What are the best superhero-themed tabletop RPGs?

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Aug 18, 2018

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4 Games Considered

Best superhero-themed tabletop RPGs	Price	Last Updated
-- Marvel Super Heroes	-	May 30, 2018
-- Icons Assembled Edition	$34.95	Aug 18, 2018
-- Mutants & Masterminds	-	Jun 10, 2018
-- ICONS	-	Dec 7, 2015

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score 4 · Answer 1

Marvel Super Heroes

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

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

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

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

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score 2 · Answer 2

Icons Assembled Edition

Top Pro

Easy to learn

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

score 3 · Answer 3

Mutants & Masterminds

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 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

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

See All

score 1 · Answer 4

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

What are the best superhero-themed tabletop RPGs?

4 Games Considered

Marvel Super Heroes

My Recommendation for Marvel Super Heroes

My Recommendation for Marvel Super Heroes

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

High level of randomness

Designed to be beginner-friendly and narrative-focused

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

Karma system rewards heroic roleplaying

Icons Assembled Edition

My Recommendation for Icons Assembled Edition

My Recommendation for Icons Assembled Edition

Easy to learn

Mutants & Masterminds

My Recommendation for Mutants & Masterminds

My Recommendation for Mutants & Masterminds

Allows for quick character creation through the use of archetypes

Requires lots of suspension of disbelief

Manages to balance characters of vastly different power types

ICONS

My Recommendation for ICONS

My Recommendation for ICONS

Creating characters with random rolls is fun

The book is poorly organized

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