Best Rules Lite 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.

Push SRD is a rules‑lite, narrative engine built around a single d6 push‑your‑luck roll. Classless and GM‑optional, it emphasizes quick, cooperative scenes and emergent complications over crunch. Ideal for one‑shots, pick‑up sessions, and fast design sprints across any genre.

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.