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From Elle Dwight, co-founder and CEO of social gaming platform Role, comes this list of accessible tabletop role-playing games that are easy to introduce to your family and friends over the holidays or even on weekends. With easy-to-adjust roles and intuitive character creation, you’re bound to find a game to suit every member of your party chat.
Dark Borg
Dark Borg: The most popular “OSR” (Old School Revival) game. This category focuses on simple rules that date back to the original days of the TTRPGs. For fans of dark fantasy, humor and highly accessible gameplay, Mörk Borg has become an industry-wide hit. Additionally, Mörk Borg’s Open Gaming License has allowed dozens of new games to be created using the same set of accessible rules. Mörk Borg and many games based on it are all natively supported on Role.
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Mothership
Mothership: Another hugely popular “OSR” title, this time focusing on a “panic system” that simulates the entertaining cascade of escalating disasters seen in horror movies. Mothership also has an open gaming license and is the ruleset that powers Role’s own cyberpunk horror game, CHROMIUM.
Alice has disappeared
Alice has disappeared: A beautifully abstract game that requires no game master or rulebook to learn. The entire game is played with a simple set of prompt cards and a group text message thread. Together, these elements help facilitate a story of crime and conspiracy in a small town. Alice has disappeared makes a great board game and a great entry point to role-playing for new groups.
Once again in the void
Once again in the void: Another deep and simple game that doesn’t require a game master, this game comes from indie darling Rae Nedjadi. The entire game is played with a single standard deck of 52 cards and has no complex rules to learn beforehand. Players follow book instructions and draw cards to determine what happens next in an epic space adventure inspired by characters like star trek, Mass Effectand The extent.
Tales from the Loop
Tales from the Loop: A sci-fi version of stranger things, where players take on the role of children in an alternate version of the 1980s, full of strange machines and strange creatures. Based on the work of Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag, with simple character creation and an easy-to-understand set of rules. Tales from the Loop was also made into an eight-episode Amazon Prime Video series airing in 2020.
The Quiet Year
The Quiet Year: Described by creator Avery Alder as “part role-playing, part cartographic poetry”, The Quiet Year is a thoughtful RPG about making tough decisions and fostering a community that doesn’t require a game master. Players work cooperatively as part of a community struggling to build something good after the collapse of the civilization.
Children on bikes
Children on bikes: A light RPG where players take on the role of children in a small town who have to deal with all kinds of adventures. Recalling many popular films and media on “children in peril”, such as Goonies, HEY, support meand stranger things. Other system titles include teens in space and Children on broomsticks.
dungeon world
dungeon world: A perfect alternative for gamers who enjoy the classic fantasy genre of Dungeons & Dragons without the complex rules. Players can explore dungeons, fight goblins, and collect loot, such as dungeon world combines elements of D&D with the Powered by the Apocalypse ruleset to make playing and running games fast and with minimal preparation.
Masks
Masks: One of many popular games using the “Powered by the Apocalypse” rules system, Masks uses multiple-choice “playbooks” instead of the typical character sheets. This system makes it easy for players to jump into their character’s game, with all the rules, actions, and choices explained to them in a straightforward way in their personal playbook. For fans of the superhero genre, or anyone looking for a fun story to pick up and play, Masks is an excellent starting point.
Modiphius 2D20 System
Modiphius 2d20 games: Dune, Fallout, Star Trek, Homeworld, and many more… Modiphius publishes many titles based on popular franchises, all using the same “2d20” rules system. Designed for easy narrative play, but with enough options for deep character development and customization over long campaigns, 2d20 games are perfect for any kind of adventure in your favorite fictional universe.
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