The biggest RPGs

[Bedrockgames]

Well, what's your measure of popularity - whether people play it, or whether people say they like it most?

If the latter, then the most popular game doesn't have to be the most widely played. The most frequently visited restaurant in the world is probably McDonalds, right? But that doesn't mean people actually *like* it most.

I think the cross-over between play and popularity is so close it doesn't really matter. If people say something is their favorite game, chances are they are playing it. Sure there will be cases where someone likes a game but can't get people to play it with him, however by and large I think it is a wash. That said, for me the ultimate measure for "biggest" game is how many people are playing the thing. That is the game that has the most energy behind it in the hobby.

 

[nedjer]

The most gargantuan game is whichever one grabs the players by the throat, lifts them free of the mundane and gives them a good shake while they're up there.

 

[Wombat]

The two closest game stores to me (one 5 miles, the other about 30 miles) sell Pathfinder far and away as #1, DED4e as #2, other D20 as #3, and then all else playing desperate catch-up. There are strongish communities near me for CoC, WoD (N and C), FATE (in various iterations), Dark Heresy (but that has been falling of late), and Shadowrun; nothing else really counts as "on the radar" locally.

 

[Alan Shutko]

What would be the largest RPG by weight?

 

[Umbran]

I think the cross-over between play and popularity is so close it doesn't really matter.

As a person who hasn't played his "favorite" game (defining favorite as "game I've had the most fun playing, ever") in years, I'm not so sure I want to just ignore the difference

 

[MortonStromgal]

There's really a huge drop off after the top 2 though. GURPS, WoD, and CoC may have had their turns in the #2 spot, but those days are past - and even then they were distant seconds to D&D in their day.

WOD (as a line) got really close a couple years in the 90s, really really close.

 

[Wombat]

I think the cross-over between play and popularity is so close it doesn't really matter.

Think of this in terms of ice cream and fast food.

In the USA, more vanilla ice cream is created, bought, and sold than any other flavour. In the USA, more hamburgers are sold by McDonald's than anyone else.

Are these the best? The most easily accessible? The one's people know about most?

There is often a aast difference between what people know about, what they can get ahold of, what they like, and what they prefer.

 

[Asmo]

What would be the largest RPG by weight?

A guess: World's Largest Dungeon or Ptolus; City by the Spires?

Asmo

 

[Treebore]

I don't play D&D or Pathfinder. Haven't since I spent a few months trying out 4E. So been what? Over 2 years now. So all the "other" RPG's are what matter to me. Castles and Crusades, Shadowrun, Traveller, Legend of the 5 Rings, FATE games, Star Wars SAGA, Eclipse Phase, CORTEX, Savage Worlds, and even more, are the ones that matter to me.

I don't care what is the "best selling", I only care about what I like and am playing. I've played all of the above, and more, over the last two years, and I plan on continuing to do so.

 

[Bedrockgames]

As a person who hasn't played his "favorite" game (defining favorite as "game I've had the most fun playing, ever") in years, I'm not so sure I want to just ignore the difference

Fair enough.