I ran a total of 45 (with four more to come yet) roleplaying game sessions this year for a total of 22 players, across 16 different games. As a reminder, here’s the plan I had for 2025. How did it go?
The bulk of the games played were single sessions (7) or two-parters (4), then what I like to call short campaigns at three sessions (2), and three longer form games, at five, nine, and fourteen sessions. I like to switch games frequently to try as many experiences as possible, but right now I think I’d like slightly longer games next year. But there are so many games to play!
Did we play what I planned to play?
Call of Cthulhu: Masks of Nyarlathotep has been played, as planned. We’re up to fifteen sessions now, wrapping up the second chapter, England, just before the end of the year. Player count is up to six. Still no character fatalities or anyone going permanently insane, but we’re right on the edge.
Borgfest! We played Blood Borg, Corp Borg, and Cy_Borg. Mek Borg isn’t out yet, but we’ll get to that once it’s available. At that point I’m thinking of a whole mech game series, with Lancer and Heavy Gear still waiting for their turn. Plus there is the intriguing wargame MAC Attack I want to get to the table.
Blade Runner: we did catch up to running all the published content for both groups, with Fiery Angels being the latest release. The new Replicant Rebellion and the next cinematic adventure boxes are launching soon, and we will get to them in 2026.
DIE, Monsterhearts: these we didn’t get to. I am again thinking about them for next year.
Break: we played three sessions, but it hasn’t gripped me in the way I expected, even if I created a bunch of content for it. I have a feeling any fantasy gaming I’ll be doing in the near future will be on Daggerheart.
What else did we play?
Bad Sex wasn’t planned, but once I discovered my current group was into it, we played two different games. Talking about the experience of playing Bad Sex rather a lot lead me to start working on a game based on intimacy. Much appreciated!
500 Year Old Vampire: this has been the defining phenomenon of 2025 for me, my players, and my house. My life is all about vampire art now. I can’t see myself ever playing or running it again, it’s such an endeavor. I can’t recommend it enough.
D&D: though I am still burned out on Dungeons & Dragons, I did enjoy running an intro game to new players. I’ve also promised to run the adventure that came with the ludicrous LEGO D&D set.
Daggerheart: I’m glad we got to play Daggerheart right after launch, and across two different campaign frames. We’re still playing the Witherwild game, and it just might continue past the three sessions I initially planned for.
Skeletons: I picked up Skeletons I believe on a recommendation from local staff at Geeky Teas & Games in Burbank, I think in 2024. Took a while to get to the table, but we were really inspired by the game. I’ve put together a hack of it without the violence or any of the fantasy elements, and with added meditation, and we’re playing that over the holidays.
Trophy Gold: I’ve wanted to try Trophy for a long time, and while I finally did, it left me a little disappointed. Trophy Dark is next on the list.
Deitit: this is the intimacy game between tabletop and LARP I referred to above. We’ve scheduled another playtest for early next year. It’s starting to feel like a real game!
The Quiet Year: this is still coming this week. Looking forward to chill map drawing with friends. I have played the game before, but it’s been a while.
Noidat (Witches) playtest – I’ll be writing about this game design for aspiring LARP adjacent covens later.
Finally, a The Mountain Witch game that begins in 2025.
Favorite moments
My game of the year is 500 Year Old Vampire.
Every session leaves me dumbfounded by the creativity, persistence, drama, and sheer passion of the players. The art is taking over my house! The letters and journals are getting seriously out of hand.
While the number of sessions played falls short of Masks of Nyarlathotep (9 vs 14), that’s with thirteen players (versus an average of 5), and the number of hours played is considerable (roughly 200 vs 70 for Cthulhu) – all without counting the ridiculous, absolutely bananas amount of time the players have poured into their creativity between the sessions.
How much of this experience can be attributed to the game and how much is entirely up to the players, inspired by the game and each other, is impossible to say. I do recommend it to all creative groups without reservation.
This has been my best year with roleplaying games. I am very excited for 2026.
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