Here Are The 10 Most Anticipated Tabletop RPGs Of 2019!

As I do every year, I recently took nominations for the most anticipated tabletop RPGs for the coming year, and then opened the floor to voting. Previous winners include 13th Age (2013), Star Wars Force & Destiny (2015), Rifts for Savage Worlds (2016), Trudvang Chronicles (2017), and Vampire: the Masquerade 5th Edition (2018). Who will join their ranks this year? Read on to find out!

10. Judge Dredd & The Worlds of 2000 AD
I'm somewhat biased, being the publisher of this upcoming game, but I can't say I'm not pleased it made it in at #10! Judge. Jury. Executioner. Play as a Judge of Mega-City One and bust perps, Sov spies, and mutant raiders in this action-packed standalone tabletop roleplaying game, bringing to life the iconic characters and worlds found in the legendary British comic 2000 AD.

9. Things from the Flood
Tales From The Loop was a gorgeous, award-winning game which made this list in previous years. The Swedish publisher Fria Ligan is back with a sequel standalone RPG. This game is a bit darker; you play teens in the 1990s, and the stakes are higher.

8. Changeling the Lost 2nd Edition
A prestige hardcover edition of one of the Chronicles of Darkness core rulebooks.

7. John Carter of Mars
Kickstarted right back in January, this science-fantasy RPG of planetary romance is based on the worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Pulp action powered by a variant of Modiphius' in-house 2d20 system!

6. Dune RPG
Another entry from Modiphius, partnering with Gale Force 9, information is sparse on this one. It was announced back in August with a release date of late 2019 as part of GF9's multi-year deal covering the works of Frank Herbert. Image is of the Last Unicorn/WotC Dune RPG from back in 2000.

5. Eclipse Phase 2nd Edition
The roleplaying game of transhuman survival is back with a new edition from Posthuman Studios. In a universe where death is now meaningless, characters belong to a secret organization which explores new worlds and navigates high-tech criminal cartels. With an estimated delivery date back in 2017, it's now eagerly anticipated for 2019!

4. The Expanse*
Green Ronin's Adventure Game Engine powers the official RPG of James S.A. Corey's series of novels. The solar system is at war at a pivotal time in humanity's history. Martians, Belters, and Earthers struggle for resources and power, but aliens forces are stirring...

3. Lex Arcana
Romans, mythology, monsters, and more clash in this RPG set in the 5th century AD in an alternative timeline where Rome never fell. This game is 25 years old, published in 1993 in Italy, and brought to the English market via Kickstarter.

2. Pathfinder 2nd Edition
Let's face it -- you knew this one would be up here, and it needs no introduction! In public playtest now, and slated for a Gen Con 2019 release, this is the second edition of one of the biggest tabletop RPGs in the world. It was a close race between this and the top spot!

1. Savage Worlds Adventure Edition
A massive half-million dollar Kickstarter, this is the latest edition of the 15-year-old game which powers half the RPGs out there! It was a close contest between this and Pathfinder 2, but this hardcover, 208-page book is the game voted most anticipated for 2019! Savage Worlds tags itself as "Fast! Furious! Fun!" and has shown itself able to run many different genres, from pulp to horror to sci-fi.

Congratulations to the 10 Most Anticipated Tabletop RPGs of 2019! Same time, same place next year!

PREVIOUS WINNERS OF THE ANNUAL EN WORLD MOST ANTICIPATED TABLETOP RPG OF THE YEAR​

#	2013	2015	2016	2017	2018
1	13th Age	Star Wars Force & Destiny	Rifts for Savage Worlds	Trudvang Chronicles	Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition
2	Numenera	Deluxe Exalted 3rd Edition	Mutant Crawl Classics	Tales from the Loop	Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay Fourth Edition
3	Star Wars Edge of the Empire	Unified Rolemaster	7th Sea 2nd Edition	Kult: Divinity Lost	Kult: Divinity Lost
4	Shadowrun 5th Edition	Conan Adventures In An Age Undreamed Of	Conan Adventures In An Age Undreamed Of	Star Trek Adventures	Forbidden Lands: Retro Open-World Survival Fantasy RPG
5	Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition	Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls	DCC Lankhmar	Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of	RuneQuest: Role-playing in Glorantha
6	Firefly	Barbarians of Lemuria: Mythic Edition	RuneQuest 4	Starfinder	The Witcher Roleplaying Game
7	Fate Core	Feng Shui 2	Torg: Eternity	The Witcher Roleplaying Game	Warhammer 40,000 Wrath & Glory
8	Hillfolk	Fantasy AGE	Blue Rose AGE	Coriolis	The Expanse
9	Torchbearer	Paranoia	Paranoia	Delta Green Roleplaying Game	Legend of the Five Rings 5th Edition
10	-	Shadows of the Demon Lord	Delta Green	Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea 2E	Numenera 2: Discovery & Destiny

Items marked with asterisks were also in last year's list.

 

[Toriel]

What I find fascinating about the current love for The Expanse IP, is that it's literally something out of the 1950s Sci-Fi mags. The more serious stories. Belters vs Mars vs Earth.

You even sort of saw this in the first Buck Rogers RPG from TSR.

What I really like is that it's coming full circle as the books are based on an RPG campaign.

 

[Chris Cunnington]

I'd say I'm looking forward to Moria from Cubicle 7 for The One Ring RPG.

 

[Retreater]

I guess when a game appears multiple times on subsequent lists, that means the game was delayed?
Interesting how some of these games seem to have dropped off the face of the earth. As for my groups, we tried Seventh Sea, 13th Age, and Numenera and they lacked a bit. Edge of Empire ended up having a little more staying power.

 

[AsakoSoh]

Interesting to see where there's been a gap between anticipation and reality - Trudvang seems to have disappointed people for example, and V5 caused a fair bit of controversy (although I think is selling well)

 

[Scottius]

Interesting to see where there's been a gap between anticipation and reality - Trudvang seems to have disappointed people for example, and V5 caused a fair bit of controversy (although I think is selling well)

People found Trudvang disappointing? I haven't gotten to actually play the system yet but I was quite satisfied with the final product and happily pledged for the second kickstarter.

Of this years crop I'm only particularly interested in The Princess of Mars/John Carter system which I supported via the kickstarter. Though I'm still not enthused about the choice of sizing the books nontradtionally I'm just too big of a Burroughs fan not to be excited to see the finished product.

 

[Giorgicus]

I'd say I'm looking forward to Moria from Cubicle 7 for The One Ring RPG.

Latest info on Moria from their FB post.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I gues I’m out of touch with the “mainstream” I voted for none of those. Tales from the Flood may be my 4th or 5th choice.

 

[imagineGod]

I gues I’m out of touch with the “mainstream” I voted for none of those. Tales from the Flood may be my 4th or 5th choice.

I gues I’m out of touch with the “mainstream” I voted for none of those. Tales from the Flood may be my 4th or 5th choice.

It is actually called "Things from the Flood" and focuses on teens, so can be viewed as the evolutionary successor to "Tales from The Loop" which focused on kids, possibly inspired by "Stranger Things" in an alternate 1980s that never was, with superb artwork by Simon Stalenhag (see Electric State art book).

 

[R Cautela]

Did Aquelarre in English get finally Published?

 

[cbwjm]

There are a few games there I'm probably going to end up getting. Updated savage worlds, John Carter of Mars (Even though I'm not a fan of 2d20, I am a fan of the setting), and Lex Arcana which I've never heard of but I really like alternate history earth settings. That artwork for things from the flood looks awe-inspiring.