Other D&D Variant Let’s list the 5E variants

[Morrus]

I know there’s a few out there these days, especially since the OGL crisis, but I haven’t really kept up with them all.

Obviously I know Level Up: Advanxed 5th Edition and Tales of the Valiant. There’s a bunch more though!

What else is out there, what is it, and by who?

(I’m talking standalone 5E games designed as a ‘replacement/variant’ of D&D 5E)

 

[aco175]

I'm sure some will count the 5.5e / 2024 edition.

It is slightly different like the others and many say bleh when others talk about it.

 

[darjr]

Tales of the Valiant by Kobold Press.

 

[Morrus]

Tales of the Valiant by Kobold Press.

I literally said that in my post! I was asking about other ones!

 

[GMMichael]

Modos 2, by me, really takes 5e in a new direction.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Adventures in Middle-Earth? Doctors & Daleks?

 

[darjr]

I literally said that in my post! I was asking about other ones!

Forgive me. Just got out of practice and I didn’t register it.

 

[Retreater]

Free5e
FateForge
Nimble

 

[JohnSnow]

DC20 by the Dungeon Coach certainly counts.

There's a ton of rules hacks and other games out there that nominally share 5e's DNA, but it's debatable to call them "5e variants." Many of them adhere far more closely to the numerical values (bonuses and hit point wise) of either B/X, AD&D, or 3e. Shadowdark is a good example.

Another is Bugbears And Borderlands, which is one of many simplified variants of 5e. The basic pitch is "What if Tom Moldvay were asked to make a 5e Basic Set?"

 

[kronovan]

I don't know if this would count, but there's Ultramodern5. It's a variant of D&D 5e designed to support modern settings. It is a universal/toolkit TTRPG, written to support multiple, modern genres. It differs from other varaints that adapt 5e to specific genres, like Esper Genesis (Sci-Fi), Anime 5e and the The Spy Game. I'm guessing those latter 3 might not meet your criteria of "standalone 5E games designed as a ‘replacement/variant’ of D&D 5E."

I'll ditto Adventures in Middle Earth. Even though it's a variation of D&D 5e to better support a specific fantasy setting, it makes significant changes - very low magic restricted to specific cultures, complete reworking of the rest system, a Shadow play-mechanic, journeying system. Those can be used for other fantasy settings - the journeying system in particular tends to get mentioned in threads here and on other forums.