Playing Every Game in the Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality
PEGBRJE: Software of Page 31
These page endings really do sneak up on a guy.
Before I forget, Funky QuadZ — 3D for Construct 3 has been removed from itch.io, so I am unable to talk about it. I know not if it was a software or a game, so its memory will rest in the unknown.
Ma’amser, Saan Po Kaya?
Pammu starts off page 31’s software with a micro-TTRPG about driving through Manilla as a taxi driver. Roughly translating to ‘Ma’am/Sir’, where to?’, players will be helping out others as they enter the cab, from those who are of this world and those that are not. Players will witness many passengers (other players) from all walks of life, and make the way through the Metro area. As stated, it was designed with more of a foreign audience in mind so no need to worry about not knowing a lot of Filipino folklore, but some prior research might not be a bad idea.
Steal This Game! Rebels & Renegades
Another TTRPG, Steal This Game! Rebels & Renegades was crafted by sixfeetzen to give players the feeling of being the ultimate thieves in the world, banding together with an agenda. The title is reminiscent of another famous piece of media in ‘Steal This Album’ by System of a Down, and it has the exact same message; steal from the rich, do whatever. There are only two stats needed for players to dive in, based off of the ‘Lasers and Feelings’ gameplay system. If you want a flavourful heist game that allows the GM to do anything and the players to fail and still have fun, then this might be it.
Vultures
Taking on a more fantastical aesthetic, Vultures is a TTRPG created by Batts as a way of exploring a futuristic world of bounty hunters in a Space Mom mega hegemony. The galaxies were nearly destroyed thanks to massive robots, influencing the aesthetic further to give a strange cyber-mecha-wreckage setting to play within. Players will only need a single d20 for their adventures, and it is only a matter of time before someone decides that Space Mom isn’t cutting it.
EVERYONE ON THE MOON IS ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL
Breaking away a bit is this anthology of sixteen stories by Julian K. Jarboe, author and developer in the United States. It contains stories revolving around many different themes, such as apocalyptic science fabulism, the struggles of queer Catholocism with a sprinkling of cyberpunk, body horror and more. It’s an extremely interesting read if you are able to get in to it — the topics can feel a bit heavy but they are worded in a tender way to ensure that all who want to enjoy it can find something they can understand.
Mission: Accomplished
Back to the TTRPGs now with a game by Jeff Stormer, giving players a scenario of being super spies while also being office corporates. Saving the world is one thing, but dealing with the fallout in an HR meeting is a whole new beast that gets tackled within. Its aim is for satirical comedy, where players blame each other for failures and take as much credit as possible no matter who or what they must do; all for the corporate glory.
The Wind Began to Howl
In another twist of the TTRPG formula, this is The Wind Began to Howl by wiegraf. It’s a song fiction tabletop game in which players will be creating iconic stories to the ballad All Along the Watchtower by Bob Dylan. The two players will take up the roles of the Joker and the Thief (an optional third can be included) and play is guided along by the verses of the song. It’s an extremely interesting style facilitated thanks to Blades in the Dark’s system, allowing for players to generate their own tales using another.
Alone With Your Ghost
Aiming for more somber and terrifying than the previous entries, Alone With Your Ghost is a solo TTRPG experience about exorcising your personal ghost that haunts your every night. Created by babblegumsam, it delves in to memories that may have been suppressed and exorcising trauma, leading to a final climax of removing the ghost. Unfortunately this means that many players will need to relive certain traumas, which may not be suitable for a solo RPG experience — play with caution and explore some safety mechanisms if you are so inclined.
8-bit Sound Effects
Enough heavy stuff and TTRPGs; this is a sound pack created by Beep Yeah! all for those retro games that might get made to tug at those nostalgic heartstrings. There are collection sounds, collisions, jumping, ending states and more beeps and boops than you have room for. The only betrayal is that they are in 16-bit compression, which is a travesty (not really). Give these a listen if you are looking for some retro sounds for a game jam or project.
Over the Moon
Over the Moon is a strangely hilarious dating ‘TTRPG’ by Speak the Sky, and features two players that are a little too invested in the moon. It replicates the feelings of matchmaking through online dating services — more the older style of app messaging than Tinder — but both players are moon cultists. Their love for the moon is so scary that even others think that the two players need an intervention, so they set up a date night to encourage them to talk, and discuss what their relationship with the moon actually is. It is extremely wild and strange, continuing the cosmic love from the companion game Contact From Unknown. If you love silly messaging and the moon, this might be a fun ride.
Gourmet Street: Fantasy Street-Food Adventuring
A zine to help with all TTRPG needs, Gourmet Street is a massive addition created by the unlawfulneutral, giving players of any TTRPG the ability to create over a million combinations of food and vendors. It comes equipped with factions of foodies that fight each other, combinations of foods that seem surreal and vendors of all shapes and flavours to spice up any campaign. There is even a oneshot included called ‘Escape from Gourmet Street!’ to play in a closed environment with all things Gourmet Street. If you are looking for anything to add to your campaign in the food related realm, this is it.
Tiny God: A Tiny Game of Two-Minute Mindfulness
Back to solo games is Tiny God, a small LARP created by Z.W. Garth. As advertised, it is less of a game and more of an experience with the intent of assisting the ‘player’ with slowing down. The Tiny God helps you envision a space of beauty, molding it to your will as your newfound companion helps you relax whenever you need it. As one of a religious background, I find this style of experience more spiritual and soothing than anything, helping to recentre yourself using the power of your own mind. It might not be for everyone, but it’ll help those who need it.
Savior
Another solo game, Savior is a voice recording/journaling title by Kate Bullock in which players will be travelling through the vastness of space. There are communities to learn of and experience, and ultimately attempt to stop their fall due to different issues. There is no success, however — this is not that kind of game. The player is destined to play, and chronicling how they try to prolong the inevitable. Good luck, Savior.
Your Dead Friend
Bringing another player is Your Dead Friend by jeeyonshim, in which the one player savours their last moments with another who will be dying by the end of the day. It’s a game of saying goodbye after many failed attempts as saving them, reflecting on what made them friends in the first place and enjoying the time walking together before it all disappears. It’s melancholic to say the least, yet there’s a peace in its sadness as both understand that some things cannot be changed no matter the struggle. If you enjoy poetry and the inevitable, this might be perfect for you.
Camp Flying Moose for Girls of All Kinds
Following all of that sadness is Camp Flying Moose, a whimsical adventure by Alicia Furness. Brought to life by ‘Powered By The Apocalypse’, players are at a teen girls’ camp attempting to solve a mystery after strange events occur. It sounds a bit spooky, but is instead more about the exploration of the characters and how they interact with each other within a relatively safe environment. You won’t be trying to destroy anything, and perhaps make some new friends along the way.
This Is My Final Recording
A journaling game crafted by Havocfett, This Is My Final Recording facilitates the creation of audio and written logs of those that perish after an apocalyptic ending — logs found commonly in video games. This specific setting has the players as part of Mount Qaf Exploitation Project, experimenting on the discoveries and slowly turning unknown creatures loose on the world to kill all. The main mechanic surrounds ‘Doom’, which builds as the player nears their death but gives them more power over the story at large. It gives players a way of creating those horror stories found throughout games and media, and can be a blast with a few friends.
The Curse of the House of Rockwood
Winding back the clock is the gothic horror TTRPG The Curse of the House of Rockwood by Nerdy Pup Games. Players will be the sculptors of this cursed family of supernatural individuals, taking them on adventures through dark magic and terrors. The fate of the family is in the player’s hands, as their constant drama can lead them to ruin if not kept in check. There are no rules for hierarchy, only that the family exists — hopefully forever.
Worlds Without Master Issue 3
‘Finally’ we have a zine, the third issue actually, by Dig a Thousand Holes Publishing. This is a sword and sorcery magazine, featuring many tales and artworks by various authors and artists. Its contents can all be found below in the link, with a roleplaying game included within the zine as well. Give it a read if you’re familiar, or just want some new reading material.
There we go!
Except there were four more. Woops.
Savage Blood
A dark tale for 1–5 people, Savage Blood is a tarot-based story telling game by babblegumsam (seen earlier). It focuses on a revised history to humanize the drow and orc plights in fantasy realms, rather than the barbaric nature they normally fall in to. It’s colonial, it’s ultraviolent, and its full of dark paths that many may not feel comfortable exploring in their lighthearted fantasy worlds. If you wish to do just that, then this is a perfect game for you and friends to explore.
The Synth Convergence
The Synth Convergence is an expansion for The Sprawl TTRPG and is created by LunarShadow Designs. It features three missions that players will embark on that will cross paths with synths , with the common theme of exploring just how far each player is willing to go for each paycheck. The Sprawl itself is a Cyberpunk RPG mission-centric game by Ardens Ludere, so this mission pack will fit right in with its synth-based quests and issues. Each one of the missions takes the party in a different route, so good luck out there punk.
Standoff
On a lighter tone is Standoff by Matthew R.F. Balousek, where a gang of fellow adventurers and friends will play to tell the most ridiculous story ever made. The rules are light and quick to pick up, aiming more for the improvisation of the player and their ability to add even more nonsense to the story. The rules will help guide the players detail each scene, but it is up to the party to see how many times they will all backstab each other.
The Steadfast and the Rebellious
The actual last entry of page 31 is The Steadfast and the Rebellious, a tabletop RPG by W.H. Arthur. Players will be entering a city that lives in a false sense of security under a demon king with only two choices at hand; bend the knee and submit to the tyrant, or resist. It aims to create a quick yet effective story with the players trying their best to find which path they want to take all in the hopes of finding inner peace for their characters. It is a hack of REINCARNATION REDUX: Our Requiem, so if you are familiar with that title then you’ll have no trouble jumping right in.
There we go.
