Playing Cards in TTRPGs
A compiled list, previously created for a YouTube video, of TTRPGs that feature standard playing cards to a greater or lesser degree. The list is sorted into sections depending on the nature of the game.
PLAYING CARDSTTRPGS
Daniel Copper
12/27/20249 min read
First of all, I promise that year retrospective is coming! It's taking a little time to write up, so in the meantime, here's another thing I talked about in my first post: the transferred list of playing-card inclusive TTRPGs.
So, what is this?
This is list of TTRPGs (and links to them) that use playing cards (specifically "French-suited" playing cards, the ones with clubs, hearts, spades and diamonds) as either the primary mechanic, or a major one. It’s divided into three sections to make navigating it slightly easier, and I have attempted to make it alphabetical. A game's inclusion on this list is not an endorsement, just an acknowledgment that the game makes use of playing cards. Many, if not most, of these games I have never read, let alone played.
If you have any games you think should be added to this list, leave a comment on the original video, linked below, or send me an email. Likewise, if you have feedback for improving this list, those’re the places to give it.
I’ve aimed to provide links to digital/PDF quickstart guides/SRDs where possible, though that’s not the case for all the games given. I have provided links to the creator’s website or to itch.io where possible (as a greater percentage of the sale goes to the creator). For the sake of transparency, I must say that all DriveThruRPG links provided are affiliate links.
This list was originally created for the video "Playing cards in TTRPGs", which I published in February 2024. This list has been updated multiple times since then, and will likely be updated multiple times in future.
Along with this list, that original video released alongside my first fully-original game, Summit, and my supplement, Play Your Cards Right.
Campaign-Focused Games (Multiplayer)
52 Fates by Dice Pencil & Paper
Quickstart (itch.io) - Core Rules (itch.io)
60 Years in Space from half-a.press
Abbadon: The Thirteen Seals by Andy Lever (Lost Haven Games)
Quickstart (itch.io) - Core Rules (itch.io)
Aesir: The Last Avatar by Natan Keller (Velenne)
Angakkuit from Abstract Nova
Preview (publisher website, direct download link) - Core Rules (itch.io)
C22 System by Brandon Gutowski (Pagoda Games)
System Reference Document (publisher website)
Capers by Craig Campbell (NerdBurger Games)
System Reference Document (Dropbox link) - Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
Castle Falkenstein from Talsorian Games
Core Rules (publisher website)
Dead Beats by Richard Kelly (kumada1/Sprinting Owl)
Deadlands/Savage Worlds from Pinnacle Entertainment Group
"Test Drive" (publisher website) - Deadlands Core Rules (publisher website) - Savage Worlds Core Rules (publisher website)
Frankenstein Atomic Frontier Revised Edition from Owlman
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
GUN&SLINGER by Nevyn Holmes (Dinoberry Press), GM and 2 players
Hillfolk from Pelgrane Press
Core Rules (publisher website)
In a Wicked Age by D. Vincent Baker
Core Rules (publisher website)
Legends of Avallen from Adder Stone Games/Modiphius
Quickstart (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link) - Core Rules (publisher website)
Locus by Fearne Milton and Stephanie Williamson (CobblePath Games), short arcs
Magitech Space Western from ApexCity
Miserable Secrets by Rose Bailey, Benjamin Baugh and Meghan Fitzgerald (Fantasy Heartbreaker)
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
Monkey: The Role-Playing Game by Newt Newport (D101 Games)
Preview (publisher website) - Core Rules (publisher website)
Neon Shadows from Lost Guide Games and Grimmpathic Games
NETWORK 23 revised edition by Alex Bocchetto (Mangusta)
Night Reign by Oli Jeffery (Sinister Beard Games)
System Reference Document (itch.io) - Core Rules (itch.io)
Nine Worlds by Matt Snyder (Stories You Play)
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
Our Minerva by Clove Fulminata (Vagabond Pen & Paper)
Parselings by Leo Cheung (Smunchy Games)
Praxis Arcanum by Mark S. Aquilino (praxisarcanum)
Primetime Adventures 3e by Matt Wilson
Core Rules (Indie Press Revolution)
Saga Machine (Against the Dark Yogi, Age of Ambition, Dime Adventures, Shadows Over Sol) from Tab Creations
Against the Dark Yogi Core Rules (publisher website) - Age of Ambition Quickstart (publisher website) - Age of Ambition Core Rules (publisher website) - Dime Adventures Quickstart (publisher website) - Dime Adventures Core Rules (publisher website) - Shadows Over Sol Quickstart (publisher website) - Shadows Over Sol Core Rules (publisher website)
Shonen Final Burst by Phillip Karnell
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
Tadhana: A Filipino Tableop RPG from Project Tadhana
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
The World We Left Behind by Samantha Leigh (Blinking Birch Games), short arcs
Through the Breach 2nd Edition from Wyrd Miniatures
Core Rules (publisher website)
TUNNELS by Zech Richardson (KTW Productions)
Unbound from Rowan, Rook and Decard
Core Rules (publisher website)
Upwind by Jeff Barber, John Hay, Michael Knowles and Jason Werner (Biohazard Games)
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link) - System Reference Document (Google Doc)
Westbound by John Heffernan
Quickstart (publisher website) - Core Rules (publisher website)
Oneshot-Focused Games (Multiplayer)
A Cool and Lonely Courage by Alex White (Plane Sailing Games)
A Good Plan Never Falls by Deric Bindel
A Stitch in Time by Poorna Mazumdar and Armaan Babu (Weave Games), 2 players
Against the Monster by Jasmin Neitzel and Andrea Rick (Plotbunny Games)
Blow Up Hamlet by Idle Cartulary
Broken Cities by Côme Martin
COLD DEAD HANDS by Lester Burton (Lestortoise)
Contenders by Joe Prince (Prince of Darkness Games)
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
Court of Goons by Marcus Falk (Attusfalk)
Crash//Cart by Galen Pejeau
Darlings & Derangements by Con (Golden Abyss)
DECKJAMMERS by ghostlenin
Dirty Aces by Bee Scerri (Red World Press)
Disaster Strikes! by Joshua Fox (Black Armada Games)
Dog Bear from Invincible Ink
Core Rules (publisher website)
Draw: A Simple Western TTRPG from nuparuchi
Dungeon Wilds from Goblins and Gardens
Dust Devils: Revenged Edition by Matt Snyder (Stories You Play)
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
Exile Deal from ae3klis
Expect Three Visitors by Alex White (Plane Sailing Games)
Exquisite Biome by Caro Asercion
EXUVIAE by Sean Smith
Fast Food Fascists by Rat In A Suit
Fealty by Michael Elliot and Calum Grace (Not Writing Games)
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
Four Alice Wonderland by Con (Golden Abyss)
Grin from Arcana Games
Core Rules (publisher website)
Helluva Town from Acheron Games
High Stakes RPG by Jason Murray (Myth-Forged Games)
Home Amongst the Stars by Craig Duffy (LunarShadow Designs), 3 players
Hot Guys making Out by Ben Lehman (P H Lee)
Ill Advised by Daniel Copper (The Copper Compendium)
I'm In! by Garrett Douglas (gobbogary)
In Dreaming Avalon by D. Vincent Baker and Meguey Baker
Inner Circle by Alex White (Plane Sailing Games)
Into the Forest by Ari Lereve (Secret Foxfire)
Love & Barbed Wire by Alex White (Plane Sailing Games)
Love is on the Cards by Poorna Mazumdar and Armaan Babu (Weave Games), 2 players
Mall Zombies by W. H. Arthur, can also be played solo
May You Fish in Interesting Times by W. H. Arthur
Motobushido by Nathanael Phillip Cole (Alliterated Games)
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
Murderous Ghosts by Meguey Baker and D. Vincent Baker (Trauma Games)
Mystic Lilies by Will Uhl
Mythic Mortals by David Schirduan (Technical Grimoire Games)
Orchidelirium by Luke Earl (AEther Corp)
Our Mutual Friend by Sam Langford (Sam Sighs)
Prologue 2nd Edition by Mitch Salmon (Mitch)
Protomancer by Zachary Elliott-Hatton
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
Purgatory House by Robert A. Turk (Wicked Clever)
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
Rascals by Giles Pritchard (Caradoc)
Revolt! by Jason Price (Always Checkers Publishing), can also be played solo
Rising Action from Aki's Perspectives, 2 players
Route Clearance by Andrew Millar (Imaginary Empire)
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
Scumbags & Stories by Creative Wronging, can also be played solo
Signal to Noise by Craig Duffy (LunarShadow Designs), 2 players
Sleepaway from Possum Creek Games
Core Rules (publisher website)
Starship Bodge-Up by Valery North
Stealing The Stones by Joshua Fox (Black Armada Games)
Stealing The Throne by Nick Bate
Stealing Your Heart by Joshua Fox (Black Armada Games), 2 players
Suited by Ted Pick Jr and Erin Johnson (Escape Box Games)
Core Rules/Sample Edition (itch.io)
THE COUNCIL by Logan Dean (Mega_Corp)
The Ground Itself by Everest Pipkin
The House Doesn't Always Win by Michael "Wheels" Whelan
Core Rules (publisher website)
The King Is Dead by Meguey Baker and D. Vincent Baker
The Long Road Home by Alex White (Plane Sailing Games)
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
The Long Shift by Caro Asercion
The Quiet Year by Avery Alder (Buried Without Ceremony)
Core Rules (publisher website)
The Sailor And The Siren by C. M. Ruebsaat (anxiousmimicrpgs), 2 players
The Sol Survivor by W. H. Arthur
The Steadfast and the Rebellious by W. H. Arthur
The Suits from Invincible Ink
Core Rules (publisher website)
The Walls Will Swallow You by Will Uhl
The Words We Leave Behind by Craig Duffy (LunarShadow Designs)
This Ship Is No Mother by Thomas Manuel (New Madras)
Viva la QueerBar by Sandra Dahlhoff and Andrea Rick (Plotbunny Games)
We Are Champion by Asmus Nielsen (Asmus)
We Were Lovers by Con (Golden Abyss), 2 players
With Great Power... by Michael S. Miller
Classic Edition Core Rules (itch.io) - Master Edition Core Rules (itch.io)
X-Class Threat by Con (Golden Abyss)
Solo Games
Accumulating Wealth by Creative Wronging
After the Accident by Nicolas "Gulix" Ronvel
Afterglow from Fistful of Crits, can also be played multiplayer
Core Rules (publisher website)
Alone Among The Stars by Takuma Okada
And You Will Rest Your Head on Your Parent's Grave by Tracy Barnett (TheOtherTracy)
Anyone Can Wear The Mask by Jeff Stormer, 1-3 players
Apothecaria by Anna Blackwell (Blackwell Games)
Core Rules (publisher website)
Back to the Beginning 2e from Ghost Spark, can be played multiplayer
Be Like a Crow by Tim Roberts (Critical Kit)
Core Rules (publisher website)
Borealis by Stuart Langridge
Carta by Cat McDonald (Peach Garden Games)
System Reference Document (itch.io)
Cartograph Atlas Edition by Brandon Lee (The Ravensridge Press)
Carved by the Garden by Cassi Mothwin
Chiron's Doom by Nick Bate, can also be played with up to 3 players
Colostle by Nich Angell
Core Rules (publisher website)
Creature Craft by Princess (Waufl), can also be played multiplayer
Dead Air by Fiona Ruthven (Sleepy Sparrow Games)
Dead Belt by A Couple of Drakes, can also be played 2 player
DELVE: A Solo Map Drawing Game by Anna Blackwell (Blackwell Games)
Core Rules (publisher website)
Dragon Dowser from Hatchling Games
DREAMSCAPES by Jenni Soramo
Final Plays by Grace Gittel Lewis (Incaseofgrace)
Firelights by René-Pier Deshaies-Gélinas (Fari RPGs)
System Reference Document (publisher website) - Core Rules (publisher website)
Fox Curio's Floating Bookshop by Ella Lim (LostWays Club)
Core Rules (publisher website)
Galatea by S. Kaiya J.
Generations by Tracy Barnett (TheOtherTracy)
GOLEM by N. Robinia (The Bardic Inquiry)
GRIMOIRE by N. Robinia (The Bardic Inquiry)
Her Odyssey by S. Kaiya J.
Journey by Luke Miller (Graycastle Press)
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affilitate Link)
Lighthouse at the End of the World by Ken Lowery (Bannerless Games)
Lost Among The Starlit Wreckage by Seamus Conneely, can also be played 2 player
mole.mole by Cezar Capacle, also playable multiplayer
My Way by Maria Fanning (ThatAceGal)
No Day To Die by Paul Elliott (Zozer Games)
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
No Map, No Plan by Seamus Conneely, can be played with up to 4 players
Core Rules (DriveThruRPG Affiliate Link)
NO MORE THAN CODE by Deric Bindel, can also be played 2 player
No-Tell Motel by Ken Lowery (Bannerless Games)
None Can Deliver From My Hand by Côme Martin
Outliers by Samantha Leigh (Far Horizons Co Op)
Rock Hoppers by Craig Duffy (LunarShadow Designs)
Scribe by Frederic Walker
See Issue X by Chris Longhurst (potatocubed), can also be played multiplayer
Skyworthy by A Couple of Drakes
Summit by Daniel Copper (The Copper Compendium)
The Cog That Remains by Seamus Conneely
The Lighthouse At The Edge Of The Universe by Ella Lim (LostWays Club)
Core Rules (publisher website)
The One by Chris Longhurst (potatocubed)
The Questgiver by Armaan Babu (Armaan of Stories)
Trick-Or-Treat Carta by Jaguar (DarkJaguar)
Void 1680 AM by Ken Lowery (Bannerless Games)
Wands & Laserguns by Justin Vandermeer (Shouting Crow)
Warp-Morph by ToriBee
What Waits Beneath by Nvyn Holmes
Wreck This Deck by Becky Annison (Black Armada Games)
Wretched and Alone by Matt Sanders & Chris Bisette (Sealed Library)
System Reference Document (itch.io)
You, Beyond the Pale by S. Kaiya J.
Thanks to Mint for her assistance with some elements of this list. Further thanks to Josh McCrowell on Bluesky for passing on this excellent resource. And of course, thanks to all others who've suggested games to add.
This list was last updated 20th January 2025.