4 Must-Play Fantasy TTRPGs That Aren’t Dungeons & Dragons

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Tabletop role-playing games are thriving, with more options than ever before. While Dungeons & Dragons remains the most well-known, the recent surge in popularity has led to a wealth of creative new systems. Many of these offer more ways to customize your character, richer game worlds, or simpler rules for today’s players. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the hobby, it’s a great time to look beyond D&D and discover the many other fantastic fantasy RPGs available, all created with enthusiasm and a focus on unique gameplay.

The growing popularity of tabletop role-playing games isn’t simply about moving away from Dungeons & Dragons; it’s about finding games that better suit how your group likes to play. Whether you prefer quick, story-focused games, realistic and challenging experiences, over-the-top anime-style adventures, or games where the story comes first, the recent surge of independent games offers something for everyone. These games range from simple, easy-to-learn systems to complex, detailed worlds that can match D&D in scope, proving that fantasy tabletop role-playing is thriving.

4) Draw Steel

Matt Colville’s Draw Steel has become a standout TTRPG, surprising many with its quality. Unlike some recent games that relied on big marketing campaigns, Draw Steel gained popularity through excellent design and positive recommendations. It arrived quietly but delivered a refined and well-considered rules system that has quickly earned widespread acclaim.

Draw Steel truly shines because it successfully creates the kind of tactical, exciting, and cinematic fantasy experience it promises. Everything in the game feels intentional and well-designed, from the smooth combat to the unique character classes and even the moments between battles. While some aspects, like the idea that heroes always succeed or the game’s layout, might seem unusual at first, they actually fit perfectly with the game’s central idea: players should feel like powerful, confident heroes who always get the job done. It’s not just a well-made game; it all works together seamlessly.

What makes this game special is its attention to detail. The character classes are unique but not overly complicated, battles move quickly while still being strategically interesting, and the story unfolds in a compelling way through features like projects and montages. Reviewers initially expecting a decent game were surprised to find one of the most well-designed fantasy tabletop systems in years. Anyone who enjoys tabletop games should definitely check out Draw Steel, and it’s exciting to see it continue to improve.

3) BREAK!!! RPG

BREAK!!! RPG is a tabletop role-playing game that combines the look and feel of classic Japanese RPGs, the adventurous spirit of Zelda, and the bright, energetic style of 90s anime. It’s designed for groups who want exciting stories without getting bogged down in complicated rules. Visually stunning and easy to learn, BREAK!!! RPG features beautiful artwork, simple gameplay, and a creative world that respects players’ intelligence.

BREAK!!! is designed for quick learning and fast-paced gameplay. It uses a simplified version of the d20 system that feels both familiar and new. The game focuses on fun, teamwork, and imagination, rather than complicated rules and number crunching. Characters are built for exciting adventures, not just for maximizing stats. With plenty of choices for character backgrounds, magical abilities, ancestries, and professions, BREAK!!! offers a lot of customization without getting bogged down in overly complex mechanics, a common problem in many fantasy role-playing games.

The game’s world is a standout feature – vast, vibrant, and full of character. It effortlessly blends lighthearted and serious moments, ideal for players who enjoy campaigns ranging from silly adventures to epic clashes with powerful enemies. If you love the worlds of Studio Ghibli, Final Fantasy, Slayers, Chrono Trigger, or classic SNES RPGs, BREAK!!! is a system you won’t want to miss. It perfectly recreates the charm of old-school fantasy gaming while adding a modern feel inspired by beloved JRPGs and anime.

2) Pathfinder

If you enjoy the strategic gameplay of Dungeons & Dragons but want even more options for building and customizing your character, Pathfinder is a great choice. Often called the most detailed fantasy tabletop RPG, Pathfinder lets you create incredibly specific characters with a lot of mechanical detail. Since it evolved from Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition, it shares many similarities. For those looking for a D&D alternative with epic fantasy, rich storytelling, and a huge library of adventures, Pathfinder is still considered the best.

The shift from Pathfinder 1E to Pathfinder 2E significantly simplified the game, resulting in a complex RPG with a remarkably polished design. Its well-known three-action system makes battles more engaging and strategic, giving players much more tactical control than many other fantasy role-playing games. Each character class, whether it’s a Champion, Witch, or Inventor, is carefully crafted and provides a wide variety of unique abilities and ways to develop your character.

Golarion, the official setting for the Pathfinder role-playing game, is a remarkably well-developed fantasy world. It’s a vast and varied landscape brimming with compelling elements like powerful gods, cursed lands, dangerous ancient artifacts, epic battles against demons, and incredibly detailed locations. The adventures and official campaigns are among the best available, with titles like Abomination Vaults, Kingmaker, Strength of Thousands, and especially Wrath of the Righteous frequently praised as exceptional and adapted into excellent video games.

1) Daggerheart

After a long wait, Daggerheart is quickly becoming a major new player in the fantasy tabletop RPG world. Created by Darrington Press, the publishing company behind Critical Role, Daggerheart offers a fresh, story-focused experience as an alternative to Dungeons & Dragons, while still allowing for epic, ongoing campaigns. What really sets Daggerheart apart is its clear understanding of what modern RPG players are looking for.

A key feature of Daggerheart is its unique Hope and Fear die system, which adds dramatic tension to every roll. Instead of just determining if you succeed or fail, each roll also reveals an emotional element. Rolling with Hope or Fear alongside your result changes how successful or unsuccessful you are, creating more nuanced outcomes and driving the story forward. This system is designed to make every action feel important and contribute to the narrative.

Creating your character is all about roleplaying – your history, relationships, who you are, past experiences, and what you want all influence how you experience the game. Players aren’t just following a story; they can collaborate with the Game Master to build the world, adding locations and even helping to create plotlines within the game’s settings. Character classes aren’t restrictive; they’re designed to be adaptable and let you express your character’s unique personality.

Daggerheart aims to make gameplay smoother without sacrificing depth, focusing on stories shaped by the players’ characters and allowing for epic, ongoing campaigns. It’s designed to be accessible for beginners while still encouraging imaginative and emotionally resonant storytelling. Given the huge success of Critical Role, Daggerheart has the potential to become a leading fantasy tabletop RPG and a serious competitor to Dungeons & Dragons in the future.

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2025-11-29 22:14