If you’re unable to support your local game shop this holiday season, don’t worry—there’s another way to discover exciting tabletop role-playing games. You have a friendly neighborhood virtual independent seller ready to assist you, often with an even wider array of choices. Itch.io and Drivethru RPG remain top-notch destinations for tabletop game designers and enthusiasts exploring cutting-edge adventures. However, as Black Friday approaches, independent sellers are rolling out discounts on physical copies. We’ve gathered some of the most enticing indie tabletop deals and bundles for you to check out.
Launching as recently as December 2023, Tabletop Bookshelf swiftly carved out a reputation as a go-to spot for top-notch indie and small press TTRPGs. Their sale selection currently includes standouts like Evil Hat’s Deathmatch Island, a thrilling fusion of Squid Games and Survivor, and SoulMuppet’s Orbital Blues, a melancholic space cowboy narrative akin to Cowboy Bebop, which, incidentally, is also on sale. They also feature classics like the satirical Paranoia and Project Ecco by budding designer Elliot Davis. This solo RPG invites players to step into the shoes of a rogue time traveler eluding a mysterious Agency and an evil Entity—all played out on a yearly planner.
Knave of Cups is another noteworthy virtual store, managed by a dynamic duo. They showcase titles from leading indie creators such as Sam Leigh, Ken Lowery, and Cassi Mothwin. In addition to games, Knave of Cups offers a variety of gaming accessories, including dice, tarot cards, journals, and puzzles. They have an ongoing sale through November 27 on indie board games, spotlighting offerings from Oink Games, a Japanese studio renowned for its pocket-sized games—ideal for festive gatherings.
For enthusiasts of Old School Renaissance (OSR) games, Exalted Funeral is a premier publisher and distributor. Their extensive library boasts unique games and worlds, like the Redwall-inspired Mausritter and the trippy realm of Ultraviolet Grasslands. They also feature innovative supplements tailored for over 30 systems, including Dungeons and Dragons, Mork Borg, Mothership, and Old School Essentials. Between November 29 and December 2, they’re offering a generous 30% discount site-wide, with select books and zines available at half price.
In the indie tabletop universe, Indie Press Revolution stands out with what might be the most comprehensive collection of tabletop games and related materials on the market. Since 2004, IPR has been a fixture at gaming conventions across the United States. Their offerings include classics like John Harper’s Blades in the Dark and Tim Hutching’s Thousand Year Old Vampire, as well as fresh titles and expansions like Quinn Murphy’s Community Radio, which draws inspiration from Welcome To Night Vale, and watt’s Cloud Empress. Although only a few games are currently discounted—such as Signal to Noise and Onyx Path’s Chronicles of Darkness—IPR remains a vital hub for tabletop gamers.
Last, but definitely not least, is Plus One Exp, a publisher and distributor with the catchy slogan, “Weird Indie Games.” It’s a sentiment that resonates with many in the community. They distribute deeply intriguing titles such as Alexi Sargeant’s The Great Soul Train Robbery, a low-prep game where players aim to loot a train headed to hell, Navaar Jackson’s The Corrupted, an intimate, narrative-rich zombie apocalypse experience in the vein of The Last of Us, and Longsword by Viditya Voleti and Sam Tung, which offers a d100-based twist on Arthurian legends and knightly virtues. A standout feature of Plus One Exp is their RPG Zine Club, a monthly subscription service offering members games from designers worldwide at a discounted rate. While it’s not a Black Friday-exclusive offer, it’s a worthy investment for those seeking regular infusions of inventive gameplay.
