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The Best Tabletop RPGs to Play in 2025

Dungeons and Dragons is the king of tabletop RPGs — but it’s far from the only game at the table. The best tabletop RPGs 2025 has to offer span genres from cosmic horror to mythological saga to science fiction, with systems ranging from beginner-friendly to crunchy and complex.

Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition

D&D 5E remains the most popular tabletop RPG in the world for good reason. Its streamlined rules, massive library of official content, and enormous player community make it the easiest entry point into the hobby. Custom miniatures — like those available through The Gleora’s Character Forge — pair beautifully with D&D’s visual imagination.

Pathfinder 2nd Edition

Pathfinder 2E is the leading alternative to D&D 5E and arguably the most mechanically sophisticated fantasy RPG available. Where D&D 5E prioritises accessibility and speed of play, Pathfinder 2E rewards players who enjoy deep character customisation, strategic combat, and a rich world with decades of published lore.

Call of Cthulhu

Based on H.P. Lovecraft’s mythos, Call of Cthulhu is one of the best tabletop RPGs 2025 has available for horror enthusiasts. Players take on the roles of investigators uncovering mysteries that slowly reveal cosmic, sanity-shattering truths. Its percentile skill system is easy to learn and produces consistently dramatic results.

Blades in the Dark

Blades in the Dark pioneered the “forged in the dark” game design style. Set in a Victorian-inspired city of ghosts and crime, players take on the roles of scoundrels building a criminal enterprise. The flashback mechanic lets players retroactively establish preparation actions, removing the “prep session” that can bog down traditional heist scenarios.

Shadowrun

Shadowrun’s fusion of cyberpunk and fantasy — elves with datajacks, trolls with street samurai training, magical shamans hacking corporate mainframes — creates one of the most distinctive game worlds in the TTRPG hobby. The system is complex, but few settings match its atmosphere and originality.

Mothership

Mothership is a science fiction horror RPG that has rapidly become one of the best tabletop RPGs 2025 for players who want survival horror in space. Its minimalist system creates genuine fear through resource scarcity and lethal combat, with brilliant scenario design that rewards careful play.

Ironsworn

Ironsworn is a remarkable RPG that can be played solo, cooperatively without a GM, or traditionally with a GM. Set in a harsh, mythological iron age world, its “Swear an Iron Vow, Fulfill Your Vow, Forsake Your Vow” cycle creates genuinely compelling character drama without requiring elaborate GM preparation.

Enhancing Any RPG with Custom Miniatures

Whatever system you choose from this list of best tabletop RPGs 2025, custom miniatures enhance the experience. Call of Cthulhu investigators, Blades in the Dark scoundrels, Pathfinder heroes — all benefit from having a physical representation at the table that captures who they are and what they’re fighting for.

The Gleora’s AI design system can create custom miniatures for characters in any RPG setting — not just D&D. Visit thegleora.ca/character-forge to commission your character from whatever system you’re playing, and bring them to life in stunning 8K resin detail.