Video game RPGs and tabletop RPGs – these two are closely related, even borrowing from each other all the time, and yet they are enjoyed in very distinct ways. Video games use technology to render constant action without you needing to calculate anything, while tabletop games come with a certain interactivity that no AI can replicate. Even so, designers try to test the boundaries. 

Titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 push against the limitations of technology to create an astounding amount of branching paths based on your choices. So can TTRPGs produce the same smooth-but-complex gameplay of their digital cousins? Sort of. You’ll never truly escape the need for arithmetic as long as there’s dice and modifiers involved. But below are some of the best Video game TTRPGs that give you familiar sandbox worlds, deep subsystems, and plenty of ways to customize your character. 

The Witcher TRPG

This is one of the most well-known names here, as video game developer CD Projekt Red collaborates heavily with R Talosorian Games. We’ll see it later for Cyberpunk, and we see it in The Witcher TTRPG. The tabletop game takes place during the Third Nilfgaardian War and features many locations and monsters from The Witcher 3. There’s a gritty combat system where dismemberment is a real possibility. Overall, it captures the vibe of the Witcher video games very well even if you don’t play as Geralt or Ciri. 

Pokemon Tabletop United

Let’s get this out of the way: PTU is not an official Nintendo TTRPG. It is a fan work, but that doesn’t diminish its quality at all. The people behind Pokemon Tabletop United have put in a lot of time to recreate the battle mechanics of the video games. Yes, you can separately manage the advancing stats of six individual Pokemon. You also take on your own trainer class such as Ace Trainer or Juggler to contribute outside of battle. PTU is the most played Pokemon TTRPG out there, we even have GMs running it on StartPlaying.

Fallout

The Fallout TTRPG is recognized for its elaborate scavenging rules that capture the “collect everything” element of the video games. Exploration and navigating factions are also big focuses. On a larger scale, this tabletop experience is closer to Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 than the older games. You customize your character to the point of playing as a super mutant or ghoul. Your choices shape the course of your region – which of course has always been true in Fallout but here it’s less of a strategic thing and more of a “you’re the main character of your own story” thing. 

Final Fantasy 14

A Final Fantasy TTRPG is a common request for fans, and Square Enix finally answered in the form of a d20 system based around the MMO Final Fantasy XIV. It’s got everything you’d expect from FFXIV: job-based character creation, levels that go up to 60, and loot that includes mounts. Actually buying the game is a challenge because it keeps selling out. If you want to play now, a good alternative is Fabula Ultima. It uses a very FF-inspired magitek setting, familiar job classes, and very tactical turn-based combat mechanics. 

Cyberpunk Red

The Cyberpunk brand started as a TTRPG which served as inspiration for the video game Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red worked with R Talsorian games to nail the feel and lore of the setting. R Talsorian in turn created expansion content based on 2077 for its current Cyberpunk RED TTRPG. They both take place in the same Night City. However, RED is typically set in 2045 and therefore features its own cast of characters. More recent sourcebooks allow you to add gear and missions from both Cyberpunk 2077 and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

Street Fighter 

Yes, that Street Fighter. The iconic fighting game series got a TTRPG from White Wolf back in 1994 at the height of arcade fever. Street Fighter: The Storytelling Game was generally well regarded by fans for its fast-paced combat system that pre-calculates certain modifiers so you spend more time trading blows. You can play as the named characters to battle Bison’s forces or create your own and hold PvP tournaments. As you can imagine, it can be hard to get a Street Fighter RPG going as the book is out of print. 

Dishonored

The video game Dishonored captured imaginations for its unique blend of stealth gameplay, dark industrial setting, and mysterious occult powers. Modiphius attempted to translate Dishonored’s gameplay and themes into tabletop using the same 2d20 system that powers Star Trek and Dune. The result is a rules-light narrative game that encourages stealth by rewarding the GM with Chaos if you get too rowdy. It can be hard to find a group who plays the Dishonored TTRPG, however. If you’re looking for a more active game that delivers the same themes with stealth, try Blades in the Dark.

Dark Souls

You’d think Dark Souls would be one of the easier video games to adapt into a TTRPG. It’s heavy on combat, consists of dungeon crawls, and already uses fantasy set pieces. Yet the official Dark Souls TRPG is widely criticized by fans for being unplayable. And the Elden Ring TRPG is Japanese-only. To get the Soulslike experience at your table, you’ll have to settle for playing another TTRPG that’s been house ruled for it. I explored several examples of DnD Dark Souls here. If you’d rather have a pro GM set up a Dark Souls game for you, we’ve got several running with open seats! 

Citizen Sleeper

The hit indie RPG of recent years actually got two TTRPGs. Citizen Sleeper’s publisher teamed up with Lost in Cult to release a celebratory art book and RPG bundle. The game itself is a solo experience that came with tarot cards and special dice in the deluxe edition. The package even includes Citizen Sleeper 2 content. Unfortunately, both the art book and TTRPG have long since sold out. For an alternative there’s Citizen Sleeper: Spindlejack, a free solo pen-and-paper game that has you running deliveries using an airbike. 

Dragon Age

Green Ronin made a tabletop RPG based in the world of BioWare’s Dragon Age during the 2010s. It includes material based heavily on Dragon Age Origins with an updated core rulebook that took into account Dragon Age II and Inquisition. Players take on standard fantasy classes and roll using d6. What sets the Dragon Age TTRPG apart is a stunt system that allows players to spend points to create extra effects for their actions. Stunts are made to happen more often than DnD natural 20s and so empower players to often do cool things. You can try the Dragon Age TTRPG here on StartPlaying. 

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‍Sergio Solórzano is the best Dungeon Master in the USA (according to a Wizards of the Coast competition, anyway). He loves minis and terrain but also goes all-in