Indie Tabletop RPG Black Friday Deals

If you find it challenging to support your local game shop this holiday season, don’t worry. There’s a friendly neighborhood online independent tabletop RPG seller that’s got your back, often with even more choices than you’d expect. Websites like itch.io and DriveThruRPG are popular among tabletop enthusiasts and designers in search of their next great game, yet this Black Friday, independent distributors are stepping it up by offering discounts on physical copies. Polygon has gathered some of the most exciting indie tabletop deals available on these digital storefronts for your browsing pleasure.

Tabletop Bookshelf is a solo venture that launched in December 2023 and has quickly become a beloved source for top-notch indie and small press tabletop role-playing games. Among their discounted offerings, you’ll find intriguing titles like Evil Hat’s “Deathmatch Island,” which blends elements of “Squid Games” and “Survivor,” and SoulMuppet’s “Orbital Blues,” a game centered around melancholic space cowboys. If you’re a fan of classic pieces, they’ve got “Paranoia” for satire lovers and are even offering the original “Cowboy Bebop” RPG. For those seeking something novel, check out Elliot Davis’ “Project Ecco,” a unique solo RPG where you, as a rogue time traveler, evade a mysterious Agency and an evil Entity, using a yearly planner to play.

Another noteworthy virtual shop is Knave of Cups, operated by a dynamic duo. They feature work from renowned indie creators such as Sam Leigh, Ken Lowery, and Cassi Mothwin. Plus, Knave of Cups has all the essentials you might need, from dice and tarot cards to journals and puzzles. They’re hosting a sale running through November 27, with special deals on indie board games crafted by designers including the Japanese studio, Oink Games, famous for their compact, party-perfect games.

For devotees of Old School Renaissance games, Exalted Funeral is a must-visit online publisher and distributor. They boast an expansive collection, including original games and immersive settings like the Redwall-inspired “Mausritter” or the trippy “Ultraviolet Grasslands.” Their range also includes innovative supplements for over 30 systems such as Dungeons & Dragons, Mork Borg, Mothership, and Old School Essentials. From November 29 to December 2, you can enjoy a 30% discount site-wide, with selected books and zines available at up to 50% off if they’re published through Exalted Funeral.

A long-standing pillar of the indie tabletop market is Indie Press Revolution (IPR), offering perhaps the broadest selection of tabletop games and related materials. Since starting in 2004, IPR has become a familiar face at gaming conventions across the US. They offer everything from widely recognized titles like John Harper’s “Blades in the Dark” and Tim Hutchings’ “Thousand Year Old Vampire” to fresh games and supplements such as Quinn Murphy’s “Community Radio,” inspired by “Welcome To Nightvale,” and watt’s “Cloud Empress.” Although only a few games such as “Signal to Noise” and Onyx Path’s “Chronicles of Darkness” are currently on sale, they remain a treasure trove for enthusiasts.

Finally, we have Plus One Exp, a publisher and distributor proudly embracing the motto, “Weird Indie Games,” a spirit that resonates with many. Plus One Exp curates a fascinating array of tabletop games, from Alexi Sargeant’s “The Great Soul Train Robbery,” a fun, low-prep game about a train heist bound for hell, to Navaar Jackson’s “The Corrupted,” an intimate zombie apocalypse scenario reminiscent of “The Last of Us.” For those captivated by knightly tales, “Longsword” by Viditya Voleti and Sam Tung offers a d100-based twist on Arthurian legends. Much of what you’ll find on Plus One’s site originates from their RPG Zine Club—a monthly subscription where members receive new games at a discounted rate from designers worldwide, though this isn’t technically a Black Friday offer.