Tabletop RPG · since 2017 · #27 most discussed

Genesys

Play characters in any setting using custom narrative dice that give success, failure, and side effects on each roll.

Narrative diceGenericdice poolclasslesspoint buyzone combatpartial successAny lengthNeeds a GM

6.7

Geek rating

From 26 firsthand play reports in 4 r/rpg threads. The threads alone average 7.3.

Player rating— / 10

No visitor ratings yet.

Discussion6.9 / 10

225 r/rpg posts named it, October 2023 to October 2026.

Rules weight

Medium. Hype 5.3 for its age.

Have you played it?

Rate Genesys from 1 to 10. One rating per browser and device; you can change it any time.

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What players say

At the table

Players describe Genesys as a dice-driven game where each roll returns both a success result and an advantage or threat result, and the table decides what the extras mean. Most reports are from long-time GMs and fans, and several say the system clicks within a couple of encounters. A minority tried it and found it slow.

What works

Each roll carries several outcomes at once (success, advantage/threat, triumph/despair), which packs damage, status effects and story beats into one throw. (thread)
Players come up with their own readings of Advantage and Triumph, which produces memorable moments and encourages improvisation. (thread)
Several tables report staying power, including multiple long campaigns and one at 600+ sessions. (thread)
Resolution scales flexibly, from zone combat without maps to a single roll for a whole battle, and the same rules cover several genres. (thread)
Dice-roller apps and Discord bots take over the symbol reading. (thread)

What tables struggle with

Casual players often won't retain the symbols, and some dislike resolving the pool even in person. (thread)
Combat can drag. One GM ran two one-shots for different groups and both found the pace too slow. (thread)
Gritty or realistic play is a poor fit, since crits rarely kill and damage needs house-ruling. (thread)
XP guidance can make players level too fast or argue over awards, so some GMs cap it. (thread)
Each new setting needs its own stat blocks and gear, and the special dice are expensive and hard to find. (thread)

Who it suits

Improv-minded groups who like inventing what a result means.
GMs who enjoy homebrewing and can put up with setting prep.
Cinematic or pulpy play, rather than gritty realism.

In players' words

"I've introduced swrpg and genesys to lots of players, many of them it being their first ttrpg experience, and after a couple examples and an encounter or two they had it down." (thread)
"I ran two one shots for two different groups. The dice system is not for us. We found it to slow the pace so much, combats were too long." (thread)

The threads behind it

Each thread is rated for the play it describes, from the firsthand reports in it. Load one here or read it on Reddit.

7.0

What's your experience with Genesys rpg?

Most people who ran or played Genesys call it a favorite. They say the narrative dice produce lively, cinematic, improvised play, and the Advantage and Triumph spends lead to memorable moments. A vocal minority found the dice slow, combat long and interpretation a chore, and the system does poorly in gritty or realistic settings. 11 firsthand · 33 comments

Open on Reddit

7.8

Positivity for Genesys RPG

People who actually ran Genesys report long-running, enthusiastic campaigns. They say the dice and collaborative advantage/threat spending make play lively once the system clicks. The complaints are mostly fixable: XP pacing, combat dice results that can feel disconnected, and players drifting into mechanical language. One group stopped playing it. 9 firsthand · 76 comments

Open on Reddit

7.0

Alternatives to system Genesys' "funny dice"

The few firsthand Genesys reports come from fans who run it and like the resolution system. Their main problem is that casual players struggle to retain the custom dice symbols, which leads to coddling or using digital rollers. The thread is mostly about alternatives to the dice (Daggerheart, 2d20, FU, Schema), and most of the Star Wars and Edge of the Empire comments were ignored. 4 firsthand · 44 comments

Open on Reddit

7.0

Need some help deciding between Genesys and Cortex Prime for a campaign.

The thread is mostly a Genesys versus Cortex Prime comparison, with only a couple of commenters saying they have actually played Genesys. Those players enjoy the dice system and say it handles several genres, but they mention crunch, per-setting prep and hard-to-find special dice. 2 firsthand · 24 comments

Open on Reddit