Kids on Bikes (2nd Ed) lets you play one of those precocious kids you always see in movies and tv shows like The Goonies and Stranger Things. Y’know, kids who face unspeakable horrors, then go home to finish homework. The ones who ride bikes everywhere.

More and more players are discovering the exciting, dangerous, world of the Shadowdark RPG. the 2024 ENNIE-award-winning roleplaying game by Kelsey Dionne. Shadowdark combines old-school aesthetics (lots of tables) with modern, 5E D&D sensibilities (easy d20 mechanics, for instance). If you’re among those who have found themselves drawn to the dark and gritty world of Shadowdark or have been browsing games on StartPlaying Games' Shadowdark listings page, then you might be wondering what kind of character is going to give you the best chance of survival.

GURPS allows for virtually infinite options when it comes to character creation, so you’re going to need the GURPS Basic Set: Characters book.

Traveller has a robust character creation system that guides you through the pre-adventuring parts of your character’s life.