The smartest thing I've read about early D&D since Ptolemy's Musings. This approach will be liberating for some and stifling for others. But that's the beauty of a game that has evolved over 50 years - you can pick the edition that supports your chosen playstyle! This is one way in -- and it's pretty sweet.

This minimalist game contains the bare minimum elements to create a kind of narrative chain reaction: a dose of setting, some very simple mechanics, and an astrogonzo tone. It uses profession based traits - Fighter, Explorer, Scientist and simple roll over 4 resolution mechanic. It's also totally insane. Read my full review here.

This art-punk RPG harkens back to mini-comics and zines of the 90s – small and dense and DIY to the core. The entire game, which features a player’s guide and game master’s guide, fits on two sheets of paper, marked to fold into three-panel brochures. I can’t help but think this is a piss-take on bloated multi-volume games. If D&D 5e is Emerson, Lake and Palmer, then Mutants of Ixx is Stiff Little Fingers.

See the rest of my review here.

In many ways, Macchiato Monsters is a periodic table of RPG elements brewed together with a single-minded dedication to randomness infusing the game. You’re going to be rolling a lot of dice. For everything. For the right group that’s going to be a lot of fun.

I would argue that it doesn’t improve on the White or Black Hack or feel as innovative as either of those games, but by taking their best elements and cranking them it carves out a space for itself. If you love usage dice, random tables, and improvisational gaming and co-creation, you’re going to dig it. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and you shouldn’t take it too seriously either. As an experiment, it’s really interesting and has a marvelous energy. Worth the cost of a latte.

My full review here.