The 10 Best Pen and Paper RPG Games Ever

Here is a list of the ten best pen and paper roleplaying games of all-time. Although there is no scientific way to prove the ‘best RPG games’ ever, this list takes into account the overall popularity of pen and paper roleplaying games since the industry was first created.

10 – Gamma World – It’s a post-apocalyptic game, but not in the style of Mad Max. This game fit more into the style of a science fantasy game. You could play all sorts of random mutant creatures, in addition to playing people that were mostly normal.

9 – Vampire the Masquerade – Some may argue which is the best World of Darkness product. But Vampire the Masquerade was the game that put White Wolf on the map. Vampire the Masquerade has also become the number Live Action Roleplaying Game in the world. Go LARP’ers!

8 – RuneQuest – Although not as popular as it used to be, RuneQuest is commonly considered by fans as one of the ‘original’ fantasy roleplaying games. It was created in the same genre as Dungeons & Dragons and Tunnels & Trolls, but with a slightly different campaign setting and game system.

7 – Champions – Although it may no longer be the most popular comic-themed roleplaying game ever, this game has been around a long time since it was first published in 1981. The game set the stage for many other comic book and super hero related roleplaying games.

6 – Tunnels & Trolls – Also called T&T, this was the second modern roleplaying game ever created. It was published in 1975 and was created to be an easier to play game than its predecessor, D&D.

5 – GURPs – With the Generic Universal RolePlaying System (GURPs), you can create a game for any setting. You use the GURPs system and find a sourcebook that has the campaign type you like. Once you do that, you’re pretty much ready to rock.

4 – Star Wars – This is definitely the most well-known space opera setting of all time, and some may argue the best of all time. However, the debate will continue on about which is the best edition, d6, d20, or Saga Edition.

3 – Traveller – Not as famous as its other space opera buddy, Star Wars. This game, however, did come out as a roleplaying system before George Lucas’s creation did. Traveller was first created in 1977 and has been going strong ever since. The game is definitely considered one of the ‘original’ RPGs.

2 – Call of Cthulhu – The most famous horror-themed pen and paper roleplaying game. This setting is based off the horror fiction writings of H.P. Lovecraft. This game has many different editions, using many different systems, and has won multiple awards.

1 – Dungeons & Dragons – Love it or hate it. If you’ve gamed, odds are you’ve played it. There are editions wars over rapid roleplaying fans. But one thing they can all agree on is that Dungeons & Dragons is the grandfather of all roleplaying games. Even people that have never roleplayed in their life have heard of Dungeons & Dragons.

Some people may disagree with the overall placement of some of these games. Others may ask why certain games are even on here. Why haven’t other games been included, like Shadowrun, Robotech, Palladium Fantasy, Rifts, or many newer games? Well, they weren’t. This list was created by veteran gamers and apparently they had a little nostalgia in them. So what do you think of the list?

Hans Verbeck writes about Role Playing and the Best RPGs.