Dungeons & Dragons has reigned as the quintessential tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) for a really long time because of its epic quests and immersive storytelling. I would truly recommend it to any fantasy fan out there. However, if you want to explore new frontiers, venture beyond the realm of swords and magic, and explore the vast expanse of space, dystopian futures, or cyberpunk cities, there is a whole universe of sci-fi TTRPGs waiting for you.
In this blog post, we’ll delve into our picks for the Top 8 Sci-Fi TTRPGs that are perfect for both fans of DnD who are looking to expand their horizons or newcomers to RPGs. All these games will introduce you to new worlds, innovative mechanics, and captivating stories. So grab your dice and let’s get started!
8. Deadlands
Deadlands is a TTRPG set in an alternate history version of the Wild West called Weird West, in the 1870s and 1880s. The Deadlands universe is different from our own because of the emergence of supernatural elements and the discovery of “ghost rock”, a volatile and powerful substance that transformed the whole world.
This TTRPG is famous for mixing genres because it has the elements of Westerns, supernatural creatures like zombies, vampires, and ghosts, and lastly, bizarre contraptions powered by ghost rock which add some steampunk spice to the story. The setting of Deadlands is dark, dangerous, and full of things that go bump in the night just waiting to strike.
Players can also experience the unique poker-based mechanics which use a deck of playing cards to determine the outcome of players’ actions or combat. Also, the game incorporates a currency called Plot points which players can use to reroll dice or even cheat death which gives them more agency in the game.
7. Warhammer 40k
Warhammer 40k is perfect for players and GMs who prefer a more dark, gritty, bleak, and morally ambiguous setting. In this game universe, war is tearing the galaxy apart, mankind is continuously being attacked by enemies, numerous very diverse factions are fighting for power and survival, and everyone is suffering because of corruption and cosmic horrors. Your character can participate in epic battles, unravel the mysteries of the universe and shape the fate of factions all around them.
This TTRPG has a rich and detailed lore that spans thousands of years which provides an endless amount of inspiration for storytelling and role-playing and lets players choose characters from various factions. Also, since Warhammer 40k stems from tabletop miniature wargaming, it has an expansive ruleset for combat mechanics, weapons, and army building. If you believe combat is the best part of TTRPGs and want to focus on tactical combat, this game is the perfect choice for you!
6. Cyberpunk RED
Cyberpunk RED is an installment of the super popular RPG franchise and serves as a continuation of Cyberpunk 2020, and a prequel for the video game Cyberpunk 2077.
It’s set in the Night City, in the dystopian future after the Fourth Corporate War. Let’s just say, the world is in shambles and turmoil after major catastrophic events that happened, there’s social decay and corporations control everything. Players will take the roles of edgerunners – mercenaries, hackers, criminals, and rebels – basically, people who live on the outskirts of society. You can explore the Night City, meet its inhabitants, complete quests and missions, basically anything you want, because the game is so player-driven and your choices truly matter.
This sci-fi TTRPG has a unique set of role-playing mechanics and its Lifepath system lets players create rich backstories for their characters. Also, Night City is a very engaging setting that helps create a very immersive experience for both players and the DM. If you’re a fan of the cyberpunk genre, then be sure to give this game a try!
5. Shadowrun
When cyberpunk met magic, Shadowrun was created. This sci-fi TTRPG is set on a near-future Earth where megacorporations are seemingly all-powerful.
Similar to Cyberpunk RED, players will take the roles of people who straddle the edge of the law, appropriately named shadowrunners. These characters are typically hired for all the dirty work that nobody else wants to do like assassinations, covert actions, heists, or just plain old espionage.
Since this game has a very flexible setting, depending on what the players and the GM like, you can create campaigns with a huge range of themes. Maybe you want to battle evil corporations, resolve conflicts between warring factions, uncover ancient artifacts, complete a heist, or battle magical beings – anything’s possible.
Shadowrun has very rich and extensive lore that spans multiple sourcebooks and additional supplements too. Going over it and getting familiar with the world of this sci-fi game can help GMs create interesting and immersive stories for their players to enjoy. Alongside a complex character creation system, there’s also a hacking system called Matrix which players can explore and even engage in virtual combat within it. This adds another layer of gameplay to this already complex game.
4. Dune: Adventures in the Imperium
If you’re a fan of Frank Herbert’s Dune book series or the movie adaptations, you might be glad to hear that there are also TTRPGs set in this iconic universe. This setting lets Dune: Adventures in the Imperium give players a cinematic experience filled with thrilling action sequences and intense battles. You can play many different character archetypes like a Mentat, Bene Gesserit, a Guild Navigator, or a member of a noble house. Each of these comes with a different set of skills, abilities, challenges, and opportunities, and will have to carefully navigate through the political intrigue and form alliances in order to survive.
Your characters will have to quickly adapt to the desert planet of Arrakis with its harsh environment, difficult terrains, and the omnipresent danger of Sandworms. This survival aspect and the need to carefully manage your resources adds a unique aspect to the gameplay that very few other TTRPGs have.
3. Star Wars: Edge of the Empire
There are multiple great Star Wars TTRPGs published since 1987 that allow players to immerse themselves in this universe and create their own adventures within it, but today I’m going to highlight Edge of the Empire.
This sci-fi TTRPG focuses on people who live on the outskirts of society in the outer rim territories like smugglers, bounty hunters, and explorers, rather than the all-powerful and epic Jedi and Rebel heroes. This offers fans of this iconic franchise a fresh, more gritty take on the Star Wars universe.
Instead of focusing only on the numerical values of the dice, players also use some specialized dice which can signify success, failure, advantage, despair, etc. This adds a unique, narrative element to the game which can add complexity and help story-telling.
The characters are super customizable, the lore is rich, the game mechanics are engaging, and the game is compatible with the two companion games: Age of Rebellion and Force and Destiny. This allows GMs to mix and match the elements of all three games to create a unique, immersive, and cinematic adventure of their own!
2. Starfinder
If fantasy TTRPGs are all you’ve ever known and you want to switch things up a bit, then I believe that you can’t do better than Starfinder. This game was published by Paizo Inc. (who also created Pathfinder) and shares the same rules and game mechanics as the first edition of this fantasy RPG. Starfinder is different from other sci-fi tabletop games because it combines elements of traditional science fiction and fantasy too, making a unique blend called science-fantasy.
This means that, during a campaign, you and your crew will come across cool futuristic technology and engage in space exploration and faster-than-light travel, but also encounter mythical creatures and magic too! You will be able to customize and upgrade the spaceships you’re on and even engage in ship-to-ship combat. Also, in true Pathfinder fashion, this game also offers a wide range of playable races, classes, and archetypes!
Stars Without Number
If you’re looking for a post-apocalyptic science fiction RPG that’s all about space exploration and interstellar trade then look no further than Stars Without Number.
Let me give you the gist: In the year 2108, the spike drive was invented, and all-out interstellar exploration was made possible. As a result, people started populating the stars. Only 500 years later, though, the Scream – a giant wave of energy – washed over the universe, wiping out almost all psychics, destroying the Jump Gates, and leaving countless populations isolated and starving. Now, in the year 3200, some worlds are still locked in the post-apocalyptic darkness while others are finally able to manufacture spacecrafts and advance technology again. There are countless abandoned worlds and space installations filled with incredible riches, salvage, and long-lost data just waiting for a crew of brave and capable adventurers!
Stars Without Number uses very similar game mechanics to DnD – it has the same six core abilities, you roll a d20 for combat, and saving throws work in an identical way too. When creating a character you can choose between four classes: Warrior, Expert, Psychic, or Adventurer or you can even play as an alien, VI, or True Ai (if your GM allows it). This game is easy to use for both seasoned RPG veterans and newbies to this game genre, gives GMs very detailed world and campaign-building tools, and features a detailed faction system that increases game immersion. Also, it’s very versatile and gives you guidelines to create your favorite type of sci-fi setting e.g. space opera or cyberpunk.
For further ease of use, there are multiple free section generators online which you can play around with in order to cut down your prep time quite a bit. Lastly, if you want to check out the new, revised version, but don’t want to commit to it right away, there is a free edition online, so be sure to give it a look-through – you won’t regret it!
