4 Video Games That Would Make Perfect TTRPGs

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I’m really excited about how many video games are getting turned into tabletop RPGs lately! It makes so much sense, because even though they’re different ways to play, video games and tabletop games actually have a lot in common. While Dungeons & Dragons is still the big name, there are tons of other great systems popping up. It’s not just about playing through a story anymore, you know? People want to really live in these worlds, create their own characters, and tell unique stories with friends – stories that a video game just can’t offer. With more and more studios starting to adapt games for tabletop, I keep wondering which worlds would be amazing as a TTRPG next!

Popular video game franchises are increasingly being adapted into tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs). These games often have compelling stories, challenging combat systems, or focus on immersive exploration and character development – all elements that already feel like the foundation for a great tabletop campaign. While none of these games currently have a fully developed, officially supported TTRPG version, they each have the potential to become the next big success in the TTRPG world. Here are four video games that would be ideal for this transition.

4) Pokemon

Pokémon is a massive global franchise with video games, animated shows, movies, comics, and a trading card game, but surprisingly, it doesn’t have a traditional tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG). Given that Pokémon is all about adventure, collecting, exploring, and improving your skills, it’s actually a perfect fit for tabletop gaming. While fans have created their own systems, there’s still no official, fully supported TTRPG for Pokémon, which is quite surprising.

The basic gameplay of Pokémon – traveling through a world, encountering unique people and locations, collecting and training creatures, and assembling teams for battles – is already very similar to a traditional tabletop role-playing game. A Pokémon tabletop RPG could build on this by prioritizing storytelling and exploration, with simpler combat that emphasizes clever strategies, using the environment, and battles that move the story forward. Think about using skill checks to soothe a wild Luxray, uncovering lost ruins in Johto’s forests, or dealing with a professor whose research is ethically ambiguous.

As a huge Pokémon fan, I’ve always thought a tabletop RPG would be amazing! It could bring back some of the really cool, but often overlooked, stuff from Pokémon Black & White – things like tough moral decisions, rich history, and even regional conflicts with different groups vying for power. But the best part? We could finally create our own trainers, build our own rivalries, and forge our own legendary tales! It’s frustrating being stuck with a silent character and a set story, so a TTRPG would let us truly use our imaginations within the Pokémon world. Honestly, with the right system, I think Pokémon could become the next big tabletop RPG – I really believe that!

3) The Elder Scrolls

Many players feel like The Elder Scrolls is already similar to a tabletop role-playing game, and often wonder if one exists. Bethesda’s popular series excels at creating a sense of freedom, letting players develop their skills, and allowing them to shape their own stories – all things tabletop RPG fans enjoy. So, why would a tabletop RPG based on The Elder Scrolls be successful? It’s simple: the series has a rich history stretching back thousands of years, a versatile character system, a compelling magic system, a world built for adventure and meaningful choices, and plenty of organizations and political conflicts that would make for great campaigns.

A tabletop game could capture the sense of freedom that makes the franchise so beloved. Imagine playing as a sneaky Khajiit thief, a powerful Nordic battlemage, or even a peaceful monk who talks their way through adventures – it’s all easily achievable. The Elder Scrolls isn’t just a fantasy world; it’s a playground where unique stories naturally unfold as you play. You could set campaigns in familiar locations like Cyrodiil, Morrowind, and Skyrim, or explore entirely new areas, even the planes of Oblivion, or regions never seen in the video games.

A tabletop role-playing game could delve deeper into aspects of the world only briefly explored in the video games. For example, we could explore the everyday political maneuvering of Cyrodiil’s nobility, the aftermath of the Great War in Hammerfell, or the common people’s views on the Tribunal in Vvardenfell. A strong ruleset would likely allow characters to develop based on their choices, mirroring the freedom found in games like Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim. Plus, unlike the video games, this version wouldn’t be limited by technical issues or crashes caused by adding modifications.

2) Mass Effect

A Mass Effect tabletop RPG is a natural fit. BioWare’s sci-fi series is famous for its branching storylines, meaningful choices, detailed universe, and focus on companions – all elements that work wonderfully in a tabletop campaign. While Exodus currently offers this experience, the core appeal of a Mass Effect TTRPG stems from the same qualities that made the original games so beloved.

What really sets this game apart is how much variety there is when creating your character – you can choose from many different species and classes, which leads to unique ways to play. Equally important are the relationships you build with other characters. The game is built around allies, rivals, romances, and even those you disagree with. Its focus on missions makes it easy to adapt into a tabletop role-playing game, letting game masters create everything from stealthy infiltrations and daring rescues to complex investigations and galactic-scale diplomacy. This allows for both long, ongoing campaigns and shorter adventures with different players.

What’s truly captivating about Mass Effect is how your choices matter, and the impact they have on the game’s world. Every quest, relationship, and difficult decision could genuinely change the galaxy. A tabletop roleplaying game based on Mass Effect could even emphasize these consequences more than the video games do. Picture yourself venturing into unexplored space, meeting new alien civilizations, or finding Reaper technology that could throw entire groups into chaos. Mass Effect is perfectly suited for roleplaying – it just needs a set of dice to make it happen.

1) The Legend of Zelda

As a huge Zelda fan, I’ve always thought it’s crazy that we don’t have a really great tabletop RPG yet! It feels like the perfect world for it. It looks simple on the surface, but there’s so much history, mystery, and cool stuff hidden within Hyrule. A Zelda tabletop game could be something really special – it could nail that balance of fun, bravery, clever puzzles, exploring a huge world, and epic stories that Zelda is known for. I’ve seen fans try to make their own versions, which are awesome, but Nintendo hasn’t really stepped up to create a big, official one, and I really think they should!

The world of Hyrule, rich with gods, old legends, magical items, and repeating patterns in history, is ideal for expansive stories and epic adventures. Its focus on exploring dungeons and solving puzzles would be a unique addition to tabletop role-playing games, even though players sometimes struggle with puzzles. A tabletop game could handle puzzles as team-based challenges that require thinking, tests of skill with many possible answers, or ways to reveal more about the game’s world.

The world of Hyrule is incredibly diverse, with unique cultures and people in places like the Zora Domain, Goron Mountain, and Gerudo Desert. This allows for gameplay focused on different factions, exploration, and roleplaying experiences tied to each culture. While many tabletop RPGs avoid focusing on these cultural differences, a Legend of Zelda RPG could really benefit from them. Plus, instead of the usual ‘hero’s journey,’ players could focus on smaller, local stories and explore Hyrule from different perspectives, since everyone already knows Link’s role.

As a huge Zelda fan, one of the things I love most is how the timeline is always shifting and branching. That’s why I think a Zelda tabletop RPG would be amazing! It doesn’t have to be about Link – the games have established that heroes rise up in every generation, so we could play as completely new characters! Hyrule is a big place, and while Link is dealing with the really big threats, there’s tons of room for us to step in and be heroes in our own right. Plus, Zelda games are already so welcoming and family-friendly. I really think a well-designed Zelda RPG could bring a lot of new people into the tabletop hobby, kind of like how D&D 5E did, and that would be incredible for everyone!

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2025-11-30 20:15