Hard sci-fi and space horror RPGs
In some circles, the genre of hard science fiction has a narrow definition based on strict criteria. If you want to learn more about the commonly accepted conventions, check out the Wikipedia article, as well as two examples of proposed hard–soft sci-fi gradational scales: Kheper and TV Tropes.
However, in the context of roleplaying game settings and rulesets, the term “hard sci-fi” is used somewhat more loosely. While this may irritate the purists among us, there is a good practical reason for adopting this more flexible understanding: very few people are interested in playing games that involve obsessing over the minutiae of actual science all the time.
That’s why, when it comes to games, it’s best to think of the “hard” label as a convenient shorthand for “not space opera” and “not science fantasy”. Rather than being cinematic and pulpy, hard sci-fi RPGs are usually described as gritty, realistic, and grounded. Games that fall under this category typically include one or more of the following elements:
- taking place in the near rather than the distant future;
- no faster-than-light travel or other fanciful technology that cannot be accounted for in scientific terms;
- confined to our Solar System (or another relatively small patch of interstellar space);
- human-only (no alien races);
- no magic (or its equivalent, such as psionics or the Force).
At one extreme, a small number of specialized RPG systems cater to true astrophysics and speculative technology enthusiasts. However, there is also a point in assigning some degree of “hardness” to otherwise fantastical settings that have an air of seriousness, respectability, and verisimilitude about them (even if it all comes down to aesthetics); I refer to them as “firm” space opera on the list.
For understandable reasons, the limitations inherent in hard sci-fi settings make them a natural fit for space horror scenarios (particularly of the survival horror variety). As a result, this list includes both “pure” hard sci-fi games as well as titles designed specifically for horror-style gameplay. A couple of these horror-themed games fall short of the “hardness” requirement but were still included for completeness.
It’s also worth noting that many RPG systems have default or implied settings with specific genre trappings, but they’re still highly customizable or “reskinnable.” That’s why the list includes some ostensibly space opera games that featured in my data, with the understanding that they can be “hardened” to taste by the GM.
Traveller (Classic)
Standalone game · “Firm” space opera (default setting)
5 figs out of 5
Traveller (Mongoose)
Standalone game · “Firm” space opera (default setting)
5 figs out of 5
Cepheus Engine
Open license game system derived from Traveller
5 figs out of 5
Hostile
Cepheus Engine · Setting / standalone game · Industrial / retrofuturist
5 figs out of 5
Orbital 2100
Cepheus Engine · Setting
5 figs out of 5
Near Space
Cepheus Engine · Supplement
5 figs out of 5
Outer Veil
Cepheus Engine · Setting
5 figs out of 5
Outpost Mars
Cepheus Engine · Setting
5 figs out of 5
Earth Sector
Cepheus Engine · Setting
5 figs out of 5
Solis: People of the Sun
Cepheus Engine · Setting
5 figs out of 5
GURPS Space
GURPS · Toolkit supplement
5 figs out of 5
GURPS Transhuman Space
GURPS · Setting / standalone game
5 figs out of 5
GURPS Terradyne
GURPS · Setting
5 figs out of 5
Eclipse Phase
Standalone game · “Firm” transhuman space opera
4.5 figs out of 5
Mothership
Standalone OSR game · Industrial / horror
4.5 figs out of 5
Engines of Babylon
Stars Without Number · Supplement · Slower-than-light vehicles
4.5 figs out of 5
ALIEN
Year Zero Engine-based standalone game · Industrial / horror
4 figs out of 5
The Expanse
AGE-based standalone game
4 figs out of 5
2300AD
Mongoose Traveller setting (older versions use other systems)
3.5 figs out of 5
Diaspora
Fate-based standalone game
3.5 figs out of 5
Jovian Chronicles
Standalone game
3.5 figs out of 5
Shadows Over Sol
Standalone game
3.5 figs out of 5
Coriolis: The Third Horizon
Year Zero Engine-based standalone game · “Firm” space opera
3.5 figs out of 5
Blue Planet
Standalone game
3.5 figs out of 5
Deep Space
Cyberpunk 2020 · Supplement
3.5 figs out of 5
Near Orbit
Cyberpunk 2013 · Supplement
3.5 figs out of 5
New Horizon
d100-based standalone game (derived from Cthulhu Rising) · Dark space opera / horror
3.5 figs out of 5
Scum and Villainy
Forged in the Dark standalone game · Space opera / space western
3 figs out of 5
M-SPACE
Mythras-based standalone game · Toolkit (default space opera)
3 figs out of 5
The Void
Standalone game · Lovecraftian space horror
3 figs out of 5
Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay
Standalone game family · Dark space opera / horror
3 figs out of 5
Genesys
Generic system derived from FFG Star Wars
3 figs out of 5
Those Dark Places
Standalone game · Industrial / horror
3 figs out of 5
Nova Praxis
Fate & Savage Worlds · Setting · “Firm” transhuman space opera
3 figs out of 5
Ashen Stars
GUMSHOE-based standalone game · Space opera
3 figs out of 5
River of Heaven
OpenQuest-based standalone game · “Firm” transhuman space opera
3 figs out of 5
Death in Space
Standalone OSR game (inspired by Mörk Borg) · Space horror
3 figs out of 5
Fate Space Toolkit
Fate · Genre toolkit
2.5 figs out of 5
Cold & Dark
Standalone game
2.5 figs out of 5
Ironsworn: Starforged
Standalone game · Space opera
2.5 figs out of 5
Star Frontiers
Standalone game · Space opera
2.5 figs out of 5
FrontierSpace
d00 Lite-based standalone game (inspired by Star Frontiers) · Space opera
2.5 figs out of 5
Science Fiction Companion
Savage Worlds · Genre toolkit
2.5 figs out of 5
Mindjammer
Fate-based standalone game (previously a Traveller setting) · Transhuman space opera
2.5 figs out of 5
Uncharted Worlds
PbtA-based standalone game · Space opera
2.5 figs out of 5
High Colonies
HârnMaster-based standalone game
2 figs out of 5
Infinity
2d20-based standalone game · Cyberpunk
2 figs out of 5
The Stars are Fire
Cypher System · Genre toolkit
2 figs out of 5
Alternity Science Fiction Roleplaying Game
Standalone game · Toolkit
2 figs out of 5
Seven Worlds
Savage Worlds · Setting
2 figs out of 5
Fading Suns
Standalone game · “Firm” baroque space opera
2 figs out of 5
Fragged Empire
Standalone game · “Firm” transhuman space opera
2 figs out of 5
D6 Space
D6-based generic game · Toolkit (default space opera)
2 figs out of 5
Thousand Suns
Standalone game (inspired by Traveller) · “Firm” space opera
2 figs out of 5
Jovian Despair
Standalone game
2 figs out of 5
2400
Family of micro-games · Various genre implementations
2 figs out of 5