10 Tabletop RPGs You Need To Own
Are you looking for the best tabletop RPGs, other than Dungeons & Dragons, to spice up your game nights? Then you're in luck! We've tried and tested plenty of RPGs to create a list of some of the most exciting tabletop games around.
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned roleplayer, our recommendations are the perfect pick for every type of player. So, get your party together for an unforgettable experience!
1. Call Of Cthulhu
With a video game and card game of the same name, Call of Cthulhu is a horror RPG inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's famous words about fearing the unknown. This game leans hard into the survival horror, making each choice feel like life or death (or worse).
In the game, you play as ordinary people - like a scholar, detective, or artist. But you aren't just trying to stay alive. Instead, you're trying to stay sane - the Sanity System adds a unique twist to the overall gameplay.
To stay sane, investigation is key. In fact, your survival depends on how well you know the world and its dark mysteries. And, as you use your skills, they grow stronger. Still, you don't want to get too comfortable since there are no levels or guaranteed power-ups here.
2. Mörk Borg
Welcome to the apocalypse. Mörk Borg is a gritty roleplaying game that takes place in a dark fantasy world inspired by heavy metal. This game is about more than just rules, though. Published by Free League in 2020, it's an incredibly unique experience dripping in style, death, and (of course) a sense of dread.
The gameplay is fast-paced, brutal, and all about survival. With rules-light mechanics and 20-sided dice, your character is completely random - from their stats to the items they carry. Death is also super common, so don't get too attached or expect a ton of character development!
Mörk Borg excels in minimalism and unpredictability; every dice roll could bring you doom or help you survive another day.
3. The One Ring
If you're a fan of Lord of the Rings, there aren't many roleplaying games as exciting as this one. The One Ring takes place in Middle-earth and is designed to feel like a true Tolkien adventure.
Each campaign has two phases:
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The Adventure phase, where you and your fellow players journey through different lands.
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The Fellowship phase, where you can rest, regroup, and sharpen your skills.
The game's mechanics feature unique dice, including twelve-sided Feat Dice with Gandalf's rune and Sauron's eye, and a six-sided dice that's marked with Tengwar runes.
What really sets The One Ring apart is the wilderness travel, which is both challenging and rewarding for your character. You can also take on the role of a scout, lookout, or guide, with each class playing an important part in your survival.
4. Ten Candles
Ten Candles is a storytelling board game, unlike anything you've ever played before. In this horror game experience, every character's fate is sealed from the very beginning.
Designed for one-shot, no-prep gaming sessions lasting between two and four hours, the game is perfect for 3-5 players (excluding the game master). As the game progresses, each candle that is extinguished marks a countdown to the inevitable until only one candle remains.
At this point, all of the characters meet their doom, which is what makes Ten Candles truly unique. Rather than telling the story of adventure, it's more about what people do in their final moments. Oh, and there's a twist! In this game, there is no 'winning'...
5. Pathfinder (2nd Edition)
Pathfinder is a tabletop game where you create and play as heroic characters like warriors, wizards, rogues, and clerics. And it all takes part in a fantasy world filled with monsters, magic, and epic quests.
Like most other roleplaying games, players must work together to tell the story of their own adventure. They're guided by the game master, who's responsible for the world-building, narration, and control of non-playable characters (NPCs).
Like Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder is known for its deep character creation and strategic gameplay that allows you to choose from a range of abilities, spells, and more. In fact, Pathfinder actually uses a set of rules based on the D&D 3.5 rules, with the 2nd Edition making gameplay faster and easier to learn.
6. Blades In The Dark
Blades In The Dark is a roleplaying game that is set in the gritty and haunted city of Duskvol. In this game, you and your fellow players take on the roles of a crew of scoundrels trying to climb the ranks of the criminal underworld.
Every time you play, you'll experience thrilling heists, occult mysteries, dangerous deals, and tests of skill that will challenge even the most experienced players. Blades In The Dark places a huge focus on tense choices, the consequences of these choices, and your actions as you fight law enforcement and even supernatural entities.
Through your gameplay, you'll come to find out whether your crew has what it takes to survive and make a name for themselves in the city of Duskvol.
7. Shadowrun: 6th World
Shadowrun: 6th World is the latest edition of the legendary cyberpunk fantasy roleplaying game. It's set in a dystopian 2080, where massive megacorporations have seized control of the world. But this has created the opportunity for shadowrunners (rebels who use both magic and technology) to fight to survive and push back against corporate tyranny.
During the game, you'll play as one of these highly skilled operatives and risk everything to complete high-stakes missions. This includes hacking into the Matrix, tapping into your magical forces, and even wielding cybernetic enhancements.
The 6th Edition of Shadowrun is the perfect choice for beginners since it has streamlined the gameplay, making it easier to learn.
8. Alice Is Missing
Alice Is Missing is an incredibly unique, silent roleplaying game that is focused on the disappearance of Alice Briarwood - a high school student from the small town of Silent Falls.
Played over 90 minutes, the game is entirely non-verbal, which puts your skills as a roleplayer to the test. Instead of speaking, you have to communicate with your fellow players by sending text messages individually and in a group chat, creating a more immersive experience than other tabletop RPGs.
Alice Is Missing focuses heavily on emotional engagement, as you need to embody your character and unravel a tense and dramatic mystery through your text interactions. So, if you want to enjoy an innovative one-shot that takes a deep dive into the human condition, Alice Is Missing is a great pick.
9. Vampire: The Masquerade
Have you always dreamed of playing a tabletop RPG as a vampire? With Vampire: The Masquerade, you can make all of your macabre dreams come true.
In this game, you'll step into the shoes of a vampire who is navigating the perilous balance between power and survival. Plus, you'll need to battle the Hunger - the insatiable thirst for human blood that drives you to commit unspeakable acts.
Vampire is designed using the Storyteller system and uses a dice pool mechanic that allows for narrative-driven gameplay, where success and failure have long-term implications...
10. Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay places you into a grim world full of high-stakes adventures and moral ambiguity. One member of your party will act as the game master, creating a world filled with flawed heroes and sinister villains. And in this world, magic users are both revered and feared, with sorcerers risking their souls for power. At the same time, virtuous priests battle agents of Chaos.
Amid the constant danger, your party will fight for survival and face corruption at every turn. The Warhammer Fantasy RPG will challenge you to make hard choices while confronting dark forces and navigating a perilous world where every decision will shape your journey.
FAQs
What is the best tabletop RPG for beginners?
Picking the right tabletop RPG for a beginner may seem tricky. Luckily, we have a few suggestions for first-time roleplayers to get used to the exciting world of tabletop RPGs!
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Pathfinder
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Alice Is Missing
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Vampire: The Masquerade
What's the best way to play tabletop RPG games?
The best way to play tabletop RPGs is around a board game table or table topper. Not only are board game tables specifically designed for amazing gameplay, but they also come complete with features like card holder slots, dice bins, and a dungeon master shelf.
You can also pick the size of your table, which makes it a great investment for game nights! So, if you want to experience tabletop RPG board games like never before, be sure to check out our game tables:
Final Thoughts
If you're looking for the best tabletop RPGs, we've listed the most unique games on the market that are sure to make perfect additions to your collection. From horror RPGs to fantasy games that are filled with magic and excitement, there's something here for everyone.