It was in January 2023 when I made a video listing my favorite three top tabletop RPGs of all time. Today, we’ll revisit that list because it’s time for an update. Why? Because, well, it’s changed.
So what I’m going to do is this: I’m going to give you number one and number two because we will actually count down. So, we’re going from one to two and then hitting number three because number three is the one that has changed. We’ll also hearken back to the one that was in that slot before for a quick second.
Now, I will not spend a lot of time on number one and two because you guys already know those. If you don’t, you can check out that video here:
RPG Elite: My Top 3 Favorite TTRPGS Of All Time (2023)
I’m going to wax poetic on this third one. Even thinking about it gets me geeked. Let’s look at my current three favorite top tabletop RPGs.
Coming In At #1
You know this one, right? Well, you would know it if you watched the last video.
It’s Classic Marvel Superheroes Advance. Yeah, that won’t change anytime soon.
I’ve covered other superhero TTRPGs like the Sentinel Comics RPG, Absolute Power, and Destined. But they just don’t have what I call the “it” factor in terms of story and really drawing you into the genre.
Marvel Superheroes Advanced has the famous FASERIP system which stands for Fighting, Agility, Strength, Endurance, Reason, Intuition, and Psyche. These are compared to the Universal Table where all of the actions transpire.
Descriptive power words instead of numbers identify abilities and powers. They actually represent a range of numbers. This aspect hooked me, because it captured the essence of the genre. It’s not just a 20 Strength. It’s Excellent Strength. It’s not just a 40 Endurance. It’s Incredible Endurance.
On top of that, it doesn’t hurt that I am a comic fan, with close to 3000 comics in my personal collection.
So, this is a solid winner for me. Marvel Superheroes Advanced (classic version) is still my number one out of my top tabletop RPGs of all time.
Now, let’s slide into number two.
Coming In At #2
I’m actually running a mini-campaign right now with my group for the game in the #2 slot because we’ve taken a break from the one that was in the third slot (we’ll get to that in a minute.)
What are we playing? Numenera. I love that game. It is so elegant. Oh, the amount of stories and the focus of that game—the focus of it!
Many players will epitomize this attitude: “Okay. Let’s get to the combat!”
Well, it’s a little more than that in just about every tabletop RPG I want to play.
Like many great top tabletop RPGs, it’s about more than combat. I don’t want it to be just a combat slugfest session every time we get together. I want there to be some substance. That’s a major thrust of the RPG Elite philosophy mindset.
With Numenera, it encourages the title of its flagship re-release of the game—Discovery. The game rewards you for exploration and investigation. Combat is in there, but they lean on the former. I dig that.
You know, just like Marvel, it gives me that “woo”, that feeling that gets me excited on the inside. I’m like, “Oh shoot, yeah, I’ve got ideas here. Oh man, I wonder what they’ll do here?” The stories that can develop from this…
Remember, for an RPG Elite, it’s not about the system—it’s about the story. It always is.
Actually, the game that usurped my third game really embodies that idea. But first, let’s talk about the one that was in the number three slot.
Formerly At #3
Let me preface this by saying I love the Lord of the Rings. I do. First edition of The One Ring RPG is all kinds of dope. I have been running a campaign in that for over six years, and we only took a break to play Numenera. So, right after we get done with this mini-campaign, guess where we’re going? Yep—right back to The One Ring.
Now, I’ve done a lot of work on The One Ring in terms of my own homebrew rules. I created a thirty-page addendum. Yeah, I’m not lying—thirty pages. I put it together, gave it to all my peeps, and was like, “Okay, this is going to take over this. This is going to take over that.” Works well.
I love the game. I love the lore. The tone is magnificent.
When I did my first three top tabletop RPGs, I had a feeling it might not stay at number three forever. Even though I truly love me some Lord of the Rings lore. Even when I created the video back in January of 2023, I was like, “It’s here for now.” I think I might’ve even said that in the video.
Alas, it has officially been usurped.
So, that being said, let’s slide into this number three position looking at the new kid on the block that has taken over, at least for the time being.
The New #3
So, what is the new game in the number three slot?
The new game is…Vaesen.
You know, this addition to my top tabletop RPGs took me by surprise. I am not going to lie.
When I was first introduced to Vaesen, I was just experimenting, seeing, “What is this game about?” The more I read, the more I was like, “I dig this game.”
Now, understand—I don’t like the Year Zero Engine. I don’t like it. That system is not something I’m going to write home about or anything.
However, RPG Elite quality number eight: y’all, it’s not about the system—it’s about the story.
I am telling you—the stories. This is how I knew Vaesen was one of my top tabletop RPGs. It has that “it” factor getting me excited about the stories that can spring from it. I’m writing about it, and I’m getting geeked. I want to get back into it.
By the way, y’all, remember Akello Balondemu, that solo series I’ve been working on for like over a year here? Well, it is coming. It’s coming before this month ends. I’ve already been working on it, so it is coming.
Every time I think about this game, it gives me the same feeling as Numenera and Marvel. It’s that butterfly feeling up in the top of my stomach. Just a little flutter.
When I think about The One Ring, I like the game, and I enjoy the game—yeah, it’s fun. But it doesn’t give me that feeling.
Like I said, for me—and for all of us, really—there are certain games that have that “it” factor for us. They make us all enthusiastic and geeked thinking about them. Vaesen just blindsided me. I had no idea what I was walking into.
I love that game. Adore it. Oh, the possibilities! That’s all I think about—the possibilities.
I’ve only scratched the surface playing the game. But every time I get into it, I’m like, “Oh my gosh, I could stay playing this game for hours upon hours upon hours.” It’s just good stuff here.
So yes, Vaesen is the new kid on the block, and I think it’s going to stay there…unless this game ends up being equal or usurping it.
A Future Runner-Up?
This game recently released at the writing of this post. It is another game from Free League Publishing. They sent it to me. I know little about this game, but I started reading the beginning—the lore and everything that was going on, and folks…I’m getting that feeling again.
I’m saying to myself, “Oh, come on, Free League. What are y’all doing to me here, man? What’s going on?”
To reiterate, I don’t like the Year Zero Engine, but the backdrops, the lore, the story possibilities? Come on, son! I’ve only read a little. So, I don’t know if this will usurp Vaesen but…
Now, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. But stick a pin in this, because we might have a new number three next year. Or maybe it even goes further up the list. Who knows?
Stay tuned.
Question of the Post
In my videos, I normally end them with the Question of the Vid. However, this is not a video. This is a blog post. So, we will change that up a bit with a Question of the Post.
Now, I told you why these three games are at the top of my list. It’s not like the games are flawless. But again, it’s about the story potential. You see the story potential when you’re an RPG Elite—that’s all I’m looking at. I look at the system in terms of, “Is that thing going to impede the story? Or will it help? Will it help things flow or bog it down unnecessarily?”
When evaluating top tabletop RPGs, it’s different strokes for different folks, know what I mean? Not everyone is an RPG Elite.
Question: What’s your favorite top tabletop RPGs out there that give you that feeling?
What tabletop RPG, to you, has that “it” factor where every time you think about it, you’re like, “I want to play, and I want to play right now.”
Let’s get some engagement going down in the comments of this post. I love hearing from you guys.
And that’s it, folks. For me, that means I’m going to have to slide—slide on out of here and do my Snagglepuss. So, I will exit stage left.
If you’ve got any games coming up—happy gaming! I pray it is an RPG Elite session.
Until next time, God willing, it’s me—it’s your boy, Servant of Shiloh, saying, “Peace 5,000, Leets. Your boy is gone!”
