Cortex Prime vs We Are But Worms
Compare Cortex Prime and We Are But Worms side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Cortex Prime | We Are But Worms | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Universal | Universal |
| Play Style | Narrative, Modular, Collaborative, Toolkit, Roleplay-Heavy, Character-Driven, Tag-Based | Rules-Light, One-Shot Friendly, GM-Less, Freeform Magic, Experimental |
| 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 entire game is one word. No dice, no stats, no GM. Playable as a tabletop RPG or LARP. Explores physical embodiment and perspective through the act of play itself. |
| Dice | d4–d12 dice pool | Diceless |
| Complexity | Medium | Very Low |
| Accessibility | High | Medium |
| Runnability | Very High | Medium |
| License | Cortex Creator License | Proprietary |
| Cost | $$ | Free / $ |
| Publisher | Dire Wolf Digital | Riverhouse Games |
| Year | 2020 | 2019 |
| 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. | Anyone curious about the absolute boundary of what an RPG can be: a single-word game about embodiment, physicality, and being a worm. |
| 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) | Entire game is a single word, playable as tabletop or LARP, zero barrier to entry |
| Considerations | Not playable out of the box: requires significant GM assembly, 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 | No mechanical structure: no dice, no stats, no resolution system, one word of rules text with no GM guidance or scenario framework, single session only, no character creation or advancement |