Venture Society ©2024 9th Level Games

Magic and monsters, kids and bikes, animals living and working together: across categories, tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) have seen an unprecedented growth in popularity over the last few years, and librarians are once again on the front lines, introducing new generations of players to innovative methods of storytelling and collaboration. Game publishers have diversified the TTRPG market, making titles for all ages and interests. This roundup features an assortment of games that are easy to learn, easy to play, and contain something for everyone.

Dungeons & Dragons: 2024 Core Rulebooks. Wizards of the Coast. 2024. 2+ Players. $49.99. ISBN 9781666639315.
Gr 6 Up– Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) is usually the first TTRPG that brings people to the table. It’s the RPG. The Jacuzzi of hot tubs. What is D&D, though? It’s a pencil-and-paper role-playing game where player-created characters interact within a fictional world. With the guidance of a Dungeon Master (DM) or Game Master (GM), and core rulebooks, players tell a story together: the DM lays down the overall structure of the adventure, and players contribute through their characters’ actions and interactions, referring to character sheets containing statistics to roll dice and deduce outcomes. Bringing imagination and collaboration to the table is the most important part of play. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, D&D released updated versions of its core rulebooks: The Dungeon Master’s Guide, The Player’s Handbook, and The Monster Manual. The first update to the game’s basic rules in a decade, this is more of a streamlining than an overhaul, and the new rule set still falls under 2014’s D&D5th Edition(5e), allowing backward compatibility with the many games and adventures that run on 5e, both from Wizards of the Coast and other publishers. D&D 2024 simplified many of the rules to allow for a more user-friendly experience and updated the language to be more in line with current sensibilities, including shifting away from the term race to species and replacing the madness mechanic with Fear and Mental Stress . The 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide is an accessible entry point to the game, offering a comprehensive overview of what the DM does, how to run a game, and tools to ensure all players have a good experience through mutual respect. Emphasis is on game play and social interaction, and a short questionnaire is provided to establish player comfort limits. A Toolbox explains character alignment, creature creation, magic items, and dungeons; a Lore Glossary Appendix provides background information, especially helpful to new players who may not be versed in D&D’s fictional history; a Maps Appendix is also included, which is helpful for starting new adventures. The Player’s Handbook is similarly reorganized to be more beginner friendly. Character creation is smoother thanks to additional guidance through the process. A new character sheet is easier to read and streamlines information. For instance, spells are on a single page, and skills are now listed under the Ability to which they’re related—when players are facing a necromancer battle, they’ll want to know where the Fireball spell is! A Rules Glossary makes gaming life easier, doing away with the scramble of flipping through pages to find descriptions. Changes to Classes and Background include more inclusive language, extra skills, and richer origins, allowing players to thoroughly modify a character they can inhabit. Changes to weapons and magic encourage readers to delve deeper into role-playing; magic paths allow magic users to progress in their chosen skills, and weapons crafting abilities allow a more rounded character experience. Finally, there’s the art. The new rulebooks feature stunning, full-color fantasy illustrations throughout that bring the game to life, enchanting fans old and new. Classes all have accompanying artwork that provides additional inspiration for character creation and play. VERDICT A TTRPG mainstay. Add the updated, enhanced, and streamlined core rulebooks to reference and circulating collections and watch the gamers gather.

Humblewood. Hit Point Pr. 2019. 2+ Players. $49.99. ISBN 9781999096205.
Gr 7 Up–Compatible with Dungeons & Dragons 5e rules, Humblewood is a fantasy RPG set in “an expansive forest with a rich and intricate history.” Players assume the roles of animals seeking to protect their home from dark threats, and can choose to be Birdfolk or Humblefolk. Birdfolk are the dominant political force in Humblewood and are made up of five different bird classes. Humblefolk are a more diverse group of forest denizens. Each race has a detailed, illustrated profile, and there are plenty of skills tables to review and choose from to flesh out characters. Players can select from various religions for their character—all animal-based—which, similar to D&D, influence character alignment. Gameplay is heavy on environmental stewardship, with adventures including exploring ancient ruins and defending the forest. An emphasis on inclusion and collaboration lets readers work out social dilemmas in a comfortable space. While this is more of a cozy fantasy setting than D&D, there are still some intense adventures that game masters may choose to go lighter on, depending on the age and sensitivities of the party. A big attraction here is the rich lore contained in the game’s universe: there are myths, legends, and fully developed cultures for each of the races, making Humblewood feel like an actual world that players step into when they sit down at the table. This is a game system with multiple expansions, but the main book is a good place to start. Animal fantasy readers, fans of David Petersen’s “Mouse Guard” graphic novel series, and those who enjoy Brian Jacques’s “Redwall” books will feel right at home in this world. VERDICT A focus on environmental responsibility and a roster of enticing animal classes make this a great choice for middle school gaming collections.

Kids on Bikes, 2nd Edition. Renegade Game Studio. 2024. 2-6 Players. $39.99. ISBN 9781957311470.
Gr 6 Up–Players and their friends live in a small town where adventure is just a bike ride away—because this is no ordinary town. There’s weird stuff happening here: secret societies, a school principal that may or may not be the devil, an abandoned arcade/pizzeria that’s more than a little sketchy. It seems as if there’s always something going on under the surface. Fans of Stranger Things, Paper Girls, Lumberjanes, and Gravity Falls will feel right at home playing this rules-light system. Character creation is fairly straightforward and relies on personality tropes that players will recognize from TV shows and movies, like the Loner Weirdo, Overprotective Parent, or Brilliant Mathlete. There is an emphasis on creating safe, exclusive spaces and experiences for players, and callout boxes with examples help clarify rules and suggestions for game masters (GMs). A black-and-white comic at the beginning helps set the tone while colorful, moody illustrations throughout communicate the gaming atmosphere. The Deluxe Edition includes a collection of game modules to start the party off. Combat is light; the onus is on players to work together to explore and investigate strange goings-on. Originally published in 2018, Hunters Entertainment released an updated second edition in 2024 that is fully compatible with the previously released game modules, Strange Adventures 1 and 2. Hunters Entertainment also offers companion games that are powered by the Kids on Bikes system: Kids on Brooms, where players can be wizards and witches at a magical school, and Teens in Space, a space opera where a group of teens get into intergalactic adventures. VERDICT With a focus on collaborative storytelling and problem-solving, this is a great option for teens and tweens who are new to RPGs.

Teatime Adventures. Snowbright Studio. 2021. 2-6 Players. $49.99. ISBN 9798985696806.
Gr 4 Up–Cozy mysteries, adorable animal adventures, and recipes await players who venture into the Verdant Isles, where Teatime Adventures is set. Players can choose a pre-generated character or create one of their own. Characters are animal-like and fantasy-based, with ancestries like Deerkin (deerlike), Finfolk (fishlike), and Floradop (fairy). Players can explore gender identity with character sheets that provide a space to write in preferred pronouns; several non-playable characters (NPCs) are gender expansive and include pronouns, gender, and orientation in their profiles. Gameplay is focused on characters working together to solve mysteries and tasks, such as figuring out who sabotaged the Hoptop Harvest Pies before the competition, or why the Star Light plants are withering. There is almost no combat; adventures rely on talking, exploration, and collaboration. The rulebook includes four adventures to start a campaign, and colorful fantasy illustrations add to the snug feel. There are recipes throughout that players can make and share, with adult assistance for younger players, and each recipe calls back to an in-world adventure, keeping the feeling of being in the game intact. A tea-steeping guide, recipe cards, and character sheets round out this rulebook. Tea Dragon Society fans, or readers who love graphic novels like Mooncakes and Garlic and the Vampire, will all want to visit the Verdant Isles to spend some quality time. VERDICT An LGBTQIA+-friendly option for players of all ages, this amiable fantasy game is a recommended purchase for gaming collections.

Venture Society. 9th Level Games. 2024. 2-6 Players. $59.99. UPC 644637410193.
Gr 1-4–Fresh off a successful Kickstarter campaign, this SEL skill-building TTRPG is geared toward younger players. The Venture Society is an organization of animals pledged to help other animals, formed after years of conflict. The guidebook offers a well-plotted background to the Society’s formation and purpose and encourages Social Emotional Learning and the Powers of Play. The box includes a Professionals Guide for those who wish to use the game as part of their work practice. It is easy to learn, and character creation is simple: players can either select a premade character or create their own by choosing a name, “Helping Hand” profession, and “Cool Item.” The guidebook provides explanations on gameplay, dice rolls, and tips for how to encourage and reward players for adhering to the principles of communication, emotional wellness, personal strengths, and social awareness. Simple adventures include delivering a letter to the Mayor at the Oasis in time for a concert. The game box also includes an adventure book with colorful maps, adventure-generating cards, a puzzle for team challenges, dice, and dry-erase markers. VERDICT An excellent way to introduce younger children to RPGs. A must-add to collections.

Rosemary Kiladitis is a Community Library Manager at Queens Public Library.