Shadowdark RPG vs Shadowrun
Compare Shadowdark RPG and Shadowrun side by side. See differences in complexity, dice, genre, cost, and more.
| Shadowdark RPG | Shadowrun | |
|---|---|---|
| Genre | Fantasy | Cyberpunk, Fantasy |
| Play Style | Deadly, Dungeon Crawl, Rules-Light, Low-Prep, Gritty, Fast-Paced, Theater of the Mind, Ascending AC, Roll to Cast, Random Tables | Crunchy, Tactical, Combat-Heavy, Heist, Character Building, Faction Play, Lore-Heavy, Skill-Based, Mission-Based, Urban Fantasy |
| Core Mechanic | Roll d20 + ability modifier vs. DC/AC. Real-time torch tracking (1 real-world hour per torch), risky spellcasting (fail a check and lose the spell for the day), and randomized character generation (3d6 down the line). | Roll a pool of d6s equal to attribute + skill, counting 5s and 6s as hits. Meet or exceed a threshold to succeed. Situational advantages generate Edge points rather than modifying dice pools directly; Edge is spent on tactical effects like rerolling dice, adding successes, or imposing penalties on opponents. |
| Dice | d20 | d6 dice pool |
| Complexity | Very Low | Very High |
| Accessibility | High | Medium |
| Runnability | High | Medium |
| License | Shadowdark RPG Third-Party License | No open license |
| Cost | $$ | $$$ |
| Publisher | The Arcane Library | Catalyst Game Labs |
| Year | 2023 | 2019 |
| Best For | Tense, fast-paced dungeon crawling where resource management and player ingenuity matter more than character builds. Ideal for groups wanting old-school lethality with a modern, 5e-familiar ruleset. | Groups who want cyberpunk-fantasy heists with deep mechanical subsystems for hacking, magic, and combat. |
| Highlights | Real-time torch mechanic adds tension, near-zero prep with built-in random tables, 5e-familiar so easy to learn, fast combat | Unique cyberpunk-fantasy setting blending megacorporate intrigue with magic and metahuman races. Dedicated subsystems for Matrix hacking, magic, rigging, and astral space. Edge system replaces many situational modifiers with a spendable tactical resource. Decades of published lore spanning in-world history from 2011 to the 2080s. |
| Considerations | Limited character customization at creation, random talent progression removes some player agency, real-time torch tracking requires consistent timekeeping, carousing is the only XP path | Matrix hacking runs as a parallel subsystem that can leave non-decker players waiting. Multiple supplemental rulebooks needed for full coverage of magic, Matrix, and rigging. Published books have documented editing and layout issues. |