I need to put a disclaimer first: Many of the designers of these games are my friends. I don't know anything about a vast number of TTRPGs on itch.io. It's a subjective collection, and I am in no way claiming that it is not. But I sincerely hope that others will find some of these games helpful in learning how to design.
I specifically chose PWYW games to make narrowing down my options a little easier, as well as making the whole thing accessible to new designers, especially marginalized ones. But if you can, when you can, please go back and pay for these games. Pay more than the minimum if possible!
One last note: this collection is by no means set in stone! I want to keep adding to it as I get to read and play more games, a living document of what's happening on Itch.
Other, non-game, TTRPG related resources:
I DIED AND IT WAS GREAT: TTRPGs often have different forms of failure. This manifesto challenges our preconceptions, and explores the joy and the many possibilities of failure.
The RPG Design Zine: A cut-and-paste zine about TTRPG design, using examples from many different games, by Nathan D. Paoletta.
As more and more tabletop games are played over Discord, it makes sense that games designed to use the app's functions would be developed. Seven Minutes is a really cute, super simple party game that makes excellent use of Discord voice channels and emojis, with optional rules for roleplay. Abe Mendes has been really thought-provoking for me when I've considered PbP and Discord focused design, and I'm really looking forward to their upcoming work.
Surprise, this one isn't about game design at all. Well, sort of. Listen is a collection of incredibly important reminders. These are practices for being a better person, and by consequence a better game designer.
A lot of it is also applicable to navigating Twitter and other social media spaces, crucial parts of the indie tabletop scene. Challenge yourself, especially if you're cis/het/white, to read this and to put it into practice as much as you can if you aren't doing so already.
This is a great call-out of current indie tabletop games, but it also just like, works? You really could just roll on these tables and have a great idea for a new game. A loving satire if you will, an homage in the style of Edgar Wright.
If you're the kind of person who needs homework to learn, try rolling on this and making a quick game based off it.
This game not only helped me understand sports better, but it helped me understand why my friends love sports so much too. It does one of my favorite things microgames can do really well, which is taking one core aspect of a thing and making it playable.
So you take one of the most popular PbtA moves and very literally turn it into its own game. Which also makes it instantly relatable to anyone who's tried to sync up audio via claps or counts. Throw a Magic 8 Ball in there for good measure. It's all ridiculous and yet makes total sense, really. Again, if you want to try writing a comedic TTRPG you should definitely read some of Cure's.
I think a lot of "comedy" TTRPGs aren't really that funny. That, or people misrepresent certain games as comedic. Cure has written some of the funniest games I've ever read, and I couldn't resist putting two on here because they're such a delight to read.
Sasha Reneau is probably best known for Spindlewheel, which is a fantastic game unlike anything else which you should also check out. It's just not exactly on itch, although I do highly recommend the Spindlewheel Microgames collection which is.
Games can be many things. Sometimes (and not often enough), they can be very kind. The unique framing of this self-care guide, of yourself as a mech, of hard work and loving maintenance, is really perfect.
Yes, you should go get i'm sorry did you say street magic. I would have included it in a heartbeat if it was PWYW. Luckily, there are names, its sister game, is. It's a great example of a generator, a game in its own right. Its prompts are brilliant, and there are so many. All the sights and smells and sounds of a city, all the fascinating people and poignant moments. Caro Asercion has such a strong voice and is one of my favorite designers, and I think we can all learn a lot from them.
Paper can be used for so many things besides writing. Many of those uses can be part of a game. Effigy really began to expand the ways in which I considered the paper we play games with. Plus, the paper doll you labor over, the stand-in for a ruined mech, is a really cool thing to have at the end of the game.
I'm slightly adjusting my initial joke tweet. Shelter isn't from this past year. But I love it and it's very important to me so it's going on here. The example choices to setup questions are fantastic. The narrator using their own fears to create obstacles is just so good. Again, it's a fairly short game and you can just absolutely go for it in that hour and get an amazing story out of it. Shelter was also what got me thinking about touch, and how it can enhance a game. For more on that, check out Our Radios Are Dying by Aura Belle.
An entry for the 200 Word RPG contest, and a great lesson in compact design. You Will Destroy Something Beautiful asks really interesting questions for world and character creation, can be played fairly quickly, is a blast to replay, and has the feel of a boxing match with both sides trading blows and whittling each other down.
