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“Roleplay Heavy” games place the focus on the story, the characters, and the world they live within, and tend to lean hard into the various roleplaying elements of the game. These games will frequently find the party talking with NPCs, exploring the personal elements of their backstories, or even having emotional moments around the camp fire. 

Roleplay Heavy

“Combat Heavy” games emphasize the combat mechanics within their systems over roleplay or puzzle solving. There are frequent and longer battles with enemies and a greater emphasis on tactical game play.

Combat Heavy

A “Dungeon Crawl” is a scenario where players navigate a dungeon or labyrinth-like environment for the entirety of the adventure. It emphasizes battling monsters, collecting loot, and avoiding traps to survive to the end!

Dungeon Crawl

“Theater of the Mind” uses little to no visuals for scene settings and combat. Instead, the narrative imagery comes from the Game Master’s descriptions and character action and movement comes from Players’ descriptions. 

Theater of the Mind

Games that are ran “Rules as Written” emphasize realism and stick to the letter of the rules, allowing players to explore creative solutions while still operating under a consistent rule set. Players have the ability to utilize the rules in creative ways to create awesome characters and moments in the game.

Rules as Written (RaW)

Play By Post refers to a game in which players interact with the story through messages and text posts. These games are typically played asynchronously throughout the week, which gives players time to consider what they want to do next, and engage with the story at their own pace.

Play By Post

West Marches games are typically ran as “drop-in / drop-out” campaigns,  where a pool of players hop into sessions as they are available or as sessions align with their schedules. These games focus on a player-led story and exploration, with each session acting as a self contained adventure, allowing for players to experience a variety of stories within an overarching campaign.

West Marches

In "Sandbox" or "Open World" games, players are given a tremendous amount of freedom to pursue their stories without the restrictions of a more linear game style. Players are encouraged to explore and engage with the world, and find their own story as they do so. These games offer the players the opportunity to help drive the narrative, and allow for the story to evolve organically through the choices they make.

Sandbox / Open World

“Roleplay Lite” games typically include some story and character interactions but keep the emphasis on other gameplay elements like exploration or combat. While these games can still feature character-driven moments, they tend to favor quicker scenes with less focus on extensive backstories or dramatic roleplay.

Roleplay Lite

“Combat Lite” games typically focus less on combat encounters and more on roleplay, storytelling, and exploration. Combat tends to be shorter, less frequent, resolved in a more narrative style, or absent altogether, while keeping the story as the primary focus.

Combat Lite

“Hexcrawl / Exploration” games are all about the journey. Whether you're uncovering ancient ruins, navigating dangerous terrain, or charting new territory, the focus is on discovery and player-driven adventure. Hexcrawls add additional structure by using a map where each hex holds new surprises, challenges, or story hooks.

Hexcrawl / Exploration

“Puzzle / Mystery Focused” games are traditionally built around uncovering secrets, solving strange occurrences, and using clever thinking to move through the story. Players may investigate clues, crack riddles, or unravel a deeper story hidden beneath the surface.

Puzzle / Mystery Focused

“Tactical / Crunchy” games are all about mastering the rules and making smart, mechanical choices. These games place a strong emphasis on strategy, planning, and system knowledge. Players who enjoy complex combat, optimized builds, or detailed mechanics will feel right at home here.

Tactical / Crunchy

“Realm Building” games focus on the development, expansion, and management of something bigger than a single party, where the characters may find themselves in charge of a kingdom, faction, settlement, or organization. Over the course of gameplay, players might manage resources, make decisions that shape nations, or even guide large-scale conflicts as part of the ongoing story.

Realm Building

Dungeons & Dragons 5e

Savage Worlds

Rifts

Dungeon Crawl Classics

Dungeons & Dragons 1e

Call of Cthulhu

Kids on Bikes

Dungeons & Dragons 2e

Honey Heist

Blades in the Dark

GURPS

Star Wars RPG by Fantasy Flight Games

Deadlands

Big Eyes, Small Mouth

Star Wars D6

Gamma World

Genesys

Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea

Bunkers & Badasses

Night's Black Agents

Star Trek Adventures

Conan

John Carter

Dungeons & Dragons 0e

Space 1889

Dune: Adventures in the Imperium

7th Sea

Palladium

Ghostbusters RPG

Kids on Brooms

Teens in Space

Dungeons & Dragons B/X

King Arthur Pendragon RPG

Traveller

Serenity RPG

Bluebeard's Bride

Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1e

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2e

Mutant Crawl Classics

Planet Mercenary

Stargate SG-1 RPG

Castles & Crusades

Vampire: The Masquerade 20th Anniversary Edition

Deadlands Classic: 20th Anniversary Edition

Dracula's America: Shadows of the West

Barbarians of Lemuria

Teenagers from Outerspace

Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of

Star Trek:The Role-playing Game (FASA)

Hackmaster

Board and Card Games

HYPERBOREA

OVA: The Anime Role-Playing Game

Goblin Slayer Tabletop Roleplaying Game

Cogs, Cakes & Swordsticks

Sword World 2.5

Bunnies and Burrows

Adventurer Conqueror King

Vampire: The Requiem 1st Edition

Bunnies & Burrows

Hero Kids

Star Trek Role Playing Game

Gangbusters

Dungeon! Board Game

Vampire: The Dark Ages

Discworld

Babylon 5: A Call to Arms

Ascendant

Star Trek Adventures - First Edition

Brad the RPG Sage

I've been a gamer and a DM since 1995!  I've played everything from storygames to boardgames, old school D&D to new school one page games.  I run the 4 year old "Rotting Earth" campaign.

Brad the RPG Sage

About me

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