Origins of Fantasy RPGs
Roleplaying games in general, and Fantasy RPGs specifically can trace their roots back to Gary Gygax’s original Dungeons & Dragons published in 1974. D&D is now in its 5th Edition, and has become well-known in the mainstream.
Other fantasy games began being published as competitors to D&D starting in the mid 1970s, including Tunnels & Trolls and Chivalry & Sorcery.
Dungeons & Dragons remained king of the roleplaying hill until Pathfinder (an evolution of the 3.5 ruleset) grabbed the top share of the marketplace. Since the release of 5th Edition, however, Dungeons & Dragons has reclaimed its spot at the top.
New Fantasy RPGs continue to been released, either with new mechanics, or harkening back to the Old School roleplaying experience of early D&D.
And sites like Kickstarter have opened the field up even more, as smaller Indie publishers can enter the marketplace without having to front a bunch of capital to start. Dungeon World, for example, was one of the first big Kickstarter launches as 2,455 backers pledged $83,879 to bring the project to life.
There are literally hundreds of Fantasy RPGs on the market, but several rise above the rest. Let’s take a look at 10 Fantasy RPGs that typify what is available to gamers of this genre today:
1. Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition
Dungeons & Dragons has defined the medieval fantasy genre and the tabletop RPG industry for more than 30 years. In the D&D game, players create characters that band together to explore dungeons, slay monsters, and find treasure. The 5th Edition D&D rules offer the best possible play experience by presenting exciting character options, an elegant and robust rules system, and handy storytelling tools for the Dungeon Master.
Grab your copy of the Player’s Handbook
Grab your copy of the Dungeon Master’s Guide
Grab your copy of the Monster Manual
2. Pathfinder
This complete, standalone, fantasy roleplaying game takes your fantasy campaigns to new heights of adventure! Backward-compatible with 3.5 fantasy rules but offering new solutions and options that place it firmly on the cutting edge, the Pathfinder RPG is the culmination of the largest open public playtest in RPG history.
The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook includes: revised rules for the classic seven fantasy RPG races; updated options for the 11 core classes; a streamlined skill system that makes things easier for players and GMs; a host of new and familiar feats, including innovative combat feats and item creation rules; new equipment; additional combat options; overhauled rules for domains, familiars, bonded items, specialty schools, and more; dozens of new and revised spells; updated rules for NPCs, including quick-generation rules; new rules for curses, diseases, and poisons; a completely overhauled experience system with options for slow, medium, and fast advancement; hundreds and hundreds of magic items… and much, much more!
Grab your copy of the Pathfinder Core Rulebook
3. Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Edition
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay is an exciting way to experience the popular Warhammer Fantasy setting. It is a grim world, constantly at war. As a hero, you will take up weapon, spell, or prayer and do your best to combat the might of enemies terrifying to behold. As the Game Master, you will make the lands of the Old World real as you craft the story, the people, creatures, and the mysteries the other players will encounter during their adventures.
Using a new task resolution system featuring custom dice, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay gives you unparalleled story-telling options. Every roll of the dice has a story to tell, providing far more information and flavor than just “you hit” or “you miss.” These dice represent the abilities and skills your characters will gain, while including the whims of fate. With each roll, players will be able to see how the check succeeded or failed. Did they make it through based on their natural skills or did they just get lucky as fortune intervened?
Grab your copy of the Player’s Guide in Print or Digital Format
Grab your copy of the Game Master’s Guide in Print or Digital Format
Grab your copy of the Creatures Guide in Print or Digital Format
4. Dungeon World
Golden Geek RPG of the Year 2012! Combining high-action dungeon crawling with cutting-edge rules, Dungeon World is a roleplaying game of fantasy adventure. You and your friends will explore a land of magic and danger in the roles of adventurers searching for fame, gold, and glory. Dungeon World’s rules are easy to learn and always drive the action forward in unexpected ways. A missed roll is never a dead end-failure introduces new complexities and complications.
Life as an adventurer is hard and dangerous but it’s never boring! Designed to be ready for you to hack, remix, and build new content, Dungeon World includes systems for changing everything to suit your group including creating new races, classes, and monsters. To play, you’ll need this rulebook, 3-5 players, some polyhedral dice, and 2-4 hours. Explore fantasy adventure roleplaying in a whole new way with Dungeon World!
Grab your copy of Dungeon World in Print or Digital Format.
5. 13th Age
13th Age combines the best parts of traditional d20-rolling fantasy gaming with new story-focused rules, designed so you can run the kind of game you most want to play with your group.
Created by Rob Heinsoo and Jonathan Tweet, 13th Age gives you all the tools you need to make unique characters who are immediately embedded in the setting in important ways; quickly prepare adventures based on the PCs backgrounds and goals; create your own monsters; fight exciting battles; and focus on what’s always been cool and fun about fantasy adventure gaming:
- Icon relationships and One Unique Things offer exciting storytelling possibilities
- Backgrounds provide a simple, flexible skill system drawn from characters personal histories
- Escalation dice enable fun, fast-moving d20 combat.
- Owlbears will rip PC’s limbs off to feed their young.
Grab your copy of 13th Age in Print or Digital Format.
6. Dragon Age
Green Ronin Publishing brings fantasy roleplaying back to its dark and gritty roots with the Dragon Age RPG. Based on the hugely popular video games, the Dragon Age RPG brings the excitement of BioWare’s rich fantasy world to the tabletop. Designed by award-winning author Chris Pramas (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Freeport), Dragon Age features an original game system (the Adventure Game Engine) that’s both easy to learn and exciting to play.
The Dragon Age RPG is the perfect portal to tabletop roleplaying. The Adventure Game Engine’s rules run on your wits and a roll of the dice. Dragon Age also features an innovative stunt system that keeps combat and spellcasting tense and exciting.
So gather your friends, grab some dice, and get ready to enter a gripping world of heroic challenges and villainous rivals, of brave knights and bloodthirsty darkspawn, of mysterious gods and menacing demons—the world of Dragon Age!
Grab your copy of Dragon Age in Print or Digital format.
7. Fantasy AGE Basic Rulebook
The Fantasy AGE Basic Rulebook is your entry point to tabletop roleplaying. Now you can be the hero in your own sword and sorcery adventures! This is the game played on Wil Wheaton’s new tabletop RPG show, Titansgrave: The Ashes of Valkana. The Adventure Game Engine (AGE) rules are easy to learn, and feature an innovative stunt system that keeps the action tense and exciting.
This Basic Rulebook includes:
- Full 20 level advancement for all three classes
- A new magic system
- Advice for players and GMs
- An introductory adventure so you can get started right away
Grab your copy of Fantasy AGE in Print or Digital Format.
8. The One Ring
Smaug has been defeated the Battle of Five Armies has been won and Bilbo has returned to the Shire. But much danger still remains and from the Orc-holds of the mountains to the dark and corrupt depths of Mirkwood a darkness waits recovering its strength laying its plans and slowly extending its shadow.
The One Ring Roleplaying Game is based on J.R.R. Tolkiens The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the most influential properties in fantasy. Chock full of incredible artwork by leading artists including John Howe and Jon Hodgson and with evocative rules designed by award-winning games designer Francesco Nepitello there has never been a Lord of the Rings game thats more evocative of Tolkiens unique vision.
Along with rich and detailed background information rules that focus on Tolkiens themes character types unique to the world and a setting that changes as the Tale of Years progresses when you play The One Ring Roleplaying Game you really feel like you are playing in Middle Earth. This new revised edition of The One Ring Roleplaying Game is presented as a single hardback volume that contains all the rules and background that you need to play. This edition of the game is completely compatible with all existing supplements but rules clarifications additional rules options and advice and a brilliant new front cover make it a must-buy for every fan.
Grab your copy of The One Ring in Print or Digital Format.
9. Dungeon Crawl Classics
Return to the glory days of fantasy with the Dungeon Crawl Classics Role Playing Game. Adventure as 1974 intended you to, with modern rules grounded in the origins of sword & sorcery. Fast play, cryptic secrets, and a mysterious past await you.
You’re no hero. You’re an adventurer: a reaver, a cutpurse, a heathen-slayer, a tight-lipped warlock guarding long-dead secrets. You seek gold and glory, winning it with sword and spell, caked in the blood and filth of the weak, the dark, the demons, and the vanquished. There are treasures to be won deep underneath, and you shall have them.
Grab your copy of Dungeon Crawl Classics in Print or Digital Format.
10. Castles & Crusades
A rules light adaptable game that has stood the test of time! 12 years in constant publication, with no new editions, Castles & Crusades is the original easy to play attribute-check system.
Plunge into worlds of fantastic adventure where dragons lie and the undead stalk the shades of your mind’s imagines, where creatures of legend plunder wealth through the horror of their passage. Monsters grim and foul hold the ecstasy of gold and the renown of glory.
Grab your copy in Print or Digital Format.
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