The structure of most tabletop roleplaying games assumes that one player, the Dungeon Master or Game Master, will do a lot of prep before each session, choosing adversaries, designing maps, and generally creating a world and storyline for the other characters to explore. While this can make for some great sessions, it also means a lot of work for one player.
Some groups prefer to just sit down and play without having to do a bunch of preparation. This can be perfect for when someone has to miss the normal Dungeons and Dragons night, or when playing with a brand new group for the very first time. Many of these games are GMless, instead having every player contribute equally to the narrative. But there are plenty of GMed games that do away with prep as well.
10 Have You Heard About The Beast? Generates A Ferocious Monster
This game from Sealed Library has players working together to design a fearsome, legendary monster. Have You Heard About The Beast is divided into several categories, each one a question like "Where does it live?" "What does it guard?" and "What trap lies ahead?" Players take turns answering the questions in character as frightened townsfolk, world-weary sailors, or plucky adventurers. Have You Heard About The Beast features tons of inspiring prompts, but also encourages players to really flex their imaginations. Sealed Library's signature visual style brings the whole thing together in a short-but-sweet rulebook that is gorgeous to behold.
9 Oh Maker Investigates AI's Feelings
The inner lives of sentient AI are brought to the forefront in Oh Maker by Kienna Shaw and Jason Cutrone. Players choose a unique Creator, perhaps a brilliant inventor, a corporate entity, or another artificial being. Then, using a custom deck of cards, they answer questions to explore the history of their AI character and their relationship to their Creator. Oh Maker also features a rulebook with guides for using a standard deck of playing cards, meaning that it's easy to pick up and play in seconds.
8 Honey Heist Is On A Single Page
One of the most popular games by Grant Howitt, Honey Heist is a whole RPG system on a single page. Players take on the role of bears trying to steal honey from a honey convention using a wildly complicated plan.
Different kinds of bears have different abilities, like Terrify for grizzly bears, Swim for polar bears, and Eat anything that looks like bamboo for panda bears. Honey Heist uses an exceptionally simple resolution system and provides several random tables to help the GM get a story going right away.
7 Garrote Couture Features Fashion Models
Players could be forgiven for confusing this game with a fashion magazine, and for good reason. Garrote Couture by Jacqueline Bryk is a game about models desperately trying to make it to Ney York's fashion week event without ruining their outfits. Players must rush from scene to scene, desperately avoiding anything that might threaten their ensemble, including splashing puddles, trash, or even other models. Garrote Couture can be played with or without a GM, and its unique premise makes it a great addition to any TTRPG fan's collection.
6 Wanderlust Is About Leaving For A Journey
While most games have each player playing a single character each, Wanderlust by Star West has every player controlling the same person, called the Wanderer. The game covers the days leading up to the Wanderer's departure from their home as they embark on a long journey. Using a shared journal, players take turns answering questions and responding to events to help the Wanderer say goodbye to their family, friends, and home. The worldbuilding is embedded into the gameplay of Wanderlust, meaning that players can start with nothing prepared beforehand.
5 Noirlandia Creates The Mystery Collaboratively
Mystery stories are notoriously difficult to pull off in traditional RPGs. When a Game Master has to account for every potential clue and route of deduction, it makes for an exceptionally complicated task. Noirlandia by Evan Rowland solves this by having everyone work together to create the clues in real-time.
When played in-person, players actually use a corkboard, scratch paper, and string to create a detective movie-style collection of clues. Since nobody comes in with any concrete information, Noirlandia lets everyone get surprised as the mystery unfolds.
4 Dragonhearts Is A Mythological Dream Tale
Using the framework first set up in Mobile Frame Zero: Firebrands, Dragonhearts by Alex Guerrero is a GMless game about dragons able to shift between human and draconic form. It is made up of several minigames, each with their own special rules to help model chases, dances, conversations, and battles. Dragonhearts has a great tone and a wealth of mythology embedded in its text while still leaving room for players to contribute and discover on their own.
3 Tontine Is A Party RPG
Toeing the line between party game and RPG, Tontine by Tim Barribeau tells the story of a group of thieves laying low after pulling off the ultimate heist. Similar to games like Werewolf or Mafia, players close their eyes and secretly signal to a GM whether they plan to attack their fellow thieves, thereby reducing the number of people who need to split the payout. Tontine is perfect for groups who might be new to storytelling games, as it draws on familiar gameplay structures.
2 Flintlock Pits Sailors Against Seamonsters
Character creation, worldbuilding, and combat are all wrapped together in a short, five-page rulebook in Flintlock by Glaive Guisarme Games. Each player creates a sailor, supernaturally bound to their ship in exchange for some kind of magical boon.
A series of random tables help generate a fearsome sea monster that the group will need to battle against. Flintlock uses a unique dice mechanic that brings in the actions of the ship, the weather, the player's weapons, and the sea itself, making each turn a wildly dynamic series of exciting actions.
1 Subway Runners Uses Completely Online Generators
Random generation is really helpful in eliminating prep time, and Subway Runners by Gem Room Games is brimming with randomness. Players take on the role of magical gig workers tasked with delving into the subway to hunt monsters and repair the lines. It uses a modified version of the Forged in the Dark system, and can be played completely online. The character creation website generates a complete character sheet at a click, and similar websites do the same to generate a job and a setting. With a full game session generated in seconds, Subway Runners is an ideal game for quick action.