Masks: A New Generation vs Monster of the Week
Compare Masks: A New Generation and Monster of the Week side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Masks: A New Generation | Monster of the Week | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Modern, Superhero | Horror, Modern |
| Play Style | Narrative, Rules-Light, Character-Driven, Drama, Beginner-Friendly, Open Source | Narrative, Horror, Beginner-Friendly, Investigation, Playbook-Driven, Fiction-First, Character-Driven, Theater of the Mind |
| Core Mechanic | PbtA moves: roll 2d6 + Label. 10+ = strong hit, 7–9 = hit with complications, 6− = miss (GM makes a move). Five shifting Labels (Danger, Freak, Savior, Superior, Mundane) represent how the hero sees themselves — and others can shift them. Influence and team mechanics drive interpersonal drama. | Roll 2d6 + stat. 10+ full success, 7–9 success with a cost, 6 or less the Keeper makes a move. Playbook moves trigger from fictional actions. Luck points turn failures into successes but never come back. |
| Dice | 2d6 | 2d6 |
| Complexity | Low | Low |
| Accessibility | High | High |
| Community | Medium | High |
| License | CC BY 4.0 | Generic Games Third Party License |
| Cost | $$ | $$ |
| Publisher | Magpie Games | Evil Hat Productions |
| Year | 2016 | 2023 |
| Best For | Teen superhero drama where identity, relationships, and emotional stakes matter more than punching villains. | Groups who want episodic monster-hunting adventures inspired by Buffy, Supernatural, and The X-Files — investigating mysteries, confronting creatures, and dealing with hunter drama. |
| Highlights | Labels system makes identity the core conflict, 10 distinct playbooks, low prep for GM, encourages drama and character growth | Very easy to learn, mystery countdown gives the Keeper a clear prep framework, playbooks map directly to genre archetypes, large community |
| Considerations | Labels shifting can frustrate players who want a stable character identity, Influence mechanic requires careful tracking, adult moves can overshadow teen PCs, limited mechanical growth beyond Label shifts | No pre-written mysteries in the core book, limited mechanical depth for long campaigns, custom move design requires GM experience, monster creation guidelines are loose |