Monday Musings #77 🤬
My Top 5 Fantasy TTRPGs 2024 Edition.
Good Monday, Gamer!
"Shall we TPK” –Josuha, GM.
It’s long past due for me to revisit my list of top fantasy RPGs. Fantasy games come in all flavors—dark and gritty, whimsical and light-hearted—but what makes an RPG stick for me is its mechanics. I love incredible art, immersive lore, and even shiny branded IP, but if the mechanics don’t click, the game doesn’t linger on my table. I’m here for the systems—the resolution mechanics, advancement cycles, and sub-systems that bring a world to life through gameplay. That’s where the magic happens!
Here are five fantasy RPGs (unordered!) I’ve played multiple times and would gladly play again in a heartbeat, plus one honorable mention I’m dying to get to the table.
The One Ring (Second Edition)
If you’re a Tolkien fan, The One Ring by Free League is a must-play. This game captures the tone and themes of Middle-earth perfectly. It’s not about playing epic heroes like Gandalf or Aragorn—it’s about ordinary folk trying to protect their little corners of the world from the creeping Shadow. It goes beyond fan service to deliver an experience rooted in Tolkien’s world, with plenty of space to explore!
Mechanics:
The dice system is solid, combining D6s (Success dice) and a D12 (Feat die). The D6s represent skill levels, while the D12 adds the weight of hope or despair with the Gandalf rune (auto-success) and the Eye of Sauron (auto-failure). Shadow and fatigue mechanics track your character’s weariness and corruption, creating tension in both long journeys and intense moments.
Character Advancement:
Advancement in The One Ring is serviceable but not flashy. You earn points to improve your skills, but the standout mechanic is the Fellowship Phase, a structured downtime system that lets characters reflect, heal, and pursue personal goals between adventures. This phase adds depth to the narrative and reinforces the themes of resilience and camaraderie.
Symbaroum
Dark, brooding, and atmospheric, Symbaroum immerses players in a world of ancient forests, lost civilizations, and lurking corruption. It’s a grim and beautiful setting paired with streamlined mechanics that make gameplay flow smoothly.
Mechanics:
The roll-under D20 system is familiar territory. Players roll against their attributes, with modifiers adjusting the target number. The system is almost entirely player-facing: when enemies attack, players roll their defense; when players attack, they roll to hit. This keeps the GM’s workload light and the pace quick.
Character Advancement:
XP is awarded per scene/situation where challenges are overcome and spent to improve skills, abilities, and spells. This straightforward progression system encourages players to solve challenges creatively while keeping power creep manageable. The looming threat of corruption adds a layer of strategy to every decision.
Old School Essentials (with Advanced Fantasy Options)
Old School Essentials (OSE) is a masterclass in distilling the best parts of classic D&D into a clear, modernized system. With the Advanced Fantasy options, you get expanded classes, spells, and races while retaining the elegance of old-school gameplay.
Mechanics:
OSE sticks to the basics: roll a D20 to hit, roll for damage, and use ability scores for checks. Its standout feature is its clarity—everything is organized and accessible, making it perfect for both new and experienced players. The modular rulebooks mean you can run the game your way without sifting through pages of unnecessary text.
Character Advancement:
Levels are earned slowly, and every one feels significant. Gold equals XP, so players are incentivized to seek out treasure rather than mindlessly grinding combat. The Advanced Fantasy options add depth with new classes and races, making character creation and progression more engaging while preserving that old-school vibe.
Household RPG
Ever wonder what it’s like to adventure as a tiny being in a world of big things? Household RPG takes you into an abandoned mansion where Fae folk, Boggarts, and Sprites have built their own societies. It’s whimsical, charming, and brimming with narrative opportunities.
Mechanics:
The game uses a D6 pool system where players aim for matches, pairs, or 3-of-a-kind, etc. What sets it apart is its hardwired campaign structure: the game is designed for a five-year in-world timeline, with each chapter offering around 12–15 sessions. This approach creates a clear arc while leaving room for improvisation.
Character Advancement:
Advancement is tied to a character’s experiences. Positive and negative events leave lasting impacts, and growth is marked at the end of each chapter. This narrative-driven progression system ensures characters evolve in meaningful ways tied to the story’s events.
The Burning Wheel
If you’re looking for deep, character-driven gaming, The Burning Wheel delivers. It’s dense and demanding, but the rewards are immense for those willing to dive in. Luke Crane’s masterpiece is a toolbox for creating complex characters and exploring their struggles.
Mechanics:
At its heart, The Burning Wheel is about Beliefs, Instincts, and Traits (BITs). These define your character’s motivations and personality, and the game rewards you for playing to—or evolving—these elements. The D6-based dice pools scale with your skills and abilities, but advancement only comes when you push those skills to their limits.
Character Advancement:
Advancement is a game within the game. To improve a skill, you need to succeed at easy tasks and fail at challenging ones. This encourages risk-taking and makes growth feel earned. The system shines in long-term play, where characters evolve organically through their struggles.
Honorable Mention: The Black Sword Hack
I haven’t played The Black Sword Hack yet, but it’s on my radar after reading through it and pre-gaming. Inspired by Michael Moorcock’s Eternal Champion series, this game leans into dark, existential fantasy and morally complex decisions.
Mechanics:
Built on the foundation of The Black Hack, this game is simple, flexible, and fast. It uses a roll-under D20 system with minimalist mechanics, but the true strength lies in its tools for world-building, and the tension between Law and Chaos. It’s the perfect fit for anyone who loves a darker, more game-able take on old fantasy stories.
And there you have it! These games showcase the variety and depth that fantasy RPGs have to offer, and they’ve all left a lasting impression on me at the table. Whether you’re delving into the shadowed halls of Khazad-dûm, braving the ancient forests of Davokar, or navigating the political intrigues of a tiny Fae society, these games offer something unique for every kind of player. What are your top five fantasy RPGs? Let me know—I’m always hunting for my next favorite!
Catch ya next week!