10 Best TableTop RPGs That Aren’t Dungeons And Dragons
Dungeons and Dragons is great, but there are so many other great games to play.
As any fan worth their salt would know, Dungeons and Dragons was released to the public back in the ‘70s. Since that point, dozens of books, adventures, and campaign settings have been released. Even today this game is still the most popular tabletop RPG in the world. This doesn’t mean however that there aren’t any number of great alternatives to choose from.
There are so many different games and settings that have been created over the last 40 years. From swords and sorcery to the far-flung future, it seems any genre can be put into a pen and paper RPG. These games could be part of an already created universe or be something completely new, but they are all worth your attention. It can be hard for game designers to get away from the usual settings and rulesets; some of the more experimental games on this list don’t even use dice. Don’t let this sway your opinion however, as your group may just find their new favourite game.
Did we miss any games that you believe should be on this list? Why not leave a comment and tell us about them?
10. 10 Candles
10 Candles is described as a zero prep, tragic horror storytelling game. This system is made primarily for a one-shot and a game usually lasts around 2-3 hours. There is one big way in which 10 Candles stands out from other games in this list. Your character will die. Once you accept this, the game makes for some great atmospheric storytelling.
The story follows a society where the sun has gone out 10 days ago. 5 days ago, they came. This society could be anything you choose, modern-day, ancient Rome, or even an alien world, it doesn’t matter. The same goes for the monsters that are only explained as Them. Killer clowns, demons, or an alien race, there just reflections of your fears.
The game consists of a unique timer system. Throughout the course of the game 10 tea candles are lit. When the final one of these is extinguished, then the game ends. This also allows you to ceremonially burn your character sheet when the inevitable happens. This game is all about storytelling. You will not defeat the bad guys, you will not save the planet, you just have to come to terms with your fate and make the most of your final hours.