🪤New Solo RPGs from Parent Trap to Dungeon Traps
Welcome to The Soloist, a newsletter for players, creators, and curious explorers of solo and GM-less tabletop RPGs.
You can read previous issues in The Archive.
If you’re new to solo RPGs, check out Getting Started with Solo RPGs.
If you’re a creator with a new project, let me know by filling out the News Tips form.
1. Crowdfunding Now
Necrovenge
If you’re a fan of MÖRK BORG, or (like me) have the gorgeous rule book but haven’t played, you should check out Necrovenge. In it, you play a failed necromancer seeking revenge on those who wronged you. You’ll recruit minions, build traps, and rebuild your dungeon while trying to survive attacks. It uses card-drawing for narrative prompts and a dice mechanic for combat.
While Necrovenge stands on its own, it borrows mechanics from MÖRK BORG, making it easy to integrate your creations—whether they be dungeons, monsters, or items—into either game.
Philip Jensen’s grim art and stylized layout look like they’ll deliver a high quality dark fantasy experience. You can check out some of his other MÖRK BORG work on his itchio page.
NECROVENGE is funding on Kickstarter through August 27.
Jude’s World
You might not immediately think of The Parent Trap as inspiration for a tabletop RPG, but that’s exactly where Yvris Burke, the creator of Jude’s World, found theirs. Whether you’ve seen the classic 1961 version or the 1998 remake, you know the story: twins separated at birth by their divorced parents accidentally meet and hatch a plan to reunite their family. It’s a funny but creepy concept, and Burke leans into that oddness for their game.
“The twins just think that forcing together two grown adults with a complicated and painful history of which they are almost entirely ignorant is bound to work out well. And that’s both believable and funny to me.”
In Jude’s World you play a preteen kid trying to reunite their recently separated parents. Tarot cards are used to create prompts for the family’s backstory and events that happen during play. You’ll capture notes in the character’s diary which seems natural for a 1990’s tween. The game doesn’t force the story to end with the parents romantically reunited and you can direct the tone to be serious or Disney-esque.
Jude’s World is funding on Kickstarter through September 11.
2. New Solo Releases
🚽 Toilet Skeleton | $2.00: A solo journaling game where you recount the ironic tale of how you became a sad, post-apocalyptic relic in Fallout inspired wasteland.
⚔️ Hwæt | NYOP: A Beowulf-inspired solo game of epic monster fights and glorious deaths spanning multiple generations.
🎲 SOLUS | NYOP: Artist and YouTuber Brandon Yu (aka Chaoclypse) collects his favorite oracles and tips for playing solo OD&D (Original Dungeons & Dragons) and its clones.
🍻 You Are the Tavern | $10.00: Using tarot cards and dice, you shape the lives of the townspeople, watching their lives unfold within your walls. If you want to explore the darker side of this kind of worldbuilding, check out You Are the Dungeon.
3. Attention game creators, writers, and artists! 🚨
If you've recently released a game or are crowdfunding a new project, The Soloist wants to hear from you! Click the News Tips button to access a Google Form. Fill it out for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.
🙂 Inclusion in The Soloist is free.
🫴 Please share with your favorite creators and networks.
🤖 Note that I do not cover games that are illustrated by generative AI tools.
4. News and Updates 📰
You may have heard of the Plot Unfolding Machine (PUM), Jeansen Vaars’s compact set of rules for playing any tabletop RPGs without a GM. Jeansen recently released the PUM Companion, an app that allows you to play and track your adventures digitally. The PUM rules are recommended to get the most out of the app.
Substratum Protocol, Pandion Games’ game about the grueling journey of a scientific expedition dealing with cosmic horror at the Earth’s core, is now available. Pandion has just launched an itchio page where they will release free digital content for the game. If you’re interested in learning about the team’s upcoming games, sign up for the Pandion Letters substack.
Anna Blackwell, creator of Delve, Apothecaria, and the new and wonderful For Small Creatures Such As We has launched the Blackwell Games Newsletter on Substack. Keep an eye out for the Love & Lust expansion to FSCSAW in September.
Almost Bedtime Theater’s The Librarian’s Apprentice has won the 2024 CRIT Award for Best Solo TTRPG. Check out the full list of award finalists and winners here.
5. Last Roll 🎲
I’m Playing: ODDADA
🎵 ODDADA is an adorable music making toy available on PC. Each session, you’re given a random set of instruments and tools to build your track up layer by layer, adding new melodies and harmonies as you go. There are so many nice touches like being able to customize the look of your completed cassettes! It’s easy to recommend at $8.99 on the Steam store.
I’m Reading: The Mercy of Gods
📔 The Mercy of Gods, the new book and series from the guys that brought you The Expanse came out this month. I picked up the audio book immediately and am almost done. It’s a great concept — separate from the near future of The Expanse — that I won’t spoil. The writing is familiar and strong. If you loved the audiobooks from the original series, you'll be happy to know that Jefferson Mays is back as narrator.
If you’re looking for more sci-fi recommendations, the 2024 Hugo Award winners were announced this week.
Next Issue: Tim Hutchings
🧛 Last week, I sat down (over Zoom) for a conversation with the awesome Tim Hutchings, creator of the seminal solo game Thousand Year Old Vampire. I’ll share that interview, along with insights on the sequel crowdfunding soon, in the next issue coming out at the end of August.
Posting an interview with Philip later today!!
Hwaet looks cool!