There’s a good chance you came here because you are interested in playing a tabletop RPG, but for some reason or another, you don’t want it to have magic.
Personally, I sometimes get tired of all the high-fantasy TTRPGs out there and want some variation in my roleplaying. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of 10 TTRPGs without magic in them.
Some of these systems are designed to work in whatever environment you choose, and others are designed somewhat with magic in mind but can be modified to let you play without magic. I’ve tried to vary the themes so you get as many different options as possible. Let’s get started.
1. GURPS
GURPS stands for Generic Universal RolePlaying System, and it’s a system that is designed with freedom in mind. Its main purpose is therefore to let you play in whatever environment, age, and setting you want to.
It is an old-school system that came out in the 80s, when most tabletop RPGs were distinctly thematical, which made GURPS stand out quite a bit.
The core concept is simple: your character is controlled by you in dialogue, and you either succeed or fail with tasks depending on your skill in the given task, your dice roll, and the difficulty of the action.
Of course, many other rules apply, and I would really recommend that you get the GURPS basic set if you’re interested.
2. Fate Core
Fate Core is another TTRPG that is designed for pretty much any setting you want to play in. A cool thing about Fate Core is that it is built on the foundations of a system called Fudge.
Fudge is an award-winning roleplaying system that instead of using fixed systems such as the d20 system, lets you handcraft your own.
If you want an easier “plug-and-play” option, however, you can always go with Fate Accelerated, a version of Fate that is designed for quick and easy preparation.
I would certainly recommend this option for beginner players who want to try TTRPGs out, but it ultimately loses the depth of Fate Core, something that experienced RPG players should keep in mind.
3. Savage Worlds
Yet another game that is designed to fit any setting, Savage World is a very popular TTRPG. Systems like GURP are great, but Savage Worlds is more popular, and above all, it emphasizes playing speed and preparation speed.
This makes Savage World stand out a bit from games like Fate Core and GURPS in my opinion. Another cool thing about the Savage Worlds system is that it uses cards instead of dice. Now, ultimately, what you prefer is all subjective but a multitude of options is hardly a bad thing.
Out of Fate Core, GURPS, and Savage World, I have the most experience with Savage Worlds, and I have only good things to speak of. The community is awesome, the system is great, and the card mechanic is something unique and flavorful that I really like.
4. All Flesh Must Be Eaten
All Flesh Must Be Eaten is of a different flavor than the previously mentioned game. It’s a survival/horror-style TTRPG. There are a plethora of campaign options to choose from, and no magic.
Of course, the more specific theme of this TTRPG is zombies. It is however known for being very modular. That is to say, it puts a lot of focus on flexibility and player freedom when it comes to the setting, story, and overall gameplay.
It’s a different twist on the typical TTRPGs, and for you horror-lovers out there, it’s a must-play. It’s not necessarily my style, but I can certainly vouch for the overall quality of the game.
5. Fiasco
In Fiasco, you play “regular” people. There are a bunch of different campaigns, but the common denominator is that things go very, very wrong. I’d compare it with movies such as Fargo, or Burn After Reading.
The game has won a bunch of awards and is very much appreciated even among the most hardcore fantasy RPG gamers. Another neat thing about this game is that it doesn’t take that long to play. You can count on about 1-3 hours of time to complete an entire “campaign” of Fiasco.
Rules-wise, the game is also pretty simple to understand. It’s one of my favorite non-fantasy TTRPGs, for sure.
6. Dog Eat Dog
This is a weird one. Dog Eat Dog is a dystopic TTRPG, where you explore the effects of colonizing an island in the pacific. The game also has a couple of different scenarios, which gives this somewhat narrow niche some width and replayability.
One player plays on the colonizing side, and the other players play as natives. It’s certainly a unique experience. The game has some strange rules and tries to impart bits of wisdom upon the players, something that can either be appreciated or be found kind of annoying.
7. Grey Ranks
Another dystopic TTRPG, Grey Ranks places you in the midst of war in 1994’s Warsaw. The players play as child soldiers, which will have to do their best against the German nazi army.
The character creation is more limited than you would see in a typical TTRPG, but you can choose your gender, age, something that you hold dear (family, religion, etc), and your codename.
There are some options regarding campaigns in this game as well, so replayability is definitely there. However, I think the game is a bit too heavy to play as my main game. Either way, it’s definitely a game worth trying out.
8. Spycraft
Spycraft is the first spy-related game on this list! Spycraft unfolds in modern times, and the game is based on the d20 system. The game isn’t particularly big as of now. For example, its Reddit page only has about 100 members, but that shouldn’t scare you away in my opinion.
Spycraft creators Crafty Games have recently published Spycraft 2.0, an update to the original game, which has received mixed reviews.
You can choose to work in the largest covert operations in the world (CIA, MI6, etc) or to make your own organization to take on the looming threats of the world.
I have only run this game a couple of times with friends, but we enjoyed it.
9. Delta Green
Delta Green is the closest to anything magic related on this list. It deals with supernatural horror à la H.P. Lovecraft, much like the old-school TTRPG Call of Cthulu.
Delta Green uses the Basic Roleplaying system, like its predecessor Call of Cthulu. In Delta Green, you play as covert agents, fighting the fight against the cosmic horrors from the shadows. It’s a pretty awesome concept if you like the theme.
The game itself plays similar to Call of Cthulu, but the presentation is different. I love this game, and I can recommend it to players who want to give this genre a go.
10. Scum And Villainy
Scum And Villainy is a sci-fi TTRPG, where you and your galactic ship crew must struggle to make ends meet, while simultaneously uncovering various mysteries.
One cool thing about Scum And Villainy is the alliance mechanic, where different factions can have different stances towards you. Not only this, one faction might give you permanent rewards for being disliked by another.
I found this to be really cool and original, and I really enjoy exploring the different paths to take with all the factions and the consequences that occur because of your choices.
Obviously, this game is something for people who like sci-fi. The style of sci-fi is similar to that of Star Wars, so if you like the Star Wars universe, this might be something for you.
Read more: The Best Steampunk Tabletop RPGs