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Sci-Fi RPG systems/settings/core rules

This is meant to be a non-exhaustive list, in stream-of-consciousness order.

Dedicated systems

  • Traveller (in its many incarnations throughout the past nearly 50 years and derivatives such as Cepheus, Hostile)
  • 2300 AD (now a setting for Traveller)
  • Cyberpunk (2013, 2020, V3.0, Red)
  • Paranoia
  • Eclipse Phase
  • Lancer
  • Star Wars roleplaying (different games by different publishers: WEG d6, d20, FFG NDS)
  • Warhammer 40K
  • 3:16: Carnage Amongst the Stars
  • Shadowrun
  • Apocalypse World
  • Coyote & Crow
  • SLA Industries

FATE based systems

  • Bulldogs!
  • Mindjammer
  • Nova Praxis
  • Diaspora
  • Atomic Robo

OSR/d20 based systems

  • Stars Without Number
  • Starfinder
  • Mothership
  • CY_BORG

Year Zero

  • Mutant: Year Zero
  • Alien: The RPG
  • Blade Runner: The RPG
  • Coriolis – The Third Horizon

GURPS

A host of modules and supplements named after the subgenre, GURPS-style. GURPS Transhuman Space, Cyberpunk, etc.

Other systems

  • Star Trek Adventures (Modiphius 2d20)
  • Dune: Adventures in the Imperium (Modiphius 2d20)
  • Rifts (Palladium)
  • Robotech (Palladium)
  • Scum and Villainy (FitD/PbtA)

Solo friendly

  • Stoneburner
  • Ironsworn: Starforged (PbtA)
  • Hostile (Cepheus/Traveller)

Out of print/No longer developed

  • Firefly RPG (Cortex Plus)
  • Serenity RPG (Cortex Classic)
  • Battlestar Galactica RPG (Cortex Classic)
  • Gamma World (D&D)
  • Space Opera
  • Other Suns
  • Albedo
  • Space Master
  • HARP SF
  • Blue Planet
  • Ringworld
  • Living Steel
  • High Colonies
  • Jovian Chronicles
  • Heavy Gear
  • Justifiers
  • Star Frontiers
  • Universe
  • CORPS

Have a suggestion to improve this? Your favorite game missing? Leave a comment.

26 comments
  • Rifts

    Robotech- OOP

    There is a new version of Robotech from after Paladium Games lost the license, but I have not looked at, or played it.

    And there is the old d6 system for Star Wars from West End Games, and the new books use I think the FATE system. There was also the short lived d20 system from WoTC.

    • You also have Battletch, but somt know Robotech to say of the systems are similar

    • Rifts is a classic, but also a very strange animal. And for some reason I thought Robotech was a minis game (must be confusing with something else).

      Star Wars is already listed. I know those are technically different games, but I'm trying to keep the list as concise as possible (grouping the multiple versions of the same setting under one entry). I don't know much about the history of star wars RPG though. How would you summarize it? (WEG d6, d20, Fate)?

      • And for some reason I thought Robotech was a minis game (must be confusing with something else).

        There was a Robotech minis game, that was a huge debacle, and why Paladium games lost the license. But you are likely thinking of BattleTech, which is historically a mini game but also has an TTRPG version initially called MechWarrior, but I think it has a new name now.

        How would you summarize it? (WEG d6, d20, Fate)?

        Yes. They all play totally differently, AB’s the newer stuff has newer source books. But the last time I looked the community had taken the newer stuff and adapted it to work with WEGd6.

        And despite something being listed, I think if there are multiple versions (not just different editions, but these are totally different games set in the same universe. But to keep the list concise, a note that there are different versions from different publishers.

        Another I just remembered, is there is a Firefly RPG, I forget the publisher (possibly Lost Unicorn Games) I will look it up later.

26 comments