The 48 Hour Mega RPG Jam

As I mentioned in this post: ...How Do you Guys All Know Each Other?, I recently took part in a 48 hour RPG design competition, failing miserably. However, it was a worthwhile exercise for the following reasons:

1. I made a nice relationship generator, linked above.
2. I was able to create my very own fantasy heartbreaker which, although I didn't finish, I'm continuing to work on.
3. I got to find out about loads of interpreting TTRPG designers and have a glance at what they are capable of producing in a restrictive time period!

I set myself the task of reading and reviewing all 48 entries, and have elected to link them all below alongside a very short summary! Nearly all of these are free to download, but if you enjoy them or even get the chance to play them, give the designers a shout!

If you prefer an easier to read layout, try https://itch.io/jam/mega-rpg-jam/entries.

• Artifacts of the Tarot - Tarot based story game based where players control evil artefacts attempting to corrupt a hero. https://nurghelm.itch.io/artifacts-of-the-tarot
• Chosen One - A one page PbtA game where four GMs torture one PC through a series of trials. https://interfect.itch.io/chosen-one
• The Corporation  - Train and manage your own super hero! https://arbuja.itch.io/the-corporation
• Cyber-Bullying - A game where you roll dice to decide how well you've insulted people. https://the-gamer-boy.itch.io/cyber-bullying
• The Dark Lord Told Me to Deal with These Adventurers but I'm Only a Level 1 Slime - Like Keepers in the Dark only good, and not based exclusively on humanoids.. 
• The Dark One - You play as the lieutenants of a Dark Overlord. No GM material. https://3foxesinahumansuit.itch.io/the-dark-one
• Dead Boat - Piracy on an ocean world with lots of undead. https://bobguyjoe.itch.io/dead-boat-rpg
• Everyone's Stain - A tactical board-game, not really an RPG, could be fun as a one-off. https://hiroboto.itch.io/everyones-stain
• Folly of Man - Story game concerning a Kaiju invasion, play as journalists composing a reel of monster footage. https://enduringideal.itch.io/folly-of-man
• GARP - Really fun GM-less dice game, sci-fi. Needs more work to bring out RP elements, but well written. https://moosegonemad.itch.io/garp-rescue-patrol
• Go Directly to Jail - Ingenious mafia game using a monopoly board. https://axxroytovu.itch.io/go-directly-to-jail-do-not-pass-go-do-not-collect-200
• Goblin King - Card based game without any real RP but a fun mechanic. https://hectic.itch.io/goblin-king
• Hero Trainer - Now that Hercules attained godhood, who's going to replace him? Your boy, that's who! https://gnaws.itch.io/wip-hero-trainer
• Heroes and Smart People Players are shopkeepers who, for some reason, also give out quests. https://hapeing.itch.io/heroes-and-smart-people
• I am You Also Fun alien infiltration game, where you get to RP aliens imitating humans. https://papermedusa.itch.io/i-am-you-also
• Insignificant - Play civilians attempting to withstand the fallout from superheroes and supervillains battling one another. https://malcolme.itch.io/insignificant
• Keepers in the Dark - A steaming pile of shit by Sofinho. https://aloneinthelabyrinth.itch.io/keepers-in-the-dark
• Kelt - Not sure about this, think it's inspired by Dark Souls. https://llonelly.itch.io/klt
• Minions and Mayhem - Enormous Blades in the Dark inspired game. https://itch.io/jam/mega-rpg-jam/rate/485703
• Mooks! Streamlined stop-the-heroes-from-conquering-the-dungeon type game. https://i3rpg.itch.io/mooks
• No Ivory No Rose Attractive and mysteriously named game set in a failed state. https://vwwwv.itch.io/no-ivory-no-rose
• No Sanity Confusing early 20th century game, possibly inspired by Cthulhu. https://mrsernik.itch.io/no-sanity
• Oath - Heavily structured, narrative game with interesting mechanics and concept: play as a slave, doomed to die, but whose final mission could mean an improvement in the lot of their family. https://beruda.itch.io/oath
• ORPHN-1 Complex and interesting deck-building mechanic; play as children in the wreckage of a crashed spaceship. https://victor-a-gonzalez.itch.io/orphn-1
• Outlaws - Cyberpunk game where you control Outlaws: fugitive clones facing extermination. https://phoenix-fireflower.itch.io/outlaws-cyber-noir-tabletop-rpg
• The President's Lawyer Claims He's Withholding Text Messages That Will Protect Him You play the President's lawyer, but what is the nature of this sensitive information? https://festersquest.itch.io/the-presidents-lawyer-is-withholding-text-messages
• Red Giant - Beautifully presented, Old School RPG on a Dying Earth type world. https://rookiejet.itch.io/red-giant
• Run! - Aliens have invaded, guess what you have to do? https://cyber-zombie.itch.io/run
• The Shadow of the Citadel - Quite a big game involving gang warfare in a cyberpunk-ish environment. https://krotstudios.itch.io/the-shadow-of-the-citadel
• The Shopkeeper - Play as the proprietor of a fantasy shop and foil the hi-jinks of those zany adventurers. https://andersdk.itch.io/shopkeeper
• Side-Kick Stories - Play as a superhero sidekick supporting a more powerful hero. Great narrative examples of play. https://tbit.itch.io/side-kick-stories
• Sidekicks - Diceless RPG where you play as sidekicks to Captain Cosmos. https://coelocanth.itch.io/sidekicks
• Sidelines - Fantasy sports game where you influence the outcome from the sidelines. Cool concept but very incomplete. https://galazor.itch.io/sidelines
• Space Truckers - Get truckin' in the intergalactic highway! https://gyrocoptor.itch.io/space-truckers
• Squires - Struggling to summarise this one, need another look. Interesting dice mechanic. https://taoofshinsei.itch.io/squires
• Super-Incident Response Unit - You are a team of cops called in to protect and serve while the superheroes battle the super villains high up above. Surprisingly effective use of stock art. https://dannytwohands.itch.io/super-incident-response-unit
• Tebr - A generic fantasy rpg https://srekel.itch.io/tebr
• Ted's Getting Fired - Have you always wanted to be a stapler? Now's your chance! https://deleterious.itch.io/teds-getting-fired
• Triple Diablo - Card based game without any real RP but a fun mechanic. https://anarchygames.itch.io/triple-diablo-playing-card-rpg
• Trolls - Very nice structured improv with narrative and strategic elements. And Trolls. https://secrethearth.itch.io/trolls
• Unto the Breach - An Into the Odd hack with shades of The Hunger Games and, somehow, ready Player One. https://treestheyareus.itch.io/unto-the-breach
• Wisdom of Our Elders - A comic spin on the hero-mentor dynamic, similar to The Chosen One https://spacerelated.itch.io/the-wisdom-of-our-elders
• The Women of Sayora Village - Another tarot-based game! This is really gorgeous in parts, definitely not for every group, but a beautiful way to build a collaborative story. https://luciellaes.itch.io/the-women-of-sayora-village
• You Are  Not the Hero - A dark look at life in the post-industrial city. Potentially depressing, certainly thought provoking. https://quietude.itch.io/youarenotahero
• Zero to Hero - Play as minions subtly guiding the destiny of the Chosen One... except the chosen one's destiny is to end the dominion of humanity. https://itch.io/jam/mega-rpg-jam/rate/490292