Tabletop RPG · since 1990 · #78 most discussed

Rifts

Magic, psionics and high technology collide on a shattered future Earth, with big power gaps between characters and lots of gear.

PalladiumPost apocd100d20classestactical gridrandom generationhigh lethalityCampaignsNeeds a GM

5.8

Geek rating

From 28 firsthand play reports in 4 r/rpg threads. The threads alone average 6.0.

Player rating— / 10

No visitor ratings yet.

Discussion5.6 / 10

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

Rules weight

Heavy. Hype 2.0 for its age.

Have you played it?

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What players say

At the table

Rifts is a kitchen-sink, anything-goes setting that players keep returning to, some for campaigns of three years or more. The Palladium rules draw steady criticism for imbalance and clutter, and many GMs say it runs fine once they take firm control.

What works

Over-the-top action, explosives and heroic stunts are fun and memorable. (thread)
The setting, art, power armor and gear are a big enough draw that some GMs stay with the native rules instead of converting. (thread)
Even critics of the system praise the world-building. Commenters call the rules adequate once the GM picks how to settle contradictions between books. (thread)
Any character concept fits, and globe-trotting campaigns across Rifts Earth work well, often online or at conventions. (thread)
Some groups played heavily for years and reunited to play again, and one player wrote of printing out netbooks. (thread)

What tables struggle with

Classes are badly imbalanced. A weak Rogue Scholar sits next to Glitter Boys and Juicers. (thread)
Mixing SDC and MDC characters makes balanced encounters hard. Auto-dodge and Physical Prowess are named as dominating combat. (thread)
Books contradict each other and are poorly organized, so GM rulings carry a lot of weight. Constant escalation also led one player to burn out. (thread)
The action economy is clumsy and needs house rules. Prep is heavy, and local groups and book stock are hard to find. (thread)
One player bought far more books than they ever got to run. (thread)

Who it suits

GMs who want a gonzo, mix-anything setting and will make rulings and house rules to keep the party level.
Players already familiar with Palladium rules, who found it easy to jump in.

In players' words

"Palladium is challenging, frustrating system to run, and everything everyone says about it is true, yet I still love it, warts and all." (thread)
"I played RIFTS for about a year and a half in college, and while it was wild fun I definitely got burnt out on it" (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.

5.5

GURPS or Rifts, and why?

Players who ran or played Rifts on the Palladium rules describe a wild, gonzo setting that is fun at the table, held back by messy rules and no power balance. Several longtime GMs say it runs fine with GM control, while others burned out or left for GURPS or Savage Worlds. The thread is mostly a GURPS versus Palladium comparison, and the Savage Rifts reports were ignored. 10 firsthand · 43 comments

Open on Reddit

7.2

Rifts being played in 2026?

People who actually run or play Palladium Rifts say the setting and anything-goes kitchen-sink tone keep them coming back, with some campaigns running three years or more. They also agree the system is clumsy and dated and needs GM house rules, and that it is hard to find players and prep takes a lot of time. Much of the thread is about Savage Rifts or other systems, and I ignored those reports. 8 firsthand · 40 comments

Open on Reddit

4.0

Gygax on Rifts and CoC?

The thread is mostly a side argument about Rifts' system quality. Players who report using it praise the setting and say it works if the GM takes charge. They say the rules are badly unbalanced, with mixed SDC and MDC characters, auto-dodge and Physical Prowess named as the main problems. Few give concrete table stories, so these are mostly verdicts, not play accounts. 6 firsthand · 48 comments

Open on Reddit

7.0

The Y2K plot to kill police in Ontario, Canada that was attributed to playing Rifts

The thread is mostly about the 2000 Ontario arrests and the unrelated Steve Jackson Games/GURPS raid, so there is little actual play detail. The few players who mention table experience were fond of it and played a lot, with one noting they bought more books than they ran sessions. 4 firsthand · 43 comments

Open on Reddit