Revisiting My Top Three Rules-Lite Games for 2024
There's been some jockeying at the top due to new ranking criteria.
Last year I posted a video of my top three rules-lite rpgs. They were:
1. Tricube Tales
2. Tiny Dungeon 2e
3. EZD6
It was my first attempt to rank the games that introduced me to rules-lite ecosystem. However, my ratings weren’t informed by a broad swath of games and experiences with solo and group play. To remedy that, over the past year I’ve investigated and experimented with some new-to-me games and some re-ranking is in order.
But before I share my top 3 rules-lite games for 2024, I decided to rank them using a more technical rating system to ensure my ranking was more precise and better justified. I decided to give each game a score out of 100. This score is comprised of the sum of ten sub-ratings that are important to me as a GM and solo gamer.
To determine my 2024 rankings, I evaluated various factors that contribute to the overall quality and appeal of each game. The following factors were considered in the rating process on a scale of 1-10:
Accessibility. How easy is it for new players to grasp the rules and jump into play?
Flexibility. Is the system adaptable to different settings and genres?
Player Empowerment. Can players easily express their character concepts within the rules?
Game Master (GM) Support. What level of support does the game provide GM’s?
Solo Support. What, if any, solo supports are available for gamers?
Versatility. Does the game offer the versatility to be enjoyed in both one-shot sessions and long-term campaigns?
Cost. What is the price point of the core rulebook or starter set?
Art/Layout. What is the quality of the rulebook’s artwork and layout?
Distinctive Features. Does the game have any distinctive features that make it stand out from other rules-lite offerings?
Community Engagement: Does the game have a friendly and active community of players and content creators offering support, resources, and discussions?
Using this rating system, I arrived at a revised ranking. I’ll share my new top three games in my next post.
I'm surprised you don't include "licensing" in your list, as you've published several cool products of your own! An open licence is one of the most important things I look for in a new system, as I enjoy creating my own content, and some systems heavily restrict what you can do with them.