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There is no single best tabletop RPG for every group: the right pick depends on whether you want fantasy exploration, JRPG-style storytelling, superhero action, deep character customization, or a dense science-fiction campaign. These five games offer notably different ways to play. They are a useful 2023-era shortlist, not a verified reconstruction of Polygon’s “we played” selections.
How to choose a tabletop RPG
Start with the experience your group wants, then consider how much rules depth and preparation everyone is ready for. A game built around collaborative world creation asks something different of players than a customizable fantasy system or a campaign driven by a GM’s patron. “Best” is therefore a matter of fit, not a universal ranking.
- Choose by genre: fantasy, JRPG-inspired adventure, Marvel superheroics, or grim science fiction.
- Consider the group’s appetite for rules: extensive character options can be rewarding, but may take more effort to learn.
- Think about campaign shape: some games foreground a shared setting, while others organize missions around a central authority or patron.
Five tabletop RPGs with distinct strengths
Dragonbane: approachable fantasy with room for adventure
Game Informer describes the English edition, published by Free League Publishing, as an adaptation of the Scandinavian role-playing game Drakar och Demoner. Its skill-focused d20 system and compact, detailed valley give it a different scale from fantasy games built around sprawling worlds. Game Informer characterizes it as quick to play and suitable for campaigns with little to no preparation, while its “mirth and mayhem” framing signals a mix of danger and whimsy, including duck-like mallards. These are Game Informer’s impressions, which it attributes to its own playtests—not independent playtest findings here. (Game Informer)
Fabula Ultima: build a JRPG-like world together
Fabula Ultima aims to bring the feel of a Japanese role-playing game to the tabletop. Rather than asking the GM to arrive with a fully formed setting, the group establishes the world as play begins, using prompts such as “A World in Peril” and “Ancient Ruins and Harsh Lands.” Game Informer also notes that character death is rare, though a character can sacrifice themselves to accomplish an exceptionally difficult goal. This suits groups interested in shared worldbuilding and dramatic, high-stakes choices. (Game Informer)
#1 Best Overall
- Fast-Paced Adventure Game: Enjoy 30-60 minutes of fantasy-themed strategy as you build a party and face off against monsters, great for game night with friends, teens, and adults.
- Build Your Party: Collect heroes, slay monsters, and use items and magic to create winning strategies and become a hero in this role-playing card game.
- Easy to Learn Gameplay: Easy-to-learn mechanics make this card game ideal for adventuring with families, friends, and on game nights with ages 10 and up.
- High-Quality Components: Includes illustrated cards, custom dice, and smooth gameplay elements that make each session engaging and replayable. A great pick for fantasy and tabletop fans.
- Expand Your Game Collection: Grow your lineup of card games with expansion packs like Warriors and Druids, Berserkers and Necromancers, Here to Sleigh Holiday, and the Here to Slay Vinyl Mini Figure Blind Boxes.
Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game: familiar heroes or original characters
This superhero RPG is rooted in Marvel’s comic setting and lets players bring together established heroes and villains with characters of their own creation. Game Informer highlights brisk conflicts and dramatic reversals, making it a fit for groups who want comic-book action without restricting the table to familiar characters. (Game Informer)
Pathfinder Player Core: Second Edition: extensive character customization
The 2023 remastered Pathfinder rules continue the second edition, with separate books for players and the GM. Game Informer emphasizes the breadth of character options, customization, and worldbuilding, while also noting that Pathfinder is more complex than some alternatives, including Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition. It is the strongest fit in this group for players who want detailed choices and are willing to spend more time learning the system. (Game Informer)
Rank #2
- EMBARK ON EPIC ADVENTURES: Compete for the coveted Crown of Command in a magical realm! This Talisman: The Magical Quest Game, 5th Edition offers a thrilling experience, combining strategy and luck
- UPDATED GRAPHICS, COMPONENTS, AND GAMEPLAY: This 5th edition features stunning artwork, redesigned figures, and more streamlined and accessible gameplay that lets both newcomers and fans jump into a game
- 12 DETAILED CHARACTER FIGURES: Play as one of 12 powerful characters, including a Prophetess, Wizard, and Thief. Includes 12 Character figures and matching cards that reveal a character’s unique ability
- FIND THE TALISMAN: Set forth on a dangerous journey—race to be the first to acquire a Talisman, reach the Crown of Command, and vanquish its guardian dragon to win
- TRAVEL THROUGH A MAGICAL LAND: The generously sized board depicts the land of Talisman, 3 regions of enchanted locations. The board changes as players layer on Adventure cards with more places to encounter
Warhammer 40,000: Imperium Maledictum: patron-led missions in a dense setting
Wargamer selected Imperium Maledictum as its 2023 tabletop RPG of the year. The game uses a d100 system and offers character options aimed at exploring different parts of the Imperium. Campaigns revolve around a Patron who sends the party on missions and provides both boons and liabilities. Wargamer describes the game as detailed and comparatively dense, a potential hurdle for newcomers. Its award is Wargamer’s editorial choice, not a consensus honor or a confirmed Polygon selection. (Wargamer)
Which one suits your table?
| Game | Best fit | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dragonbane | Groups looking for fantasy adventure with a compact setting | Skill-focused d20 play; described by Game Informer as quick and low-preparation |
| Fabula Ultima | Groups who want a JRPG-inspired game and collaborative worldbuilding | The group helps establish the setting as play begins |
| Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game | Superhero fans who want to mix Marvel characters with original creations | Brisk conflict and dramatic turns |
| Pathfinder Player Core: Second Edition | Players who value character options and customization | More complexity than some alternatives, including D&D 5th edition |
| Warhammer 40,000: Imperium Maledictum | Groups drawn to mission-based campaigns in the Imperium | Dense d100 rules and a Patron who shapes the party’s assignments |
What can be verified about the “we played” picks?
The Polygon article matching the “best tabletop RPGs we played this year” framing could not be retrieved for verification. A Reddit discussion links to it, but that does not establish the complete game list, contributor names, or their firsthand rationales. The five games above draw on contemporaneous coverage from Game Informer and Wargamer instead; they should not be read as Polygon’s confirmed picks. (Reddit discussion linking to Polygon)
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Best Value
Rank #4
- 500+ Page Hardcover
- Character customization beyond your wildest dreams: create your own skills, races, classes, and more
- Incorporate canonical characters and locations from the novels, or make the World Dungeon your own
- Over 24 easy-to-play sessions (8+ neighborhoods/quests per floor)
- Create your own character or play as canon characters, including Carl, Donut, and Katia
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