Best Low Prep TTRPGs

Maze Rats is a rules‑lite OSR fantasy game using 2d6 tests and swingy, lethal outcomes. Classless and low‑prep, it leans on brilliant random tables for spells, monsters, and adventures, pushing quick rulings and creative problem‑solving. Ideal for one‑shots, convention slots, and fast‑moving sandbox sessions.

World of Dungeons is an ultra-minimal, Dungeon World–adjacent fantasy game that runs on 2d6 rolls and rulings over rules. Classless and fast to teach, it focuses on quick dungeons, creative problem-solving, and near-zero prep. Perfect for one-shots, drop-in play, or teaching brand-new players.

Tunnel Goons is a rules-lite dungeon-delving game using 2d6 contests against a target number. Classless and ultra-low-prep, it emphasizes rulings-over-rules, risky exploration, and quick combats. Ideal for one-shots, convention tables, and pick-up campaigns with new or casual players.

Macchiato Monsters is a rules‑lite OSR game using roll‑under ability tests and Risk dice for gear and attrition. Classless and low‑prep, it focuses on exploration, creative problem‑solving, and fast, deadly encounters. Ideal for one‑shots, open tables, and players who like rulings‑over‑rules.

Tiny Frontiers is a rules‑lite sci‑fi game powered by TinyD6’s 2d6 tests. Classless and low‑prep, it favors quick scenes, clear outcomes, and micro‑settings that kick off play fast. Ideal for one‑shots and short campaigns where starship action and frontier exploration take center stage.

Tiny Cthulhu is a rules-lite Lovecraftian horror game using the minimalist TinyD6 engine. Classless and low-prep, it focuses on tense investigations, perilous choices, and fast resolution with a handful of d6s. Ideal for one-shots, convention play, and quick campaigns that emphasize mood over mechanics.

Barbarians of Lemuria: Mythic+ Edition is a rules‑lite sword‑and‑sorcery game using a simple 2d6 resolution and Hero Points. Classless and career‑driven, it’s low‑prep and fiction‑first, focused on daring feats, quick combats, and pulp adventure. Ideal for one‑shots or episodic campaigns.

Barbarians of Lemuria: Mythic+ Edition is a rules‑lite sword‑and‑sorcery game using a simple 2d6 resolution and Hero Points. Classless and career‑driven, it’s low‑prep and fiction‑first, focused on daring feats, quick combats, and pulp adventure. Ideal for one‑shots or episodic campaigns.

Five Torches Deep is a rules‑lite dungeon‑adventure game that marries 5e familiarity with OSR grit. Encumbrance, light, and supply pressure matter; classes stay simple; combat is quick and decisive. It favors rulings over build math and rewards clever logistics and cautious exploration for fast, low‑prep sessions.

DURF is a rules‑lite OSR dungeon‑fantasy game using d20 tests with advantage/disadvantage. Classless and low‑prep, it emphasizes quick character creation, risky combat, and simple exploration procedures. Ideal for one‑shots, convention tables, or fast campaigns wanting rulings‑over‑rules.

The Witch is Dead is a one‑page, rules‑lite fantasy caper by Grant Howitt. You play woodland familiars avenging your slain witch with simple d6 tests and gleeful chaos. Classless and low‑prep, it runs in an hour, spotlights creative shenanigans, and is perfect for first‑timers and con tables.

Into the Odd (Remastered) is a rules‑lite OSR dungeon‑adventure in a grim industrial world. Classless characters, quick d20 saves, and lethal combat push bold choices over build math. Arcana—odd relics with unpredictable powers—fuel discovery. It’s low‑prep, fast to teach, and ideal for tense, exploration‑forward play.

The Skeletons is a rules‑lite, GM‑less fantasy story game about cursed tomb guardians. Minimal mechanics and timed silences drive reflection as skeletons recall their pasts. Low‑prep, quick sessions highlight mood and memory over combat—ideal for one‑shots and thoughtful groups.

Down We Go is a rules‑lite OSR dungeon crawler using familiar d20 and d6 rolls. Classless, low‑prep, it focuses on quick delves, risky decisions, and treasure‑driven progression in the shifting city of Infinopolis. Ideal for one‑shots, convention tables, or drop‑in campaigns.

Cairn 2e is a rules-lite, classless OSR game using d20 saves and inventory-as-abilities. Built for low-prep, quick sessions, it emphasizes cautious exploration, meaningful risk, and fiction-first problem solving over build optimization. Ideal for one-shots or lean sandbox campaigns.

Offworlders is a rules-lite sci-fi game using 2d6 tests in the World of Dungeons/PbtA vein. Classless and low-prep, it focuses on starship crews taking risky jobs at the edge of space. Ideal for quick campaigns and one-shots where fiction-first calls matter more than build math.

Knave: Second Edition is a rules‑lite OSR/NSR fantasy game using unified d20 target numbers. Classless and slot‑based, it supports low‑prep hexcrawls and dungeon delves with robust generators. Ideal for quick sessions, sandboxes, and groups that prefer rulings over rules.

Basic Fantasy RPG is a rules‑lite, B/X‑inspired fantasy game with ascending AC and race‑class separation. Classless-feeling flexibility and low prep make it easy to teach and run. Ideal for quick delves and sandbox campaigns where rulings and resource pressure matter more than build complexity.

Tiny Taverns is a rules‑lite, narrative fantasy game using a simple TinyD6 dice‑pool (1–3d6, 5+ succeeds). Classless and low‑prep, it spotlights cozy slice‑of‑life play about running a tavern, friendships, and small adventures—ideal for welcoming new players and quick, heartwarming sessions.

Liminal Horror is a rules-lite modern horror game in the Cairn/Into the Odd lineage. d20 saves with Stress and Fallout drive quick, lethal investigations. Minimal prep and clear procedures put fiction first—ideal for tense one-shots or lean campaigns that prize discovery and dread over build math.

Whitehack is a rules‑lite, classless OSR fantasy game that marries old‑school tempo with modern clarity. Built to run decades of modules, it emphasizes fast rulings, resource‑aware exploration, and creative problem‑solving over build math—ideal for one‑shots or lean sandboxes that value speed and consequence.

Knave: Second Edition is a rules‑lite OSR/NSR fantasy game using unified d20 target numbers. Classless and slot‑based, it supports low‑prep hexcrawls and dungeon delves with robust generators. Ideal for quick sessions, sandboxes, and groups that prefer rulings over rules.

Electric Bastionland is a rules‑lite OSR game of dangerous expeditions in a strange industrial city and its depths. Classless characters, quick d20 saves, and no to‑hit rolls keep turns fast and consequences sharp. Inventory and odd relics do the heavy lifting—ideal for low‑prep, exploration‑driven play.

minimald6 is a rules‑lite universal engine using 2–3d6, where 5–6s are successes. Classless and low‑prep, it emphasizes quick rulings, creative problem‑solving, and genre‑agnostic play. Ideal for one‑shots, pick‑up campaigns, and teaching brand‑new players.

Searchers of the Unknown is a rules‑lite OSR micro‑game that runs classic dungeons with a single‑line character stat block. Classless, near‑zero prep, it resolves actions fast and leans on rulings over rules. Ideal for one‑shots, convention tables, and introducing new players to old‑school play.

Mazes is a rules‑lite fantasy dungeon crawler using the polymorph system (each role rolls a single die). Class‑based and low‑prep, it focuses on clear turns, fast tests, and tense choices. Ideal for one‑shots, new players, and drop‑in episodic delves.

Knave: Second Edition is a rules‑lite OSR/NSR fantasy game using unified d20 target numbers. Classless and slot‑based, it supports low‑prep hexcrawls and dungeon delves with robust generators. Ideal for quick sessions, sandboxes, and groups that prefer rulings over rules.

Index Card RPG: Master Edition is a rules‑lite fantasy toolkit built around scene targets, timers, hearts, and effort dice. Classless at its core, it emphasizes quick rulings, fast turns, and low prep. Ideal for one‑shots, convention play, and lean campaigns where improvisation and table tools shine.

Primal Quest – Essentials is a rules‑lite stone‑and‑sorcery RPG. Classless and fast to teach, it uses straightforward d20 tests with tight resource play to drive tense, survival‑forward exploration. Low‑prep and table‑ready, it’s ideal for gritty hexcrawls, emergent sandboxes, and convention one‑shots.

Escape from Dino Island is a rules‑lite PbtA survival adventure. Classless and low‑prep, it drives fiction‑first scenes, tense escapes, and hard choices over combat. Ideal for one‑shots or short arcs when you want Jurassic‑Park energy with quick onboarding.

Mutant: Year Zero is a post-apocalyptic survival RPG using the Year Zero Engine’s push-your-luck dice pools and strict resource management. Classless, low-prep play focuses on scavenging the Zone, building your Ark, and tough choices under pressure. Ideal for gritty campaigns with exploration and base-building.

Death in Space is a rules‑lite sci‑fi survival game about scrappy crews trying to make it through a dying universe. With lean, OSR‑adjacent procedures and lethal combat, it favors planning, scavenging, and smart retreats over stand‑up fights. Ideal for tense one‑shots and gritty campaigns at the edge of civilization.

Outbreak: Undead (2e) is a survival-horror tabletop RPG focused on realism, resource scarcity, and tough choices. Classless and modular, it supports gritty campaigns about planning, panicking, and pushing through the worst days. Ideal for fans of grounded, rules-forward apocalypse play.

All Flesh Must Be Eaten is a rules‑lite survival‑horror game using the Unisystem. Classless and scenario‑driven, it focuses on tense resource management, risky choices, and fast resolution. Ideal for gritty one‑shots or short campaigns with zombie threats.

Frontier Scum is a rules‑lite acid‑western OSR game about wanted outlaws scraping by on the Lost Frontier. Classless, fast to run, and low‑prep, it uses simple saves and brutal consequences to push hard choices. Ideal for quick heists, bounty jobs, and gritty survival sessions.

Those Dark Places is a rules‑lite industrial sci‑fi horror game using simple dice pools and stress checks. Classless and low‑prep, it focuses on claustrophobic missions, malfunctioning ships, and corporate pressure. Ideal for tense one‑shots and short campaigns where survival and hard choices drive the fiction.