With so many options fortabletop role-playing games, you want to try as many as you can get your hands on. This list will offer you a treasure trove of affordable and fun TTRPGs to play on the weeks when you decide to take a break from your main RPG system.
The majority of these systems are fantasy-themed games with familiar RPG elements. Each carries its own strengths and style of play that let you experience what makes each different from another. You might find a new favorite game among these picks, which includes some unique systems such as solitaire-play RPGs. Whatever you choose for the next game night, you know it will be worth the cost of entry at these prices.
SOJOURN RPG: Adventures of Sword & Sorcery
Classic fantasy without the classic frustrations
Sojourn is designed to scratch the old-school fantasy itch while applying modern convenience and design. It is easy to pick up and play while including enough to keep expert players invested.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran of RPGs who has played original releases or someone entirely to the tabletop scene, Sojourn will feel familiar. Its rules are only as complex as they need to be with attributes and mechanics that will have you feeling at home. Those who enjoyDungeons & Dragonsfor Fifth Edition or its previous releases will especially find comfort and enjoyment in Sojourn. Four base stats and four core classes make the basis for characters and there are 12 different major archetypes to try out.
A game master and some players can get playing in under ten minutes as the best parts of classic gaming and modern game design come together to fuel your adventure. The magic in Sojourn is also unique in that it does not follow the standard gaming conventions of level-based spells. Creativity is highly rewarded in this system and any kind of character can add value to the adventuring party, optimized heavily or not.
FORGE: Fantasy Open Roleplaying Game Engine
Open your imagination
A highly compatible and flexible fantasy-gaming system, Forge lets you play the game you want the way you want. Originally based on Knave this latest version will feel familiar yet fresh.
Your next excellent choice for an all-inclusive fantasy experience comes in the form of Forge. This open-game system can be tried out for free to see how you feel about the gameplay. This entry is originally based on Knave, which will make it easy to learn for fans of that game. Forge is incredibly flexible as far as rule sets are concerned and can be used alongside many different TTRPG sourcebooks or adventures.
If you were a fan of the initial releases of Dungeons & Dragons, then this should be in your collection if it’s not already. Many previous adventures and sourcebooks released in the OSR era are directly compatible with this guide. No extra work or headache is needed. Those who have never played an RPG or only experienced modern systems might feel intimidated by this rulebook, but with a minor time investment, gameplay will begin feeling as natural and smooth as could be.
Loner: Another Solo RPG
An amazing entry to solo RPGs
Enter your own fantasy worlds without the scheduling nightmare of setting up game night. Loner is a solitaire gaming experience that provides you with the tools to play an RPG without the need for other players. Create interesting stories and make choices as you find out what comes next in your adventure.
With the troubles of scheduling and gathering an ample group of adventurers,solo RPGshave become more popular. Loner is based on Freeform Universal, which is a fantastic and flexible minimalist game system. This adaption gives you the tools to generate an engaging story and the rules to play it on your own. You may be wondering what solitaire roleplay is about. In short, it is like a combination of TTRPGs with writing a novel. You create and shape a narrative using the RPG as a framework to build on.
Skill in writing is not necessary to enjoy the experience. Some paper and dice alongside a mechanic called the oracle, and you’ll have an exciting world to explore and develop. You can even use the system to play with multiple people if you wish to bring friends on your adventures. When playing alone, it is often best to have short play sessions or to take breaks. Without many people at the table to draw on for inspiration, your gameplay can become dull if you overwork your creative brain with long play.
White Box: Fantastic Medieval Adventure Game
Jump back to the way the most popular TTRPG used to be played
Play medieval fantasy with methods inspired by Gygax and the first editions of role-play gaming. This White Box includes all you’ll ever need to game and game well.
Want to play classic fantasy for only five bucks? The White Box has you covered. Meant to replicate classic editionrules of role-playing gamesas with many other old-school fantasy titles, White Box is a complete ruleset for fantasy gaming the original way. This is the most true-to-form system for Gygax-gaming which is both its strength and weakness. If you dislike other old-school gaming experiences or prefer the design of modern games, you’ll want one of the other products on this list.
This is another system that is very compatible with previous game material and can be used in a variety of ways. There is merit to this unfiltered and unashamed representation of previous RPG editions. Character creation and gameplay are incredibly quick, especially when compared to systems where combats can take hours to resolve. The simple methods of play allow for the deeper parts of the tabletop experience to float to the surface, encouraging roleplay and strategic combat.
The Ultimate Micro-RPG Book
Lots of RPG experiences in one book
While not always available at a $15 price the cost per game is incredible. Experience dozens of TTRPG styles in one condensed title. Pick up and play something new in no time at all and learn what gaming has to offer.
Depending on current sales and availability, this book may not come in under $15, but the cost of each RPG included is incredibly low, no matter the retail price. With dozens of rulesets to try out, you can keep this on hand for impromptu game sessions that will always feel fresh. Those of you who help run TTRPG days at game stores can include this in your go-bag and have plenty of options right at your fingertips.
Whatever the mood of the group, you can find something to match inside. There’s a variety of themes and types of games included, with ready-to-run material. One of the benefits of playing such a wide range of games is the skills you’ll build in storytelling and improv. The common focus between all these micro-RPGs is the art of story, creating a tale together that you have all contributed to. Playing exceptionally simple TTRPGs is very freeing, you don’t consider character builds or complex mechanics. You just play.
Wendigo - The Survival Horror RPG
No special magic or weaponry can save you
Immerse yourself in a different kind of RPG experience and attempt to survive in a land of horror. Take the role of a mortal everyday person and uncover mystery and overcome fear in this old-school game.
Cryptid and horror fans rejoice for the perfect RPG entry before you. Wendigo is a survival and mystery game where you are not all-powerful or mighty. Characters are average and must rise to extraordinary circumstances to prevail. It brings a feeling similar toCall of Cthulhu and similar games. With that in mind, know that your character may not survive, or could experience horrific encounters throughout gameplay.
In this setting, you are drowning in opportunities for engaging roleplay. You are exploring a remote Canadian town to uncover its secrets and monsters, every part of the experience adds to the game’s ambience. From character creation to the challenges you’ll face, everything works together to create the perfect representation of tracking down supernatural beings. Pick up a copy of Wendigo for an easy-to-follow game that will show you a new side of tabletop role-playing.
The Broken Cask
Take up the challenge of business
Pull the arrow from your knee and settle down to run an inn. In this solitaire RPG you run a tavern rather than running off on adventures. Find a new way to play in a fantasy world with this excellent title.
Another chance for great solo roleplay appears with The Broken Cask. You can hang up your sword and shield, as you won’t be the one adventuring here. Instead of wandering the great unknown in The Broken Cask, you run a tavern. Gameplay feels like a wonderful mix of management mechanics and roleplay. As you watch events occur and patrons arrive, there will be tasks you can assign employees and residing adventurers to. It creates a relaxing cycle of consulting an oracle for what occurs and choosing how to react.
Maintaining and growing your inn is enjoyable alone, but if you want to have some friends join you, they play alongside you. There are a lot of possibilities with the ruleset depending on how you want to play. Some of the difficulty numbers will need a bump if you want a less leisurely ride; by default, your tavern minions are meant to accomplish most tasks without much trouble. While the game is certainly worth its weight in terms of price, there is admittedly less to this book than others listed. That said, the fun of running your little inn far outweighs the book’s cost. Give The Broken Cask a try if you want to try something other than combat.
Cairn
Endless customization and content
Engage in raw classless fantasy gaming with Cairn, an open gaming system that offers satisfying and expansive play. Rely on wits and creativity as you explore a gripping delve into the strange woods.
As far as a quick and satisfying set of game rules is concerned, Cairn might be king. you may play the system for free, and even when buying multiple rulebooks, the total comes to under $10, which really can’t be beat. The player characters are made with a classless system that leans on imaginative play rather than extensive builds or gameplay knowledge. Modifying the open ruleset is easy, allowing you to homebrew your own fantasy dream come true, and plenty of additional material has been made by others online.
The simple yet evocative setting of adventure in the deep woods that Cairn lays out for you is immediately engaging. You can get right to playing without any stops or bumps. If you want a smooth game night or are looking to run a short and sweet fantasy gaming campaign, try using Cairn. A character can be made in minutes and tracked on a notecard, yet the possibilities as you play sprawl outward into a beautiful landscape of opportunity.
FAQ
What TTRPG Is Best If I Like Dungeons & Dragons?
Forge or the White Box rulebook are great choices for old-school gaming. If you particularly enjoy Fifth Edition for its streamlined play, then take a look at Cairn. Its systems are simple yet deeply engaging and many rules and materials are free. For a physical copy, look at getting the base Cairn book and the Cairn Bestiary, which shouldn’t even cost you a total of $10.
What Is ‘The Oracle’ Anyway?
The oracle is a common name for the random charts and tables of solo RPG systems that help you find out what happens next in the story. An oracle can range from a simple yes, no, or maybe check all the way up to thrice nested random die tables that create an entire world setting.
Can Solo TTRPGs Be Fun?
Molding a story with twists and turns through the use of an oracle and a well-built set of rules is highly rewarding. However, some RPG players partake in the hobby for the main reason of bouncing off other players at the table. If you dislike the idea of a writing-like experience and prefer the back-and-forth of improv at the game table, then solo play may not be for you. Whether or not you enjoy this type of play, it can advance skills used for tabletop gaming and build your ability to write and follow a story. You should focus on games and systems that you enjoy, whatever they may be.
