Tabletop RPG
Ongoing coverage on Tabletop RPG.
Latest coverage
Gloomhaven RPG spinoff Buttons & Bugs gets its first expansion with new classes and a pub crawl
Cephalofair Games is releasing its first expansion for the tabletop RPG spinoff Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs, titled Pub Crawlers. The expansion will introduce new enemies, a 17-scenario adventure, two new classes with miniatures, and a new difficulty deck. It is scheduled to launch later this year and will require the base Buttons & Bugs game to play.
12 Sided Studios' Newest Project, Force of Extinction, Wipes Out Funding Goals
12 Sided Studios has successfully surpassed its $10,000 funding goal on Backerkit for their new post-apocalyptic tabletop RPG, Force of Extinction. The game, which features a d20 dice pool system and character customization, has raised over $19,000 with the campaign ending on July 16. Backer tiers range from digital rulebooks to exclusive bundles including custom dice and even an overnight UK holiday experience.
D&D-inspired Critical Role's homegrown videogame is coming along well, says Laura Bailey: 'There's a…
Laura Bailey, a voice actor for Critical Role, has provided an update on the development of the franchise's homegrown video game, stating that progress is being made. The game, based in the Exandria setting, is being developed in partnership with AdHoc. Bailey indicated that while she cannot share many details, the project is actively moving forward.
There's no such thing as the Matt Mercer Effect
This article argues against the concept of 'the Matt Mercer effect,' which suggests that actual-play series like Critical Role set unrealistically high expectations for new tabletop roleplaying game players. The author contends that issues with player expectations and game mastering predate these series and are often rooted in a lack of proper 'session zero' discussions rather than the influence of professional voice actors.
Alien RPG gets harrowing new campaign following a hapless team of Colonial Marines
Free League is releasing a new standalone campaign for the Alien RPG, titled Operation Leading Edge, in Q4 2026. This campaign follows a team of Colonial Marines on a mission to secure a mineral deposit on the moon Jeremiah VI. It is the second part of the Jeremiah Saga trilogy and includes all necessary components for play, except for the core rules.
Operation Leading Edge — New Cinematic Adventure & Miniatures Set For ALIEN The Roleplaying Game
Free League Publishing announced new releases for ALIEN The Roleplaying Game Evolved Edition, including the cinematic adventure Operation Leading Edge and an accompanying miniatures set. These items, along with a dice tray and Evolved Editions of Chariot of the Angels, Colonial Marines Operations Manual, and Building Better Worlds, are available for pre-order with PDF access ahead of their Q4 release.
A "reading-style" fantasy adventure in the spirit of The NeverEnding Story
A demo for Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle, a handcrafted fantasy adventure inspired by The NeverEnding Story, is now available during Steam Next Fest. Developed over six years by Yoshio Nishimura, a 30-year veteran from Vanillaware, the game features over 300 unique illustrations and emphasizes player choice and dice-based mechanics.
Paizo Inc to Release Limited Printing of 13 Omens: Preview Edition at Gen Con 2026
Paizo Inc will release a limited printing of the 13 Omens: Preview Edition at Gen Con 2026. This 64-page book offers an early look at the new tabletop RPG, featuring playable rules and a scenario called 'The Haunting of Hollybrook Inn'. The game introduces a unique dice mechanic with 'Omen Dice' that increase danger as play progresses.
Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker launch trailer – D&D-inspired visual novel for Nintendo Switch
Gentle Troll has released a launch trailer for their Dungeons & Dragons-inspired visual novel, Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker, now available on Nintendo Switch. The game tasks players with managing a seaside tavern, mixing magical drinks, and turning rumors into quests for patrons, featuring a story set 36 years before the original Tavern Talk.
Renegade Game Studios Announces End of Essence20 RPG System at Renegade Con 2026
Renegade Game Studios announced the retirement of its Essence20 RPG system, which powered games like Transformers and Power Rangers. New editions of these TTRPGs will be released, adapted to Dungeons & Dragons 5.5e, and will be crowdfunded via Backerkit. A free conversion guide will be provided for existing Essence20 books.
The Dungeon Crawler Carl RPG Core Rulebook and Miniatures Are Up for Preorder at Amazon
The Dungeon Crawler Carl tabletop role-playing game core rulebook and miniatures are now available for preorder on Amazon, with a release date set for December 1, 2026. This marks the popular book series' expansion into the TTRPG space.
Vampire The Masquerade Oaths and Ashes feels like the ultimate VTM visual novel
Vampire: The Masquerade - Oaths and Ashes is a new visual novel from Revive the Spark set in the Berlin By Night universe. The preview highlights the game's mechanics, which adapt tabletop RPG elements like disciplines and the Masquerade into visual novel choices, and features two playable characters, Alice and Lenz. The demo showcases a compelling narrative with meaningful consequences, differentiating it from previous titles in the genre.
Best Summer Game Fest 2026 Games You Might Have Missed
This article highlights several upcoming indie games that may have been overlooked amidst the major announcements from Summer Game Fest and other showcases. It features a diverse range of titles, including action, RPG, horror, and simulation genres, with brief descriptions and personal endorsements from the writers.
If you need a break from your D&D campaign, this mischievous hobbit adventure is spot on
This article reviews The One Ring: Hobbit Tales and The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying: Shire Adventures, highlighting them as light-hearted alternatives to epic tabletop RPG campaigns like Dungeons & Dragons. Both modules focus on mischievous hobbit adventures in the Shire, with Hobbit Tales using The One Ring system and Shire Adventures adapting the content for Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition.
Pathfinder creators Paizo have $10 million of inventory stuck in a warehouse somewhere because of Diamond Comics,…
Paizo, the publisher of Pathfinder 2e, has laid off 12 employees due to significant financial losses stemming from Diamond Comics' bankruptcy. Approximately $10 million worth of Paizo inventory is inaccessible in Diamond's warehouse, pending litigation with JP Morgan Chase. The company experienced nearly $2 million in losses last year, with book-trade sales remaining low.
Destiny 2’s Story Doesn’t Have To Be Over For TTRPG Players
This article explores how the narrative structure and communal storytelling of Destiny 2 can be translated into tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs). It highlights several TTRPGs like LIGHT: Beacon Edition, Songs for the Dusk, The Brightest Things We Know, and Dungeons & Destiny as potential avenues for players to continue their Guardian's stories in a new medium.
Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons - Ravenloft is now my most anticipated board game of the summer
Horrified: Dungeons & Dragons - Ravenloft is generating significant buzz as a highly anticipated board game, drawing inspiration from classic horror and the popular Dungeons & Dragons campaign Curse of Strahd. The game combines cooperative mechanics with gothic horror themes, featuring unique hero classes and 'Dark Gifts' that add a layer of corruption to gameplay. It is set to be released in July, making it a timely addition for the spooky season.
Getting Started with D&D in 2026: A No-Nonsense Beginner's Guide | TAG
This guide provides a no-nonsense approach for beginners looking to start playing Dungeons & Dragons in 2026, emphasizing its nature as a collaborative storytelling game. It recommends starting with the 2024 core rulebook update and suggests minimal initial purchases, such as dice and a character sheet, with the Starter Set being ideal for Dungeon Masters. The article also debunks common myths about time commitment, complexity, and required creativity, and offers alternative RPGs for those who might not find D&D suitable.
D&D rival Paizo forced to make layoffs after "devastating" loss stemming from $10m in stock being held…
Pathfinder publisher Paizo has announced layoffs affecting 12 staff members due to significant financial losses stemming from its former distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors, going bankrupt and holding onto approximately $10 million in Paizo goods. The company also faces challenges with declining book-trade sales and increased production costs, leading to a reduction in organized play scenarios and a shift towards community-created content.
Where Birds Sleep Reveals New Trailer, Neil Newbon Joins as Lead Actor
Quiet Little Feet revealed a new trailer for their narrative adventure game, Where Birds Sleep, and announced that Neil Newbon will voice the main character, Cormo, and also serve as a producer. The game, previously titled Where Birds Go To Sleep, features a unique blend of tabletop roleplaying, point-and-click exploration, and mystery puzzles where player choices influence Cormo's psyche and actions, creating tension between player agency and character resistance. The game is set on a prison island inspired by the mystical Middle East at the turn of the 16th century and is available to wishlist on Steam.
