Trying out a new RPG can be a daunting task, especially if a group is used to a specific system. Folks often cite cost, complexity, and familiar comfort as reasons not to try new games. Luckily, designers have taken steps to help alleviate some of these barriers. Many games today offer some kind of free demo version, often a pared-down version of the rulebook with just the essentials for making characters and running them through a typical session.
These quickstarts are a great way for players to test out games they may be interested in without spending too much on something that might not be right for them. Some games even have all their rules free in a System Resource Document, or SRD, only missing the illustrations, layout, and flavor text the full game has to offer.
10 Lancer by Massif Press Has A Beautiful, Fully Illustrated Demo
This crunchy, tactics-based mech RPG has players taking on the role of Lancers, skilled pilots that bring their giant robots to bear for tasks all across the galaxy. Fans of turn-based tactical games like X-Com or tabletop miniatures games will want to give this one a look.
The entire first edition PDF is free from Massif's Itch.io store. It includes the core rules, the different mechs pilots can choose from, and beautiful artwork throughout. It lacks the GM info and setting description but is still fully playable as is.
9 Best Left Buried: Zini Edition By SoulMuppet Publishing Has Players Delving Into The Dark
Best Left Buried is a gritty, dark dungeon crawling game in the tradition of games like Darkest Dungeon. It pits adventurers against scary crypts filled with dangerous monsters protecting valuable loot. Probably valuable anyway. A free zine version is available on drivethrurpg.com, including five small printable files that cover gameplay rules, character creation, and monsters.
These small documents are perfect for reference at the table, though they lack the incredible art the Cryptdigger's and Doomsayer's Guides offer.
8 Armour Astir: Advent By Briar Sovereign Is A Living Game With Regular Updates
Mech stories are popular among independent tabletop gamers, and Armour Astir: Advent offers an exciting twist on the genre. Pilots in this game are magicians, and their mechs, or Astirs, are giant golems powered by varying types of magic. The game uses the Powered by the Apocalypse system with a number of unique developments to better replicate the genre.
A playtest version is available for free on Itch.io and at a pay what you want level on Drivethrurpg.com, and the full version is updated regularly.
7 Golden Sky Stories By Starline Publishing Is A Sweet And Wholesome Game
Originally released in Japan, this heartwarming, nonviolent RPG doesn't use dice, instead of relying on an exchange of tokens to tell the story. Players each play a magical animal spirit in a small Japanese town, and the game is about helping out friends and making new ones.
A free version was released in 2013 as a part of the Tabletop Day celebration that year, and it includes the base rules plus four types of creatures for players to choose from.
6 Brinkwood: The Blood of Tyrants by Erik Bernhardt Is An Up And Coming New Title
In this "castlepunk" game, bands of Robin Hood-style brigands face off against an oppressive vampire regime with the aid of mystical fae allies from the eponymous Brinkwood forest. This game uses the simple Forged in the Dark system to put players right into the action as they perform raids, recruit allies, and "drink the rich."
There is a free playtest version online and is fully playable despite lacking artwork and complete flavor text. The full version was successfully funded on Kickstarter in September 2021.
5 Gumshoe's SRD by Pelgrane Press Is More Of A Resource But Can Be Played
This game was designed to emulate the mystery genre. Tabletop games can have a tough time with mysteries, as GMs have to leave enough clues around that players won't miss them, while also not making it too easy to solve. Gumshoe solves this problem by making sure players get the clues, then asking "what do they do with them?"
The Gumshoe SRD, found at gumshoe-srd.com, isn't designed to be a play document, instead, it is targeted towards designers making their own games with its system. It is a complete version of the rules, however, and a group could play a game using it before going out to buy a full version.
4 City of Mist by Amít Moshe Has A Unique And Evocative Setting
City of Mist is a game of superheroic fairy tale intrigue. Player characters are "Rifts," mortals able to channel powers from myth and legend, such as the Greek gods, Tom Sawyer, or Don Quixote. The game uses a heavily modified Powered by the Apocalypse engine to make for gameplay that is very flexible and modular.
The quickstart rules are available by signing up for the free email newsletter at cityofmist.co, and the website also has samples of other published products, as well as ideas for villains to throw into a story.
3 The Fate SRD by Evil Hat Games Is Three Full Games
Fate is a setting-neutral game that uses a tag system and a narrative currency called "Fate points" to allow players and GM to share control of the story. It works best for action-packed, pulpy action stories, but can be adapted to almost any genre. The game has three different versions of varying complexities, Fate Core, Fate Accelerated, and Fate Condensed.
All are available as SRDs on fate-srd.com. The SRD contains all the information needed to play any version of Fate and can be enhanced by the various setting books available for purchase.
2 Fiasco by Jason Morningstar Is Perfect For When Nobody Wants To GM
This GMless game is built to help players tell stories in the vein of Cohen Brothers movies; long convoluted plots that culminate in incredible and satisfying failures or triumphs. The game's core rules are simple, and its real strength comes from its playsets. A playset is essentially a collection of prompts around a tight theme, and there are hundreds available online for free or purchase.
A sample of the Fiasco rules is available from bullypulpitgames.com, giving just enough to get a sense of how the game is played.
1 Beam Saber by Austin Ramsay Brings High Octane Action
Beam Saber is a Forged in the Dark game based on mecha war anime such as Gundam. Pilots are members of a squad in an impossibly large conflict, and the best they can hope for is to make it out alive.
The Beam Saber quick start guide has all the information needed to create a pilot and a squad, plus the rules for building and carrying out missions. It lacks the art and full setting information of the core book but contains more than enough to get a feel for the game's style.