What are the best superhero-themed tabletop RPGs?

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Nov 14, 2021

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8 Games Considered

Best superhero-themed tabletop RPGs	Price	Last Updated
-- Marvel Super Heroes	-	Aug 23, 2021
-- Mutants & Masterminds 3rd edition	-	Aug 19, 2021
-- DC Heroes RPG	$100	Nov 14, 2021
-- Supers! Revised Edition	10 $ (PDF)	Jun 2, 2021
-- ICONS	-	Sep 29, 2021

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score 29 · Answer 1

Marvel Super Heroes

Top Pro

Designed to be beginner-friendly and narrative-focused

The game has a light ruleset that encourages roleplaying. Most conflicts are resolved with a percentage roll and a consulting table with the GM having a lot of flexibility due to rules being mostly just guidelines. See More

Top Con

Out of print

RespectableZirnitra's Experience

Love it! See More

Top Pro

Random character generation is quick and allows for some truly memorable superheroes

MSH has a quick and easy character generation process. Characters are created by rolling for origin, ability scores, powers, talents and deciding on a name. It usually takes less than 10 minutes and offers an impressive variety in characters created. See More

Top Con

High level of randomness

Power balance between characters can be highly varied since all attributes are decided with a dice roll. See More

RealisticTohil's Experience

I loved this game in the late 80s and early 90s, running games with these rules through middle school and high school. See More

Top Pro

Karma system rewards heroic roleplaying

Karma is a resource used for character advancement and increasing chances in a conflict. It's gained by performing actions that a moral hero would perform. See More

Top Con

Designed with a single interpretation of a superhero in mind

MSH's karma system rewards ethical behaviour, as such anti-heroes like Deadpool or Punisher are almost impossible to play as. See More

Top Pro

Character advancement is optional

Top Con

Some of the karma system potential is lost

Karam system is used for 2 things in the game - advancing the character (getting new powers, abilities and raising ability scores) and improving character's rolls. Since most players tend to focus on advancing the character, the secondary function of the karma system is often wasted potential. See More

Top Pro

Power Stunt mechanic encourages creative use of powers or abilities

(not available in the basic set) See More

See All

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score 28 · Answer 2

Mutants & Masterminds 3rd edition

Top Pro

Manages to balance characters of vastly different power types

Characters are built by expending Character Points on abilities, skills and advantages, and by choosing powers and complications. To balance the characters, the game imposes certain restrictions on what's possible based on game's chosen power level. See More

Top Con

Tedious character creation

The gameplay is easy but character creation can be tedious. See More

Malcolm Merlyn's Experience

I've ran this RPG for several years and had a blast with it. Each edition has improved until this one. See More

Top Pro

Familiar system

If you have played D&F, some mechnics will be familiar to you. See More

Top Con

Rather complicated especially 3rd edition

Too worried about balance such as will/fortitude which is not realistic or doesn't even simulate the comics. See More

Top Pro

One dice to rule them all

Only one dice, a D20, is needed to play the game. See More

Top Con

Requires lots of suspension of disbelief

Because characters like Superman and characters like Catman are balanced by the game to be comparable in strength it may be difficult to suspend your disbelief. See More

Top Pro

Allows for quick character creation through the use of archetypes

M&M includes a variety of archetypes that players can base their characters off of. There are 15 archetypes to choose from. For example, there's a speedster archetype for Flash-like characters and shapeshifter archetype for Mystique-like characters, etc. See More

Top Pro

Versatile

Any powers, any heroes can be constructed. See More

Top Pro

Has a New Basic Hero Handbook for new players

In 2019 a "Basic Hero's Handbook" has been made for newbies to the game. It is a stripped down version of the full rules meant as an introduction to the system. See More

Top Pro

Effect based

All powers are effect-based, you can construct any powers just by deciding which effect, advantages and drawbacks they have, See More

See All

score 14 · Answer 3

DC Heroes RPG

Top Con

Limited to DC Universe

Top Con

out of print

Game is out of print for years. See More

score 9 · Answer 4

Supers! Revised Edition

Top Pro

Versatility

You can use your various Traits (Powers, Resistances, Aptitudes) in various ways. You can attack and defend with any trait. Each trait can only be used once by round barring advantage or special power (like armor). See More

Top Con

Art

The art and the layout is not sexy ^^. See More

ToughKul's Experience

Supers! is an easy game for beginners to learn. I GMed it for my kids when they were young. My five year old came up with a character concept based on a video about magnetism he watched and with some help from me Magnet Boy was born. He had many happy sessions fighting crimes. See More

Top Pro

Cheap

The PDF is only 10$, Print on demand is possible. See More

InterestingNannaNepsdottir's Experience

Easy to play and run. Very narrative and flexible. As long as you can justify, you can use any of your stats to succeed in any task. See More

Top Pro

Only D6

You only need standard D6 to plays and rarely more than 5 or 6. See More

Malcolm Merlyn's Experience

I have tested the game four times, 2 as a game master and 2 as a players and this is a very easy and versatile games using a system which looks alike the OpenD6 system with a narrative strand. See More

Top Pro

Quick character creation

You create your character with a pool of dices but the budget is not over the top and so manageable. See More

Top Pro

Beginner Friendly

Easy to grasp system suitable for those new to RPGs as well as experienced players. See More

See All

score 5 · Answer 5

ICONS

Top Pro

Creating characters with random rolls is fun

While the game has an option for a point based character creation system, there's a random roll system that often produces exciting, unexpected results. See More

Top Con

The book is poorly organized

A lot of jumping around different parts of the book is required to perform certain actions, like create a character. See More

score 14 · Answer 6

Prowlers & Paragons

Top Pro

Narrative-oriented

The game seeks to emulate comics and is narrative-oriented. See More

Top Con

Only d6s

The game only uses d6s. See More

Top Pro

Core Book is self-sufficient

There is everything needed for a superhero RPG in the core book (character creation, equipment, world-building, and even an adventure). See More

Top Pro

Only d6s

Top Pro

Lightweight

Game system is lightweight and uses d6 only. See More

See All

score 9 · Answer 7

Icons Assembled Edition

Top Pro

Quick character creation

Malcolm Merlyn's Experience

If you have liked Icons and Mutants & Masterminds (same game designer), you will love this Assembled Edition which is better organized and improved See More

Top Pro

Easy to learn

See All

score 3 · Answer 8

Squadron UK

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8 Games Considered

My Recommendation for Marvel Super Heroes

My Recommendation for Marvel Super Heroes

Designed to be beginner-friendly and narrative-focused

Out of print

Random character generation is quick and allows for some truly memorable superheroes

High level of randomness

Karma system rewards heroic roleplaying

Designed with a single interpretation of a superhero in mind

Character advancement is optional

Some of the karma system potential is lost

Power Stunt mechanic encourages creative use of powers or abilities

My Recommendation for Mutants & Masterminds 3rd edition

My Recommendation for Mutants & Masterminds 3rd edition

Manages to balance characters of vastly different power types

Tedious character creation

Familiar system

Rather complicated especially 3rd edition

One dice to rule them all

Requires lots of suspension of disbelief

Allows for quick character creation through the use of archetypes

Versatile

Has a New Basic Hero Handbook for new players

Effect based

My Recommendation for DC Heroes RPG

My Recommendation for DC Heroes RPG

Limited to DC Universe

out of print

My Recommendation for Supers! Revised Edition

My Recommendation for Supers! Revised Edition

Versatility

Art

Cheap

Only D6

Quick character creation

Beginner Friendly

My Recommendation for ICONS

My Recommendation for ICONS

Creating characters with random rolls is fun

The book is poorly organized

My Recommendation for Prowlers & Paragons

My Recommendation for Prowlers & Paragons

Narrative-oriented

Only d6s

Core Book is self-sufficient

Only d6s

Lightweight

My Recommendation for Icons Assembled Edition

My Recommendation for Icons Assembled Edition

Quick character creation

Easy to learn

My Recommendation for Squadron UK

My Recommendation for Squadron UK

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