Cypher System vs We Are But Worms
Compare Cypher System and We Are But Worms side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Cypher System | We Are But Worms | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Universal | Universal |
| Play Style | Narrative, Low-Prep, Exploration, Cinematic, Collaborative, Theater of the Mind, Roleplay-Heavy | Rules-Light, One-Shot Friendly, GM-Less, Freeform Magic, Experimental |
| Core Mechanic | GM sets difficulty 1–10, multiply by 3 for target number. Players spend Effort to reduce difficulty. | 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 | d20 | Diceless |
| Complexity | Low | Very Low |
| Accessibility | Medium | Very High |
| Community | High | Very Low |
| License | Cypher System Open License | Proprietary |
| Cost | $$ | Free / $ |
| Publisher | Monte Cook Games | Riverhouse Games |
| Year | 2019 | 2019 |
| Best For | GMs who want minimal prep and players who enjoy spending resources to shape the story. | Anyone curious about the absolute boundary of what an RPG can be — a single-word game about embodiment, physicality, and being a worm. |
| Highlights | Very easy GM prep, flexible character descriptors, XP for discovery | Entire game is a single word, playable as tabletop or LARP, zero barrier to entry, has spawned numerous community hacks and adaptations |
| Considerations | Players track most complexity, limited tactical combat, can feel same-y | 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 |