/BURNEDOVER/ Burned Over], a “pretty deep redesign… suitable for play across wider age groups and more general audiences”. Its design philosophy and concepts drive a slew of other games, known as “Powered by the Apocalypse”. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://shop.gallantknightgames.com/products/atomic-highway Atomic Highway]'''¤ — a free game that “doesn’t spend any time on backstory or metaplot” and is “well-suited to one-shot games and short campaigns”. System counts successes from pools of d6, and provides heavy support for vehicle-related play. ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/4398/v6-engine V6 Engine])
* '''[https://www.misfit-studios.com/products/darwins-world-nuclear-edition/darwins-world-nuclear-rules/ Darwin’s World]''' — a ''Savage Worlds'' update to a d20 take on PA, with a good number of supplements.
* '''[https://admiralducksauce.itch.io/glow-in-the-dark Glow in the Dark]''' — “play to find out if your tribe can flourish despite other hungry gangs, forgotten prewar threats, the unforgiving elements, and their own dark impulses.” ([https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://ukrpdc.wordpress.com/2016/05/21/mutant-bikers-of-the-atomic-wastelands/ Mutant Bikers of the Atomic Wastelands]¤''' — being a “post-apocalypse game of big guns, big bikes and diminutive IQs”, this free game replicates the feel of cheesy 80’s post apocalypse movies. ([https://www.fudgerpg.com Fudge] [https://fudgerpg.com/about/legalities/ogl.html OGL])
* '''[https://ruinations-rpg.tumblr.com Ruinations]¤''' — a work in progress, “based on the framework and tradition of old school gaming” for play in a non-gonzo “grittier near-future”. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://shop.gallantknightgames.com/products/tiny-wastelands Tiny Wastelands]''' — a minimalist rule-set using “only one to three single six-sided dice on every action [and] characters that can be written 3×5 notecard”. The book contains a dozen or so sample settings. ([https://www.tinyd6.com/what-is-tinyd6 TinyD6])

=== Make Your Own Wasteland ===

Similar to the previous category, but also containing play elements specifically about defining the specifics of the apocalypse during session zero, or during play.

* '''[http://jabberwocky-media.com/?page_id=54 Barbarians of the Aftermath]''' — expansion for ''Barbarians of Lemuria'' to create any type of PA setting. ([http://everywhenrpg.wikidot.com/everywhen:license Everywhen])
* '''[https://lessthanthreegames.com/downfall.html Downfall]''' — no GM, no dice, no prep, for three people, with step-by-step tools to build a world, and then destroy it.
* '''[https://rockmanorgames.com/portfolio/maximum-apocalypse-rpg/ Maximum Apocalypse]''' — based on the board game of the same name, using a percentage system. Each player chooses their own personal apocalypse.
* '''[https://sine-nomine-publishing.myshopify.com/products/other-dust Other Dust]''' — “is not here to dazzle you with brilliantly novel mechanics” but rather “designed as an industrial-strength toolkit for postapocalyptic sandboxing”, using an old-school system “completely cross-compatible” with ''Stars Without Number''. Heavy on setting generated from random tables.
* '''[https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/rust-and-redemption/ Rust and Redemption]''' — a toolbox for building a post-apocalypse campaign of any kind ([http://cypher-system.com Cypher])

=== We Can Rebuild ===

Play focusses on rebuilding society after the apocalypse, with mechanical or other focus on community, “base-building” and so on.

* '''[https://genesisoflegend.com/product/after-the-war/ After the War]''' — set ten years after a mimetic virus laid waste to a galactic union, survivors try to rebuild a frontier world. Uses a belief-driven narrative system including mechanics for settlements. [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ CC BY-NC 3.0]
* '''[https://machineage.itch.io/flatpack-re-fix-the-future Flatpack: Fix the Future]''' — “optimistic apocalyptic roleplaying” about “building a new society using pre-apocalypse technology that you don’t always trust or understand, and solving terrible problems creatively”. ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0 CC BY-NC-SA 3.0])
* '''[https://ufopress.co.uk/legacy-life-among-the-ruins/ Legacy: Life Among the Ruins]''' — Rebuilding after the calamity, using a flexible, multi-generational system, with players controlling both families and individual characters. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Morrow_Project The Morrow Project]''' — “intended to be part of an organized plan to rebuild America” after a nuclear war, the PCs are woken from stasis too late. “Now, far outside the original time frame and unable to contact the rest of the project, they must start alone the process that was intended for thousands”.
* '''[https://www.outlandarts.com/TME-quick-overview.htm Mutant Epoch]''' — play deals with “excavation teams” trying to “reclaim some semblance of civilization”, using a mostly percentile system. ([https://www.outlandarts.com/TME-Outland-System-preview.htm Outland])
* '''[https://freeleaguepublishing.com/games/mutant-year-zero/ Mutant: Year Zero]''' — a well-supported evolution of the Swedish game ''Mutant'', originally published in 1984. Play involves maintaining and upgrading “The Ark”, the character’s home, and exploring the surrounding wastelands for whatever can help. ([https://www.rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/43636/year-zero-engine Year Zero Engine])
* '''[https://www.mongoosepublishing.com/collections/traveller-the-new-era Traveller: The New Era]''' — set after the complete collapse of an interstellar empire, play typically features the re-contact of once imperial worlds. Built on the system used in ''Twilight: 2000'' and ''Dark Conspiracy''.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/232082/wreck-age-post-collapse-tabletop-skirmish-game-2nd-edition Wreck Age]''' — a game that merges a focus on community and rebuilding, miniatures skirmish rules, and rpg mechanics. ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ CC BY-NC-SA 3.0])

=== This Particular Apocalypse ===

Games that lean heavily into a specific setting.

* '''[https://www.dungeonteller.com Arrhenius]''' — a narrative-based adventure, exploration, and combat game set in the harsh and far-future ruins of the next Ice Age in the year 100,000.
* '''[https://jacobalso.itch.io/asphalt-and-trouble Asphalt & Trouble]''' — “You are a biker gang, riding the open road and fighting to survive the corporate-fueled climate apocalypse” ([https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://degenesis.com/ Degenesis]'''¤ — a free game based on a dense, dark setting, brought to life with impressive visual design and art.
* '''[https://www.peginc.com/product-category/deadlands-hell-on-earth-reloaded Deadlands: Hell on Earth]''' — the most recent iteration of a post-apocalyptic take on the weird-west ''Deadlands'' setting ([https://www.peginc.com/licensing/ Savage Worlds])
* '''[http://www.fraggedempire.com/ Fragged Empire]''' — “four genetically engineered races seek to build a new society for themselves as they emerge from the ruin of genocidal war, and back to the stars”. Heavy emphasis on tactical miniatures combat. The first half of explains a more genre-neutral system, with the second half adapting it specifically to the setting.
* '''Gamma World''' — grew out of the not-exactly-post-apocalypse [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamorphosis_Alpha Metamorphosis Alpha], and moved through many different editions, with the nature of the apocalypse and the setting mutating over time. Most of these editions (and their supplements) are still available, though none of them is in active development:
** [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/249987/Gamma-World-1e First Edition] and [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/359120/Gamma-World-2e Second Edition] shared a similar, traditional design, with second largely being a cleaned-up and expanded version of the first.
** [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/17236/Gamma-World-3rd-Edition Third Edition] reworked the game to use a four-color “action table”, trendy in TSR’s games of the era.
** [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/245238/Gamma-World-Game-Rules-4e Fourth Edition] moved to a class and level system, somewhat reminiscent of a streamlined ''D&D 2e''.
** [https://rpggeek.com/rpg/2687/gamma-world-5th-edition Fifth Edition] was a setting supplement for the sci-fi game ''Alternity''.
** [https://jonathantweet.com/jotomegaworld.html Omega World] was a standalone d20 mini game published in ''Dungeon/Polyhedron'' magazine.
** [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?keywords=6e&cPath=9730_262 Sixth Edition] brought the full setting to d20 Modern. While unpopular at the time for its more sombre tone, it includes an interesting approach to community building, and a [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/665/Gamma-World-Game-Masters-Guide-GW-6e GM’s Guide] useful beyond just this game or genre. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
** [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/161306/DD-Gamma-World-RPG-GW7e Seventh Edition] made polarizing use of the ''D&D 4e'' engine to build a more gonzo tactical fighting game, adding extremely fast character generation, high lethality, and cards for random powers. Arguably a better use for the 4e system than D&D. ([https://ddowiki.com/page/Wizards_of_the_Coast_DnD_4thEd_GSL GSL])
* '''[http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/post-apocalypse.html GURPS post-apocalype worldbooks]''' — a wide range of books bring particular post-apocalypse settings to life over different editions of ''GURPS''.
* '''[https://www.heroforgegames.com/onyx-sky/ Onyx Sky]'''¤ — devastating global war and environmental collapse plunge humanity back into the stone age. After decades safe inside a military bunker, government facility, fallout shelter, or scientific vault, the characters emerge. They find the world in ruin, communities struggling to endure against roaming marauders, autonomous battle droids, and metal-eating nanites.
* '''[https://schwalbentertainment.com/punkapocalyptic-the-roleplaying-game/ PunkApocalyptic]''' — based on the miniatures skirmish game of the same name, with a modified version of rules from ''Shadow of the Demon Lord''.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/233731/Summerland-Second-Edition Summerland]''' — about desolation and redemption in a world destroyed by a vast supernatural forest growing overnight. ([http://opend6project.org OpenD6])
* '''[https://freeleaguepublishing.com/en/games/twilight-2000/ Twilight: 2000]''' — a newly revived fourth edition for “roleplaying in the World War III that never was” as soldiers or civilians. ([https://www.rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/43636/year-zero-engine Year Zero Engine])

=== During the Apocalypse ===

Part of play deals with the apocalypse as it happens, and its immediate aftermath.

* '''[https://palladiumbooks.com/futuristic/rifts-chaos-earth Chaos Earth]''' — a game/setting based on ''Rifts'', when the world suddenly comes apart.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/1112/CORPS-Down-in-Flames Down in Flames]''' — thirteen “wrecking scenarios for ''CORPS'' or any other role-playing game”.
* '''[https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/dream-askew Dream Askew]''' — a heavily narrative game of “queer strife amid the collapse”, set in a strange, gradual apocalypse. Uses a token economy, no randomizers, and playbooks (for more than just characters).
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/64458/eCollapse eCollapse]''' — a setting for ''Wild Talents'' featuring supers in “a future that didn’t explode so much as give up in disgust”. ([http://arcdream.com/home/2011/04/a-one-roll-engine-tutorial/ ORE])
* '''[https://www.edge-studio.net/categories-games/the-end-of-the-world/ The End of the World]''' — a series of four related, but distinct, games originally created by the now-defunct role-playing arm of Fantasy Flight Games and now in the hands of Edge Studio. Each game puts players in the middle of a particular kind of apocalypse, as it happens, using a story-focussed, narrative ruleset.
* '''[https://morkborg.com Mörk Borg]''' — set during the destruction of a fantasy world, a somewhat standard OSR game popular for its distinct artistic aesthetic. “Rules light, heavy everything else.” Ennies Product of the Year [https://ennie-awards.com/portfolio-item/2020-nominees-and-winners/ 2020] winner.

=== Zombie Apocalypse ===

Specifically targeted at zombie/infection style post-apocalypse play. Some of these may be “during the apocalypse” games.

* '''[https://www.edenstudios.net/allflesh.html All Flesh Must Be Eaten]''' — an early, setting-agnostic rule-set for zombie survival horror, combined with a wide variety of sourcebooks for specific settings. Tasks resolved using d10 plus skill, attribute, and modifier. ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/627/unisystem Unisystem])
* '''[https://oldskull-publishing.com/the-dead-are-coming/ The Dead Are Coming]''' — “a minimalist, classically-inspired RPG about survival in a post-apocalyptic world where the dead have risen and other survivors can be much worse than the undead”. Based on ''Into the Odd''.
* '''[http://theonyxpath.com/category/worlds/dystopiarising/ Dystopia Rising: Evolution]''' — though heavily featuring zombies, there is more to this “gritty action-adventure survival game”, a tabletop adaptation of a LARP setting. ([https://www.drivethrurpg.com/cc/26/StoryPath-Nexus Storypath])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/149033 Fear the Living]''' — players design the zombie apocalypse as part of play, with the play that follows being episodic.
* '''[http://infected.immersion-rpg.com/ Infected!]''' — a game of “survival, suspense, horror, politics, war, intrigue and action in the years following the zombie outbreak”.
* '''[https://www.huntersentertainment.com/outbreakundead Outbreak: Undead]''' — a “zombie survival simulation” presenting “a modular system to create your own horror setting… with a variety of undead or infected monsters“. Uses a percentile skill system, mixed with several special varieties of d6 and tokens. Awarded Ennie Judges Spotlight in [https://ennie-awards.com/portfolio-item/2011-nominees-and-winners/ 2011].
* '''[http://redmarketsrpg.com/ Red Markets]''' — a game of “cut-throat capitalism with its knife on your neck” where “characters risk their lives trading between the massive quarantine zones containing a zombie outbreak and the remains of civilization”. Features a highly detailed setting, backed by a system using two opposed d10s. ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0])
* '''[http://paradigmconcepts.com/rotted-capes/ Rotted Capes]''' — B-list superheroes are the last hope in a “horrific world where the super zombies sit atop the food chain”. ([http://paradigmconcepts.com/arcanis/ Arcanis])
* '''[https://www.accessiblegames.biz/our-games/survival/ Survival of the Able]''' — people with disabilities vs. plague zombies in the Middle Ages.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/153275/ultima-forsan-setting-book Ultima Forsan]''' — “set in a macabre alternate version of our Renaissance”, after a plague of the dead ravaged the world. “Now, in the year 1514, heroes from the New Kingdoms are ready to fight to reconquer the World.” ([https://www.peginc.com/licensing/ Savage Worlds])
* '''[http://www.lategaming.com/2009/10/09/zombi-pdf-for-download/ Zombi]'''¤ — a lightweight 2d6 survival game which considers the other survivors the main adversaries.
* '''[https://magpiegames.com/product/zombie-world-full-set/ Zombie World]''' — a zero-prep, card-based rpg “designed for easy, quick, and intense play”, built around defending some type of enclave. Mechanically, different situations or character actions trigger particular types of card draws.
* '''[http://zombiepocalypserpg.blogspot.com Zombiepocalypse]'''¤ — a minimalist survival game “designed to be easy to pick up and simple to play”, with quick character generation to balance a low survival rate. ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/ CC BY-NC-ND 3.0])

=== Gonzo ===

Games where the main draw is over-the-top weirdness, genre bashing, kitchen-sink inclusion, not particularly-serious play.

* '''[https://wrathofzombie.wordpress.com/barbarians-of-the-ruined-earth-tools-and-stuff/ Barbarians of the Ruined Earth]''' — a “weird post-apocalyptic fantasy setting” providing “a Saturday Morning Cartoon Stew fueled by heavy metal”. ([https://the-black-hack.jehaisleprintemps.net/license.html Black Hack OGL])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/214126/death-is-the-new-pink Death is the New Pink]''' — a “bizarre, crazed” setting where play is “brutal, bloody, and chaotic” and “things should be kept fast-paced and it’s more than fine if it doesn’t make sense”. Based on ''Into the Odd''.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/143685/Low-Life-The-Rise-of-the-Lowly-ReDredged Low Life: Rise of the Lowly]''' — based on the somewhat scatalogical art of “whimsical yet twisted bizarrities” by [https://muthaoithcreations.com/ Andy Hopp]. If you ever wanted to play as a sentient Twinkie or elevated worm, this is the game for you. ([https://www.peginc.com/licensing/ Savage Worlds])
* '''[https://goodman-games.com/store/product/mutant-crawl-classics-role-playing-game-2/ Mutant Crawl Classics]''' — an old-school mutations-give-cool-powers game, built for full compatibility with ''Dungeon Crawl Classics''. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://skullfungus.itch.io/the-mutants-of-ixx Mutants of Ixx]''' — a “pamphlet sized” game based on ''Into the Odd''.
* '''[https://rad-hack.jehaisleprintemps.net The Rad Hack]''' — set in “a weird, post apocalyptic future where mutants, robots, psionics and humans team up against the dangers of the wasteland in search of tech, slugs and adventure”. ([https://the-black-hack.jehaisleprintemps.net/license.html Black Hack OGL])
* See the many attempts to replicate ''Thundarr the Barbarian'', below.
* [https://jasontocci.itch.io/2400 2400 Xot, 2400 Exiles, 2400 Tempus Diducit, and 2400 Data Loss] are all various flavors of weird post-apocalypse. Each one is a three-page rules-lite module and they can be combined together with minor finangling.

=== Magical Wasteland ===

Differentiated by the inclusion of magic and/or other fantasy elements.

* '''[https://www.dmsguild.com/browse.php?keywords=Dark+Sun Dark Sun]''' — set “amid the barren wastelands of Athas”, based heavily on the art of Gerald Brom. Originally designed for ''D&D 2e'', and later released for ''D&D 4e''.
* '''[http://atomicovermind.com/the-day-after-ragnarok/ Day After Ragnarok]''' — a “submachine guns and sorcery” setting, set after the Midgard Serpent rises near the end of World War II, only to have its head nuked by Truman, and devastate the world when its body crashes. ([http://www.faterpg.com/ Fate Core], [https://www.herogames.com/store/category/2-hero-system-6th-edition/ HERO], [https://www.peginc.com/licensing/ Savage Worlds])
* '''[http://www.desolationrpg.com/ Desolation]''' — “set 18 months after a high-fantasy world was nearly brought to an end”. Uses a free-form approach to magic. ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/742/ubiquity-roleplaying-system Ubiquity])
* '''[https://fasagames.com/earthdawn-whatis/ Earthdawn]''' — “hopeful, post-apocalyptic fantasy”, recently updated to its “fourth” edition. The setting’s “kaers” are [http://thegoodthebadtheinsulting.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-secret-origins-of-fallout.html strongly associated] with ''Fallout'' “vaults”, and can lead to a similar (though fantasy-themed) sort of play.
* '''[https://petersengames.com/products/planet-apocalypse-5e-rpg Planet Apocalypse]''' — a supplement for turning ''5e'' fantasy worlds into a hellscape overrun by fiendish hordes. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://architectgames.wordpress.com/reclamation-2/ Reclamation]''' — “combines sci-fi, fantasy, and survival horror themes with a unique card-based game system”.
* '''[https://awful-good-games.itch.io/a-sundered-world-a-dungeon-world-campaign-setting Sundered World]''' — “a fantastic, kind of gonzo campaign setting for ''Dungeon World''” set in the “shattered remnants of the worlds… ravaged during a cosmic war between the gods and primordials”. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA], [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ CC BY-NC-ND 4.0])
* '''[https://store.dp9.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=137_91_84 Tribe 8]''' — “set in a tribal future where PCs are blessed with mystical insight and marked by destiny”. Mechanics use the highest result from a d6 pool. ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/860/silhouette Silhouette])
* '''[https://wizardthieffighter.itch.io/uvg-2e The Ultraviolet Grasslands and the Black City]''' — “psychedelic metal roleplaying” where heroes journey across the titular grasslands. The book contains both a beautifully illustrated setting and a light D&D-like system.
* '''[https://www.unity-rpg.com Unity]''' — a high-production-value fantasy apocalypse, with a combat system “design to facilitate teamwork” and shared narrative authority.

=== Other Thematic Approaches ===

Games with a targeted “feel” or mode of play, often using a very specific setting.

* '''[https://palladiumbooks.com/shop/category/futuristic/after-the-bomb-rpg/ After the Bomb]''' — originally a post-apocalyptic setting for ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'', but became its own game, set in a world dominated by uplifted animals. ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/733/palladium-megaversal Megaversal])
* '''[https://www.sigilstonepublishing.com/belly-of-the-beast-rpg/ Belly of the Beast]''' — “brazen survivors… plumb the depths of a world-eating monster’s guts, scouring the remains of the mighty empires that were eaten by the Beast.” ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/39145/ethos-engine Ethos Engine])
* '''[https://ukrpdc.wordpress.com/2014/01/05/bounty-hunters-of-the-atomic-wastelands/ Bounty Hunters of the Atomic Wastelands]¤''' — in which “the players take on the role of bounty hunters, banding together to hunt down bad guys for reputation and reward”. ([http://www.faterpg.com/ Fate Accelerated] [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ CC BY 3.0])
* '''[https://dysonlogos.blog/downloads-games/deadearth-resources/ deadEarth]¤''' — though long out of print, “possibly one of the worst RPGs ever” was made freely publishable for non-commercial use.
* '''[https://modiphius.us/products/devil-s-run-the-roleplaying-game-core-book-pdf Devil’s Run]''' — “a post-apocalyptic future in which gang warfare dominates”. ([https://www.modiphius.com/2d20.html 2d20])
* '''[https://thetruckeegames.blogspot.com/p/future-imperfect.html Future Imperfect]¤''' — players take on the roles of centuries old sentient machines, in a world where humans became unable to breed. ([https://www.risusrpg.com Risus])
* '''[https://highplainssamurai.com High Plains Samurai]''' — “a storytelling game of extreme mash-ups” in a super-powered world of “gunslingers, barbarians, samurai, gangsters and steampunk”. Dice rolls do not measure success or failure, but are instead used as complications against your enemies.
* '''[https://daishugars.itch.io/librete Libreté]''' — a translation of a French game where you “assume the lives of children trying to survive in a world without adults”. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://www.realmsofpugmire.com Pugmire]''' and '''[https://www.realmsofpugmire.com/monarchies-of-mau Monarchies of Mau]''' — related games/settings built on ''5e'' set after the world is inherited by uplifted dogs and cats (respectively). ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])

=== Franchises ===

Games based on specific post-apocalypse movies, books, video games, or media franchises.

* '''[https://greenronin.com/blog/2019/08/02/green-ronin-to-publish-the-fifth-season-roleplaying-game/ The Fifth Season]''' — will be an rpg based on N. K. Jemisin’s [https://www.librarything.com/nseries/4837/The-Broken-Earth Broken Earth trilogy].
* '''''Mad Max''''' — pretty much every game listed above owes something to the Mad Max franchise, but no official RPG exists. Games mentioned above with a heavy focus on vehicle chases/combat include: ''Asphalt & Trouble'', ''Apocalypse World'', ''Atomic Highway''.
* '''[http://www.burgergames.com/stalker/EN_web/ Stalker RPG]''' — like the film and video game series of the same name, this diceless game is based on the novel ''Roadside Picnic'' by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, but brought to “modern times and modern audiences”. Available in Finnish and English.
* '''''Thundarr the Barbarian''''': See [[Thundarr Roleplaying]]

== Science Fiction ==

=== Broad-focused sci-fi ===

* '''[https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/2300_AD 2300 AD]''' — Originally released under the ''Traveller'' name, and now again. In between, it was a hard sci-fi game intended to continue the setting of ''Twilight 2000''.
* '''[https://www.coriolis-rpg.com/ Coriolis]''' — Middle Eastern-inspired sci-fi setting, described as “''Arabian Knights'' in space”.
* '''[https://asifproductions.com/project/daytrippers-rpg/ DayTrippers]''' — A CORE-based game of surreal reality-hopping science-fiction. Low prep, high collab, universal Yes/No/And/But mechanic.
* '''[https://evilhat.com/product/diaspora/ Diaspora]''' — based on an older edition of Fate, won the gold ENnie for best rules in 2010. It contains a number of interesting approaches to sci-fi exploration play. ([https://www.faterpg.com/dl/sotc-srd.html Fate 3])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/3515/dwd-studios/category/28783/frontierspace FrontierSpace]''' — an action/adventure OSR-type game highly influenced by ''Star Frontiers''. ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/24449/d00lite d00Lite], [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0 CC BY-NC-SA 3.0])
* '''[http://infinitegalaxies.net Infinite Galaxies]''' — broad focus system with a setting that “presents a positive and engaging future state of the universe”. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/bysa/4.0/ CC BY-SA 4.0])
* '''[https://www.tabcreations.com/shadows-over-sol/ Shadows Over Sol]''' — hard sci-fi horror set in our own solar system.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/44/Wizards-of-the-Coast/subcategory/9730_29173/Star-Frontiers Star Frontiers]''' — an early general sci-fi system from TSR.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/226996/Stars-Without-Number-Revised-Edition Stars Without Number]¤''' — an OSR sci-fi game built “to encourage sandbox play”. Has both a free and paid version.
* '''[https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Versions_of_Traveller Traveller]''' — one of the earliest sci-fi games, has seen nearly a dozen different versions, all of which still have their adherents. Some versions are famous for cases where your character can die while being generated. The OGL portion of Mongoose Traveller Version 1 is known as the [https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Cepheus_Engine Cepheus Engine].

=== Broad-focused transhumanist sci-fi ===

* '''[https://eclipsephase.com Eclipse Phase]''' — a post-singularity game of transhuman horror. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0])
* '''[http://www.sanguinegames.com/?s=Farflung Farflug]''' — “about the ends of the universe, where nothing has been undone and everything is permitted”. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/85725/FreeMarket-Instruction-Manual FreeMarket]''' — a post-scarcity, transhumanist game set aboard a space station, asking the question “what will you do with forever?”. The box set of this game is hard to find.
* '''[https://mindjammerpress.com/mindjammer/ Mindjammer]''' — takes place in an award-winning far-future, transhumanist setting. ([https://www.evilhat.com/home/fate-core/ Fate])
* '''[https://voidstargames.squarespace.com/nova-praxis Nova Praxis]''' — “a post-singularity sci-fi setting that explores transhumanism and post-scarcity societies against a backdrop of action, adventure, conspiracy and intrigue”. ([https://www.evilhat.com/home/fate-core/ Fate], [https://www.peginc.com/licensing/ Savage Worlds])

=== Broad-focused space opera ===

* '''[http://archivesofthesky.textories.com Archives of the Sky]''' — “a tabletop story game of galactic scope and threatened ideals” won a Judges’ Spotlight ENnie in 2019.
* '''[http://www.baroquerpg.com Baroque Space Opera]''' — “Enter a fantastic universe beyond time and space… filled with strange technology, stranger cultures, exotic locations, and incredible danger.” ([https://www.evilhat.com/home/fate-core/ Fate])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/200411 Blood in Space]''' — minimal rule set with a fully realized setting. ([https://www.fudgerpg.com Fudge])
* '''[https://ulisses-us.com/spielsysteme/fadingsuns/ Fading Suns]''' — a game of heavy combat, vicious politics, weird occultism, alien secrets and artifacts, from the makers of ''Das Schwarze Auge''. Recently kickstarted second edition.
* '''[https://burning-games.com/faith-sci-fi-rpg-core-book/ Faith]''' is a space opera RPG “of epic adventures, where starfaring alien civilizations race to explore a dangerous, unknown universe; while the Gods compete for followers; and the Ravager threaten civilization as a whole”.
* '''[https://metagame.itch.io/galactic Galactic]''' — “tell the character-driven, relationship-focused space opera stories you want to see in the world” in this GM-less RPG inspired by Star Wars ([https://buriedwithoutceremony.com/belonging Belonging Outside Belonging])
* '''[https://kheperapublishing.com/khepera-publishing-home/hellas-worlds-of-sun-and-stone/ Hellas]''' — a “fusion of high drama, action-adventure, romance, mythology-infused space opera”
* '''[https://9thlevel.com/products/rebel-scum-2nd-edition Rebel Scum]''' — “a cinematic RPG about a war in the stars inspired by a deep love of old school action figures and of punching Nazis in the face”.
* '''[https://www.fantasygamesunlimited.net/product/space-opera/ Space Opera]''' — “an old school RPG including complete rules for character and planet generation, human and alien races, skills and professions, starships, individual and ship combat, etc.”.
* '''[https://gallantknightgames.com/products/tiny-frontiers-revised Tiny Frontiers]''' — a “minimalist space opera” game based. ([https://www.tinyd6.com/what-is-tinyd6 TinyD6])
* '''[http://theonyxpath.com/category/worlds/trinitycontinuum/tc-aeon/ Trinity Continuum: Æon]''' — Psions in a Mass Effect-ish galaxy, in recovery 60 years after a devastating war. Extrasolar colonies, aliens, space weirdness, jumpships. ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/50568/storypath-system Storypath])
* '''[https://uncharted-worlds.com Uncharted Worlds]''' — a wide-scope “space opera of discovery and adventure”. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])

=== Starship crew ===

* '''[https://pelgranepress.com/product/ashen-stars/ Ashen Stars]''' — Investigative game about freelance law enforcement on the fringe of civilized space. Described aptly as the crew of ''Serenity'' tasked with the job of the ''Enterprise'' ([https://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/category/products/gumshoe-general/ Gumshoe])
* '''[https://burnbryte.com Burn Bryte]''' — The galaxy is being consumed by the Burn, and the players along with their living ship adventures across the galaxy. Exclusively available through Roll20.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/240319/explorers-Core-Rulebook--Print-Edition explorers]''' — a crew-game of planet exploration SciFi, moderate rules, focus on teamwork and limited resources.
* '''[https://adrian-thoen.itch.io/impulse-drive Impulse Drive]''' — focused on a ship crew “making a living on the fringe of civilized space”. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ CC BY-SA 3.0], [http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[http://www.onesevendesign.com/laserfeelings/ Lasers & Feelings]¤''' — a free one-page game about a starship crew, is about as rules-light as you can get, and has spawned literally hundreds of hacks to different genres. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ CC BY-SA 3.0])
* '''[https://chrispwolf.itch.io/offworlders Offworlders]''' — as “owners of a small starship”, a group of “adventurers, outlaws, and guns for hire make their fortune on the rough end of the galaxy”. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/ CC BY 3.0 US], [http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://headofthegoat.itch.io/rust-hulks Rust Hulks]''' — a game about “playing space truckers in a grimy science-fiction future.” ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://www.evilhat.com/home/scum-and-villainy/ Scum and Villainy]''' — a game ”about a spaceship crew trying to make ends meet under the iron-fisted rule of the Galactic Hegemony”. ([https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://renegadegamestudios.com/teens-in-space/ Teens in Space]''' — a spinoff of Kids On Bikes. A relatively lightweight system with cooperative storytelling elements about a crew of alien teens and their spaceship exploring space.

=== Thematic approaches ===

* '''[https://unpossiblejourneys.com/lots-of-games/find-games-to-play/316-carnage-amongst-the-stars/ 3:16 Carnage Amongst the Stars]''' — a mechanically simple, low-prep campaign game about being a member of a self-serving military tasked with wiping out alien threats.
* '''[https://www.biohazardgamespublishing.com/blueplanet Blue Planet]''' — “offers hard sci fi adventure on the ecologically wild, sociopolitically contentious frontier of Earth’s first extrasolar colony world: a distant waterworld named Poseidon”.
* '''[https://www.catalystgamelabs.com/cosmic-patrol/ Cosmic Patrol]''' — built to be more “golden age scifi”, using a simple rule-set. ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/25150/cue-system Cue], [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ CC BY-NC-SA 4.0])
* '''[http://www.dangerpatrol.com/ Danger Patrol]¤''' — captures some of the aesthetic of 1930’s sci-do serials, mixed with a more modern cinematic vibe. Has evolved through several versions, including a two-page “pocket” approach. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ CC BY-NC-SA 3.0])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/215176/Exilium-Core-Rules Exilium]''' — a game of “of science fiction adventure and intrigue set against a backdrop of post-human loss and redemption”. ([http://www.antipaladingames.com/p/mini-six.html Mini Six])
* '''[https://shop.gallantknightgames.com/products/flatline Flatline]''' — “a near-future dystopian roleplaying game about armed EMTs who execute intensive medical ops to protect the richest clients”. ([https://www.evilhat.com/home/fate-core/ Fate])
* '''[https://umbralaeronaut.itch.io/hello-world Hello World]''' — set in a digital utopia where only memory is in short supply. ([https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://www.paulelliottbooks.com/hostile.html Hostile]''' — “a gritty, near future roleplaying setting for the 2D6 Cepheus Engine rules… inspired by movies like ''Outland'' and ''Alien''”. ([https://wiki.travellerrpg.com/Cepheus_Engine Cepheus Engine])
* '''[https://www.sigilstonepublishing.com/hunt-the-wicked-rpg/ Hunt the Wicked]''' — focusing on “bounty Hunters: peacekeepers, gunslingers, saviors, and assassins, the heroes and mercenaries that go after the bad guys”.
* '''[https://ladyblackbird.org Lady Blackbird]''' — the gold standard for a game based around a specific scenario and characters. Steampunk and free, the first of three.
* '''[https://www.mothershiprpg.com Mothership]''' — “a sci-fi horror roleplaying game where you and your crew try to survive in the most inhospitable environment in the universe: outer space”.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/270007/Never-Tell-Me-the-Odds-The-SpaceScoundrel-RPG-About-Risking-It-All Never Tell Me the Odds]''' — a “space-scoundrel RPG about risking it all”.
* '''[https://www.trappedchest.com/games/the-nullam-project/ The Nullam Project]''' — A hard sci-fi RPG about humans who have arrived at a distant world in a generation ship only to find 2 warring species already there, forcing them to build an orbitol colony.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/1715 Obsidian: the Age of Judgement]''' — in 2299, “a desperate humanity wages war against the manifested legions of Hell itself”.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/350467/ORUN-PostApotheosis-Space-Opera-RPG ORUN, Post-Apotheosis Space Opera RPG]''' — A rich and fully realized, and immersive Afrocentric science fiction setting in the Post- Apotheosis Age
* '''[https://www.mongoosepublishing.com/rpgs/paranoia.html Paranoia]''' — As a Troubleshooter, an elite force, you’re tasked with finding trouble and shooting it, you will be hunting mutants, terrorists, traitors, [CLASSIFIED], secret societies and renegade bots. You look worried, citizen. Relax! It’s still Paranoia. The year is still 214. You still have six clones and a laser pistol. The Computer is still your friend.
* '''[https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/predation/ Predation]''' — A desparate future uses time-travel to build a colony 66 million years in the past, stranding them there. High tech meets dinosaurs. ([http://cypher-system.com Cypher])
* '''[https://glyphpress.com/talk/product/shock-social-science-fiction Shock: Social Science Fiction]''' — a “fiction game of culture and future shock. Inspired by the works of Bruce Sterling, Kim Stanley Robinson, Ursula K. LeGuin, and Philip K. Dick, the game pushes the players to make stories that matter to them — stories about politics, philosophy, love, and death.” A variation of it, [https://glyphpress.com/talk/shockhuman-contact Shock: Human Contact] is pretty much the ''Star Trek'' Federation with the serial numbers filed off.
* '''[http://suffadv.wikidot.com Sufficiently Advanced]''' — a distant-future, somewhat optimistic game. The most recent edition uses a diceless system.
* '''[https://www.synthiciderpg.com Synthicide]''' — makes use of tactical grid combat, in a grim semi-cyberpunk setting where the machines have taken over.
* '''[https://epidiah.itch.io/vast-starlit Vast and Starlit]''' — a “complete nano-game of interstellar crime & rebellion” using diceless mechanics and minimal verbiage.
* '''[https://wildfirellc.com/phone/void-rpg.html The Void]''' — a “hard sci-fi survival horror setting with Lovecraftian elements”.

=== Mechs ===

* '''[https://www.patreon.com/BigBeetleGames/posts?tag=ArCS ArCS]''' — “try and outrun debt collectors, fight space battles, and try to destabilize warring corporations for pay… all from the cockpit of a giant robot”. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://beamsaber.libsyn.com Beam Saber]''' — a “game about the pilots of powerful machines in a war that dominates every facet of life”. ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ CC BY 3.0], [https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://lumpley.itch.io/firebrands Firebrands]''' — is a casual game about pilots in the universe of the lego mech fighting game [http://mobileframezero.com/mfz/ Mobile Frame Zero]. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://alwayscheckers.itch.io/last-sentinels LAST SENTINELS]''' — a GM-less storytelling game about a doomed mech pilot, inspired by Polaris
* '''[https://massif-press.itch.io/ Lancer RPG]''' — centered on shared narratives, customizable mechs, and the pilots who crew them in the future.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/82258/Chris-Perrins-Mecha Mecha]''' — designed specifically to emulate both the combat and the drama of mecha anime. Core book contains three different settings, and advice on building your own.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/12628/Mecha-Aces Mecha Aces]''' — a more minimalist, generic approach to mech gaming. The book includes four different settings. ([https://www.fudgerpg.com Fudge])
* '''[http://absolutetabletop.com/the-mecha-hack-pdf The Mecha Hack]''' — a standalone game “of titanic warmachines and their intrepid pilots, made with The Black Hack.”
* '''[http://mechavskaiju.com Mecha vs Kaiju]''' — Mechs vs giant monsters, both for [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/141809/Mecha-vs-Kaiju-Fate-Core-Condensed Fate Core] and [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/332541/Mecha-vs-Kaiju-Cypher-System Cypher].
* '''[https://www.studio404games.com/mechasys Mechasys for Genesys]''' — Genesys Foundry supplement by Studio 404 Games. Uses the Genesys Narrative Dice system. Able to handle most genres of mecha (big, stompy robots to agile mecha like Gundams and NGE). Mecha are constructed via a system that parallels player characters, and earn XP over time to tweak or build up their abilities.
* '''[https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/mechwarrior-destiny Mechwarrior: Destiny]''' — the latest in a line of (very different) games for role-playing in the ''BattleTech'' universe. ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/25150/cue-system Cue])
* '''[https://talsorianstore.com/collections/mekton Mekton Zeta]''' — “enter a world of high adventure and mechanized combat”.
* '''[http://blog.trilemma.com/2018/10/2g2bt-gauntlet-conv014.html?m=1 Too Good to Be True]''' — A one-shot/short campaign game of “mercenary combat in a gritty future”, also known as ''2G2BT''. Still in beta.
* '''[https://www.gallantknightgames.com/mecha-monsters/ Tiny Frontiers: Mecha and Monsters]''' — you take on the role of jockeys who pilot massive robots, defending the world and cities of man from threats, giant aliens or monsters ([https://www.gallantknightgames.com/tiny-frontiers/ Tiny Frontiers])

=== Cyberpunk ===

* '''[https://adrenalinerpg.itch.io/adrenaline Adrenaline]''' — a crew-based heist game with “optional rules for cyber, bio, and pharmaceutical augmentations”. ([https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://www.anvil-eight.com/game/aetherium-rpg/ Aetherium]''' — a d10 pool system, set in a cyberpunk world that puts heavy emphasis on virtual reality.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/304415/ALTERED-STATE Altered State]''' — a cyberpunk supplement for the ''Index Card RPG'' which brings cyberpunk to that system.
* '''[https://wrongbrothersgaming.com/axon-punk%3A-overdrive Axon Punk]''' — “Hip hop inspired cyberpunk in the megacities of 2085”.
* '''[http://dicemachine.com/#section-hero Black Code]''' — a transhuman cyberpunk game “set in a future where humanity and technology are intermingled so closely we don’t know where we are going next”, using a toolkit approach.
* '''[http://www.sanguinegames.com/our-products/ Bleeding Edge]''' — create characters “with the limitless potential of next-gen technology, yet weighted down with the legacy of greed, lies, and hate”. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://headofthegoat.itch.io/blood-chrome-neon Blood Chrome Neon]''' — a “relatively lightweight” game that is “pretty straightforward to hack”.
* '''[https://www.dragonturtlegames.com/carbonrpg Carbon 2185]''' — uses a class-based approach, and a better than average visual aesthetic. ([https://ogl-srd5.com 5e OGL])
* '''[https://emanoelmelo.itch.io/cbrpnk CBR+PNK]''' — designed for one-shot sessions, where a crew makes their last run. ([https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://assemblyrequisite.itch.io/crashcart CRASH//CART]''' — play “a paramedic crew in a near-future Californian coastal metropolis.” Uses playing cards instead of dice. ([https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/336887/Chrome-Shells--Neon-Streets-OnePage-RPG Chrome Shells & Neon Streets]''' — a two-page rpg “inspired by popular cyberpunk fiction”. ([https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/294202/Tricube-Tales Tricube Tales])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/449079/Cities-Without-Number Cities without Number]''' cyberpunk RPG built for sandbox adventures in a dystopia of polished chrome and bitter misery. Old-school inspired game system, fully compatible with the sci-fi Stars Without Number game and it’s fantasy sister-game Worlds Without Number
* '''[http://www.corpgame.com/core-rules.html Corporation]''' — leans into the megacorp notion, to the point that nations no longer exist.
* '''[https://ukrpdc.wordpress.com/2015/10/04/cyberblues-city/ Cyberblues City]''' — “offers a lighter take on the cyberpunk genre, both in terms of system and tone” and supplies a number of [https://ukrpdc.wordpress.com/2017/12/03/polar-blues-press-downloads/ free adventures]. ([https://www.fudgerpg.com Fudge])
* '''[http://davidjaquith.freeservers.com CyberFUDGE]''' — cyberpunk meets fantasy meets post-apocalypse. Author claims “it sucked”. ([https://www.fudgerpg.com Fudge])
* '''[https://strangeworlder.itch.io/cyberpunk-is-dead Cyberpunk is Dead]''' — A rules-light Forged in the Dark-hack of playing a faceless corporate hit squad in a dystopian cyberpunk world.
* '''[https://rtalsoriangames.com/cyberpunk/ Cyberpunk RED]''' — the latest version of the early ''Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0.'', advancing the timeline to the year 2045.
* '''[https://dbb-8.itch.io/cyberpunk CYBER//PUNK]¤''' — a ''Lasers & Feelings'' hack.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/88320/Cyberspace Cyberspace]''' — an early cyberpunk game. Like many Iron Crown Enterprises games, never took off the way its contemporaries did.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/28593/d20-Cyberscape-d20M d20 Cyberscape]''' — the (perhaps inevitable) WotC d20 Modern expansion for cyberpunk play. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://www.tripleacegames.com/brands/daring-tales-of-the-sprawl/ Daring Tales of the Sprawl]''' — a somewhat generic cyberpunk setting. ([https://www.peginc.com/licensing/ Savage Worlds])
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_Machina_%28role-playing_game%29 Ex Machina]''' — contained a trio of quite nice cyberpunk settings for the now-defunct ''Tri-Stat dX''.
* '''[https://samjokopublishing.com/products/hack-the-planet-physical-book-digital-pdf Hack the Planet]''' — has particular focus on arcologies and environmental activism. ([https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://ettin.itch.io/hard-wired-island Hard Wired Island]''' — anti-capitalist cyberpunk inspired by 90s anime
* '''[http://www.playidenteco.com IDENTICO]''' — brings classes, levels, and hit locations to 2099.
* '''[https://gunmetalgames.net/interface-zero/ Interface Zero]''' — a well supported cyberpunk setting that has gone through a number of systems. The current version is a setting using a ''Savage Worlds'' license. ([https://www.peginc.com/licensing/ Savage Worlds])
* '''[https://sohkrates.itch.io/neon-black Neon Black]''' — anticapitalist game about “a community of poor people fighting back against tyrannical corporations and the indifference of the rich”. ([https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://scratchpadpublishing.com/dtrpg-links/2018/10/19/neon-city-outlaws Neon City Outlaws]''' — presents an alternate setting for ''Dusk City Outlaws'', “a dystopian cyberpunk city where the crew takes on Jobs targeting the monolithic corporations and the execs that run them”.
* '''[https://www.perilplanet.com/neon-city-overdrive/ Neon City Overdrive]''' — Forged in the Dark mixed with Freeform Universal. Fast, player-facing, tag based, a focus on heists/jobs/missions but with longer term goals for PCs that tie things together.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/91490/Polychrome-Cyberpunk-Adventure-for-Stars-Without-Number Polychrome]''' — a setting bringing cyberpunk elements to ''Stars Without Number''.
* '''[http://www.gregorhutton.com/boxninja/remember/ Remember Tomorrow]''' — rules-lite and GM-less.
* '''[https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/genesys/products/shadow-beanstalk/ Shadow of the Beanstalk]''' — a cyberpunk setting built around a space elevator and link to the Android board and card games. ([https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/genesys/ Genesys])
* '''[https://land-of-nop.itch.io/sigmata-this-signal-kills-fascists SIGMATA: This Signal Kills Fascists]''' — a cyberpunk RPG about ethical insurgency against a fascist regime, taking place in a dystopian vision of 1980’s America.
* '''[http://www.ardens.org/games/the-sprawl/ The Sprawl]''' — turns up the mission-based, genre-simulation dials. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://gshowitt.itch.io/system-shutdown System Shutdown]''' — a one-page one-shot, features a burned cyberoperative trying to extract vengeance before his implants fail.
* '''[https://www.technoirrpg.com TechNoir]''' — correctly dubs itself as “high-tech, hard-boiled roleplaying”, with unusual mechanics to match.
* '''[https://www.evilhat.com/home/uprising/ Uprising]''' — explores the tradeoff of freedom for technology. ([https://www.evilhat.com/home/fate-core/ Fate])
* '''[https://samjokopublishing.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-veil-cyberpunk-ttrpg-1 The Veil]''' — focuses more on character emotional drives and the impact of secondary realities (AR, VR, etc.). ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/278109 vs. MIRRORSHADES]''' — a fast-playing game that uses standard playing cards. ([http://denaghdesign.com/games/ vsM])
* '''[https://www.dieheart.net/wired-neon-cities/ Wired Neon Cities]''' — “minimalist cyberpunk roleplaying” in five pages.

=== Cyberpunk plus… ===

Cyberpunk worlds with fantastical elements, without quite reaching “science fantasy”.

* '''[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ascendancy/ascendancy/ Ascendancy]''' — “psychic cyborgs, identity, and finding yourself through fighting for what you believe in”, based on the same engine as ''The Spire''
* '''[https://www.brabblemark.com/products.html Corporia]''' — a genre-bending game where reborn Knights of the Round Table struggle against oppressive mega-corporations.
* '''[https://talsorianstore.com/collections/cybergeneration/products/cybergeneration-1 Cybergeneration]''' — a spinoff of ''Cyberpunk 2.0.2.0.'' that includes superhero elements.
* '''[https://www.nightpathpub.com/rpg Entromancy]''' is a cyberpunk/magic fusion setting. ([https://ogl-srd5.com 5e OGL])
* '''[https://www.neuwerld.com/home Halcyon]''' — contains a number of cyberpunk elements, but also some post-apocalypse and magic.
* '''[http://www.greenhatdesigns.com/?project=head-space Headspace]''' — claims to be “shared consciousness cyberpunk”. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/114830/Psipunk Psi-Punk]''' — A psionic cyberpunk game. ([https://www.fudgerpg.com Fudge])
* '''[https://samjokopublishing.com/products/retropunk-physical-book-pdf Retropunk]''' — “in which the players embody characters in a futuristic hybrid reality—where the digital and physical have merged.”
* '''[https://www.shadowruntabletop.com Shadowrun]''' — the 400-pound gorilla in the “cyberpunk plus magic” genre. Known for having a lot of hacks to move the setting to other systems (see [[Shadowrun Alternative Systems]]).
* '''[https://nightfall.games/sla-industries-2nd-edition SLA Industries]''' — takes place in a cyberpunk world with the horror elements turned up.
* '''[https://rowanrookanddecard.com/spire-rpg/ The Spire]''' — doesn’t bill itself as a cyberpunk game, but has a definite cyberpunk vibe, as your drow revolutionaries resist the high elf establishment that runs a mile tall tower-city.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/232943/Toonpunk Toonpunk]''' — “cartoons have come to life in the dystopian 24th century”.
* '''[http://theonyxpath.com/onyx-path-publishing-announces-anima-for-trinity-continuum/ Trinity Continuum: Anima]''' — upcoming cyberpunk/litRPG setting a handful of years after a devastating war. ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/50568/storypath-system Storypath])
* '''[http://www.ravendeskgames.com/vurt-the-tabletop-roleplaying-game Vurt]''' — takes place in a cyberpunk setting that adds travel into parallel worlds. ([http://cypher-system.com Cypher])

=== Science Fantasy ===

A (usually pulpy or over the top) mix of fantasy/magic with technology.

* '''[https://redboxvancouver.wordpress.com/dungeon-world-stuff/ Adventures on Dungeon Planet]''' — a science fantasy supplement for ''Dungeon World''. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ CC BY-NC-SA 3.0], [http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[http://cryptorpg.com Cryptomancer]''' — The inevitable Age of Information which magick would bring to a Tolkienesque high-fantasy setting. “Made by hackers, for hackers.”
* '''[https://pro-indie.com/pivw/our-games/equinox_main Equinox]''' — A space RPG; action, intrigue, and mystical powers in a war-ravaged dark future. System-agnostic setting guide and choice of two system books: ''Match'' system and rules-lite ''Storygame'' system (the latter being a permutation of ''Freeform Universal'').
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/20706/Gatecrasher-Science-Fantasy-Adventure Gatecrasher]''' — Light-hearted mash-up of science fiction and fantasy set in the 24th century.
* '''[http://numenera.com/what-is-numenera/ Numenera]''' — Set a billion years in our future, it’s a game of exploration and discovery. Abilities and artifacts of the past seems like sci-fi, magic, or both, depending on how you look at it. ([http://cypher-system.com Cypher])
* '''[https://otherworldsrpg.com/ Otherworlds]''' — a “future fantasy” game, which aims to provide lots of variability without overcomplicating.
* '''[https://redboxvancouver.wordpress.com/2016/06/10/space-wurm-vs-moonicorn/ Space Wurm vs Moonicorn]''' — “Space Wurm and Moonicorn are rivals, fighting over the future of galactic civilization.” Two players play them, while others play characters caught in their web, while GM is tasked with undermining them all. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/bysa/4.0/ CC BY-SA 4.0], [http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://paizo.com/starfinder Starfinder]''' is a “science fantasy adventure” game derived from the ''Pathfinder'' rule set. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://titansgraverpg.com Titansgrave]''' — a setting inspired by ''Heavy Metal'', ''The Land of the Lost'', ''Akira'', and ''Thundarr''. ([https://greenroninstore.com/collections/age-system AGE])
* '''[https://www.troikarpg.com/ Troika]''' — science-fantasy universe in the spirit of works such as Dying Earth, Viriconium, and Book of the New Sun.

=== Franchises ===

Games officially based on existing science fiction franchises.

* '''[https://alien-rpg.com Alien]''' — brings the universe of the ''Alien'' franchise to life, “a universe of body horror and corporate brinkmanship, where synthetic people play god while space truckers and marines serve host to newborn ghoulish creatures”. ([http://frank-mitchell.com/rpg/year-zero-engine-ogl/ Year Zero])
* '''[https://www.huntersentertainment.com/ac Altered Carbon]''' — aims for the neo-noir, bod-swapping feel of the TV series.
* '''[https://www.modiphius.net/pages/discover-dune-roleplaying-game Dune: Adventures in the Imperium]''' — “a journey through the storied worlds of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi masterpiece”. ([https://www.modiphius.com/2d20.html 2d20])
* '''[https://www.modiphius.net/collections/elite-dangerous Elite Dangerous]''' — brings the world of the popular MMO to the gaming table.
* '''[https://greenroninstore.com/collections/the-expanse-rpg The Expanse]''' — brings the setting of James S.A. Corey’s bestselling fiction series to your table. ([https://greenroninstore.com/collections/age-system AGE])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/3523/FarScape-Roleplaying-Game Farscape]''' is a d20 system that can still be purchased, but is no longer supported. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://www.peginc.com/product-category/flash-gordon/ Flash Gordon]''' — “Do you have what it takes to join the Freemen, defy the rule of Ming the Merciless, and become the savior of the universe?” ([https://www.peginc.com/licensing/ Savage Worlds])
* '''[https://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/the-gaean-reach-2/ The Gaean Reach]''' — based on the “legendary cycle of science fiction classics” by Jack Vance. ([https://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/category/products/gumshoe-general/ Gumshoe])
* '''[http://www.warehouse23.com/products/SJG31-2480 Girl Genius]''' — Based on the comics and graphic novels by Phil and Kaja Foglio. Kaja and Phil are listed among the authors and have done the art for the book.
* '''[https://www.modiphius.com/john-carter.html John Carter of Mars]''' — created “under license and with the cooperation of the estate of Edgar Rice Burroughs”. ([https://www.modiphius.com/2d20.html 2d20])
* '''Star Trek'''
** [https://www.modiphius.net/collections/star-trek-adventures Star Trek Adventures] — the latest in a long line of official ''Star Trek'' games. ([https://www.modiphius.com/2d20.html 2d20])
** [http://www.starfleetgames.com/pdindex.shtml Prime Directive] has a contract with Paramount, but can’t actually use the phrase “Star Trek”. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL], [http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/ GURPS])
** [https://fictioneers.net/games/star-world Star World] — intends to emulate ''Star Trek'' and “includes PC playbooks, ship playbooks and a special set of ship moves for interstellar combat and maneuvers”. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
** Games listed above that directly emulate ''Star Trek'' include: ''Shock: Human Contact''
* '''Star Wars'''
** ''Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game'' (WEG)(1987) — the original D6-based game, which in 2019 got a [https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/star-wars-the-roleplaying-game-30th-anniversary-edition/ reprint]
** [https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/starwarsrpg/ Star Wars Roleplaying Game](2012) (Fantasy Flight Games, 2012) — Uses a [https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/star-wars-roleplaying-accessories/products/star-wars-roleplaying-dice-1/ unique dice] system for determining outcome. The dice system was later adopted as the core for the universal [https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/genesys/#/products-section Genesys] RPG.
** [https://sentientgames.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/star-worlds/ Star World: Streets of Los Eisley] — A free, rule-lite, playset, based on ''World of Dungeons''.
** Games listed above that directly emulate ''Star Wars'' include: ''Never Tell Me the Odds'', ''Rebel Scum'', ''Scum and Villainy'', ''Galactic''.
* '''[https://stargatetherpg.com/files/file/74-stargate-sg-1-roleplaying-game-core-rulebook/ Stargate SG-1 Roleplaying Game]''' — (published Summer 2021). ([https://ogl-srd5.com 5e OGL])
* The '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/2497/Starship-Troopers--The-Roleplaying-Game Starship Troopers]''' line contained over a dozen titles, but is no longer supported. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://nightfall.games/terminator The Terminator RPG]''' — Kickstarter funded in 2021, quick start has been released. ([https://nightfall.games/974/the-s5s-system.html S5S])
* '''[http://www.warehouse23.com/products/vorkosigan-saga-sourcebook-and-roleplaying-game Vorkosigan Saga]''' offers the science-fiction stories of Lois McMaster Bujold. ([http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/ GURPS])

=== Adaptive approaches ===

Some generic systems offer sci-fi-specific variations or guidebooks:

* '''[https://www.cortexrpg.com Cortex Prime]''' contains some serviceable advice for running “starship crew” style games in that system. Cortex excels at ensemble mission-driven play and was used to drive the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_Role-Playing_Game Firefly] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_Role_Playing_Game Serenity] games, when they were still available.
* '''[https://ogc.rpglibrary.org/index.php?title=OpenD6 D6 Space]''' — uses the OpenD6 to approach many different types of science fiction. This is the same system that powered West End’s ''Star Wars'' game.
* '''[https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/genesys/ Genesys]''' — Grew out of the ''Star Wars Roleplaying Game'' by Fantasy Flight Games and offers the [https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/products/genesys/products/shadow-beanstalk/ Shadow of the Beanstalk] setting book for cyberpunk adventures in the Android setting.
* '''GURPS'''
** '''[http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/cyberpunk/ GURPS Cyberpunk]''' — a line of books provide a toolkit for cyberpunk play in that generic system. It also has a somewhat infamous history.
** '''[http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/space.html GURPS Space]''' — a whole line of books for bringing GURPS to space.
** '''[http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/tech.html GURPS Tech]''' — a whole line of books for bringing technology to GURPS.
* '''[https://www.woinrpg.com N.E.W.]''' is the future-focused component of the ''What’s Old is New'' system (W.O.I.N), a generic system.
* The '''[https://www.peginc.com/store/sciencePolaris-fiction-companion-le-bundle/ Science Fiction Companion]''' tunes the ''Savage Worlds'' system for science fiction, as do settings like [https://www.peginc.com/product-category/the-last-parsec/ The Last Parsec] and [https://www.peginc.com/savage-settings/slipstream/ Slipstream].
* '''[https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/the-stars-are-fire/ The Stars Are Fire]''' — Extends and optimizes the [http://cypher-system.com Cypher System] for science fiction.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/302992/Ultramodern5-REDUX-5th-Edition?term=ultramodern Ultramodern5]''' — a toolbox which brings various genres of sci-fi to the ''5e'' ruleset. ([https://ogl-srd5.com 5e OGL])

== Superhero ==

=== Genre-spanning ===

A number of games approach supers in a general way, aiming to support many different genres of stories with a generalized set of rules. Games like this include:

* '''[http://www.bashrpg.com/BASH%21.html BASH!]''' — matches a lightweight system with a ton of supplements, with advice on targeting different eras of comics.
* '''Champions''' has gone through a confusing array of editions. At this point, two main lines carry the torch in different ways:
** [https://www.herogames.com/store/category/67-champions-now/ Champions Now] — is a “recovery and re-imagining of first-generation Champions role-playing” using much more modern design.
** [https://www.herogames.com/store/product/3-champions-complete-pdf/ Champions Complete] — builds a more traditional supers toolkit on ''HERO System 6th Edition''.
* '''[https://thecontractrpg.com/ The Contract RPG]''' — A gritty origin story game with a system that allows Players to build custom powers for any concept.
* '''[https://www.shadesofvengeance.com/product/era-the-empowered-core-rulebook-digital/ Era: The Empowered]''' — sets the game around a timeline of “events”, each of which captures a particular flavor of comics. The system itself “offers the chance to play any superhero story you could possibly want”. ([https://www.shadesofvengeance.com/games/ Era])
* The '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/201087/The-Four-Color-Hack Four Color Hack]''' — “rips the heart from The Black Hack, and transplants that still beating organ into a Frankenstein’s monster of a system”.
* '''[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samjokopublishing/galaxiesinperil Galaxies in Peril]''' — is a Forged in the Dark supers game where heroes progress from street-level vigilantes to galaxy-saving heroes. ([https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://www.palladiumbooks.com/modern/heroes-unlimited Heroes Unlimited]''' — still on the market since its debut in 1984, “enables players to create virtually every type of hero imaginable” in exactly the way you’d expect from Palladium.
* '''[https://stevekenson.com/icons/ Icons]''' — is intended for “silver age” style supers play, and strikes a good balance between “freeform” and “ultra-crunchy”, with a somewhat-crunchy power system.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/128436/Invulnerable-Super-Hero-RPG-Vigilante-Edition Invulnerable]''' — “supports every power level, from street-level crimefighters up to interstellar paragons, and includes a complete setting”. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://sfxrpg.com/game/kapow/ Kapow!]''' — is a free universal supers game which “blends free-form play… and dice-driven mechanics using degree of success”. ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ CC BY-NC-SA 3.0])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/260285/Metagene-Super-Hero-Roleplaying-Game Metagene]''' — is a lighter-weight system with “random and point-based character creation, rules for investigation and combat, and a built-in setting”. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode CC BY-NC-SA 4.0])
* '''[https://mutantsandmasterminds.com Mutants & Masterminds]''' — was written by the same guy who went on to write ''Icons'', though it is more crunchy. It is a d20/OGL style game, but without classes, and has a pretty large collection of supplements. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/243769/MYTHIC-D6-Revised--Expanded Mythic D6]''' — Using a d6 dicepool & successes system, creates a heroic adventure game with (super)powers ranging from the classic to fantasy. Light to run for the GM.
* '''[http://www.evilbeaglegames.com/products/prowlers-paragons/ Prowlers & Paragons]''' — marries die rolls that determine who narrates outcomes with lists of powers and extras.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/239216/Sentinels-of-Echo-City-Deluxe-Edition Sentinels of Echo City]''' — asks “what if the makers of the FASERIP game engine decided instead to use the B/X rules as their inspiration?”. The author considers this game to have supplanted his earlier [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/81467/Resolute-the-Superhero-RPG-2E Resolute]. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0], [https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://scratchpadpublishing.com/spectaculars Spectaculars]''' — creates the setting as you play, building your own comic book universe.
* '''[https://beyondbeliefgames.webs.com/triumphant-super-heroic-rpg Triumphant!]''' — supports a wide range of supers stories with medium complexity. Its author previously wrote [https://www.hazardstudio.net/supers-revised-edition SUPERS! Revised Edition], which is similar.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/220501/VV-30-Mighty-Protectors Villains & Vigilantes]''' — after a lengthy legal battle, is now back in the hands of its creators and updated to version 3.0. Still apologetically ultra-crunchy.

=== Thematic ===

Many supers games target a specific type of supers story, with mechanics to match the theme:

* '''[https://studio2publishing.com/products/amp-year-one/ Amp]''' — an “emergence” style supers game, with additional “years” that follow.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/62879/Brave-New-World Brave New World]''' — set in an alternate America, under perpetual martial law, with a handful of rebellious supers fighting for freedom
* '''[https://www.nerdburgergames.com/capers Capers]''' — set in the 1920s, and uses a standard deck of cards and has a number of supplements that take the game into other eras ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0])
* '''[http://www.blackfallpress.com Cold Steel Wardens]''' — “inspired by the rise of dystopian, darker, contemporary comics from the 1980s onwards”, the “Iron Age” of comics
* '''[https://shop.gallantknightgames.com/products/fallen-justice Fallen Justice]''' — brings an OSR White Box approach to Iron Age supers.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/299065/Hit-the-Streets-Defend-the-Block Hit the Streets]''' — aims for 6-10 session, street-level heroic campaigns
* '''[http://arcdream.com/home/godlike-3/ Godlike]''' — imagines a WWII where ordinary people who manifest amazing powers are sent to the front. ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/1015/one-roll-engine ORE])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/172576/Guardians Guardians]''' — bends White Box style rules into all superhero genres
* The ''Kerberos Club'' is a “sourcebook for superheroic roleplaying in Victorian London”. Pubished variations exist for [https://shop.arcdream.com/collections/role-playing-games/products/the-kerberos-club-savage-worlds-edition-paperback Savage Worlds], [https://shop.arcdream.com/collections/role-playing-games/products/the-kerberos-club-fate-edition-paperback Fate], and [https://shop.arcdream.com/collections/role-playing-games/products/wild-talents-the-kerberos-club-paperback Wild Talents].
* '''[https://www.magpiegames.com/masks/ Masks]''' — a “young adults trying to figure out who they are and what kind of heroes they want to be” style supers game, and succeeds at producing this type of experience better than most. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[http://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/category/products/mutant-city-blues/ Mutant City Blues]''' — covers the investigative genre in a superpowered world. ([http://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/category/products/gumshoe-general/ Gumshoe])
* '''[https://oriondblack.itch.io/mutants-in-the-night Mutants in the Night]''' — works the “mutants being hunted by the government” angle. ([https://bladesinthedark.com/licensing FitD])
* '''[https://www.peginc.com/product-category/necessary-evil/ Necessary Evil]''' — calls on villains to save the day against an alien menace that destroyed all the heroes. ([https://www.peginc.com/licensing/ Savage Worlds])
* '''[https://lumpley.itch.io/psirun Psi*Run]''' — a “persecuted heroes on the run” style game.
* '''[http://paradigmconcepts.com/rotted-capes/ Rotted Capes]''' — where b-list supers deal with a zombie apocalypse.
* ''Bedlam City'' and its followup, ''Straight Out of Bedlam'', detail an Iron Age of comics city setting, with versions published for [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/55497/Bedlam-City Mutants and Masterminds] — and [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/71285/Bedlam-City-Savage-Worlds-Edition Savage Worlds].
* '''[http://theonyxpath.com/category/worlds/trinitycontinuum/tc-aberrant/ Trinity Continuum: Aberrant]''' — the slightly-future era of the White Wolf/Onyx Path’s ''Trinity Continuum'' line, takes on the “emergence” theme, where supers suddenly spring up in a world that has never seen them before.
* '''[https://www.evilhat.com/home/venture-city/ Venture City]''' — a near-future urban setting for corporate “heroes” and unsponsored “villains”, and lots of shades of gray. ([https://www.evilhat.com/home/fate-core/ Fate])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/269372/SURVIVE-THIS-Vigilante-City--Core-Rules Vigilante City]''' — a “gritty, street-level, superhero game set in the near future”, implemented multiple systems in the same kickstarter: [https://bloatgames.squarespace.com/shop?category=Vigilante+City Survive This!! Vigilante City], a mix of 5e/OSR concepts, [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/278400/ICRPG-Vigilante-City ICRPG Vigilante City], a version for the ''Index Card RPG'', and [https://bloatgames.squarespace.com/shop?category=The+Vigilante+Hack The Vigilante Hack], based on ''The Black Hack''.
* '''[https://shop.arcdream.com/collections/wild-talents Wild Talents]''' — strives for a “realistic” feel, heroics with consequences. But, it can be altered to do more four-color style play as well. ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/1015/one-roll-engine ORE])
* '''[https://samjokopublishing.com/collections/frontpage/products/worlds-in-peril-ttrpg Worlds in Peril]''' — starts with urban-based supers, but can become more fantastic. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA], [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ CC BY-SA 3.0])

=== Minimalist ===

Some games capture supers play with very light rule-sets:

* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/241545/3D6-Supers-2nd-Edition 3d6 Supers!]''' — uses both dice and playing cards “to run exciting action in any comic book universe”.
* '''[http://www.museoffire.com/Games/about.html Capes]''' — a GM-less supers game with heart, using an interesting interlocking concept.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/50837/Four-Color-System-Core-Rules Four Color System (4C)]''' — an emulator of an older superhero game system, fitting in 34 pages. (free)
* '''[https://www.fudgerpg.com/goodies/fudge-files/games/Marvelous-Superheroes/ Marvelous Superheroes]''' — uses a mix of ''Fudge'' and ''4C System'' to tackle supers play. ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/181833 OneDice Supers]''' — uses the lightweight, quick, and flexible OneDice system for any supers genre.
* '''[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_sj8ClxG8zMTeI2KFoR-cp0ZTy9nKNQhv_8qGpzzLYI Spider and Man]''' — a ''Lasers & Feelings'' hack. ([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ CC BY-NC-SA 3.0])
* '''[https://gumroad.com/l/stuperpowers Stuperpowers!]''' — uses rock-paper-scissors to pit “heroes with silly, useless, and occasionally downright gross powers…against the only slightly less ridiculous forces of evil”.
* '''[http://www.kaleidoskop.se/in-english/the-supercrew/ Supercrew!]''' — uses a comic book format to present a game where players play themselves, but with super powers.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/101465/Supers-Unleashed Supers Unleashed]''' — crams a lot into a small package.
* '''[https://shop.gallantknightgames.com/products/tiny-supers Tiny Supers]''' — a minimalist, four-color-style supers take on the tinyD6 system. ([https://www.tinyd6.com/what-is-tinyd6 TinyD6])
* '''[http://www.atomicsockmonkey.com/products/tj.asp Truth & Justice]''' — uses the slim PDQ system containing several settings and a lot of good advice. ([https://rpggeek.com/rpgsystem/574/prose-descriptive-qualities-pdq-system PDQ])

=== Franchise ===

Unsurprisingly, official tie-ins between published comic book/fiction lines and role-playing games are common:

* '''[https://ogc.rpglibrary.org/index.php?title=Bulletproof_Blues Bulletproof Blues]''' — brings an open, rule-light engine to the universe of Kalos Comics. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY-SA 4.0], [https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
* '''DC Comics''' have occasionally licensed games, all of which are out of print:
** ''DC Adventures'' ([https://www.thearcanelibrary.com/blogs/news/how-to-use-the-open-game-license OGL])
** ''DC Universe Roleplaying Game'' ([http://opend6project.org D6])
** [https://www.dcheroesrpg.com DC Heroes]
** [https://rpgmuseum.fandom.com/wiki/Smallville Smallville] — aimed to recreate the feel of the TV show of the same name. ([https://www.cortexrpg.com Cortex])
* '''Marvel Comics''' backed a number of RPG lines, none of which officially lasted very long:
** [https://www.marvel.com/rpg Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game (2023)] — the currently licensed game, using it’s own d616 System
** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Heroic_Roleplaying Marvel Heroic Roleplaying] — was the prior official marvel RPG. ([https://www.cortexrpg.com Cortex])
** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Universe_Roleplaying_Game Marvel Universe Roleplaying Game (2003)] (a.k.a MURPG) was published by Marvel itself, and didn’t last long
** ''Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game'' used cards as both randomizers and experience. ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAGA_System SAGA])
** ''Marvel Superheroes (1984)'' used a percentile system with a colorful “universal results table”. It lives on in two different retroclones: [http://www.classicmarvelforever.com/cms/ FASERIP]''' — and [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/50837/Four-Color-System-Core-Rules Four Color System].
* '''[https://www.catalystgamelabs.com/valiant/ Valiant Universe]''' — offers a modern, more casual play style, with a lot of the moral ambiguity found in the Valiant Comics line.
* '''[https://store.greaterthangames.com/sentinel-comics-the-roleplaying-game-core-rulebook.html Sentinel Comics: The Roleplaying Game]''' — boasts a modern design that allows play using either Sentinel Comics characters, or those of your own making.
* '''[https://www.wearingthecape.com/rpg Wearing the Cape: The Role Playing Game]''' — brings the ''[https://www.wearingthecape.com/ Wearing the Cape]'' fiction series to the role-playing table. ([https://www.evilhat.com/home/fate-core/ Fate])

=== Adaptive ===

Some generic systems offer supers-specific variations or guidebooks:

* The ''Cypher System'' has [https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/claim-the-sky/ Claim the Sky]''' — and [https://www.montecookgames.com/store/product/the-origin/ The Origin]''' — as implementing supers play using that system.
* ''GURPS'' has no shortage of supers based material, starting with [http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/books/Supers/ GURPS Supers]
* ''Mythras'' has a sourcebook with urban setting called [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/389311/Destined Destined] that provides general rules for creating superheroes with Mythras.
* ''Savage Worlds'' has a [https://www.peginc.com/store/super-powers-companion-second-edition-le/ Super Powers Companion]

=== Demigod ===

In some games, the characters are demigods, avatars of the gods or characters who get their powers from gods in some form, in many ways functioning as (or indistinguishable from) superhero games.

* Amber Diceless ([https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/105643/Lords-of-Olympus-Diceless-RPG Lords of Olympus]-expansion)
* '''[https://www.cityofmist.co City of Mist]''' — characters embody both myth, story, or legend, and a noir-like archetype, such as a detective. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[https://demigodspbta.com/ Demigods]''' — about “what happens when mortal life is turned upside down by the discovery of your divine heritage”. ([http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy PbtA])
* '''[http://theonyxpath.com/category/worlds/exalted/ Exalted]''' — has much more of a high-fantasy feel than a supers game, but features characters elevated from the ranks of mortals.
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/185960/Godbound-A-Game-of-Divine-Heroes-Deluxe-Edition Godbound]''' — features divine heroes in a broken world, men and women who have seized the tools that have slipped from an absent God’s hands, using B/X retroclone rules with the power levels dialed up.
* '''[https://kheperapublishing.com/khepera-publishing-home/godsend-agenda/ Godsend Agenda]''' — explicitly treats superhumans as god-like, especially culturally. It has gone through a number of iterations/additions, including [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/57439/D6-POWERS-Revised-and-Expanded D6 Powers] and [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/243769/MYTHIC-D6-Revised--Expanded MythicD6] ([http://opend6project.org D6])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/110779/Mythender-Roleplaying-Game Mythender]''' — a game about “stabbing gods in the face”. ([https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ CC BY-NC 3.0])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/141424/Nobilis-the-Game-of-Sovereign-Powers-2002-Edition Nobilis: the Game of Sovereign Powers]''' — was a diceless RPG that gave each character control over an elemental aspect of reality
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/152385/PartTime-Gods-of-Fate Part-Time Gods of Fate]''' — supplanted the original ''Part Time Gods''. Players take the role of ordinary people imbued with the powers of a god. Balancing one’s mortal and divine lives can be tricky. ([https://www.evilhat.com/home/fate-core/ Fate])
* '''[https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/257434/PartTime-Gods-Second-Edition Part-Time Gods Second Edition]''' — (PTG2E) — published in 2018, unclear if rules are FATE-based
* '''[http://theonyxpath.com/category/worlds/scion/ Scion]''' — characters are mortal descendants of gods tasked with working as the hands of their parents in the mortal world.
* '''[https://www.tinyd6.com/tinyd6-games/tiny-gods Tiny Gods]''' — about expanding TinyD6 to handle the divine. ([https://www.tinyd6.com/what-is-tinyd6 TinyD6])