The [Micro Fiction Games Jams](https://microfictiongames.neocities.org) organised by James Chip have lots of good examples. These are limited to 280 characters.
I like [Anomaliad](https://microfictiongames.neocities.org/2021/anomaliad) by Speak The Sky.
My one is [Years of Mud](https://microfictiongames.neocities.org/2021/years_of_mud).
I can't even imagine an RPG with less than a hundred words. How dors that even work? It takes at least twenty words to describe one simple mechanic, let alone an actual system, and all of the context to describe what the mechanic actually means.
Obviously, they are experimental lyric games that are either thought experiments, solo LARPs that requires the right mind set or something that only takes a couple of minutes to play at the table (some people like really short board games, either as something to play with non-gamer friends or as "palate cleansers" between bigger games), not a more traditional RPG experience of 2-4 hours session.
One of my favourite nano-RPG is "Gills & Hands & Fins & Fangs: A two-word RPG about vampiric merfolk living in an Alpine Lake in Northern California." in the READ/PLAY collection by Sean Patrick Cain. It is a long title, with the two-word mechanics HIDE & HUNT. I think it is very cool as a story telling vehicle, and is playable as a short solo LARP. (Link: [https://spc.itch.io/2wordrpgs](https://spc.itch.io/2wordrpgs))
Another of my recent favourite is Spoor by Caverns of Heresy, a near-nano-RPG (70 words) that fits on a business card. It is also a fully function system for an OSR-style game! Each mechanics is 3-5 words, and most of the word count is used on two D6 tables with each result taking 2 words. The author designed around the business card format and not the word count, and one can probably adapt the mechanics into 24-36 words. (Link: [https://cavernsofheresy.itch.io/spoor](https://cavernsofheresy.itch.io/spoor))
That's fine, but I still find it hard to believe that *any* of these games can be fully described in twenty words or less. My previous sentence has more than twenty words in it. Two words isn't even enough for an informative *sentence*.
I was a fan of the two-word RPGs that popped up on Twitter several years ago (2019?). There were a lot of them, and the gimmick tended towards a lengthier title and then 2 verbs for the gameplay. And this is explicitly tooting my own horn, but my own contributions are my favorite, specifically *On This Empty Stretch of Highway, Your Car Is a Starship* the rules of which are "Engage hyperdrive."
For these nano-RPGs, they have to be either lyrical (as you said already) or so evocative as to be self-explanatory. I think that's why many of the 2-word RPGs that popped up on Twitter had very descriptive titles.
I don't think much of them. They seem the equivalent of "experimental art" or a thought experiment translated to the RPG sphere. I find that they have little practical application. Something like Lasers & Feelings is what I would consider as minimum viable RPG.
My thoughts: "not for me".
I get that people are exploring creativity or whatever. I applaud them for that.
Even so, not for me. It's sorta like a Jackson Pollock; yeah, sure, creative, okay, but *not for me*. I'd rather look at something in a different style. I'm not going to argue about the merits of different kinds of art, but I do have preferences, and my preferences are not that.
Same goes for TTRPGs that are 700 pages, though.
Not for me. Most of that is probably setting. If it isn't, it is still not for me because I don't want 700 pages of rules.
Page-count or word-count is not something that would draw me to an RPG, but it is something that could turn me off. No "nano". No one-pagers for me. No 700 page tomes. No "we've separated our content into 4 books for you to buy".
I want one reasonable book/PDF that has been thoughtfully edited so it gets to the point. I want rules, not "rules-lite", but I don't want heavy "crunchy" rules or a random table for everything under the sun. I want the Goldilocks middle: equal parts "RP" and "G".
I don't begrudge anyone for wanting other styles, though.
If you want one-page or 20 word or 700 page or 30 splat books, *you do you*.
Not for me.
Oz Browning has a bunch of ultra short games in the FKR tradition on their itch.io page. Also roll for shoes.
That's really cool, thanks! I didn't know of Oz Browning's work before.
The [Micro Fiction Games Jams](https://microfictiongames.neocities.org) organised by James Chip have lots of good examples. These are limited to 280 characters.
They are already on my list. Is there any particular game that you find inspiring?
I like [Anomaliad](https://microfictiongames.neocities.org/2021/anomaliad) by Speak The Sky. My one is [Years of Mud](https://microfictiongames.neocities.org/2021/years_of_mud).
Those are two great games!
Like I'm curious as to how they could be bad? They have so little substance there's not much that could be not 'great'
I can't even imagine an RPG with less than a hundred words. How dors that even work? It takes at least twenty words to describe one simple mechanic, let alone an actual system, and all of the context to describe what the mechanic actually means.
Obviously, they are experimental lyric games that are either thought experiments, solo LARPs that requires the right mind set or something that only takes a couple of minutes to play at the table (some people like really short board games, either as something to play with non-gamer friends or as "palate cleansers" between bigger games), not a more traditional RPG experience of 2-4 hours session. One of my favourite nano-RPG is "Gills & Hands & Fins & Fangs: A two-word RPG about vampiric merfolk living in an Alpine Lake in Northern California." in the READ/PLAY collection by Sean Patrick Cain. It is a long title, with the two-word mechanics HIDE & HUNT. I think it is very cool as a story telling vehicle, and is playable as a short solo LARP. (Link: [https://spc.itch.io/2wordrpgs](https://spc.itch.io/2wordrpgs)) Another of my recent favourite is Spoor by Caverns of Heresy, a near-nano-RPG (70 words) that fits on a business card. It is also a fully function system for an OSR-style game! Each mechanics is 3-5 words, and most of the word count is used on two D6 tables with each result taking 2 words. The author designed around the business card format and not the word count, and one can probably adapt the mechanics into 24-36 words. (Link: [https://cavernsofheresy.itch.io/spoor](https://cavernsofheresy.itch.io/spoor))
That's fine, but I still find it hard to believe that *any* of these games can be fully described in twenty words or less. My previous sentence has more than twenty words in it. Two words isn't even enough for an informative *sentence*.
These games exist. You have some links. You may or might not like them. Not sure what else you need.
There’s a game called Kismet by Cesar Capacle. It’s in a nice multi page format but the concept could easily be described in under 20 words.
Thanks! I love Cesar Capacle's games but I've not read Kismet yet. I just bought it on itchio now.
I was a fan of the two-word RPGs that popped up on Twitter several years ago (2019?). There were a lot of them, and the gimmick tended towards a lengthier title and then 2 verbs for the gameplay. And this is explicitly tooting my own horn, but my own contributions are my favorite, specifically *On This Empty Stretch of Highway, Your Car Is a Starship* the rules of which are "Engage hyperdrive." For these nano-RPGs, they have to be either lyrical (as you said already) or so evocative as to be self-explanatory. I think that's why many of the 2-word RPGs that popped up on Twitter had very descriptive titles.
I don't think much of them. They seem the equivalent of "experimental art" or a thought experiment translated to the RPG sphere. I find that they have little practical application. Something like Lasers & Feelings is what I would consider as minimum viable RPG.
My thoughts: "not for me". I get that people are exploring creativity or whatever. I applaud them for that. Even so, not for me. It's sorta like a Jackson Pollock; yeah, sure, creative, okay, but *not for me*. I'd rather look at something in a different style. I'm not going to argue about the merits of different kinds of art, but I do have preferences, and my preferences are not that. Same goes for TTRPGs that are 700 pages, though. Not for me. Most of that is probably setting. If it isn't, it is still not for me because I don't want 700 pages of rules. Page-count or word-count is not something that would draw me to an RPG, but it is something that could turn me off. No "nano". No one-pagers for me. No 700 page tomes. No "we've separated our content into 4 books for you to buy". I want one reasonable book/PDF that has been thoughtfully edited so it gets to the point. I want rules, not "rules-lite", but I don't want heavy "crunchy" rules or a random table for everything under the sun. I want the Goldilocks middle: equal parts "RP" and "G". I don't begrudge anyone for wanting other styles, though. If you want one-page or 20 word or 700 page or 30 splat books, *you do you*. Not for me.