Dungeons and Dragons is currently the most popular tabletop roleplaying game in the world. However, getting invested in D&D can be expensive, as there are several sourcebooks, and gameplay can require a significant amount of materials for both players and Dungeon Masters, such as dice, modules, and maps.
The world of tabletop roleplaying games, or TTRPGs, is broad and diverse. There are plenty of games out there beyond the world of D&D, and many of them cost far less to play. Many games are even available for free, further lowering the barriers of entry for new gamers to get involved and start playing.
10 Honey Heist Is An Iconic One-Page Game
Honey Heist is a name-your-own-price, one-page tabletop roleplaying game about criminal bears executing detailed, complicated heists. Each player has two stats: Criminal and Bear, which they must keep balanced to avoid ending the adventure by turning into either solely a criminal or a bear.
There is also an optional table players can roll on to determine what hat their bear is wearing during the mission. Honey Heist's developer, Grant Howitt, is a prolific creator of small, low-cost TTRPGs, especially one-page games like Crash Pandas and Sexy Battle Wizards.
9 Fate Accelerated Streamlines A Popular System
Though the Fate Core System isn't remarkably expensive or expansive, Fate Accelerated maximizes its efficiency and minimizes its length. One of Fate's key strengths is that it can be adapted to any setting or genre, allowing gaming groups to explore the breadth of their storytelling interests.
The Fate Accelerated basic ruleset is available for free as a PDF file or for five dollars as a physical copy, making it extremely accessible from a financial standpoint. Additionally, many modules and campaigns that run on either Fate Core or Fate Accelerated are available online.
8 The Quiet Year Builds A New World
The Quiet Year is a mapmaking-based TTRPG about a community rebuilding after the fall of their civilization. While interested players can purchase a full set of playing materials for just over $50, the ruleset is available as a PDF file for less than eight dollars, and the rest of the needed materials are common household objects like paper, writing utensils, and a deck of playing cards.
Developer Avery Alder's other TTRPGs are also available as digital downloads for under $10 on the Buried Without Ceremony store page. Physical copies are also listed at affordable prices for hard-copy purists.
7 Dungeon World Is Typical Fantasy In A Compact Package
For those who want to capture the feeling of D&D without the comprehensive supply requirements, there's Dungeon World. Dungeon World keeps the classic D&D genre and lore elements, but runs the adventures using the Apocalypse World system, which only requires a few six-sided dice and has a streamlined gameplay system.
A bundle combining the physical copy of Dungeon World and the digital version is available for $25. However, digital-only versions are even cheaper and most sheets needed for play are available to download for free.
6 Ten Candles Is A Journey In Facing Mortality
Described by publisher Cavalry Games as "tragic horror," Ten Candles is a one-shot TTRPG with no survivors. The only materials required aside from the game's rules and description are ten tea light candles which serve as a time-keeping device, gameplay mechanic, and atmospheric setting for Ten Candles' tales of horror and hope.
Every session of Ten Candles is different as the Game Master determines what story to tell using Ten Candles' system. A softcover bundle of the game costs $28 and the digital version costs $10.
5 Monster Of The Week Is Iconic Urban Fantasy
Based on the tone of beloved stories like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, and The X-Files, Monster of the Week is a love letter to urban fantasy run on a Powered By the Apocalypse system. Players choose their character archetype to determine their role in the world of monsters and magic, then use their pre-set moves to take on all that goes bump in the night.
Both physical and digital copies are available through publisher Evil Hat Productions for $12 to $25. If players enjoy the game, they can acquire the supplemental book Monster of the Week: Tome of Mysteries at the same rates.
4 Lasers & Feelings Is A Sci-Fi Space Adventure
In Lasers & Feelings, gamers play as the crew of a spaceship whose captain is out of commission in a medical pod and must therefore strive to complete their mission alone. They can choose to use either logic and reason or emotional relationship-building to solve problems.
Not only does the original free, one-page TTRPG have multiple options for enemies and plots, but Lasers & Feelings also has a Creative Commons license that allows other developers to build hacks for it. This expands the game's world and playability even further for low-to-no cost.
3 The Ultimate Micro-RPG Book Is A Treasure Trove
For the maximum amount of TTRPG fun in one place, players can turn to The Ultimate Micro-RPG Book by James D’Amato. The book contains 40 one-to-two-page, no-prep TTRPGs of varying genres, settings, and topics.
Players can explore dungeons in the jungle, be heroic dogs, and build relationships in realms of magic. The Ultimate Micro-RPG Book packs a vast abundance of gameplay options into a single small package and, though the price may vary by location, is typically in the affordable realm of $15 to $20.
2 Ironsworn Calls Players To Free Adventure
Ironsworn is the adventure of noble heroes facing dangerous quests in a dark fantasy setting. The game can be played with or without a Game Master, enabling group play, two-person cooperative play, and solo play.
The mechanics require two 10-sided dice and one six-sided die to determine the result of player actions. All of Ironsworn's play materials, including the rulebook, character sheets, and full-color maps, are able to be downloaded for free, including those for the Ironsworn: Delve supplement and the game's sci-fi companion, Ironsworn: Starforged.
1 Risus Can Do Anything
Another free-to-download TTRPG is Risus, also known as The Anything RPG. Risus provides a basic ruleset that can be used in any setting or genre to tell almost any kind of story.
The stick-figure art style on the pamphlet containing the main rules invites players to interpret Risus as they need it and enjoy playing. For those who balk at a blank canvas, there are also multiple free modules available for the Risus play system called Toast of the Town and Slimes in Blossom Grove.