The tabletop RPG industry saw a trend in recent years: games based on popular IP. While officially licensed TTRPGs have been a thing for decades, crowdfunding allowed them to reach new heights. Kickstarter records were broken by the likes of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Brandon Sanderson.
It’s easy to see why – the promise of an existing fanbase encourages publishers to go all-out on limited edition books and fun stretch goals. Then the massive success of a Kickstarter campaign in the first few days fuels social media hype. The game becomes the next hot thing before anyone knows if it even plays well or not. Fortunately, many of them are very fun to play and capture the essence of the source material expertly. Some don’t but are still a good romp through your favorite universe. Here are some of the best TTRPGS based on movies, TV shows, novels, and comics.
Dune: Adventures In The Imperium
Whether you’re looking to run from sandworms or outwit enemy factions, Dune: Adventures in the Imperium delivers. During character creation, players are encouraged to consider what house, guilds, or other group they serve. There are also rules to create your own house as a group and contend for control of Arrakis in your own names. The dice system used for Dune is a 2d20 setup seen in other games like Star Trek, where both sides build up Threat and Momentum that can be spent for cinematic outcomes. The GM is encouraged to move scenes along quickly like in a movie, typically moving between intrigue and action.
Star Wars FFG
Star Wars has had several TTRPG adaptations over the years as rights shifted and new sagas came to theaters. There’s even a DnD-based version called Star Wars 5e. The current official Star Wars TTRPG, however, is from Fantasy Flight Games. This version uses a unique dice pool where circumstances and the Force can add die to make your roll easier or harder. Star Wars FFG, as it’s called by fans, splits itself into three sub-games based on popular types of Star Wars stories. There’s a set based on scoundrels/bounty hunters, a set where you fight for the Rebellion, and a set that gives you Force powers. You can buy one set and play just fine or mix them together.
Marvel Multiverse RPG
Like its Disney cousin Star Wars, Marvel has also seen many TTRPGs over the years. The most recent is Marvel Multiverse Roleplaying Game, which uses a 616 die system. Players roll 3d6 for actions and want the middle die to be a 1, resulting in 616 being the “critical” roll. Most popular heroes from the MCU and recent comic runs have stat blocks prepared so you can play as them. You can also create your own heroes by giving them a collection of training and powers. Characters can “level up” by ascending ranks, bringing them from street level to cosmic.
Avatar Legends: The RPG
The Avatar RPG provides rules for playing in different eras of the setting. This of course includes Aang and Korra’s times, but also goes as far back as Roku and Kyoshi. One hard rule, however, is no one plays as the Avatar. Instead, your characters are defined by their own internal struggles. This is a surprise to many first-timers who typically expect a list of bending moves and tactical combat based on using those moves. However, Avatar RPG uses more narrative-focused rules. You can easily create a bender of your own, but the meat of the roleplay comes from the opposing set of values you choose for them.
Alien: The Roleplaying Game
This one is a personal favorite. The mechanics of Alien RPG are a masterclass of creating tension, fostering roleplay, and encouraging players to make big moves. You’d expect the rules to make Xenomorphs extremely deadly and to account for frequent player death. And they do in very smart ways. But Alien also delivers a simple-but-effective motivation system that puts players at odds while still having them rely on each other. It’s one of the few games where I’ve seen players understand that their characters will die and still take risky actions to achieve their goals. If you love the Alien movies, or even just horror, you gotta play this game.
The Witcher TRPG
If you’re looking for some fantasy flavor but don’t want to try to mod DnD into something it isn't, the Witcher TTRPG might be to your taste. It’s set during the Third Nilfgaardian War and uses many designs seen in The Witcher 3, so a lot will be familiar if you’ve played the video game. The idea for this game, however, isn’t to play as Geralt or Ciri. You’ll make your own character and pursue your own wild hunts using a gritty combat system against truly deadly creatures.
Cosmere RPG
Based on the shared universe of Brandon Sanderson’s many hit fantasy novels, the Cosmere RPG did big Kickstarter numbers and is set to release soon. As playtests have come and gone, fans expressed praise over how the system captures the feeling of Stormlight Archive. The magic system in particular is highlighted for making players feel like spellcasters from the books. The Kickstarter also promised future support for Mistborn and presumably other Sanderson settings that will all be compatible with the same rules.
Monty Python's Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme
Yes, there is a Monty Python RPG, and it’s as silly as you’d imagine. But it’s also genuinely well designed in how it responds to player actions and gives the GM fun things to do. You tend to play in a Holy Grail-esque setting that is NOT a TTRPG but a historical reenactment TV show. This allows for hilarious fourth wall breaks where the GM sends you to commercial or has the players directly address the fake audience to try and salvage the mess they created.
Star Trek Adventures
You know what you’re getting with Star Trek: exploration, playing as one of several alien species, and helming a spaceship. Star Trek Adventures Second Edition uses the 2d20 system to keep gameplay moving in a cinematic fashion as if you’re playing a TV show. The rules are quick to learn, empowering Game Master to react to player choices using Threat currency they build up. The system is especially good at capturing action and the thrill of discovery.
The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game
The Walking Dead RPG brings the series’ love of tough moral choices and character drama to your table. It uses the Year Zero Engine for gameplay, which is also the framework for the Alien RPG. So expect your dice rolls to carry tension and the game to reward you for getting into character. There is zombie blasting action as well as substantial base building mechanics. Sessions often consist of going out to gather supplies, maintain your base, and negotiating coexistence with other factions to keep your people safe.
Fallout The Roleplaying Game
The official Fallout TTRPG is mostly based on Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 in terms of its presented setting and what gameplay experiences it chooses to focus on. Not unlike the Amazon show. Your enjoyment will likely come down to what aspects of Fallout you enjoy. If you like open world exploration and crafting, chances are you’ll like this TTRPG. There are lengthy scavenging rules so that you can loot everything and overencumber yourself with mountains of scrap. You can also choose not to play a human, opting instead for a ghoul, mutant, or even a helper robot.
Power Rangers Roleplaying Game
Power Rangers by way of DnD? Sort of. The official Power Rangers Roleplaying Game uses the bones of 5e, turning Ranger colors into classes. On initial release, the system got criticism for this approach and for focusing largely on the Mighty Morphin era. However, later expansions better defined the rules and added support for alternate ranger types. Lore expansions also give guidance on expanding campaigns to space or going into comics continuity to explore the Morphin Grid.
Blade Runner
Free League gave us the Alien RPG, and with the same Year Zero Engine brings us the other Ridley Scott classic Blade Runner. This one oozes heavy vibes and intrigue just like the movie. And just like the Blade Runner movies, you’ll be investigating more than you’ll be fighting. Gameplay typically involves collecting evidence and chasing down leads under a time limit. If you’re looking to really immerse yourself in a film’s setting instead of moving from set piece to set piece, Blade Runner might be your game.
Cyberpunk Red
Whether you love Cyberpunk 2077, the Edgerunners anime, or the previous incarnations of this iconic TTRPG, Cyberpunk RED takes you back to that same Night City. Well, technically the Night City of 2045. This allows you to play out your own legend without worrying if you’ll clash with the continuity of other stores. That said, expansions add gear and missions based on 2077 and Edgerunners so you can still trick yourself out like your favorite characters. There’s a fun mix of combat, Netrunning, and driving to be had in the current Cyberpunk TTRPG.
Invincible: Superhero Roleplaying
This one isn’t even playable at the time of this writing, and is still in the early stages of almost launching its Kickstarter campaign. However, based on the previous record-breaking outcomes of Avatar and Cosmere’s crowdfunding, Invincible’s built-in audience will no doubt generate enough hype to see it successfully funded. It also helps that Free League and Adam Bradford will be at the helm. While Marvel and Masks already have quite a stake in the superhero genre, an Invincible TTRPG will no doubt deliver a more R-rated flair that sets it apart.
Final Fantasy XIV TTRPG
A Final Fantasy TTRPG seems line an easy request to grant as the games already use so many RPG elements. And indeed the official FFXIV TTRPG has everything you’d expect from the FF14 MMO – there’s job-based character creation, levels that can go up to 60, plus varied loot that includes titles and mounts. The most challenging thing about playing FFXIV TTRPG is that it keeps selling out. If you want to play a more classic FF experience, consider Fabula Ultima. It uses a similar artstyle, JRPG job classes, and tactical turn-based combat.
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Sergio SolĂłrzano 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 on improv!
