100 Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games You Should Play Before You Die
Pen and paper roleplaying games are now a small-ish hobby. But if you’re a fan of this type of recreation, there are a few pen and paper roleplaying games which might be considered essential. Here’s my list; check off the ones you’ve played, then give the rest a try.
Fantasy Roleplaying Games
All pen and paper roleplaying games are “fantasy roleplaying games”, but this particular subcategory refers to “fantasy” in terms of the more traditional sense of “sword & sorcery” type fantasy.
- Dungeons & Dragons – The original game that started the pen and paper roleplaying hobby. Play any and every version of it that you can. Dungeons and Dragons is fun.
- Runequest – My favorite edition was the 2nd edition, but a lot of people really love Runequest 3. Mongoose’s latest version of Runequest is the least compelling edition.
- Tunnels & Trolls – A rules system that is so brilliantly narrativist that a lot of people still don’t get it. And it’s tons of fun.
- Pendragon – One of the most detailed settings and most appropriate rules sets ever made. Greg Stafford is best known for “discovering” Glorantha, but Pendragon is his best game. (It’s set in the days of King Arthur.)
- Iron Heroes – This is ever-so-loosely based on the d20 system, but it’s so much cooler. It’s an “alternative” Players Handbook for Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 with an emphasis on high-octane action in a low-magic setting. Well worth a try.
- Amber Diceless – This was the original diceless roleplaying game, and when people talk about “diceless”, they’re usually talking about Amber Diceless.
- Middle Earth Roleplaying – ICE published a game called Rolemaster back in the day, but the simplified version that was set in Tolkien’s fantasy universe was a better game in almost every way. This is still the best RPG set in Middle-Earth.
- Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay – This one is set in the same universe as the Warhammer miniatures game, which is a rich setting. The rules are excellent, and the game has an unusually large number of scenarios available.
- Donjon – This is the best indie roleplaying game I’ve ever played. Donjon a traditional dungeon-crawling setting with a terrific set of rules that give the players a LOT more control over the setting and adventure than they could ever have in any other game.
- Empire of the Petal Throne – A pulp fantasy setting that is one of the most original and earliest fantasy settings in rpg history. Everyone should experience Tekumel at least once before they die.
- Heroquest – This is the 2nd roleplaying game set in Glorantha (after Runequest). Heroquest focuses on high-magic, high-power action on a world-changing scale, as contrasted with the low-magic, gritty action of Runequest. It’s not for everyone, but it’s worth a try, especially if you like the Glorantha setting.
- Stormbringer – This is sorta-Runequest set in the Young Kingdoms of Michael Moorcock’s Elric novels. It’s a damn cool system, and the rules feature remarkably subtle changes that radically change the flavor of play. (I’m talking about the Chaosium version of the game, btw, not the new Mongoose pretender.)
- The Fantasy Trip - A prototype of GURPS, but with a really cool system that’s still relevant and playable.
- Dragonquest - Pure kitschy retro RPG fun. It’s a shame this game went out of print, because it was fun and cool. I loved the artwork and design.
Horror Roleplaying Games
Next to fantasy, horror is the most popular roleplaying genre. Here are a few horror roleplaying games I’d consider essential to try at least once before you die:
- Call of Cthulhu – This is the original horror roleplaying game, and it’s still the best. There are 20+ years of supplement and scenarios available for Call of Cthulhu.
- Unknown Armies - From Atlas Games, a great setting and super mechanics. As elegant a set of horror rpg rules as I’ve seen.
- Dread: The First Book of Pandemonium - I know I said that Call of Cthulhu is still the best horror roleplaying game available, but after reading the rules for Rafael Chandler’s brilliant self-published game, I’m having second thoughts.
- All Flesh Must Be Eaten – I don’t know why or how, but the dead…they walk among us. And they’re hungry!
- Chill – When Call of Cthulhu first came out, a company called Pacesetter Games published a horror roleplaying game with more traditional foes like vampires and werewolves. That game was Chill, and it’s apparently the RPG that wouldn’t die, because it’s still available. (In a newer edition, of course.)
- Delta Green – It’s unfair to list this here, as it’s not really a standalone game. Delta Green is the most detailed and best-written Call of Cthulhu alternate setting. Imagine The X-Files combined with Lovecraft, and throw in a dash of Tarantino, and you get an idea of what Delta Green is like.
- Witchcraft - The setting is similar to The Dresden Files. It’s a well-written rulebook with tons of scenario ideas and seeds, and the Unisystem rocks. Witchcraft is available as a free download.
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer – The execution of a licensed roleplaying game makes or breaks the game. The execution on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer game couldn’t have been done any better. It’s a great game, and the authors obviously loved the show as much as I did.
- Kill Puppies for Satan – The actual game is even more bizarre than the title would lead you to believe. It’s an essential inclusion on any list of “shock” roleplaying games. Pathos makes for great roleplaying sessions.
- Vampire the Masquerade - Did you ever want to play an ancient vampire involved in political power struggles? Did you ever want to spend hours being pensive and angry at your fate? Here’s your chance.
Superhero Roleplaying Games
Superhero roleplaying games are about having and using superpowers, so all pen and paper roleplaying games can be considered “superhero” roleplaying games. But this list focuses on games which approach the subject of comic book style superheroes.
- Villains and Vigilantes - There were a couple of superhero roleplaying games before this, but Villains and Vigilantes was the first fleshed-out superhero roleplaying game. If you want to see where the whole superhero roleplaying game concept began, then this is the game to start with.
- Champions - If Villains and Vigilantes invented the superhero RPG, then Champions showed the world what a superhero roleplaying game could become. The game has been around forever, and the MMORPG version should blow City of Heroes out of the sky. You should give the pen and paper version a try.
- Mutants & Masterminds - They asked Steve Kenson to create a d20 OGL based superhero roleplaying game. He did, and he simultaneously reinvented superhero roleplaying games. He did this by eliminating hit points and replacing them with damage saving throws. Mutants & Masterminds combines the flexibility of Champions with the playability of a modern RPG. This is my current superhero RPG game of choice, but be warned: it’s really Silver Age inspired.
- DC Heroes - This is an out of print roleplaying game that still has a huge following online. The rules system is that good. If you can’t find a used copy of the original game, look for Blood of Heroes, which uses the same mechanics, but without the DC universe setting. (The Watchmen supplements for DC Heroes were two of the most well-done superhero adventures I’ve ever played in.)
- Marvel Universe Roleplaying Game – A diceless superhero roleplaying game with remarkable production values. The supplements were high-quality too. It’s a shame the game didn’t last, but it’s still worth playing at least once, just to see what it’s like. The rules are more suitable for smaller numbers of players though.
- Marvel Heroes – In 1984, roleplaying games were still a new hobby. TSR published an innovative and clever RPG set in the Marvel Universe, and the game still has a lot of devoted followers. You can probably find the rules summarized online if you look hard enough.
- DC Universe Roleplaying Game – This one is notable for bringing the d6 system (which powered the original Star Wars roleplaying game) into the superhero universe. It’s still a great rule system, but it’s sadly out of print. d6 Powers is probably pretty similar.
- Wild Talents – A sequel to the WWII superhero RPG, Godlike, from publisher Arc Dream. Wild Talents uses a system called the “One Roll Engine”. It’s fun, and a different approach to superhero rules.
- Capes – An indie superhero roleplaying game that is played with no gamemaster. I love games which give a lot of responsibility to the player, and a game with no gamemaster is the quintessential example of this kind of game.
- With Great Power… – A unique indie superhero game that uses playing cards instead of dice and encourages players to focus on what benefits the story rather than their characters.
Old West Roleplaying Games
I’ve always been surprised that more old West roleplaying games weren’t available. Roleplaying does have its roots in playing cowboys and Indians as kids. Here are some of the more notable old West roleplaying games:
- Aces & Eights: Shattered Frontier – This is one of the most beautiful roleplaying games I’ve ever touched. The book is leather-bound and full of beautiful full-color artwork. The rules are detailed and unique, and multiple “minigames” add flavor and options. The game is set in an alternate history designed to maximize roleplaying possibilities.
- Deadlands – If you play no other game set in the old West, you must play Deadlands at least once in your life. This is the original genre-mixing RPG, mixing horror with the wild West in an irresistibly detailed and justifiably popular setting.
- Dust Devils – A “story-based” old West roleplaying game, Dust Devils uses poker mechanics to resolve in-game actions. Each character struggles with an “inner demon”.
- Boot Hill – This was the original old West roleplaying game from TSR, and it’s actually one of the earliest roleplaying games published after Dungeons & Dragons. If you like to kick it old school and get nostalgic, give this one a shot.
- Dogs in the Vineyard – This isn’t exactly set in the old West, but it’s close enough to include here. Dogs in the Vineyard is another indie RPG that focuses a lot on character and story, mechanics-wise. You play God’s watchdogs in an old West that never really existed, and it’s your job to go into a town and solve its problems. You decide which sinners get mercy and which are judged.
- Burros and Bandidos - If you want to play in the old West but NOT in the old West, you could play this game set in Mexico between 1840 and 1920.
- Coyote Trail – A cool and easy-to-learn roleplaying game set in the old West from the incomparably cool Politically Incorrect Games.
- The Fifth Wheel – A combination of six-guns and fantasy published by Better Mousetrap Games.
- Werewolf Wild West – An old West roleplaying game with werewolves, from the same people who published Vampire the Masquerade.
- Gunslingers & Gamblers – A relatively new indie old West RPG available as a pdf. This is a “rules-light” game with a cinematic feel.
Comedy Roleplaying Games
All roleplaying games I’ve been involved in included an element of comedy, but these games have comedy as a central theme:
- Toon – A cartoon themed roleplaying game where you can play Bugs Bunny type characters. Your character never gets killed, just knocked down.
- Hackmaster - A hugely popular parody of old-school Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
- Paranoia – A science fiction comedy roleplaying game where player characters in a dystopian future work for an insane computer.
- Ghostbusters – Based on the film franchise, the Ghostbusters system was the precursor to the d6 system later used in the excellent Star Wars roleplaying game from West End. It was as fun as it sounds.
- TWERPS – Billed as the “world’s easiest roleplaying game”. Your character only has one attribute, Strength. Great fun.
- Men in Black - Another d6 game from West End, based on the movie of the same name. The game doesn’t have a real following anymore, but it’s still good for a one-shot if you can find a used copy of the game somewhere cheap.
- Kobolds Ate My Baby - A beer and pretzels RPG that parodies other fantasy roleplaying games, especially Dungeons & Dragons.
- Munchkin – The roleplaying game version of the card game that parodies the entire roleplaying game hobby, but especially Dungeons and Dragons.
- Tales from the Floating Vagabond - A science fiction spoof roleplaying game where every adventure begins in an outer space tavern called “The Floating Vagabond”.
- Macho Women with Guns – A parody of action movies, roleplaying games, and science fiction.
Pulp Roleplaying Games
Pulp roleplaying games are what I consider recreations of the old pulp fiction magazines of the 1930’s in roleplaying format, but I’ve also included a couple of games which use a “pulpy” modern day setting for their background:
- Two Fisted Tales – A fast and easy pulp roleplaying game that’s easy to learn and easy to GM.
- Hollow Earth Expedition – Nominated for 4 Ennie awards, including Best Writing and Best Game. Stunning cover art.
- Spirit of the Century – A FUDGE based roleplaying game in the pulp genre with a backstory that’s perfect for getting heroes together for pulp adventures.
- Adventure! – White Wolf’s entry into the pulp genre, the Storytelling system works remarkably well for pulp action.
- Mercenaries, Spies & Private Eyes – This one is loosely based on the Tunnels and Trolls system, but it includes a skills mechanic.
- Daredevils – From the makers of Villains and Vigilantes, Fantasy Games Unlimited. The game has actually nothing to do with V&V though, mechanically. FGU published several adventures for the game.
- Justice Inc. – This was the Hero system’s original pulp fiction game. It’s been replaced and made obsolete by Pulp Hero, but it’s historically important.
- The Savage World of Solomon Kane - This is a Savage Worlds setting, and it’s well done. Most people think of pulp fiction in terms of Doc Savage and The Shadow, but Solomon Kane is cooler than both, and just as “pulp”.
- Gangbusters – TSR’s early attempt at 1920’s and 1930’s roleplaying game focuses on fighting crime. If you want to play an RPG version of The Untouchables, this would be a good system for that.
- Godlike – I’m stretching the definition of pulp to include World War II here, with superheroes, but the game still “feels” pulpish. It’s an excellent game with a unique new mechanic called the “One Roll Engine”.
- Pulp Hero – One of the most voluminous reference works I’ve ever seen in an RPG. The chronology of the time period alone makes this game worthy of a spot in your collection.
Science Fiction Roleplaying Games
Pretending to be a space pirate, a starship captain, or a post-apocalyptic scavenger has its own charms. Here are a few science fiction roleplaying games where you can do just that:
- Traveller – Traveller is to science fiction roleplaying games what Dungeons and Dragsons is to fantasy roleplaying games, and what Call of Cthulhu is to horror games. The setting is just as compelling now as it was in the 1980’s when it first came along.
- Star Wars d6 – Accept no other Star Wars game. This is the one, true Star Wars roleplaying game. The cinematic nature of the d6 system captures the feel of the movies SO much better than the newer d20 version.
- Serenity – The setting is the real kicker for this one. Firefly fans are nearly fanatical, and here’s your chance to play around in that universe.
- Warhammer 40000 Dark Heresy – More than just a science fiction game, Warhammer 40000 Dark Heresy is set in the far-flung future of the same universe of Warhammer Roleplay. So you can fight orcs in space.
- Battlestar Galactica – Your chance to become part of the rag-tag fleet.
- Babylon 5 – The tv show was popular and well conceived. The roleplaying game shouldn’t disappoint.
- Starship Troopers – If you want military action in space, then give Starship Troopers a try. If you’re looking for anything more elaborate, you probably won’t find it here though.
- Ringworld – Long out of print and hard to find, but worth it when you find it. Ringworld is a Chaosium Basic Roleplaying game, and the setting is derived from the novels of the same name.
- Shadowrun – Did someone say cyberpunk?
- Doctor Who – The game came out long before the latest 2 or 3 Doctors, but you can update the setting with little difficulty.
- Prime Directive – Star Trek roleplaying games are easy enough to find, but this variation is different enough from the original setting to have a few surprises while being familiar enough to reduce the learning curve.
- 2300 AD – This was originally called Traveller 2300, but people got really confused, because it had nothing to do with the Traveller universe.
- Transhuman Space – I don’t consider most GURPS games as standalone games, but the setting for this scifi game is so elaborate and well-thought-out that it warrants inclusion here. It’s the future, and everyone wants to become “transhuman”. What does that imply?
Generic Roleplaying Games
GURPS started a trend in roleplaying games to come up with one set of rules followed my multiple settings sourcebooks. Here are some of the most notable generic roleplaying game systems:
- GURPS – A lot of people are convinced that GURPS is the ultimate roleplaying system, and I’m not convinced they’re wrong. There are plenty of reasons to play other games, but I can see how a game system as robust as GURPS could be considered the last roleplaying game you’ll ever need.
- Basic Roleplaying – Chaosium finally published the Basic Roleplaying system as a standalone game, and what do you know? It’s terrific. The notes for how to adapt the system to various campaigns and genres are nothing short of inspired. Most people could do the work of converting Runequest or Call of Cthulhu to another genre, but this book makes it even easier.
- FUDGE -As generic roleplaying game systems go, I like FUDGE even better than GURPS. The major difference is that the volume of material for GURPS is so much larger than for FUDGE. But FUDGE is so elegantly simple that translating any of the GURPS sourcebooks shouldn’t take much time at all.
- Savage Worlds – Fast, furious and fun. This is a generic game system that delivers exactly what it promises. I love the way Savage Worlds makes use of the different dice.
- Active Exploits – A newer diceless generic roleplaying game system. I’m always willing to try something new and different, and any kind of advance in “diceless” roleplaying is worth a look.
- Fuzion – A hybrid system that combines the Interlock System with the Hero System and comes out with something new in flavor. Notable for being a good ruleset for anime games.
- Hero System – This is the generic version of the Champions rules, and they’re completely modular. Like GURPS, Champions allows you to set up exactly the kind of character you want to play. You just need to understand the nuts and bolts of the system first, and they’re not as hard as you think.
- True20 – Based on the modifications and tweaks that Steve Kenson made to the rules with the OGL, True20 can best be described as the d20 system boiled down to its essence. It’s stripped down, lean, and well-suited for any genre you like.
- Risus – This almost landed in the comedy games section, but a lot of people use Risus for serious gaming too. It’s a stripped down version of the d6 system, and it’s available for free. The Risus Companion is well worth the money though, so consider picking it up too.
- d6 -My favorite generic system is the d6 system, which originated with Ghostbusters, matured with Star Wars, and eventually became a popular generic roleplaying game in its own right. Most of the books are available as pdf’s.
Post Apocalyptic Roleplaying Games
Set in Mad Max type or even more bizarre visions of what the world will be like after it ends.
- The Morrow Project -American industrialists predict a nuclear war and cryogenically freeze volunteers to rebuild after the apocalypse. You’re a volunteer for the Morrow Project, and you just woke up to a post-apocalyptic nightmare. Time to rebuild the world.
- Aftermath – A Fantasy Games Unlimited game set after the apocalypse. From the same people who published Villains and Vigilantes.
- Twilight 2000 – A realistic post apocalyptic adventure set after a limited nuclear exchange that left the world in disarray. You play soldiers stranded in Europe looking for a way to make it back home.
- Deadlands: Hell on Earth – Advance the classic weird west setting of Deadlands a couple hundred years, and you wind up with a weird, wonderful, Mad Max type setting that’s way cooler than you could possibly imagine.
- Low Life: Rise of the Lowly – A Savage Worlds game that’s not anything like any other post-apocalyptic game you’ve ever played. The apocalypse has come and gone, and the lowly cockroaches and other lower forms of life have evolved. You’re one of them. Insanely different.
- Gamma World – The mechanics are similar to Dungeons & Dragons, but the game itself is set 500 years in the future, after a nuclear war. You fight mutants instead of orcs.
- Rifts – Not really a post-apocalyptic game in the usual sense, but my friends Cliff and Shane insisted that I include it. Rifts is the ultimate Palladium RPG, and it spans multiple genres and power-levels.
Contemporary Roleplaying Games
Contemporary roleplaying games are set during the current time period, but they’re not necessarily limited to the “real world”. These games usually have more in common with the “reality” of action movies.
- James Bond 007 – One of the earliest roleplaying games that played significantly differently from Dungeons and Dragons. More movie-based than book-based.
- Spycraft – Probably the most popular spy/espionage roleplaying game in existence.
- Conspiracy X – An Eden Studios game set in modern America, but one with UFO’s and conspiracies galore. Almost qualifies as horror and/or scifi, but since it’s set in the 21st century as we know it, I’ve included it here.
- d20 Modern – Dungeons and Dragons set in modern-day America.
- Feng Shui – Action movie and Hong Kong cinema inspired, with a really simple rules system that rewards flashy stunts.
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The sad part is that I own copies of almost all of those, but no one else ever wants to play most of them, much less run something. Hm. Now what else would I recommend?
World Tree: One of the best-realized settings out there, with some excellent systems. Also complete in one book, which is quite a rarity these days.
Nephelim: The original game is based on the old Basic Roleplaying System (same as Runequest), but making up the character – and his or her prior incarnations – is half the fun.
Extreme Vengeance. The action-movie game where all you need is guts and coincidence. One nice slim book too.
Baba Yaga. By default partisan resistance with a touch of magic to make it more survivable in WWII. Actually a nice generic system and another one-book production.
TORG. Probably the best system for crossovers ever written.
For d20 stuff… Eclipse: The Codex Persona and The Practical Enchanter. Basically, Champions-like point-buy for classless d20. Both available as free downloads too.
Thanks for being the first commenter. You’ve given me some new games to check out, for sure. I’m planning a list of free RPGs and a list of indie RPGs to publish at some point in the future too. Glad you liked this list.
If you’re close to Dallas, we could get together and play one of these games sometime too.
Randy
Sadly, I’m in Tennessee… You might be in range for one of the old players though. I’ll point him over here.
Great lists, but I would add that Superhero 2044, the crazy old uncle of Superhero games (and the first, so I guess I should say “granddaddy”), is a must on any Supers list.
[...] clipped from http://www.gamesinfodepot.com [...]
Wow. Nice list, though I can’t believe comedy is missing Teenagers from Outer Space by R. Talsorian Games and SciFi is missing any real Star Trek RPG in favor of Prime Directive…bizarre.
With the exception of about a dozen titles (mostly in the Horror and Wild West categories) I’ve run or played pretty much every game on the list. What is there to live for?
AD
Barking Alien
Nice list. I like you inclusion of games that are never heard of anymore like Villains and Vigilantes, Solomon Kane, Stormbringer. I think you could have included KULT in the list of horror rpgs, but it is obviously not for everyone (its too bleak for me, for example) Thanks again for the list.
Lotta great stuff here. I’m curious though because out of all the RPG bloggers I’ve been following, no one pays any heed to my favorite fantasy RPG Exalted… not quite figuring out why it’s not popular.
That’s one excellent list you’ve got there. The only ones I can think to add are The Price of Freedom, Grey Costyakin’s excellent masterpiece and Dragon Warriors which is one of the best unsung fantasy RPGs ever made.
Oh, and Dragonroar just so you know what a truly bad RPG looks like
Brunomac,
I actually have Superhero 2044, but I don’t really think it’s playable. Great setting, but it’s almost not even a real roleplaying game.
Barking Alien,
I just really dug the whole alternate Starfleet Universe, so if I had to choose one Star Trek RPG, that would be the one. I’m hopelessly old-school in some ways though.
Darnizhaan,
I’m not familiar with Kult, but I’ll check it out now.
Helmsman,
We’ve played Exalted, but I just couldn’t find room for it on the list.
greywulf,
Those are some games I’ve never heard of, so I’ll be sure to check them out.
Thanks to all for your comments!
Randy
This list is pretty good, but the corner cases will always provoke comment. I’m having trouble seeing your criteria. Some of these games can only be justified based on their historical importance (Boot Hill, Fantasy Trip); meanwhile, you prefer Daredevils over Bushido, the more important and advanced version of that system. TEN Old West RPGs but no room for Over the Edge, holy crap. You include lots of obscure indies but omit Burning Wheel. Champions and the Hero System are separate entries, as are several Savage World settings. Blue Planet, Baron Munchausen, Puppetland, Shadow of Yesterday, Dying Earth? Something called “Gunslingers and Gamblers” over Nobilis or Mage? Dragonquest over Earthdawn or Ars Magica? Really?
The real lesson here is that there are more than 100 worthwhile RPGs. A genre breakdown is okay, but a more useful approach would present separate lists for historical importance, variety of mechanics, quality of setting, licenses, possibly even complexity. That should take care of your next three or four blog entries!
By the way, your link to PARANOIA should go to the publisher’s site, not the leading fan site Paranoia-Live.net:
http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/rpg/series.php?qsSeries=19
I have to say, I think this list is utterly appalling, and shows a huge appreciation for what makes RPGs great and worth playing at least once, and perhaps lack of knowledge about what games are out there.
The biggest problem is the ridiculous inclusion of a large number of medicore licensed games. I mean, I loved Battlestar Galatica, Babylon 5, and Serenity, but the RPGs of them are just not remarkable RPGs. The “do before you die” is to watch those shows – not play those RPGs – there are dozens of more “play before you” die SF RPGs.
Further, you have a lot of very minor or similar RPGs taking up space that could be filled by truly remarkable games. I’m not going to bore everyone by listing every last one, but I’d suggest removing every single TV-show or movie related game from that list except Buffy, and the Star Wars games, and maybe Doctor Who, because those are the only ones which are remarkable or worth playing as RPGs.
Good solid list, although there are a few on there I’d have left off and a few I’d have included (the above-mentioned Nephilim is one of those.) Frighteningly, I have owned all but a small handful of these at one time or another, and have played most of those.
I’d have probably dropped Iron Heroes, good though it might be, as a D20 variant and replaced it with Burning Wheel or Chivalry & Sorcery. Then again, maybe I ought to do my own list…
Man, how could you leave Teenagers from Outer Space out of the comedy section? That’s not right.
For shame, you forget “Cartoon Action Hour”!
Nice list, but some strange entries on there! Some notables by thier exclusion:
Exalted
Prime Time Adventures – indie game for simulating tv series (Buffy through X-Files through Married With Children)
Teenagers From Outer Space
No Mecha game? Robotech / Battle Tech / D20 Mecha
Big Eyes, Small Mouth?
White Wolf games missing (Mage, Changeling, Wraith through to modern incarnations)
3:16 Carnage Amongst the Stars – perfect for starship troopers / W40K
Great to see Capes getting a mention – definately my favourite superhero game.
Good work anyway!
No Amber diceless RPG?
The unique playing style and attribute auction are experiences you must try.
Scott-
Amber was included on the list at #6. I agree; it couldn’t be left off the list.
Dave-
Thanks for the additional suggestions. I’ve played Exalted and liked it very much actually.
Alex W.-
Sorry you thought the list was “appalling”. I think that might be overstating the case a little bit, but I appreciate that you shared your opinion here. I also appreciate your thoughtful criticism.
Allen-
I agree that there are more than 100 worthwhile RPG’s. And of course, at the end of the day, a list of 100 RPGs that YOU must play before you die will be different from a list of RPGs that I must play before I die. Some people don’t like Old West games at all for example. The list was meant to be more representative than definitive, in spite of the title.
Randy
I agree with some of the other comments here. Just because something made for great TV, doesn’t mean it translated well into a RPG.
Mecha/Anime RPGs are poorly represented in the less.
I would add Cyberpunk 2020 to the list of SF RPGs.
I would add Blue Planet v2 to the list of scifi rpgs.
Let me clarify. I don’t mean appalling as in “You’re a terrible person” appalling. On the contrary, it’s brave to share such a list with the RPG community. I mean appalling in that I feel like if someone new to RPGs were to take this for an accurate list (as it seems some of the comments are suggesting it is), and attempt to follow it, he’d be missing so many huge chunks of RPG history, and so many truly remarkable games, whilst wasting his time with a lot of very similar ones, or mediocre ones based on TV series/films, that it’d be really sad.
What is good about your list is, not only will it get us more likely to know about and revisit this blog, but it’s likely to inspire people to write lists of their own, and generally cause some interesting discussion.
Alex-
Thanks – I think I knew what you meant. I surely didn’t think you were confused and thought I was a terrible person. I appreciate your feedback. I’ll probably make a post in the future at some point with some more ideas. I think, for example, that I might have left Ron Edwards’ s Sorceror off the list, and that’s a game that should certainly be included.
Well, you nailed almost three-quarters of my personal favorites. D&D 3.5, Iron Heroes, Deadlands, Wild Talents, Paranoia are some of my favorite systems/settings to play. However, you also missed a couple of really outstanding titles, IMHO.
Arcana Evolved (Alternate D&D 3.5 created by Monty Cook) is my preferred D&D world/setting/plot/etc. Most notable is the lack of any alignment (and hence detection abilities) which leaves a lot of moral grey ground to cover, rather than just depending on someone’s aura. Additionally, one of the most flexible but simple magic systems I’ve ever seen makes me really love this setting.
Another spectacular system is Legend of the Five Rings, a feudal Oriental styled game. Detailed backstory, ongoing storyline (through the CCG mainly), and gorgeous artwork & books make this a must-have for anyone even slightly interested in an oriental-based (specifically Japanese-styled) world.
Hope you get a chance to look into these, they’re really fun and interesting to play and learn about!
There is no such thing as an essential rpg. You play the ones you like and you dont play the ones you dont.
what about the TMNT rpg?
What, no Tri-Stat? No BESM, or SAS? Come on, admit it: you played the ‘Sailor Moon RPG’ at least once, everyone else did…:) Seriously, Tri-Stat SAS is a great game if just for setting alone (it’s like playing Astro City, or a world where BOTH DC and Marvel co-exist on the same Earth…)
Also: I think you uderstated Palladium’s ’stuff’, esp.: Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas and Superspies, and TMNT. I mean, yes RIFTS is a monster (with its own zipcode), but without those and other games, Frankenstein would have a body (so to speak).
Beyond that/those, I agree with 90% of what you said…well, except listing DC Universe. DC Heroes did a waaaay better job of handling the ’subject’ (I know because I ran a DCH game for years). Oh, and (a second vote on) the lack of a ‘True’ Trek game (not that I don’t agree w/Prime Directive, but: FASA’s, LUG’s, and Dec.’s jobs were all good at capturing the spirit of the shows/movies, and kinda left it upto the player/GM as to what’s in/out. That’s why my game was set in 25th Cent.)
Lastly, How about Ironclaw and Jadeclaw? Good ‘dice pooling’ (without a D20 in the lot), and an inovative system that allows two players to be of the same ‘race’ (well; animal speices) but not forcing them to have the same stats (unlike say D6 Star Wars, and the like).
Shoot, that should’ve read: “…without those and other games, Frankenstein wouldn’t have a body…”
It’s been a loooong day.
Five roleplaying games I’ve played, and you should too…
I tend to ignore ‘pingbacks’ or ‘trackbacks’, because nine times out of ten they’re from RSS-scrapers who are linking back to where they stole the original content from, so they can die in a fire. However, very rarely, I …
Hm. Does FATE count as FUDGE? I think FATE is more noteworthy, as it is more generalized than FUDGE.
Most of those game suck a hot dick.
Must plays are:
#1 – Dungeons and Dragons (the basic boxed sets)
#2 – Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (You should have to calculate THAC0 at least once in your RPG career)
#3 – GURPs (if only to start in the wild west, fall through a time hole to prehistoric africa,only to be abducted by aliens .. all with the same character sheet)
#4 – RIFTs (if only to wonder how a cobbled together piece of shit rules system that has Zero playtesting, game balance or coherance ever got so popular)
#5 – Champions / HERO (not to play but to see if you can do the differential equations required to make a fucking character)
#6 – Marvel SHRPG (if only to use the Universal Chart and to randomly roll up a Plant Life – Half-Cyborg with Feeble Agility and Unearthly Reality Alteration)
#7 – Spycraft (if only to pimp out your character with an M4 Carbine with RDS, over under M203 grenade launcher, collapsible stock and depleted uranium rounds)
#8 – Star Wars d6 (if only to join in the assinine Gencon people who have played through the never ending Sparks campaign with the same character for 8 years)
No love for any of Dream Pod 9’s games? Jovian Chronicles or Heavy Gear (in my opinion) are better than the licensed games in the Sci Fi section, and if Godlike is pulp, Gear Krieg is like orange juice with added pulp. The entire Silhouette system could fall under the generic category, since it has five games that use the same mechanics (the three mentioned above, plus the space opera CORE Command and the post-apocalyptic Tribe 8). I’m not really criticizing, just surprised that nothing of theirs made it to The List.
Don’t know why you put them into catageries? The MUST plays AD&D, Paranoa, Runquest (2nd ed), Call of Cthulhu and any other game with a good GM.
Actually, when I was younger and smoked we did the AD&D dungeon crawls, with the ashtray in the center, and the hit die where the number of butts in the ashtray when the PC’s reached it. We smoked way tooo much. Drunk and in charge of dice, that’s the No1 must do game.
Randy,
Nice list! Obviously such a list can’t be all things to all people,
so it probably isn’t TOO productive to point out my favorite
omissions, like Blue Planet, but still you covered a lot of ground.
Very nice.
Say, did you mention being in Dallas? I’d like to talk to you about gaming possibilities, but the feedback e-mail address on the blog’s “Contact Us” tab rejected my e-mail. Feel free to contact me off-list at randyshipp (THAT E-MAIL SYMBOL) gmail.com.
Randy…
Randy…
Cyberpunk! You missed out cyberpunk??
Great article. we want more
but your blog is weird to navigate I found your article googling but can’t find it when I just browse through your blog….
Interesting, though as Demon Hunters by Margaret Weis Games and Dead Gentlemen Productions becomes more well-known, I think that you’ll be tempted to modify either your comedy games list, your horror games list, or both.
I may have personal quibbles with some entries (who wouldn’t?), but I can’t dislike any list that shows some love to Villains and Vigilantes, a junior high fave of mine.
Yeah, how great is Villains and Vigilantes? Just pure fun.
where is Ars Magica?
IMHO the best game ever. The first game with the storytelling concept, only for this reason deserves to be on that list.