I’m in search of recommendations for tabletop games that are suitable for my gaming group. As the GM, I have limited time and can’t prepare complex adventures ahead of our Sunday night sessions, during which we’re all pretty exhausted. I’m looking for options that are simple enough to run without much prep yet engaging enough for our players, who also don’t have a lot of energy. Are there any systems you would suggest that won’t leave us all feeling burnt out?
5 Answers
What about going for lighter games like Knave or Cairn? They’re uncomplicated and fun. Also, consider rotating GMs or doing alternate Sundays to keep things fresh and not too heavy on just one person. This way, everyone gets a chance to lead without the pressure of heavy prep.
Beyond the Wall has worked wonders for me when I’m short on prep time. It’s somewhat like D&D but much lighter, featuring collaborative world-building and character creation, so it allows for more improvisation on the fly.
It’s a tough niche to fill when you want minimal GM prep and low player energy, but maybe consider looking into something like Ironsworn. It requires almost zero setup, uses tables and oracles for generating content on the fly, and lets players simply roll dice and choose options. Plus, it’s flexible enough for solo or cooperative play if everyone’s too wiped to GM.
Mausritter could be perfect for your group! The adventures are only about two pages long, including maps, so you can easily read them right before or even during the game. It’s easy to learn and fun enough for repeated sessions—definitely worth checking out!
Thanks! That sounds really interesting; I’ll definitely take a look!
The Sprawl could also be a good fit. Its structure allows for a consistent gameplay loop that doesn’t require prep. You can run missions that play out like episodes of a heist show, giving that familiar comfort while keeping things fresh with new stories.
That’s a solid suggestion! I’ve been curious about Ironsworn myself.