Cortex Prime vs GURPS
Compare Cortex Prime and GURPS side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Cortex Prime | GURPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Universal | Universal |
| Play Style | Narrative, Modular, Collaborative, Toolkit, Roleplay-Heavy, Character-Driven, Tag-Based | Crunchy, Simulation, Sandbox, Character Building, Tactical, Realistic, Grid-Based |
| 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. | Roll 3d6 under target number. Advantage/disadvantage system via character traits. |
| Dice | d4–d12 dice pool | 3d6 |
| Complexity | Medium | Very High |
| Accessibility | Low | High |
| Community | Medium | Medium |
| License | Cortex Creator License | SJ Games Online Policy |
| Cost | $$ | Free (Lite) / $$$ |
| Publisher | Dire Wolf Digital | Steve Jackson Games |
| Year | 2020 | 2004 |
| 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 who want a single system for every genre with granular simulation and deep customization. |
| 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) | Highly customizable point-buy system, simulation-focused, one system for any genre |
| Considerations | Not playable out of the box — requires significant GM assembly, steep learning curve to understand which mods fit your game, less community content than Fate or GURPS, restricted third-party publishing ecosystem | Character creation requires significant point-budget planning, combat rules are granular with many modifiers to track, full system spans two 576-page core books plus supplements, GM prep is substantial for campaigns using multiple sourcebooks |