Cortex Prime vs Cypher System Revised Edition
Compare Cortex Prime and Cypher System Revised Edition side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, and more.
| Cortex Prime | Cypher System Revised Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Universal | Universal |
| Tags | Narrative, Modular, Collaborative, Toolkit, Roleplay-Heavy, Character-Driven, Tag-Based | Toolkit, Modular, Character Building, Resource Management, Exploration, Theater of the Mind, Low-Prep, Strong GM Support, Narrative, Character-Driven |
| Core Mechanic | Assemble a dice pool from trait sets (attributes, skills, relationships, etc.) rated d4–d12. Roll the pool, keep the two highest for your total vs. opposition, then choose an Effect Die from the remainder to determine magnitude. Plot Points let players add dice, activate abilities, or alter the narrative. Every mechanical element is a swappable mod. | The GM rates a task from 1 to 10 and multiplies that difficulty by 3 to set its target number. Players roll a d20 and succeed on a result equal to or above the target. Skills, assets, and Effort ease the task before the roll, with Effort paid from a stat Pool after Edge reduces the cost. |
| Dice | d4–d12 dice pool | d20 |
| Complexity | Medium | Medium |
| Availability | Free quickstart | Free core rules |
| Runnability | 5 of 5 book tools | 5 of 5 book tools |
| License | Cortex Creator License | Cypher System Open License |
| Third-Party Publishing | Not yet researched | Commercial publishing allowed — Cypher System Open License |
| Summary only, not legal advice. Check current terms before publishing. | ||
| Publisher | Dire Wolf Digital | Monte Cook Games |
| Year | 2020 | 2019 |
| Languages | English | English |
| Best For | GMs who want to build a custom system from modular parts: homebrew designers, genre-mixers, and groups tired of forcing their stories into a pre-built framework. | Groups building their own campaigns across genres who want detailed character choices and frequent resource decisions, with light mechanical preparation for the GM. |
| Highlights | Highly modular: 18+ mods for core rules alone, clear writing with worked examples, Plot Point economy creates dynamic give-and-take, powered well-known licensed games (Marvel Heroic, Firefly, Leverage) | Descriptor, type, focus, and optional flavors let players combine broad character concepts with specific abilities. Single-use cyphers continually refresh the powers available during play. Character arcs reward progress toward personal goals, while XP can also buy rerolls and changes to the story. |
| Considerations | The game is not playable out of the box and requires significant GM assembly. There is a steep learning curve to understand which mods fit your game. Every roll involves choosing which dice to keep plus an Effect Die, which slows resolution. | Players budget stat Pools across Effort, abilities, and incoming damage. The GM must choose suitable character options and genre rules before a campaign begins. Abstract distances and flexible difficulty ratings rely on consistent table rulings. |