Monday 22 August 2016

Comprehensive List of OSR Games

I present to you a comprehensive list of OSR/D&D-esque games. Only those games qualified that are either (1) retroclones (presenting an older system with or without modification; e.g. Kazamaták és Kompániák and AS&SH), (2) belong to the OSR by consensus (games building off of D&D's mechanics in innovative ways; e.g. Mazes & Minotaurs and Ghastly Affair), or (3) old-school in gameplay (having the same or very, very similar gameplay to D&D but with a different system; e.g. Torchbearer and Dragon Age).

Mind you the list includes games that had to do with 3E and 4E as well, so it is not strictly pre-3E D&D, and even some edge cases are on the list, such as Zweihänder and OpenQuest, which are clones of WFRP and Runequest, respectively (but the gameplay patterns are notably still D&D-esque, and they fit the spirit of the DIY OSR community). I fancy the term broad OSR (because some people would argue Wayfarers or Radiance disqualifies), but that might as well be as inaccurate as narrow D&D-esque (but then where's Infernum and Warcraft d20, one might ask).

The list includes different editions where applicable, but that shouldn't significantly inflate the number of games. I noted the year they were published and the publisher at that time. I also provided download links, as well as places where PDF or print copies can be purchased (chiefly links to RPGNow and Lulu). Mind you, all of the RPGNow links have an affiliate tag (not that would gain me much, but I figured I might be able to purchase a game or two off of that in the long run). I also added a column for theme/genre and noted it where it was explicitly stated or trivial to infer (except if it was some form of general D&D fantasy).

What's next? I'll definitely try to keep this document updated, if nothing else, for my own sake (I like making lists). Also, I'll slowly but surely add more notes to the games already on the list; I've been experimenting with formats to provide concise summaries (some of it still remains in the document), but I have not decided upon anything.

Finally, some numbers, because they are fun:
  • 281 games in total, including 2nd, revised, and expanded editions (plus 9 whose release date I could not find)
  • 14 games released between 2004 and 2006
  • 9 games released in 2007, then 12 in 2008
  • 22 games released in 2009, then 25 in 2010 and 2011 each
  • 40 games released in 2012 and 41 in 2013 (only 5 of which were revised editions)
  • 21 games released in 2014, then 26 in 2015
  • so far 45 games released in 2016 (13 of which are variants of The Black Hack)
  • 15 games in the works that I know of, 3 of which will definitely see release this year
  • 127 games are available for free, plus 15 more are PWYW
  • 19 explicit sci-fi variants, and 2 that advertise themselves as planetary romance
  • 13 explicitly sword & sorcery games
  • 9 western games
  • 5 games whose implied setting is inspired by Asian cultures

22 comments:

  1. Torch & Swords is a LBB (74) minimalist clone. (http://quicklyquietlycarefully.blogspot.fr/2011/07/torch-sword-beta-1.html)

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  2. I don't see the Knights of the All Mind Ruleset - which isn't surprising though.

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  3. You could add Dungeonesque though it's only out for backers. http://roguecomet.com/news/dungeonesque-red-box-rpg-pdfs-available-for-preview/

    Interesting because it's D&D 5th.

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. Hello Ynas---

    Please add the Black Blade printing of OSRIC to your listing: http://black-blade-publishing.com/Store/tabid/65/pid/41/OSRIC-Hardback-Second-Printing-.aspx is the URL and it's a superior print quality to the Lulu POD version of the book, and contains additional art and a four-page index.

    Allan.

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    1. I finally came around to add it to the list, but the link doesn't seem to work :/

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    2. Just checked it again (in preparations for a related post), and it worked, so I added it ;)

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  6. "The Star Runner Kit - Black Hole Edition" has been released (http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/209605/The-Starrunner-Kit-The-Black-Hole-Edition-A-SciFi-Space-Toolkit) and it may be worth including "White Star - Galaxy Edition" which is a combination of the regular rulebook, the Companion and a bunch of other stuff that'll be released "in the spring".

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    1. Added to the list (only a placeholder for now until the actual release).

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  7. Please add Sword & Backpack

    http://swordandbackpack.tumblr.com/post/108176654598/sword-backpack-megapost

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  8. FYI, Godbound is late post-apocalyptic in genre (as in it's been centuries since the apocalypse) and "PCs as demigods" in concept.

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    1. Thanks! I've actually read Godbound (well, I've read like 75% of what's on the list), but I only include genre/concept if it makes searching easier (I use Ctrl+F a lot to get around the list). I might add simply "demigod", though.

      I'm in the process of figuring out how to present more information in a better way, so I'm picking up webdev skills on the side.

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  9. Great list!
    Thank you for putting this together!!

    Want to bring a couple broken links to your attention.

    Encounter Critical - only reachable through Wayback Machine now. Under downloads, the second link still works.
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070310182343/http://www222.pair.com/sjohn/downloads.htm

    Burning THAC0 - No longer available. No new link available.
    Wayback Machine is currently down so I can't find an alternative. But doing a google search will find a pdf floating around.

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    1. I'm glad you like it.
      Thanks! Changed both to working links.

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  10. I'm curious: why do you have Mothership on there (d100 space horror) but not Mörk Borg (d20 grimdark medieval fantasy with lots borrowed from B/X)? Certainly Mothership is an OSR game, but its inclusion cancelled out every reason I could think of not to include Mörk Borg!

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    1. I personally don't think Mothership is an OSR game (in my view, only D&D-derived games are OSR systems), and neither is it really D&D-esque, but my reasoning at the time was that it still is an important landmark and an influence on the scene (same goes for Legend, Against the Darkmaster, etc.).

      At any rate, you're right. Mörk Borg clearly has more right to be on the list as it's clearly D&D-derived (even though it goes in a very different direction, much like The Black Hack and Into the Odd). Just added it to the list.

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  11. Thank you for this. Lamentations of the Flame Princess Grindhouse Edition Referee Book (with an adventure inside) is actually still available at both https://lotfp.com and https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/148012/LotFP-Referee-Book-old-Grindhouse-Edition

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