Hello and welcome back to Wyrmwood Studios, a blog dedicated to TTRPG Design. A space where designers, GMs and players can discover tools, guides and other resources (more on wyrmwoodstudios.com). What’s often coming across my workbench are the TTRPG trends in the foreseeable future. In this article, I wanted to share my viewpoint on what I think are The Best TTRPG Genres to Design in 2025. Before we dive in, if you missed my last post on how to create homebrew spells, you can check it out here or here (website), or here (kidding).
Let’s go.
Looking Ahead: What’s Going to be the Best TTRPG Genres
You and I both know that TTRPG design is an evolving landscape. What worked yesterday might not hit as hard tomorrow, so it’s smart to stay ahead of the curve. 2025 is shaping up to be a year where certain genres—especially those that emphasize storytelling, innovation, and fresh experiences—will really take off. So, I’ve been digging into trends and here’s what I think will be the best TTRPG genres to design in the next few years.
1. Narrative-Driven Games: Let’s Make the Story the Heart of the Experience
So, it’s still common knowledge that players have changed. While there will always be a place for tactical combat systems, the truth is, the games people are raving about these days aren’t about who rolls the highest damage. They’re about who’s going to break your heart or take the plot in a direction you never saw coming.
Narrative-driven games will continue to dominate in 2025. I think by now we do have the social proof from successful groups that games like Blades in the Dark or Monster of the Week and their collaborative storytelling / character growth work. I see players want to be invested in the world, in each other, and in the decisions they make. You passionate young designer— if you’re all about creating immersive narratives, this genre’s definitely where you should plant your flag.
I’ve played some story-first games myself. From my very personal POV, trusting the players to create the story with the GM, is kinda getting more fun interesting. But that’s me—lemme know if you see that too. But that’s magic for me. If you can find a way to make the mechanics serve the narrative (not the other way around), you’ll have a solid foundation for a game that resonates with people.
2. Solo & GM-Less: The Future of Solo Play Is Here
Now, this one is interesting. We have been reading that for years, that the standard TTRPG setup has been a group of people sitting around a table, right? Well, I still don’t see Solo play and GM-less games booming enough. I am confident that this trend is going to explode even more. It’s in everyone’s interest and comfort to jump into a game without needing a group, and I have a hunch that this need is not fully met yet.
From what I have seen so far in solo RPGs, there is a sweet spot between simplicity and guidance. There’s a real art to crafting a game that gives players the freedom to create an active and non-cringe experience solo, without feeling like they’re reading a book. I personally like Ironsworn and I think it have set a high bar, but there’s still a lot to discover and experiment with.
If you’re thinking about designing in this space, think about how you can give players a self-contained world that they can explore and develop on their own terms but with strong foundation on some rules (e.g. magic). It’s really more than just building a world—you have to give them tools to create the adventure.
3. Hybrid Genres: Push the Boundaries and See What Sticks
You know I’m all about breaking the mold. And that’s why hybrid genres are going to be big— indubitably. It’s no longer just about “fantasy,” “sci-fi,” or “horror.” Now, people want to see those genres fuse in ways that feel fresh.
Look at a mix of sci-fi and horror, Mothership for example. I mean… I see potential in making skins crawl and I don’t think that we will stop there. Another hybrid experience is the infamous Blades in the Dark, which blends these heists with dark fantasy. Damn, it works. I have a hunch that players will expect to see more of these mashups that combine the genres they love in unexpected ways. Sci-fi noir? Sure. Fantasy post-apocalypse? Absolutely. Superheroes and horror? We kinda touched base with this, but there’s more coming.
This is where I see a lot of room for innovation. You can get as wild as you want, and players will eat it up if you give them something they haven’t seen before. The challenge most probably lies in balance and cohesiveness when pulling from completely different genres.
4. Horror TTRPGs: More Than Just Jump Scares
I hope we all agree that horror in TTRPGs isn’t about the monsters. It’s one of the most difficult aspect of game design— creating an atmosphere—suspense, fear, tension. And let me tell you, that’s growing asf. We have the foundation of well-designed horror RPGs, that show they can hit hard with players, especially if you know how to build that sense of impending doom.
One sub-genre if you may that draws the focus will be the psychological horror—games that really dig into the minds of the players, making them question not just the monsters, but their own choices. Think about it—making the players feel dread before every choice. That’s when you’ve got a true horror RPG. I’ve found out that players love the tension that comes from limited resources, sanity mechanics, and unpredictable narratives.
If you have a love for all things creepy, this genre is your playground. You can craft deeply atmospheric experiences that keep players on the edge.
5. Eco-Conscious & Dystopian RPGs: Exploring Our Future
Now, this one’s personal. I’m all for a good eco-conscious or dystopian setting. The world is changing rapidly, and I think 2025 is going to see a massive rise in TTRPGs that focus on our future—specifically, a future that’s struggling to survive.
Dystopian games are really to highlight the survival aspect, and there’s something about that theme of “how do we keep going when everything’s falling apart?” that feels so relevant these days. If you want to dive into a genre that’s going to mean something to your audience, this is it. People want to confront real-world issues—whether it’s about the environment, societal collapse, or just surviving in a harsh world.
This reminds me of how movie production gets inspired by and pulling this into the TTRPG world, it’s not only fun but also makes players reflect. It’s really a challenge, but it’s also one of the most rewarding experiences as a designer and creator.
6. Space Fantasy and Sci-Fi RPGs: The Final Frontier
Lastly, space-fantasy and sci-fi are classics, but they’re not going anywhere. I mean, look at the hot space titles—these settings are still as popular as ever. I feel the turning point is around the corner. This year, I see these genres pushing boundaries, mixing this repetitive high-tech with mysticism, and dive deeper into the realistic aspect of this futuristic world-setting with even more complex moral dilemmas.
When designing in this space, think about what you can add that hasn’t been explored before. How can you marry technology with magic? What about the psychological implications of deep-space travel, or the struggle of exploring alien worlds that feel just as alien to the players as the characters?
Designing in this space means offering people a chance to explore the unknown—and really think, what is actually realistic to happen in the coming thousands of years.
So, What’s Next for You as a Designer?
The Best TTRPG Genres that will thrive in all center around innovation and the player experience. Is it narrative-driven games? Hybrid genres? Horror? I see plenty of room in this rising market for new concepts and thrilling experiences.
What do you think? Leave your vote below, and if you are still here, subscribe to the page and stop by our website (wyrmwoodstudios.com) to explore our growing efforts— hope you find something interesting there. I really want you to let me know if you like what you see.
