When you think of tabletop RPGs, Dungeons & Dragons or other fantasy fare often come to mind. But the science fiction genre has a rich history in tabletop gaming. There’s a lot of room to play with the promise of a far future or another galaxy where technology evolves beyond our wildest dreams.
Whether you’re seeking tactical combat with advanced weaponry, close encounters with bizarre aliens, or even mysteries of science right in your own backyard, you can find it in TTRPGs. Here are some of the best sci-fi TTRPGs for your consideration. Show these to your friends and your next game night might go where no others have gone before.
Star Trek Adventures
Star Trek Adventures Second Edition puts you and your friends in command of a Starfleet ship. You know the drill: explore new worlds, make friends with peaceful aliens, and fight the not-so-friendly ones. This game’s easy-to-understand rules get you playing quickly and always reward action with exciting results. You’ll find that this game is well-equipped to deliver the twists and turns you’d expect of a Star Trek episode
Lancer
Fans of the anime-style, Gundam version of sci-fi should seek out Lancer. You’ll strap into the cockpit of a customizable mech to fight for peace in space. The customization is the selling point, letting you outfit your bot from a variety of parts and weapons. The combat system is tough and tactical, but also rewarding for those who get really into the mech building. This is probably the most video game-like experience you’ll get from a sci-fi TTRPG.
Kids On Bikes
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Perhaps you want your sci-fi to have a more Stranger Things or E.T. flavor. Kids on Bikes delivers this by placing you in the role of a normal person in a small town. You and the other characters must form a band of misfits to solve mysteries and combat the seemingly endless wave of conspiracies. One way this game differs from similar systems is the addition of a communal powered character. This is your Eleven, but you all decide their fate together.
Star Wars
You might argue Star Wars is science fantasy, but it's too big a name to ignore. And when it comes to TTRPGs, Star Wars has four major ones. There’s a straightforward d6 system, a more technical d20 version, the current Fantasy Flight game that uses its own dice, and a DnD 5E clone made by fans. Star Wars Fantasy Flight and Star Wars 5E have the largest player bases, so they’re a good choice for beginners looking for groups. Older fans looking to return to d6 or Saga Edition should check StartPlaying’s search tool for experienced GMs running them.
Scum And Villainy
Should you want grittier Star Wars or Star Wars without Disney, Scum and Villainy is a great pick. The core system is based on Blades in the Dark, so it’s fairly easy to pick up as it only relies on d6 dice. It also means the focus is on playing a daredevil ship crew that’s always at odds with the law. You’ll be staging heists and other dangerous missions, then escaping in your customizable spaceship. Yes, your ship gets XP and can grow alongside your characters.
Cyberpunk Red
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You’ve probably heard of this one if you’re a fan of the Cyberpunk 2077 video game or the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime. This tabletop game does in fact take place in the same Night City. In fact, Cyberpunk 2077 was inspired by the original Cyberpunk TTRPG. Cyberpunk RED is the updated version that lets you build your own merc from iconic specializations like rocker or netrunner, and then equip yourself with all kinds of risky cybernetics. There are also Edgerunners and 2077 supplements that take you on familiar missions.
Alien: The Roleplaying Game
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Alien RPG is all about horror and fighting for survival. You’re trapped on a collapsing ship, crumbling space station, or doomed colony with Xenomorphs prowling about. Everyone has a secret agenda given to them at game start. Yours is to leave alive at any cost. The pilot might be with you, but the scientist keeps insisting you visit the lab on the other side of the ship. The Alien TTRPG gets really fun with a group who commits to the roleplay. There’s betrayals, tragic backstory reveals, and third act climaxes where everyone desperately tries to escape.
Dune: Adventures In The Imperium
If politics between varying factions is your favorite part of sci-fi worldbuilding, you’ll likely take interest in Dune: Adventures in the Imperium. When you create a character in this game, you swear loyalty to one of the houses, guilds, or other major players in the Dune universe. You can even create your own house as a group. Gameplay sees you undertaking missions for your house that weave between action and intrigue scenes. The dice system uses simple 2d20 mechanics that always has your actions result in excitement whether you pass or fail.
