For many fans, the best part of Dungeons and Dragons is the expansive inclusion of the supernatural. D&D offers a broad world of magic, monsters, and mythical adventures for players to explore. However, Dungeons and Dragons isn't the only tabletop role-playing game that includes metaphysical mythos.
Whether an epic quest in a high fantasy realm or a gritty excursion in a dark contemporary setting, TTRPGs offer a broad spectrum of supernatural adventures. Players can learn to use magical abilities to protect themselves or choose to turn ordinary objects from the world around them into expert weapons against deadly paranormal threats. And while DnD may be the most popular supernatural TTRPG, it is far from the only one.
10 Monster Of The Week Builds On Common Tropes
Perfect For Fans Of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, and Grimm
A classic of the genre, Monster of the Week puts players in the roles of character archetypes familiar to fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, Grimm, and other shows that use the "monster of the week" trope to build a repertoire of unique stories. The openness and flexibility of the game's material allow it to run campaigns in various settings and eras. With its intuitive Powered By the Apocalypse system and a wide range of character models to choose from, Monster of the Week is a fan favorite of TTRPG newcomers and veterans alike.
9 Vaesen Centers On Nordic Folklore And Horror
Nordic Folklore Meets The Industrial Revolution
Vaesen is a unique exploration of the folktales of Norway and the surrounding regions. In terms of setting, the game deals with the supernatural forces that lurk in the shadows rebelling against the rise of the Industrial Revolution.
Vaesen's core rule book contains a myriad of entities and monsters for Game Masters to employ against their intrepid players. In Vaesen, players may come face-to-face with any or all of those folkloric foes as they solve mysteries, rescue the innocent, and rebuild the Society, the only organization that stands between the mortal and the monstrous.
8 Call Of Cthulhu Embodies Classic Tales Of The Supernatural
Based On The Writings Of H. P. Lovecraft
A must-play for fans of the psychological horror genre, Call of Cthulhu remains a classic after over 40 years of publication. Inspired by the tales of H.P. Lovecraft and his contemporaries, players serve as investigators in the 1920s who have been exposed to the greater mysteries of the universe and are attempting to bring them into the light of mainstream knowledge.
However, as sinister forces from time immaterial and the remains of ancient cults arise, no one is safe from danger, both mental and physical. Call of Cthulhu’s Sanity mechanic proves that sometimes truths are left forgotten for a reason.
7 Vampire: The Masquerade Explores A Different Perspective
Play As The Monsters That Stalk The Night
First published in 1991, Vampire: The Masquerade was many tabletop enthusiasts' first chance to take on the role of the monsters at the gaming table rather than the heroes who hunt them. Over the past 21 years, the world and the rulebooks of Vampire: The Masquerade have expanded to include a cavalcade of unique groups of vampires known as clans.
Each clan comes with its own hereditary weakness and interpersonal intrigue. Anyone who dares become the shadows stalking the night will have a wickedly good time lying, sneaking, and holding back the Beast within while playing Vampire: The Masquerade.
6 Monsterhearts 2 Tells Supernatural Coming Of Age Stories
High School Can Be Monsterous
The players of Monsterhearts 2 can find out firsthand exactly what can go wrong in a high school classroom populated by monsters. This interaction-focused Powered By The Apocalypse role-playing system allows those at the gaming table to face threats both mundane and metaphysical.
As they deal with cyber-bullying, homecoming, and angst-ridden romance, players are also fighting to keep a lid on the blood-drinking, world-altering, paranormal powers that each character type carries. Monsterhearts 2 invites players to explore the human heart inside the monster and the lessons the metaphysical can teach them about growing up.
5 Pathfinder Is A Common D&D Alternative
A Copycat That Has Become Its Own Thing
While it may have originally shared significant similarities with previous editions of Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder has made great strides in making its own name in the TTRPG space. With the release of Pathfinder: Second Edition, the game's publisher, Paizo, has made great strides to separate the game from earlier editions.
Many basic rules have been changed, as well as the way characters level up and express their class abilities. For those looking for a streamlined experience and limitless adventure, Pathfinder: Second Edition might be just what they’re seeking.
4 Ten Candles Asks What Lies In The Darkness
Keep The Candles Burning Or Face The End
Ten Candles begins with a simple, chilling premise: the sun disappeared and when it did, They began to creep from the darkness, and only light can keep Them away. The main physical game mechanic is the titular ten candles, the extinguishment of which represents something going wrong for the heroes.
A sense of horror creeps over the game and the table as little by little, candle by candle, the world gets darker, scarier, and much more hopeless. While not a feel-good action romp, Ten Candles offers players a chance to gaze into the abyss and see who blinks first.
3 The Dragon Age RPG Invites Players Into Thedas
Face Off Against The Dark Spawn
For die-hard fans of the Dragon Age series and newcomers alike, the Dragon Age RPG allows anyone to explore the world of Thedas. Elves roam the forests and keep sheltered in the city slums, dwarves trade from their massive underground metropolis, humans have a hand in everything, and the Quinari keep to the Qun, their sacred societal code.
Players of Dragon Age RPG can explore ancient ruins, uncover forgotten truths, and take their stand in a war against the righteous Mages and the dedicated Templars. All the while, the hateful machinations of the Dark Spawn threaten the lands of Ferelden, Orlaes, and beyond.
2 The Supernatural RPG Brings The Show To Life
Sam And Dean Winchester Can't Save The World Alone
The Supernatural Role Playing Game is based on the lore of seasons 1-4 of the titular show. This game puts the players firmly in the shoes of Sam and Dean Winchester, who stand between the forces of the supernatural and mortal kind.
Armed with their father’s journal and a collection of specialized DIY weaponry, Hunters can pit themselves against the same threats that Sam and Dean faced every week. Fans of Supernatural will get a delighted thrill from the familiar scenarios in The Supernatural Role Playing Game, and it serves as an excellent jumping-off point for their own Hunter’s adventures.
1 We Die Young Combines The Supernatural With Subculture
'90s Grunge Culture Faces Off Against All Kinds Of Evil
As the grunge movement kicks off in Seattle, Washington in the 1990s, bands like Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, and Alice in Chains become household names. An urban fantasy setting, We Die Young pits the rebellious rage of the players against the hoards of vampires, zombies, and demons that are determined to crash the party in the most gruesome way possible.
Based on the SURVIVE THIS!! game series, anyone familiar with a d20 can jump right into the action. Ambitious groups can combine We Die Young with the other books of the SURVIVE THIS!! collection for an ever-expanding, always engaging world of grunge, darkness, and putting monsters back in their place.