Timeline of pen and paper role-playing games

The following is a timeline of pen and paper role-playing games. For computer role-playing games see here.

The publication year listed here is the year of the first edition in the original country. Additional editions, translations or adaptations for use in other countries are not included in this list. For editions other than the first, consult the corresponding article(s).

Unique games with identical or similar titles are listed separately. Unique means games that use different rules or settings but does not include rule revisions by the same author or publisher.

1960s

• Braunstein (1967, unpublished)

1970s

1971

• Chainmail (1971)

1974

• Dungeons & Dragons (1974)

1975

• Blackmoor (1971, unpublished until 1975)
• Boot Hill (1975)
• Empire of the Petal Throne (1975)
• En Garde! (1975)
• Tunnels & Trolls (1975)

1976

• Bunnies & Burrows (1976)
• Chevalier (1976, a precursor to Chivalry & Sorcery)
• Metamorphosis Alpha (1976)
• Monsters! Monsters! (1976)
• Starfaring (1976)

1977

• The Arduin Grimoire (1977)
• Chivalry & Sorcery (1977)
• Dagorhir (1977)
• Space Patrol (1977)
• Space Quest (role-playing game) (1977)
• Superhero: 2044 (1977)
• Traveller (1977)

1978

• Adventures in Fantasy (1978)
• Gamma World (1978)
• High Fantasy (1978)
• RuneQuest (1978)
• Starships & Spacemen (1978)
• Star Trek: Adventure Gaming in the Final Frontier (1978)
• Villains and Vigilantes (1978)
• What Price Glory?! (1978)

1979

• Buccaneer (1979)
• Bushido (1979)
• Darkus Thel (1979)
• Heroes (role-playing game) (1979)
• Ysgarth (1979)

1980s

1980

• Archaeron (1980)
• Basic Role-Playing (1980)
• Castle Perilous (1980)
• DragonQuest (1980)
• Lands of Adventure (1980)
• Land of the Rising Sun (role-playing game) (1980)
• Laserburn (1980)
• Melanda (1980)
• Odysseus (1980)
• The Fantasy Trip (1980)
• The Morrow Project (1980)
• Rolemaster (1980, three books titled Character & Campaign Law, Combat Law and Spell Law, the title * * * * Rolemaster having been invented for the 1982 edition)
• Skull and Crossbones: Roleplay on the Spanish Main (1980)
• Space Opera (1980)
• Supergame (1980)
• Top Secret (1980)

1981

• Aftermath! (1981)
• Call of Cthulhu (1981)
• Champions (1981)
• Crimefighters (1981)
• Merc (1981)
• Midgard (1981)
• Star Patrol (1981)
• Stormbringer (1981)
• The Mechanoid Invasion (1981)
• The Spawn of Fashan (1981)
• Thieves' World (1981)
• Universe (1981)
• Wizards' Realm (1981)
• Fantasy Wargaming (1981)

1982

• Behind Enemy Lines (FASA) (1982)
• Bifrost (role-playing game) (1982)
• Daredevils (1982)
• Drakar och Demoner (1982)
• Fringeworthy (1982)
• FTL:2448 (1982)
• Gangbusters (1982)
• Golden Heroes (1982)
• Inner City (1982)
• Knights and Berserkers and Legerdemain (1982)
• Killer: The Game of Assassination (1982)
• Man, Myth and Magic (1982)
• Pirates and Plunder (1982)
• Space Infantry (1982)
• Starfleet Voyages (1982)
• Star Frontiers (1982)
• Star Trek: The Role Playing Game (1982)
• Swordbearer (1982)
• Sword's Path Glory (1982)
• Worlds of Wonder (1982)

1983

• The Dark Eye (1983)
• Element Masters (1983)
• Enterprise: Role Play Game in Star Trek (1983)
• Espionage! (1983)
• James Bond 007 (1983)
• Légendes (1983)
• Lords of Creation (1983)
• L'Ultime Épreuve (1983)
• Mach: The First Colony (1983)
• Mercenaries, Spies and Private Eyes (1983)
• Other Suns (FGU) (1983)
• Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game (1983)
• Powers and Perils (1983)
• Roleplayer (1983)
• Stalking the Night Fantastic (1983)
• Super Squadron (1983)
• Superworld (1983)
• To Challenge Tomorrow (1983)
• Victorian Adventure (1983)

1984

• The Adventures of Indiana Jones (1984)
• Chill (1984)
• DragonRaid (1984)
• ElfQuest (1984)
• Flashing Blades (1984)
• Heroes Unlimited (1984)
• Justice, Inc. (role-playing game) (1984)
• Kata Kumbas (1984)
• Maelstrom (1984)
• Marvel Super Heroes (1984)
• Mega (1984)
• Mekton (1984)
• Middle-earth Role Playing (1984)
• Paranoia (1984)
• Phantasy Conclave (1984)
• Psi World (1984)
• Ringworld (1984)
• Skyrealms of Jorune (1984)
• Star Ace (1984)
• Timemaster (1984)
• Twilight 2000 (1984)

1985

• Challengers (1985)
• Conan Role-Playing Game (1985)
• DC Heroes (1985)
• Dinky Dungeons (1985)
• The Doctor Who Role Playing Game (1985)
• Dragon Warriors (1985)
• Dragonroar (1985)
• Hawkmoon (1985)
• Judge Dredd: The Role-Playing Game (1985)
• Maléfices (1985)
• Pendragon (1985)
• Sandman (1985)
• Space Master (1985)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness (1985)

1986

• 2300 AD (1986)
• 9th Generation (1986)
• By the Gods (1986)
• Ghostbusters (1986)
• GURPS (1986)
• HârnMaster (1986)
• MechWarrior (1986)
• Mythworld (1986)
• "Phoenix Command" (1986)
• Robotech (1986)
• Robot Warriors (1986)
• Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (1986)
• Year of the Phoenix (1986)

1987

• Ars Magica (1987)
• Beyond the Supernatural (1987)
• Enforcers (1987)
• "Living Steel" (1987)
• MEGA Role-Playing System (1987)
• Mekton II (1987)
• Night of the Ninja (1987)
• Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game (1987, West End Games)
• Talislanta (1987)
• Timelords (1987)
• TWERPS (1987)

1988

• Animonde (1988)
• Cyberpunk 2013 (1988)
• High Colonies (1988)
• Macho Women with Guns (1988)
• Second Dawn (1988)
• Space: 1889 (1988)
• SpaceTime (1988)
• Vindicators (role-playing game) (1988)

1989

• Adventurers of the North, Kalevala Heroes (1989)
• Blackwatch (1989)
• The Confederate Rangers (1989)
• Cyberspace (1989)
• Hero System (1989)
• In Nomine Satanis/Magna Veritas (1989)
• Mutazoids (1989)
• Prince Valiant: The Story-Telling Game (1989)
• Shadowrun (1989)
• Sword World RPG (1989)

1990s

1990

• Aquelarre (1990)
• Attack of the Humans (1990)
• Buck Rogers XXVC (1990)
• Comandos de Guerra (1990)
• CORPS (1990)
• Fifth Cycle (1990)
• Nightlife (1990)
• Rifts (1990)
• Torg (1990)
• Worlds Beyond (1990)

1991

• Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game (1991)
• Bloodlust (1991)
• Fuerza Delta (1991)
• Kult (1991)
• Mutantes en la sombra (1991)
• Tagmar (1991)
• The World of Synnibarr (1991)
• Time Lord: Adventures through Time and Space (1991)
• Vampire: The Masquerade (1991)

1992

• Analaya, tormenta de arena (1992)
• Fanhunter, el juego de rol épicodecadente (1992)
• Fudge (1992)
• Nephilim (1992)
• Oráculo (1992)
• Over the Edge (1992)
• Ragnarok (1992)
• The Primal Order (1992)
• Werewolf: The Apocalypse (1992)

1993

• Amazing Engine (1993)
• Cybergeneration (1993)
• Earthdawn (1993)
• Far West (1993)
• Fate of the Norns (1993)
• Forgotten Futures (1993)
• Heroes & Heroines (1993)
• Jovian Chronicles (1993)
• Macross II: The Role-Playing Game (1993)
• Mage: The Ascension (1993)
• Manhunter (1993)
• Mili KK, el juego de rol (1993)
• Mutant Chronicles (1993)
• Prime Directive (1993)
• Shatterzone (1993)
• Superbabes: The Femforce Role-Playing Game (1993)
• Underground (1983)

1994

• 3D&T (1994)
• Avengers of Justice (1994)
• Castle Falkenstein (1994)
• Heavy Gear (1994)
• ¡Piratas! (1994)
• Legion - The power in your hands (1994)
• The Pirates of Dark Water (1994)
• Street Fighter: The Storytelling Game (1994)
• The World of Indiana Jones (1994)
• Wraith: The Oblivion (1994)

1995

• Almogàvers (1995)
• Atlantis 2183 (1995)
• Changeling: The Dreaming (1995)
• Cosmic Enforcers (1995)
• El caso del crimen del contable (1995)
• Espada y brujería (1995)
• ¡Niños! (1995)
• Project A-ko (1995)
• Superhéroes Inc. (1995)

1996

• Armageddon: The End Times (1996)
• Bubblegum Crisis: Mega-Tokyo 2033 (1996)
• Conspiracy X (1996)
• The D6 System: The Customizable Roleplaying Game (1996)
• Deadlands (1996)
• Dragonlance: The Fifth Age (1996)
• Fading Suns (1996)
• Feeria (1996)
• Tirant lo Blanc (1996)
• Vampire: The Dark Ages (1996)
• Witchcraft (1996)

1997

• Armageddon: The End Times (1997)
• Big Eyes, Small Mouth (1997)
• Blue Planet (1997)
• Champions: New Millennium (1997)
• Fuzion (1997)
• Legend of the Five Rings (1997)
• Men in Black (1997)
• Multiverser (1997)
• Providence (1997)
• StuperPowers (1997)
• Æon/Trinity (1997)
• Werewolf: The Wild West (1997)

1998

• Alternity (1998)
• Blood of Heroes (1998)
• The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1998)
• Hercules & Xena (1998)
• Laberinto (1998)
• Mage: The Sorcerer's Crusade (1998)
• Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game (1998)
• Revelation: The Modern Superheroic Horror Role-Playing Game (1998)
• Run out the guns! (1998)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation Role-playing Game (1998)
• The Sailor Moon Role-Playing Game (1998)
• Unknown Armies (1998)
• Usagi Yojimbo (1998, Gold Rush Games)

1999

• 7th Sea (1999)
• Aberrant (1999)
• All Flesh Must Be Eaten (1999)
• Brave New World (1999)
• DC Universe Roleplaying Game (1999)
• Dominion Rules (1999, online)
• ERT: La Era de los Poderes (1999)
• Feng Shui (1999)
• Furry Pirates (1999)
• Heroes Forever (1999)
• Hunter: The Reckoning (1999)
• Nobilis (1999)
• Puppetland (1999)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Role-playing Game (1999)
• Star Trek: The Original Series Role-playing Game (1999)
• Violence (1999)
• Weird War Two: Crusade for Europe (1999)

2000s

2000

• Anno Domini Adventus Averni ad Terram (2000)
• Barrio xino (2000)
• Enothril (2000)
• EXO (2000)
• Frankenstein faktoria (2000)
• Hero Wars (2000)
• Name Keeper (2000)
• Nemesis: A Perfect World (2000)
• Orkworld (2000)
• Pavillon Noir, la révolte (2000)
• Sketch! (2000)
• Star Wars Roleplaying Game (2000, Wizards of the Coast)
• Superheroes INC. (2000)
• UNSanctioned: The Dream Corrupted (2000)

2001

• Adventure! (2001)
• De Profundis (2001)
• Exalted (2001)
• Fanpiro (2001)
• Fulminata (2001)
• Gear Krieg (2001)
• Godlike (2001)
• HackMaster (2001)
• Little Fears (2001)
• The Foundation: A World in Black & White (2001)
• The Metabarons Roleplaying Game (2001)
• Mochos: Ziquitaque Nau (2001)
• Mummy: The Resurrection (2001)
• Sorcerer (2001)
• Weird War II: Blood on the Rhine (2001)

2002

• Action! (2002)
• Alkaendra, los sueños perdidos (2002)
• Black Flag: Piracy in the Caribbean (2002)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer Roleplaying Game (2002)
• The Burning Wheel (2002)
• d20 Modern (2002)
• Demon: The Fallen (2002)
• Discworld Roleplaying Gamel (2002)
• Donjon (2002)
• Dread: The First Book of Pandemonium (2002)
• EverQuest Role-Playing Game (2002)
• Farscape Roleplaying Game (2002)
• Godlike (2002)
• InSpectres (2002)
• Juego de rol del capitán Alatriste (2002)
• The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game (2002)
• Mutants & Masterminds (2002)
• octaNe: premium uNleaded (2002)
• Outfan (2002)
• Silver Age Sentinels (2002)
• Sláine: The Roleplaying Game of Celtic Heroes (2002, d20 system)
• Spaceship Zero (2002)
• Spycraft (2002)
• Star Trek Roleplaying Game (2002)
• Terra Primate (2002)
• Steve Perrin's Quest Rules
• Transhuman Space (2002)
• Victorian Age: Vampire (2002)
• Vigilance: Absolute Power (2002)

2003

• Angel Roleplaying Game (2003)
• D6 Adventure (2003)
• Dead Inside (2003)
• Diana: Warrior Princess (2003)
• EABA (2003)
• FATE (2003)
• HeroQuest (2003)
• High Adventure Role Playing (2003)
• Marvel Universe Roleplaying Game (2003)
• My Life With Master (2003)
• Orpheus (2003)
• Pirates! (2003)
• Savage Worlds (2003)
• Silhouette CORE (2003)
• Sine Requie (2003)
• Stargate SG-1 Roleplaying Game (2003)
• Tri-Stat dX (2003)
• Unisystem (2003)
• Victoriana (2003)
• Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game (2003)

2004

• Arkeos (2004)
• Castles & Crusades (2004)
• Conan: The Roleplaying Game (2004)
• Dogs in the Vineyard (2004)
• the farm (2004)
• Fireborn (2004)
• Guardian Universe Core Fuzion (2004)
• Lacuna Part 1. The Creation of the Mystery and the Girl from Blue City (2004)
• Lone Wolf (2004)
• Primetime Adventures (2004)
• Quidam (2004)
• Redención (2004)
• The Shadow of Yesterday (2004)
• Tibet: The Roleplaying Game (2004)
• Vampire: The Requiem (2004)
• Wyrd is Bond (2004)
• Xtraídos (2004)

2005

• Anima: Beyond Fantasy (2005)
• Army of Darkness (2005)
• Atlantis: The Second Age (2005)
• BASH! (2005)
• Capes (2005)
• Dawning Star (2005)
• Dread (2005)
• Factory: La Geonova Libre (2005)
• A Game of Thrones (2005)
• Godsend Agenda (2005)
• Hollyworld (2005)
• Jeremiah: The Roleplaying Game (2005)
• Mage: The Awakening (2005)
• The Mountain Witch (2005)
• Serenity (2005)
• sLAng, a quemarropa (2005)
• True20 (2005)
• Truth & Justice (2005)
• Usagi Yojimbo (2005, Sanguine Productions)
• Werewolf: The Forsaken (2005)

2006

• Basic Fantasy (2006, online)
• Big Bang Comics (2006)
• Blood & Honor (2006)
• Chronicles of Ramlar (2006)
• Cold City (2006)
• Dark Nova RPG (2006)
• Dice & Glory (2006)
• Don't Rest Your Head (2006)
• Fate of the Norns: Ragnarok (2006)
• Heroic Visions (2006)
• Lances (2006)
• Mazes & Minotaurs (2006)
• The Original Flatland Role Playing Game (2006)
• OSRIC (2006, online)
• Promethean: The Created (2006)
• Rápido y fácil (2006)
• Shab-al-Hiri Roach (2006)
• Spirit of the Century (2006)
• Unidad Beta (2006)
• The Zantabulous Zorcerer of Zo (2006)

2007

• 99 espadas (2007)
• Aces & Eights: Shattered Frontier (2007)
• As Crónicas de Gáidil* (2007)
• Atomic Robo (2007)
• Battlestar Galactica Role Playing Game (2007)
• C-System (2007)
• Changeling: The Lost (2007)
• The Esoterrorists (2007)
• Fábulas, historias de la sociedad de cuentacuentos (2007)
• Grey Ranks (2007)
• Inocentes (2007)
• Labyrinth Lord (2007)
• Necrorama (2007)
• Septimus (2007)
• Sláine (2007, RuneQuest system)
• Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay (2007)

2008

• Bakemono (2008)
• Cortex System Role Playing Game (2008)
• CthulhuTech (2008)
• Demon Hunters Role Playing Game (2008)
• Ghosts of Albion (2008)
• Houses of the Blooded (2008)
• Hunter: The Vigil (2008)
• Last War (2008)
• Mouse Guard (2008)
• Mutant Future (2008)
• Roleage (2008)
• RyF (2008)
• Starblazer Adventures (2008)
• Swords & Wizardry (2008, online)
• Trail of Cthulhu (2008)

2009

• A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying (2009)
• Arcana Mvndi (2009)
• Diaspora (2009)
• Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space (2009)
• Eclipse Phase (2009)
• Eyes Only (2009)
• Eoris Essence (2009)
• Fiasco (2009)
• Geist: The Sin-Eaters (2009)
• Los Ichar (2009)
• NSd20, juego de rol genérico multiambiental (2009)
• Pathfinder Roleplaying Game (2009)
• Roll&Play! (2009)
• Slasher Flick (2009)
• Supernatural: The Role Playing Game (2009)
• Swords & Wizardry (2009)
• Witch Girls Adventures (2009)
• Yggdrasill (2009)

2010s

2010

• 1808 (2010)
• Adventure Party (2010)
• Anoë (2010)
• Apocalypse World (2010)
• Aventuras en la Marca del Este (2010)
• Capes, Cowls & Villains Foul (2010)
• Carnage Amongst the Tribes (2010)
• Dark Dungeons
• DC Adventures (2010)
• Dragon Age (2010)
• The Dresden Files (2010)
• Eden: the Deceit (2010)
• ICONS (2010)
• Labyrinth (2010)
• The Laundry (2010)
• Legends of Anglerre (2010)
• Les Ombres d'Esteren (2010)
• Leverage: The Roleplaying Game (2010)
• Maschine Zeit (2010)
• Smallville Roleplaying Game (2010)
• Stars Without Number (2010)
• Taura: Lands of Alchemy (2010)
• Z-Corps (2010)

2011

• Cacería de bichos (2011)
• Dogfight (2011)
• ¡Gañanes! (2011)
• Mazes & Perils (2011)
• "Heroes & Other Worlds" (2011)
• The One Ring: Adventures over the Edge of the Wild (2011)

2012

• "BareBones Fantasy" (2012)
• Dungeon Crawl Classics (2012)
• Dungeon World (2012)
• Iron Kingdoms (2012)
• La Puerta de Ishtar (2012)
• Marvel Heroic Roleplaying (2012)
• Omertà, el poder de la mafia (2012)
• Satarichi (2012)
• Squadron UK (2012)
• Star Wars Roleplaying Game (2012, Fantasy Flight Games)
• Trasgos y Mazmorras (2012)

2013

• 13th Age (2013)
• Blueholme (2013)
• La mirada del centinela (2013)
• Numenera (2013)
• Rotted Capes (2013)

2014

• Splittermond (2014)
• Simple System (2014)
• Symbaroum (2014)

2015

• Hunters Dark
• Uncharted Worlds
• "Chill 3rd Edition"

Sources

• In English
• In French
• In Spanish (archived)
• In German

See also

• History of role-playing games