# Best Science Fiction TTRPGs

Science fiction TTRPGs use technology, future societies, space, artificial life, alien worlds, or speculative ideas to drive play.

## Guide

Science fiction TTRPGs cover very different table experiences. Choose Mothership for blue-collar sci-fi horror, Alien for cinematic survival, Death in Space for rules-lite scavenging, and Cyberpunk RED for urban technological pressure.

If the future is corporate, street-level, and body-modified, browse cyberpunk. If scarcity and hostile environments matter most, use survival. The broader shortlist is in the Best TTRPGs guide.

## Games

- [Traveller](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/traveller) - Rank #11. Traveller RPG is a science fiction tabletop role-playing game known for its detailed universe and deep system mechanics that support a wide range of sci-fi adventures. From space traders and mercenaries to explorers battling against or aligning with vast empires, Traveller equips players with extensive tools to shape their journeys across the stars. The game is celebrated for its ability to handle complex scenarios across multiple eras of space exploration.
- [Star Wars](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/starwars) - Rank #20. Star Wars RPG immerses players in the expansive Star Wars universe, allowing them to create their own stories within the iconic setting. The game spans various eras, from the Clone Wars to the original trilogy and beyond, incorporating rich lore and diverse character options. Players can engage in deep tactical gameplay, utilizing custom narrative dice for actions and outcomes, and explore themes of duty, morality, and personal destiny.
- [Battletech](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/battletech) - Rank #21. BattleTech RPG (also known as MechWarrior: A Time of War) plunges players into the far-future universe of the 31st century, a time of endless battles across interstellar empires. The RPG focuses on MechWarriors who pilot massive BattleMechs in wars that span galaxies. It combines intricate mechanical customization with deep tactical gameplay, offering both personal and military-scale conflicts.
- [Alien](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/alienrpg) - Rank #22. Alien RPG immerses players in the foreboding universe of the Alien franchise, blending survival horror with science fiction in a game of fear, power, and survival. Set in the iconic world of xenomorphs and corporate intrigue, players navigate a series of thrilling scenarios from commercial haulage missions to colonial marines operations. The game emphasizes cinematic play, with a rule system that enhances the tension and horror of the Alien universe.
- [Scum and Villainy](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/scumandvillainy) - Rank #40. Set in a universe inspired by classic sci-fi franchises like Star Wars and Firefly, Scum and Villainy is a tabletop RPG where players take on the roles of daring smugglers, bounty hunters, and outlaws navigating the lawless edge of space. With its focus on daring heists, space battles, and morally complex decisions, this game stands out for its fast-paced action and emphasis on character-driven storytelling.
- [Star Trek Adventures](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/startrekadventures) - Rank #41. Boldly go where no one has gone before in Star Trek Adventures, a tabletop RPG that puts players in the shoes of Starfleet officers exploring the final frontier. With its emphasis on exploration, diplomacy, and moral dilemmas, this game captures the essence of the iconic Star Trek universe while giving players the freedom to craft their own unique stories aboard their starship. Engage in thrilling starship battles, negotiate with alien species, and uphold the values of the Federation in this immersive and thought-provoking RPG experience.
- [Coriolis](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/coriolis) - Rank #42. Embark on a spacefaring adventure in Coriolis, a sci-fi tabletop RPG set in a universe of ancient mysteries and interstellar conflict. Players navigate political intrigue and cosmic dangers aboard a living spaceship, utilizing unique mechanics like the iconic Symmetry Point to shape the narrative and create unforgettable stories in the vastness of space.
- [Dune: Adventures in the Imperium](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/duneadventuresintheimperium) - Rank #43. Embark on a thrilling journey through the epic universe of Frank Herbert's Dune in this tabletop RPG filled with political intrigue, powerful factions, and dangerous desert landscapes. With a focus on narrative-driven gameplay and rich world-building, players will navigate the treacherous paths of House politics and engage in tense confrontations with rival factions, showcasing the deep lore and complex relationships of the Dune universe.
- [Eclipse Phase](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/eclipsephase) - Rank #44. In Eclipse Phase, players explore a post-apocalyptic future where humanity has splintered across the solar system, facing existential threats from rogue AI, alien entities, and transhuman ideologies. With a vast array of customizable characters, sandbox-style gameplay, and a focus on mind-bending science fiction concepts like minds uploading and synthetic bodies, Eclipse Phase challenges players to question the nature of identity, morality, and the boundaries of human consciousness.
- [Blue Planet: Recontact](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/blueplanetrecontact) - Rank #45. Dive into the depths of a water-covered world in Blue Planet: Recontact, a tabletop RPG where players explore the mysteries of an alien planet while facing environmental challenges and political intrigue. With its focus on sustainability, exploration, and intricate world-building, this sci-fi game offers a unique experience where players must navigate the delicate balance between progress and preservation.
- [Savage Worlds](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/savageworlds) - Rank #90. Savage Worlds is a fast-paced, versatile tabletop RPG that simplifies complex mechanics to accommodate any genre, from fantasy to sci-fi to horror. Its streamlined rules facilitate quick, tactical gameplay, making it ideal for both short sessions and epic campaigns.
- [GURPS](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/gurps) - Rank #1000. GURPS (Generic Universal RolePlaying System) is renowned for its flexibility and depth, allowing players to create characters and adventures in any setting imaginable. This highly modular system is designed for those who value detailed character customization and the ability to simulate virtually any genre or scenario with precision.
- [Mothership](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/mothership) - Rank #1002. Step aboard the desolate, dark confines of space in Mothership, a sci-fi horror RPG where players navigate treacherous alien worlds and face off against cosmic terrors. With a streamlined ruleset focused on survival and psychological horror, Mothership immerses players in a tense, suspenseful atmosphere where every decision can mean life or death. Unique character classes, random tables for generating spooky encounters, and an emphasis on narrative-driven storytelling make Mothership a must-play for fans of sci-fi and horror RPGs.
- [Stars Without Number RPG](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/starswithoutnumber) - Rank #1003. Stars Without Number is a sandbox science-fiction RPG built for sector exploration, faction play, and player-driven campaigns. It blends old-school procedures with fast character creation, starship rules, and some of the strongest GM worldbuilding tools in sci-fi tabletop roleplaying.
- [Starfinder](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/starfinder) - Rank #1004. Starfinder takes players on a thrilling space opera adventure set in a futuristic universe filled with aliens, starships, and ancient mysteries. With its blend of science fiction and fantasy elements, the game offers a unique mix of high-tech gadgets, magic spells, and epic space battles that challenge players to explore the cosmos and uncover the secrets of the galaxy. The game's emphasis on exploration, customization, and collaborative storytelling makes it a standout choice for gamers looking for a truly immersive and expansive sci-fi experience.
- [Degenesis: Rebirth](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/degenesis-rebirth) - Rank #1009. Degenesis: Rebirth is a 'Primal Punk' post-apocalyptic RPG set 500 years after the Eschaton meteor fall. Using the KatharSys d6 pool system, it emphasizes survival, mutation, and the struggle between human cultures and the alien Primer. Classless and free-to-play, it features stunning art, 7 cultures, 13 cults, and deep worldbuilding across Europe and North Africa.
- [24XX](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/24xx) - 24XX is a rules‑lite sci‑fi toolkit SRD: pick a die, roll high, keep play fast, and favor clear fictional positioning over build math. Classless, ultra‑hackable, and ideal for one‑shots or quick campaigns, it powers 2400’s lo‑fi modules but adapts to any genre.
- [Alone Among the Stars](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/alone-among-the-stars) - Alone Among the Stars is a rules‑lite solo journaling game about exploring strange worlds. Using a standard deck of cards and a few dice, you discover prompts and write short vignettes about what you find. Classless and ultra‑low prep, it focuses on reflective, creative play. Ideal for quiet sessions and writing warm‑ups.
- [Ashen Stars](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/ashenstars) - Ashen Stars plunges players into a vibrant, galaxy-spanning universe as they assume the roles of elite agents battling crime and intrigue among the stars. Utilizing a versatile rules system inspired by the popular GUMSHOE mechanics, the game empowers players to solve mysteries and engage in thrilling spacefaring adventures while minimizing downtime. What sets Ashen Stars apart is its seamless blend of investigative storytelling and dynamic space combat, allowing players to weave personal narratives into a richly interactive cosmos filled with alien cultures and cosmic dangers.
- [Blade Runner](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/blade-runner) - Blade Runner is a noir investigative RPG about identity, empathy, and moral pressure inside a rain-soaked future of replicants, corporations, and compromised authority.
- [Carbon 2185](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/carbon-2185) - Carbon 2185 is a cyberpunk RPG of augmentations, corporations, guns-for-hire jobs, and neon-drenched survival in a broken future.
- [Coyote & Crow](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/coyoteandcrow) - Native American-created sci-fi RPG in a future without colonization. Cahokian explorers, unique d12 mechanics, and a hopeful vision. Winner of the Origins Award.
- [Cyberpunk Red](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/cyberpunkred) - The current edition of the iconic cyberpunk RPG. Streamlined rules, improved Netrunning, and the Time of the Red setting. Compatible with Cyberpunk 2077 video game lore.
- [D100 Space](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/d100space) - D100 Space is a thrilling solo tabletop RPG set in a vast, uncharted galaxy teeming with alien civilizations, cosmic dangers, and ancient technologies waiting to be discovered. Utilizing a straightforward percentile system, it empowers players to shape the universe through exploration, diplomacy, and conflict, while also encouraging improvisation and storytelling at the table. What sets D100 Space apart is its seamless blend of old-school mechanics and modern narrative sensibilities, allowing players to craft epic space odysseys filled with unexpected twists and rich lore.
- [Dead Belt](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/dead-belt) - Dead Belt is a rules-lite solo/co-op survival RPG where you play as a Belter scavenging derelict starships on the Gasping Frontier. Using just a d6, cards, and tokens, you navigate procedurally generated ships and manage oxygen.
- [Death in Space](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/death-in-space) - 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.
- [Dreams and Machines](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/dreams-and-machines) - Dreams and Machines is a hopeful science-fantasy RPG about surviving the ruins of machine rule while rebuilding communities and futures worth living in.
- [Durance](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/durance) - On a remote prison planet, convicts and guards struggle to survive in a brutal hierarchy. This fast-paced, collaborative game emphasizes hard choices and conflicting codes of conduct as everyone fights for limited resources and power.
- [Everywhen](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/everywhen) - Everywhen invites players to embark on an imaginative journey across a multiverse where timelines intertwine and the past, present, and future coexist. With its narrative-centric mechanics and a unique system that emphasizes the fluidity of time and space, players create vivid stories filled with diverse characters and interconnected worlds. The game’s innovative approach to chronomancy allows for exhilarating encounters and collaborative world-building, making Everywhen a playground for creativity and exploration like no other.
- [Fearsome Wilderness](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/fearsome-wilderness) - Fearsome Wilderness is a rules-lite survival RPG using the Year Zero Engine. Marooned prisoners face American folklore cryptids in a hostile forest. Hex-crawl exploration, base-building, and nightmare mechanics create tense resource-management play. Ideal for horror-survival campaigns with emergent storytelling.
- [Gamma World](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/gamma-world) - Gamma World is a classic science-fantasy RPG of mutant survivors, ancient tech, and gonzo post-apocalyptic exploration in a world where weirdness is the baseline.
- [HOSTILE](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/hostile) - HOSTILE is a near‑future, blue‑collar sci‑fi survival RPG using classic 2d6 task resolution. Classless and low‑prep, it emphasizes hazardous jobs, hard vacuum, and resource management over heroics. Ideal for tense one‑shots, salvage runs, and ongoing colony campaigns with a gritty, industrial vibe.
- [In the Light of a Ghost Star](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/in-the-light-of-a-ghost-star) - In the Light of a Ghost Star is a rules-lite sci-fi RPG set on a frozen, abandoned Earth lit by a dead white dwarf. Scavengers from Martian cities brave ghosts, machines, and strange life to recover ancient treasures. With streamlined mechanics, inventory rationing, and a hex crawl, it emphasizes exploration and survival in a weird, post-human world.
- [Ironsworn: Starforged](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/ironswornstarforged) - Ironsworn: Starforged combines the epic scope of science fiction with the gritty, personal storytelling of Ironsworn. Players take on the roles of interstellar adventurers exploring a vast universe filled with danger, mystery, and intrigue. The game's unique Sworn Promise mechanic challenges players to navigate complex moral dilemmas and forge powerful bonds with NPCs, creating a rich narrative experience that evolves organically based on player choices.
- [Lancer](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/lancer) - Lancer invites players to pilot massive mechs in a sci-fi universe where corporations and mercenaries battle for control of planets and resources. With its tactical combat system, extensive customization options for mechs, and a deep lore that explores themes of power, politics, and technology, Lancer offers a unique experience blending high-octane mech battles with rich storytelling opportunities.
- [Lasers & Feelings](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/lasers-and-feelings) - A one‑page, rules‑lite sci‑fi game by John Harper. Build a crew, set a mission, and resolve with a single 2d6 stat that balances logic (Lasers) and passion (Feelings). Great for new players and quick one‑shots; add light procedures if you want multi‑session arcs.
- [LUMEN](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/lumen) - LUMEN is a fast power-fantasy action RPG chassis built for flashy abilities, aggressive momentum, and missions that resolve with minimal downtime.
- [Microscope](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/microscope) - Microscope invites players to collaboratively construct and explore a vast history across time and space, weaving intricate narratives that span centuries or even millennia. With its unique non-linear storytelling mechanics, players create timelines filled with events, eras, and pivotal moments, all while shaping the world's context together. This innovative approach fosters a rich tapestry of interwoven stories, allowing for unexpected connections and a truly collaborative storytelling experience unlike any other.
- [Moonbase Blues](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/moonbase-blues) - Moonbase Blues is a rules-lite sci-fi horror scenario compatible with Mothership RPG 1e. Set on an isolated moonbase observatory, players face light-borne contaminants and infected colonists in an uncanny tide of blue. Features a bi-fold brochure layout, facility maps, random tables for hazards, terrified NPC survivors, and an audio distress signal handout. Ideal for one-shots or campaign integration.
- [Neurocity](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/neurocity) - Neurocity is a cyberpunk RPG about debt, coercive systems, and surviving a near-future city that treats human life as another consumable resource.
- [Numenera](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/numenera) - Numenera is a science-fantasy RPG of discovery, strange civilizations, and impossible technologies so old and powerful they read as magic.
- [Offworlders](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/offworlders) - 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.
- [Orbital Blues](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/orbitalblues) - Orbital Blues takes players on a spacefaring adventure where they navigate the vast expanse of the galaxy as interstellar musicians seeking fame and fortune. With a focus on improvisation and creativity, the game combines elements of music, exploration, and epic storytelling to create a unique tabletop experience unlike any other.
- [Other Dust](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/other-dust) - Other Dust is a rules-lite post-apocalyptic RPG set on the Tomb World of Earth, centuries after civilization's collapse. Using familiar OSR mechanics compatible with Stars Without Number, it emphasizes sandbox exploration, enclave building, and survival in a world of mutants and ancient ruins. Class-based and GM-driven, it provides extensive tools for emergent wasteland campaigns.
- [Otherscape](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/otherscape) - Otherscape is a mythic cyberpunk RPG about identity, community, and power colliding in a future where folklore and technology occupy the same streets.
- [Polaris RPG](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/polaris-rpg) - Polaris RPG is a post-apocalyptic underwater survival game where humanity fled to the seas after the surface became uninhabitable. Players navigate faction wars, scarce resources, and underwater horrors as genetically modified survivors. Crunchy yet approachable mechanics support deep sea exploration and community struggles in a hostile aquatic world.
- [Posthuman Saga](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/posthumansaga) - Posthuman Saga invites players into a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has transcended its biological limits, blending mind and machine in a quest for survival and understanding. With its unique blend of deep, character-driven storytelling and adaptable mechanics that mirror your evolving narrative, the game challenges players to navigate complex moral dilemmas and explore the implications of their choices. It’s a rich exploration of identity and agency, set against a backdrop of shattered civilizations and the daunting potential of what comes next for humanity.
- [Slugblaster: Kickflip Over a Quantum Centipede](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/slugblaster) - Slugblaster is a kinetic sci-fi RPG about teenage crews, dimension-hopping hoverboards, and trying to look incredible while reality keeps getting stranger.
- [Stay Frosty](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/stay-frosty) - Stay Frosty is a rules‑lite military sci‑fi game using streamlined OSR/Black Hack–style rolls. Classless, low‑prep missions focus on tight objectives, dwindling resources, and squad tactics under pressure. Ideal for one‑shots or short arcs where survival and decisive action matter.
- [Stoneburner](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/stoneburner) - Stoneburner is a rules‑lite sci‑fantasy survival game using the Breathless step‑die engine. Solo‑friendly and classless kits drive quick, low‑prep play focused on demon‑haunted delves, resource juggling, and colony growth. Ideal for short, high‑stakes sessions where choices about light, tools, and risk define whether your dwarves rebuild—or burn.
- [Tales from the Loop](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/talesfromtheloop) - Tales from the Loop invites players into a nostalgia-soaked 1980s world, where they step into the shoes of kids navigating the wonders and mysteries of a science fiction-infused childhood. With its focus on exploration, friendship, and the innocence of youth against the backdrop of surreal happenings, the game employs a unique blend of simplicity in mechanics and emotional depth in storytelling. Players create memorable tales filled with both whimsy and heart, as they confront fantastical machines, strange creatures, and the complexities of growing up.
- [Technoir](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/technoir) - Technoir is Jeremy Keller's hard-boiled cyberpunk RPG about desperate professionals pulling on threads in a dirty future until the whole city starts tugging back. Its lean tag-based system and Transmission city guides make it especially good at investigation-heavy noir play where favors, leverage, and fallout matter more than tactical firefights.
- [The Morrow Project](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/the-morrow-project) - The Morrow Project is a post-apocalyptic RPG about teams waking into a broken future with missions, military structure, and the burden of rebuilding after collapse.
- [The Mutant Epoch](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/themutantepoch) - The Mutant Epoch is a rules-lite post-apocalyptic RPG using the Outland System. Players lead excavation teams into ruined cities and toxic wastelands, battling mutants and raiders while scavenging for ancient technology. Percentile-based mechanics, extensive random tables, and lavish illustrations support emergent sandbox survival.
- [The Wretched](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/thewretched) - The Wretched is a rules-lite solo journaling RPG played with cards, a tumbling block tower, and a microphone. You are the last survivor of a salvage ship stalked by a hostile alien creature. Isolated and desperate, you chronicle your final days through audio logs while the creature lurks just outside your hull.
- [Those Dark Places](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/those-dark-places) - 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.
- [TimeWatch RPG](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/timewatch-rpg) - TimeWatch RPG is a time-travel adventure game about protecting the timeline, handling paradoxes, and turning history into a playground for competent agents.
- [Tiny Frontiers](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/tinyfrontiers) - 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.
- [Ultraviolet Grasslands](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/ultraviolet-grasslands) - Ultraviolet Grasslands is a psychedelic metal RPG of heroes on a strange trip through mythic steppes. Players lead a caravan across vast distances, trading, exploring weird locations, and seeking lost time and broken space. Features streamlined OSR mechanics, caravan management, and 250 pages of evocative art and random tables.
- [Uncharted Worlds](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/uncharted-worlds) - Uncharted Worlds is a space-opera PbtA game about crews, ships, jobs, and the trouble that follows people from world to world.
- [Vast Grimm](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/vast-grimm) - Vast Grimm is a rules‑lite sci‑fi horror game powered by Mörk Borg’s chassis. Classless, lethal, and fast to run, it focuses on grim survival, scavenging, and desperate missions against parasitic würms. Ideal for one‑shots or short campaigns where resource management and hard choices drive play.
- [Vaults of Vaarn](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/vaults-of-vaarn) - Vaults of Vaarn is an NSR science-fantasy RPG of crystalline deserts, ancient vaults, and strange civilizations surviving in the shadow of forgotten technologies.
- [Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay: Rogue Trader](https://www.ttrpg-games.com/item/warhammer-40k-rogue-trader) - Rogue Trader is a Warhammer 40k RPG about command, voidships, profit, imperial politics, and carrying the authority to make things worse on a galactic scale.