GURPS

The "Generic Universal Roleplaying System" is exactly what it says on the box. A chassis of skill-point based abilities that are broad enough to be reskinned or reflavored for whatever setting you long to play. Its versatility is both a strength and a weakness; nothing in the system is inherently built with the trappings of genre, and that onus falls entirely on the game master to facilitate and adapt the skeleton they're given. Great for crunchier folks looking for a starting point for a campaign they can't find quite the right system for. From there, I highly encourage you to kitbash and homebrew until you've made it your own.

What can you say about this game? You can do anything with it! Play Star Wars, Fallout, or something completely original. GURPS has a special place in my heart, and deserves a place in your RPG collection

If you're looking for a game system that can handle any setting, any genre, and any character concept, GURPS (Generic Universal RolePlaying System) is one of the best choices out there. Whether you want to play a gritty cyberpunk mercenary, a medieval sorcerer, a space explorer, or even a superpowered mutant, GURPS gives you the flexibility to make it happen. Pros: ✅ Modular & Customizable – Unlike class-based RPGs, GURPS gives you total freedom in character creation. You build characters using point-buy mechanics, allowing you to create exactly the hero (or antihero) you want without arbitrary restrictions. ✅ Realistic Yet Playable – GURPS is known for its realism. Combat is deadly, skills matter, and the mechanics allow for tactical depth without feeling too rigid. It can be fine-tuned to suit either a gritty survival game or a cinematic action story. ✅ Supports Any Genre – Fantasy, sci-fi, superheroes, horror, espionage—GURPS can handle everything. With dozens of sourcebooks covering nearly every conceivable setting, the system provides a deep well of resources for GMs and players alike. ✅ Scales Complexity to Your Group – You can run GURPS as a simple, narrative-driven game or dive deep into tactical combat with detailed rules for injuries, vehicles, and superpowers. The core mechanics remain the same, making it easy to adjust complexity as needed. Cons: ❌ High Learning Curve – GURPS can feel overwhelming for newcomers. The flexibility comes at a cost: there are a lot of options, and new players might struggle with character creation and the sheer number of optional rules. A good GM can ease this transition, but expect a bit of a learning curve. ❌ Crunchier Combat – While GURPS offers a tactical and rewarding combat system, it can be slower than more streamlined RPGs. Players who prefer fast, abstract combat may find it too detailed, especially when using optional rules for hit locations, fatigue, and injury. ❌ Point-Buy Can Be Slow – Character creation in GURPS is powerful but can also be time-consuming. With so many customization options, it’s easy to get bogged down in optimizing or balancing traits. Pre-generated templates can help, but players who like quick character creation might find this frustrating. Final Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) GURPS is an amazing system for players who want total control over their characters and for GMs who enjoy creating custom settings. However, its complexity and detailed mechanics can be a hurdle for newcomers. If you’re willing to invest the time to learn it, GURPS offers one of the most rewarding and flexible roleplaying experiences available. 💡 Perfect for: Players who love deep character customization, tactical combat, and non-traditional settings. ⚠️ Not for: Those who prefer quick, class-based character creation or ultra-fast combat.