List of role-playing games by genre

This is a list of role-playing games, subdivided by genre (although many games do not fit clearly into one genre or another). It does not include role-playing video games, MMORPGs, or any other video games with RPG elements. Most of these games are tabletop role-playing games; other types of games are noted as such where appropriate.

Contemporary action/adventure/espionage/military

• d20 Modern by Wizards of the Coast
• Feng Shui - based on Hong Kong martial arts movies
• Fiasco - a GM-less game about petty criminals and cruel twists of fate
• GUMSHOE System
• James Bond 007 by Victory Games - based on the James Bond books and films
• Mercenaries, Spies and Private Eyes
• Ninjas & Superspies (1987) - Created by Erick Wujcik, published by Palladium Books
• Over the Edge
• Revised RECON (1986) - Created by Erick Wujcik, published by Palladium Books; based on the original Recon (1981) by Joe F. Martin
• Spycraft by Alderac Entertainment Group - espionage adventure
• Top Secret by TSR - espionage adventure
• Twilight 2000

Fantasy

• Agone (French) - based on novels by award-winning fantasy writer Mathieu Gaborit.
• Alshard (Japanese) - fantasy with mecha like Final Fantasy
• Alshard Gaia (Japanese) - a contemporary fantasy with Alshard system
• Amber Diceless Roleplaying - based on the works of Roger Zelazny
• Anima: Beyond Fantasy
• Arduin - written by David A. Hargrave
• Aria
• Arianrhod RPG (Japanese) - MMORPG-like
• Ars Magica
• Basic Fantasy RPG
• BattleDragons - Play as dragons in a fantasy world by Spartacus Publishing.
• The Black Company - Campaign Setting based on the The Black Company book series by Glen Cook, using the d20 system.
• Blue Rose by Green Ronin Publishing
• The Burning Wheel - High fantasy
• Castles and Crusades - OGL System fantasy RPG published by Troll Lord Games
• Castle Falkenstein - steampunk fantasy
• Chivalry & Sorcery
• Les Chroniques d'Erdor, an unusual French RPG of oneiric fantasy using a 54 card game, edited by Boite a Polpette.
• Conan (a GURPS version by SJGames, and an OGL System version by Mongoose Publishing)
• Cursed Empire (formerly Crimson Empire, changed its name for trademark reasons)
• Dangerous Journeys - created by E. Gary Gygax
• The Dark Eye - Germany's most popular RPG, known in Germany as Das Schwarze Auge
• Deliria: Faerie Tales for the New Millennium - by Phil Brucato. Published by Laughing Pan Productions
• Demon's Lair - Created by Lasalion Games
• Donjon - by Clinton R. Nixon
• Dragon Age
• Dragonlance: Fifth Age - by TSR
• DragonQuest
• DragonRaid - a Christian RPG, created by Dick Wulf in 1984
• Dragon Warriors - An easy-to-use RPG published in paperback format.
• Drakar och Demoner (Dragons and Demons) - Swedish language game originally published by Target Games, later versions by Riotminds
• Dungeons & Dragons - created by Dave Arneson and E. Gary Gygax, further editions by TSR, Inc. and Wizards of the Coast
• Earthdawn
• Elemental Axes by Crosstime Games of British Columbia
• Elfquest by Chaosium - based on the works of Richard Pini and Wendy Pini
• Elric!, by Chaosium, based on Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné stories
• Empire of the Petal Throne - set in M. A. R. Barker's world of Tekumel
• Eon
• Everquest - pencil & paper version of the popular MMORPG, published by White Wolf Publishing
• Everway
• Exalted
• Fantasy Craft by Crafty Games
• Fantasy Hero by Hero Games
• Fantasy Imperium
• The Fantasy Trip
• Fireborn by Fantasy Flight Games
• Furry Pirates
• Fate of the Norns
• A Game of Thrones - based on the eponymous fantasy novel
• Grimm - based in a twisted, morbid fairytale world, published by Fantasy Flight Games.
• HackMaster
• HârnMaster/Hârn
• High Adventure Role Playing by Iron Crown Enterprises
• Hawkmoon - an addendum to the Stormbringer RPG (aka Elric!)
• HeroQuest/Hero Wars
• In Nomine - Based on the In Nomine Satanis / Magna Veritas French roleplaying game
• Ironclaw - by Sanguine Productions Ltd
• Jorune (or "Skyrealms of Jorune")
• Legend of the Five Rings Role-Playing Game - Asian-themed RPG, published by Alderac Entertainment Group
• Lejendary Adventure, created by Gary Gygax and published by Hekaforge Productions
• Lone Wolf
• Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game - based on the fantasy works of J. R. R. Tolkien
• Maelstrom
• Man, Myth & Magic by Yaquinto - RPG drawing on 4000 B.C. to 1000 A.D. Earth legends.
• Mechanical Dream by SteamLogic
• Middle Earth Role Play - based on the fantasy works of J. R. R. Tolkien
• Midgard - the oldest German fantasy RPG
• Mistborn - based on the Mistborn book series by Brandon Sanderson
• Monastyr (Polish), Monastery by Portal
• Mouse Guard - based on comic book series of the same name by David Petersen where all characters are mice and "monsters" are other animals.
• Multiverser by E.R. Jones and M. Joseph Young
• Night Wizard! (Japanese) - wizards in contemporary
• Nobilis by R. Sean Borgstrom
• OSRIC
• Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game (1983, 1996) - Created by Kevin Siembieda, published by Palladium Books
• Pathfinder Roleplaying Game by Paizo Publishing
• Powers and Perils - by Avalon Hill
• Rêve: the Dream Ouroboros by Denis Gerfaud (french, Rêve de Dragon)
• RMFRP (Rolemaster Fantasy Role Playing) by Iron Crown Enterprises - fully expandable and customizable rules system
• RuneQuest originally by Chaosium, later by Avalon Hill and currently by Mongoose Publishing
• Scion by White Wolf Publishing
• Sengoku: Chanbara Roleplaying in Feudal Japan by Gold Rush Games
• Seventh Sea Swashbuckling Adventure and sorcery by Alderac Entertainment Company
• Shard RPG (anthropomorphic heroic-fantasy) by Shard Studios
• Stormbringer by Chaosium, based on Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné stories
• Swordbearer by Heritage Games and Fantasy Games Unlimited
• Sword World RPG (Japanese)
• Talislanta by Bard Games
• The Riddle of Steel by Driftwood Publishing
• The Shadow of Yesterday by Clinton R. Nixon
• Tormenta Brazilian RPG by Marcelo Cassaro, J.M. Trevisan, Saladino
• The Slayers d20 by Guardians of Order
• Tribe 8 by Dream Pod 9
• Tunnels and Trolls by Flying Buffalo
• Trollbabe a game by Ron Edwards (game designer)
• Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay by Games Workshop
• Weapons of the Gods by Eos Press - a wuxia-style game based on the manhua comic of the same name.
• The Wheel of Time Roleplaying Game - based on The Wheel of Time novel series by author Robert Jordan
• Wiedźmin (Polish) by MAG (game)
• World Of Warcraft by White Wolf Publishing—a roleplaying game book based on the popular computer game by Blizzard
• World Tree—roleplaying in a high-magic, highly civilized world populated by many sentient species, none of them human.

Historical/period adventure

• Aces & Eights - Kenzer & Company - Wild West alternate history RPG
• Adventure! - Pulp adventure by White Wolf Publishing
• Boot Hill - TSR - Wild West adventure
• Bushido - samurai RPG
• d20 Past by Wizards of the Coast
• Daredevils - Pulp adventure
• Dark Ages (World of Darkness)
• Deadlands: The Weird West
• Dogs in the Vineyard - loosely based on the Mormon State of Deseret in pre-statehood Utah by Lumpley Games
• Draug - Norwegian RPG set during the Napoleonic wars. Themes: the early national movement and folklore and superstition, based on the FUDGE engine.
• Dzikie Pola (Wild Fields), a set in 17th century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
• En Garde! - Duellists from 17th century France published by Game Designers' Workshop and SFC Press.
• Fantasy Imperium - An Interactive Storytelling Game of Historical Fantasy by Shadowstar Games, Inc.
• Forgotten Futures
• Gangbusters by TSR - 1930s urban crime adventure
• Hollow Earth Expedition by Exile Games Studio - Pulp adventures in the Hollow Earth
• Indiana Jones (role-playing game) by TSR - based on the Indiana Jones films
• Justice, Inc. by Hero Games - 1930s Pulp fiction oriented adventure
• Pendragon (or King Arthur Pendragon) Arthurian legend
• Space 1889 by Game Designers' Workshop - Victorian Era Sci-Fi
• Spirit of the Century - Pulp adventure
• Sine Requie - Italian horror role-playing game.
• Tibet -Historical fantasy set in Tibet circa 1959 during the Chinese invasion. Vajra Enterprises.
• Twilight 2000 by GDW(1984)
• Valley of the Pharaohs (1983) - Created by Matthew Balent, published by Palladium Books
• Vampire: The Dark Ages
• Victorian Age: Vampire
• Victoriana By Cubicle 7. Alternate history, magic, and fantasy races.
• Werewolf: The Wild West
• Yarr! Pirate RPG By BD Games. Historical Fantasy set in the age of Piracy. A rules-light game for children, beginners, and veteran players alike.

Horror

• All Flesh Must Be Eaten - Zombie survival horror game by Eden Studios, Inc.
• Beyond the Supernatural (1987, 2005) - Created by Randy McCall and Kevin Siembieda, published by Palladium Books
• Bureau 13: Stalking the Night Fantastic by Tri Tac Games
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer - based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show by Eden Studios
• Call of Cthulhu - based on the works of H. P. Lovecraft
• Chill
• Dark Conspiracy
• Deadlands: The Weird West
• Dead Inside (game) - A small-press RPG where the characters attempt to rebuild their lost souls through selfless and noble actions (and get superhuman powers along the way)
• Dead Reign—The Zombie Apocalypse (2008) - Created by Josh Hilden and Joshua Sanford, published by Palladium Books
• Dread: The First Book of Pandemonium
• The Everlasting (role-playing game) by Visionary Entertainment Studios Inc
• Kult - A Swedish game of Kabbalistic and gnostic origins; The tag line is "Death is only the beginning", and the game is widely perceived as one of the darkest RPGs ever created.
• Little Fears - The Roleplaying Game of Childhood Terror
• My Life with Master An independently-published comic horror game.
• Necroscope Published by West End Games based on Brian Lumleys' world of the Necroscope books.
• Nephilim by Chaosium
• Nightbane (1995) - Created by C. J. Carella, published by Palladium Books
• Noctum
• Over the Edge
• Sorcerer (role-playing game) by Ron Edwards
• Sine Requie - Italian horror role-playing game.
• Trail of Cthulhu by Pelgrane Press
• Unknown Armies
• The Whispering Vault - an RPG about god-hunting
• WitchCraft RPG by Eden Studios
• World of Darkness product line by White Wolf Publishing
  • Vampire: The Masquerade
  • Werewolf: The Apocalypse
  • Mage: The Ascension
  • Wraith: The Oblivion
  • Changeling: The Dreaming
  • Demon: The Fallen
  • Mummy: The Resurrection
  • Vampire: Kindred of the East
  • Hunter: The Reckoning
  • Victorian Age: Vampire
  • Werewolf: The Wild West
  • Mage: The Sorcerer's Crusade
  • Wraith: The Great War
  • Vampire: The Dark Ages
  • Dark Ages (World of Darkness)
  • Orpheus (role-playing game)
• World of Darkness (new) new product line by White Wolf Publishing
  • Vampire: The Requiem
  • Werewolf: The Forsaken
  • Mage: The Awakening
  • Promethean: The Created
  • Changeling: The Lost
  • Hunter: The Vigil
  • Geist: The Sin-Eaters

Humor and satire

• Bunnies and Burrows
• Diana: Warrior Princess
• Fanhunter Spanish game based on the series of comics of the same name
• Ghostbusters RPG based on the Ghostbusters film series.
• HackMaster
• Human Occupied Landfill
• In Nomine Satanis / Magna Veritas (french) by Croc (Siroz) (satirical gang and spy wars involving angels and demons in the contemporary world)
• kill puppies for satan
• Kobolds Ate My Baby
• Macho Women with Guns
• Monsters and Other Childish Things
• Munchkin
• Murphy's World
• Ninja Burger
• Pandemonium
• Paranoia
• Risus
• Tales from the Floating Vagabond
• Teenagers from Outer Space, an anime based RPG.
• Toon - Cartoon adventure inspired by the classic cartoon series from Warner Brothers and MGM
• TWERPS
• Underground

Science fiction

• 2300 AD - hard science fiction
• After the Bomb - mutant animals in post-apocalyptic setting
• Aftermath! - post-apocalyptic
• Albedo - based on the furry comic book stories by Steve Gallacci
• Alternity
• Battlelords of the 23rd Century - space opera
• Blue Planet - environmentally themed; set in a water planet
• Buck Rogers XXVC
• Chaos 6010 A.D. - Dark Future
• Conspiracy X - aliens, UFOs, and government coverups
• C°ntinuum - time travel adventure
• Cthulhutech - Cthulhu Mythos with mecha, horror, magic and futuristic action
• Cyberpunk 2020 - based on the Mirrorshades authors
• Cybergeneration - follow-up to Cyberpunk 2020
• Cyberspace - cyberpunk adaptation of Space Master
• D6 Space
• d20 Future - accessory for d20 Modern game
• Darwin's World - post-apocalyptic
• The Doctor Who Role Playing Game
• Deadlands: Hell on Earth - post-apocalyptic western
• Eclipse Phase - hard science fiction
• Etherscope - steampunk
• Ex Machina - cyberpunk
• Fading Suns - space opera
• Fringeworthy - alternate history adventure
• FTL:2448
• Gamma World - post-apocalyptic fantasy
• GURPS Cyberpunk
• GURPS Space
• Halcyon - cyberpunk
• Heavy Gear - mecha
• Incursion
• Jorune - science fantasy
• Jovian Chronicles - mecha and epic space battles
• Judge Dredd - based on the future law enforcement comic book series
• Legionnaire - based on the Renegade Legion space opera strategy boardgames
• Living Steel
• Macross II - based on the mecha anime film and manga
• The Mechanoid Invasion
• MechWarrior - based on the BattleTech mecha wargame
• Mekton - inspired by mecha anime
• The Metabarons Roleplaying Game - based on the Metabarons space opera comic book series
• Metamorphosis Alpha - the first science fiction role-playing game
• The Morrow Project - post-apocalyptic
• Multiverser
• Mutant - post-apocalyptic
• Mutant Chronicles - successor to Mutant
• Neuroshima (Polish) - post-apocalyptic
• Paranoia - a satire of dystopian futures
• Pax Draconis - space opera
• Phoenix Command
• Prime Directive - set in the Star Trek-derived Star Fleet Universe
• Reich Star alternate history; fight Nazis in space
• Rifts - post-apocalyptic
• Rifts Chaos Earth - spinoff of Rifts
• Ringworld - based on Larry Niven's novels
• Robotech - based on the Robotech mecha anime television series
• Serenity - based on the TV series Firefly and the film Serenity
• Shatterzone - space opera
• Shock: Social Science Fiction
• Skyrealms of Jorune - science fantasy
• SLA Industries
• Space 1889 - steampunk
• Space Master - adaptation of Rolemaster
• Space Opera
• Spaceship Zero
• Splicers
• Star Frontiers
• Stargate SG-1
• Star Hero - adaptation of the Hero System
• Starship Troopers - based on the novel Starship Troopers and related movies and cartoon series
• Star Trek: The Role Playing Game (FASA)
• Star Trek Roleplaying Game (Decipher)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation Role-playing Game
• Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game (West End Games)
• Star Wars Roleplaying Game (Wizards of the Coast)
• Star Wars Roleplaying Game (Fantasy Flight Games)
• Star Wreck Roleplaying Game - comedy; based on the Star Wreck fan film series
• Systems Failure - post-apocalyptic
• Tales from the Floating Vagabond - comedy
• Time Lord - a Doctor Who game
• Tokyo NOVA (Japanese) - cyberpunk
• Transhuman Space - hard science fiction
• Traveller
• Traveller: 2300 - hard science fiction
• Trinity
• Twilight 2000 - survivors in the aftermath of World War III
• Underground - future satire featuring renegade superheroes
• Universe
• Void Dancers - biopunk science fiction thriller
• Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay - space fantasy based on the Warhammer 40,000 wargame
• Wraeththu - based on the science fantasy novels of Storm Constantine
• World of Synnibarr

Superhero

• Aberrant by White Wolf Publishing
• Big Bang Comics
• Blood of Heroes
• Brave New World
• Capes
• Cartoon Action Hour by Spectrum Games
• Champions by Hero Games
• City of Heroes Roleplaying Game
• DC Heroes by Mayfair Games
• DC Universe Roleplaying Game by West End Games
• Double Cross
• Golden Heroes by Games Workshop
• GURPS Supers by Steve Jackson Games
• Heroes Unlimited (1984, 1998) - Created by Kevin Siembieda, published by Palladium Books
• Marvel Universe Roleplaying Game by Marvel Publishing Group
• Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game by TSR
• Marvel Super Heroes Role-Playing Game by TSR
• Mutants & Masterminds by Green Ronin Publishing
• Omlevex
• Silver Age Sentinels by Guardians of Order
• Superworld by Chaosium
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness (1985) - Created by Erick Wujcik, published by Palladium Books under license from Mirage Studios; based on the original comic book series by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird
• Trinity
• Underground by Mayfair Games
• Villains and Vigilantes by Fantasy Games Unlimited
• Wild Talents
• With Great Power...

Multi-genre and cross-genre

• CthulhuTech by Wildfire - H.P. Lovecraft's horror with Mecha and Anime influences
• DragonMech (steampunk/fantasy)
• Dragonstar (science fiction/fantasy)
• Godlike (superhero/alternate history)
• Immortal: The Invisible War - Created by Ron Valerhon. Immortal mixes modern fantasy, horror, science fiction and world mythology.
• Iron Kingdoms - Based on the Warmachine and Hordes universe by Privateer Press (steampunk/fantasy)
• Lords of Creation (1983) by Avalon Hill Inc.
• Numenera (2013) by Monte Cook Games (science fantasy)
• Rifts (1990) - Created by Kevin Siembieda, published by Palladium Books
• Shadowrun (cyberpunk fantasy)
• Terra the Gunslinger (Japanese) - western and steampunk, use playing cards instead of dice
• TORG - published by West End Games
• Worlds of Wonder by Chaosium
• Zen and the Art of Mayhem

Other genres

• Big Eyes, Small Mouth by Guardians of Order - anime based RPG
• Primetime Adventures by Dog-eared Design

Universal role-playing systems

• Active Exploits
• Amazing Engine
• Basic Role-Playing by Chaosium
• CORPS by Blacksburg Tactical Research Center
• Cortex System Roleplaying Game
• d6 System - West End Games' in-house system, based on the Star Wars RPG
• d20 System - based on Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rules
• EABA by Blacksburg Tactical Research Center
• FATE - Fantastic Adventures in Tabletop Entertainment based on the FUDGE engine
• FUDGE - Free, Universal, Do-it-Yourself Gaming Engine by Steffan O'Sullivan
• Fuzion
• GURPS - Generic Universal Role Playing System by Steve Jackson (US)
• Hero System by Hero Games
• Masterbook by West End Games
• OGL System by Mongoose Publishing
• Risus
• SAGA System - published by TSR
• Savage Worlds
• Storyteller System - published by White Wolf Publishing uses D10 only. System used in both WoD's and the Trinity Universe
• Tri-Stat dX - universal system used in Big Eyes, Small Mouth
• True20 - Published by Green Ronin Publishing
• TWERPS
• Unisystem by Eden Studios, Inc.
• Universalis by Ramshead Publishing

See also

• List of Japanese role-playing games by genre