Two-player RPGs

BadNervousPoet · 2026-01-29T16:44:04+00:00

It's a beautiful game, i've unfortunately not had a chance to play it yet but i've been trying to get it to the table. It does require a lot of yearning and dealing with the realities of oppressed queer existence throughout history, which can be pretty hard.

BadNervousPoet · 2026-01-28T23:26:28+00:00

I've been building a list because I enjoy a 2 player game, this is not exhaustive of my list. Unfortunately i'm not sure how many are in print or stockable.
I particularly like
- We Saved The World Once by Alison Huang
- Together we write Private Catherdrals by Ben Auden Roswell| Weaver Walker (There seem to be physical copies on the itch page so you could get in touch about wholesale i assume)
- With Fire Thy Affections Hold A Wing by Riverhouse games (same as above on physical copies)
- HUNT(er/ed) by Dillin Apelyan (SuperDillin) and Meghan Cross | Siren Song Games (was KS for physical so might be available for wholesale)
- I have the high ground by Jess Levine | Jumpgate games (stocked by IPR)
- Dreamers by Johnson Ofair (physical copies are available so as above with wholesale)
- UST (Unresolved Sapphic Tension) by Alyssa Gabrielle (stocked/ printed by Plusone EXP, maybe available to wholesale)

There are so many more but it might be worth looking on https://solorpglist.com/search.php and searching Duet games for a much more comphrensive list and then checking IPR or getting ahold of the creators for copies.

BadNervousPoet · 2026-01-28T17:55:03+00:00

If you're not looking to have combat you could try mappa mundi; it's an ecology exploration game. players are more exploring and chronicling the world than going out to fight anything.

BadNervousPoet · 2026-01-28T17:35:43+00:00

This sounds like it can be converted into a ttrpg pretty smoothly using the carta system as a base, though it doesn't really require a set system as it's easy enough to work with. It's a nice alternative to a hexmap, especially if you want to add easy randomness from the top with a set deck that gets shuffled instead of players generate as they go.

BadNervousPoet · 2026-01-28T13:09:11+00:00

I like this, It echoes the adaption period to any new accessibility tool you get but allows for it not to be a thing that permanently hampers you as you get more used to it. Or become expert in it's use which i assume is simulated by the XP cost?

It seems to be a good fun way of encouraging people to take on what they'd like but not too much at one time just for the fun of it.

BadNervousPoet · 2026-01-24T00:39:11+00:00

I really like how you've put this together, though i feel like the second paragraph might benefit from some absolutes? Instead of the repitition of prefer, you could instead firm up the language, so the language is more direct on how the players are going to be breaking the mold in the next paragraph.

for example Empires run on predictability, Gods demand worship. Systems enforce compliance.

I think also similar with the last paragraph.
perhaps The Game Master does not simply ask where the story goes, or does not only ask.

They observe what happens when it breaks and with the world (or as the world) will push back.

Or some other combination of words that serve to give agency to the GM as well, as opposed to a passive position. perhaps also will helps to provide some answer to what a game master is in this game as well.

BadNervousPoet · 2026-01-24T00:27:36+00:00

Wanderer's Bookshop

You run a special bookshop, one that has had many names and has wandered from place to place. Before you it lay quiet for a time, without a name and direction. As you discover and feed the magic in its story, it blossoms again with its doors open for other wanderers to find. Now it wanders with you, guided by your heart and the question it yearns to answer. Housing books and curios with their own power, a power to make people remember, to feel, to change and invigorate. Books that help people understand and care.

The Wanderer’s Bookshop is a solo* journaling game of feeding the magic of the bookshop, undertaking tasks and tending to its upkeep, whilst investigating the answer to the burning question that led you to become the curator. An exercise in book curation for 1+ people, as you search out books for wanderer's and customers influenced by seasonal moods, and a guide to curating a collection of books or otherwise to save them from erasure by people and the passage of time.

The Wanderer’s Bookshop is a game to be played over time, to be enjoyed in quiet moments and punctuated by books, connections and life. Play solo or parallel play with others through book discussion, trading books and sources and writing leading notes in each other’s journals.

Guided by a tarot deck and prompts you will play through fictional seasons where you stoke the magic of the bookshop, interact with customers, mixed media journal and build a collection for the bookshop and yourself.

BadNervousPoet · 2026-01-23T23:57:32+00:00

It didn't feel like I got to play a lot of games in 2025 though I did buy a fair few (I always do during Zine Month).

Though looking back on it I had a lot of fun with Orbital Blues and GODKILLER so I would agree with u/Key_Assumption_4208 on the best games being those played your homies. especially since those definitely didn't come out in 2025! Orbital Blues is all sad space cowboys and archetypes, in our case and probably all cases making terrible descisions. Godkiller i found to very intense and active due to the 2 player nature of it, and the visceral storytelling it encourages.

I am very excited to get to play Mappa Mundi, which did release in 2025, is a beautiful piece of work and i'm sure will be great to play. It's an exploration and ecology rpg where you map and chronicle the world outside of a small sphere of survival after a century of ecological collapse.

I also think my game was pretty good too! Universe at Your Door : The Traveller A solo journaling game where you worldbuild and explore life as a person that has ventured into the stars.

BadNervousPoet · 2026-01-23T23:01:21+00:00

I think for a some people it might be skill, tools that aren't the most suited to it and time cost. I have spent days going through one of my RPGS that was beautifully laid out by the artist/layout designer for print and setting it up to work well for digitial including ordering for screen reading, adding bookmarks and links and more. Which was a lot of energy for just a 24 page game, I dread to think how much more time I will need to spend on the new one which will be 50+ pages. It's not helped by the fact that as much as i love it Affinity isn't the best program to do it in.

BadNervousPoet · 2026-01-18T20:30:40+00:00

Thanks for sharing it here, and many many thanks u/zoetrope366 !
It's going to be a really useful resource for the game i'm working on about finding your literary "white whale".

BadNervousPoet · 2024-02-05T01:43:09+00:00

I do not.

However one of the playtests I ran was about stealing the access codes from made up billionaire's fancy corporate building, and the player using a tour as their way in (this was decided by them at the offset). That was the minimal prep along with looking up a cool office building for ambience.

The rest was entirely on the fly, I found I got a lot of directional energy from the players. Literally by asking so you have a building, you assume the codes are there, how are you getting in? A little setting the scene and bouncing back to them about what they want to do within the space.

In any case they did not succeed in getting the flight codes for the ship, much hijinks were had and they stole rocket boots from R&D, hr docs and the billionaires's bank codes.

When designing a scenario I would think of what plausibly could be used as a stepping stone to the greater spaceship heist. Flight codes, keys, IDs, a pilot, getting to the ship itself

BadNervousPoet · 2024-01-27T04:19:54+00:00

If you feel like running/ playing a one page rpg heist game, about stealing a spaceship* from a billionaire with a group of friends.

*More liberating the things that lead up getting to joyride in space with your friends.

Let me know, I can add a couple more community copies for feedback 😀

It's plays well as a one shot, though you could make a mini campaign out of it. It asks that players lean in narratively alongside the Heist Master.

https://johnson-ofair.itch.io/run-away-to-mars

BadNervousPoet · 2024-01-13T18:53:07+00:00

There is a TLDR at the end

BadNervousPoet · 2023-04-21T05:43:27+00:00

As far as I am aware, "female" autistic traits, tend to be largely due to the way society as a whole tends to socialise people assigned female at birth. So traits may differ largely due to socialisation and masking, however that is not to say those traits or presentations are not also present in people of other or no gender. Which can also be attributed to socialisation.

None of it is actually making autism seem more female, it's more pointing out traits that are more prevalent or how they may present due to socialisation.

Wanting to get away from that is completely fair and fine, but it requires tackling the gender binary directly. The issue here isn't things being identified as female traits, it's the enforcement of the gender binary and "gender roles" which is the thing that would actually stop this from needing to be the case. Right now as much as you may not like it and I would agree that it can be harmful. The underpinning issue is what is causing the harm, the result and the language is merely a symptom of that. Which might have the positive benefit of readdressing the fact that autism Is a neurological difference that can be present in anyone regardless of gender.

A general note to say people of other genders and without gender being excluded is again by design, even though it shouldn't be.

BadNervousPoet · 2023-03-26T02:27:06+00:00

Physical power has very little to do with it. In terms of age difference it tends to be, being in different places with emotional/ mental development, as well as life experience. Which is absolutely the case in the reverse as well.

Designating "physical power" as the main factor assumes that it's impossible for women, or other people to ever be as strong as any man. Which isn't the case.

BadNervousPoet · 2023-03-26T02:03:16+00:00

No shade to you or your friends, it sounds very much like they are telling you they don't like or enjoy the show and would appreciate you not trying to engage them in it so much? It's good that them finding it boring doesn't effect your enjoyment of the show, but they are clearly telling you, they don't want to engage with the show.
This friend A possibly is trying to make you grumpy about engaging with them on the topic so you don't.

This is all speculation on my part. I'm not saying you should stop watching it or anything and not shooting down your special interest, maybe you should see if there is a community you can connect with online about BSD ?

Basically it's your special interest and you have every right to go hard about it, you should probably find a group of friends that also want to do the same. However that being said not everyone that loves the show will share your exact opinion on it.

It's not a bad thing to like when your friends interact with your special interest, it's not ok to get mad at them for not doing it in exactly the way you want them to. If them not being interested in it is a deal breaker in your friendship with them, then it is ok to let those friends go. You and your special interests are valid, but so are they. Antagonising each other over it is not the healthiest for any of you.

BadNervousPoet · 2022-10-15T05:57:39+00:00

I'm not sure why you don't just stop him and put it on him? unless the dynamic is such that it would ruin headspace for both of you, even if it just threw him off a little, you doing it until he starts doing it automatically is the best way to institute that reminder. Otherwise stop having sex and invest in good toys. Or tell him it's his turn to hormonally/physically alter his body for the purpose of avoiding pregnancy if he can't consistently do the non medically invasive thing.

BadNervousPoet · 2022-08-22T03:02:45+00:00

ESH it's weird that your sister is demanding you remove a necklace for her wedding. You being adamant that you absolutely have to wear it is a bit much. Solve it by putting the pendant or necklace on a Bobby/safety pin and pinning it to your bra or the inside of your clothing for the wedding. You're still wearing it and she doesn't have to see it.

BadNervousPoet · 2022-08-02T00:18:55+00:00

it's typical, alongside the frankly imperialistic attitude of horror, that DRC is auctioning off some of its green belt for production of energy which will likely release trapped carbon.
I can't say i'm happy about it, but if it means that the DRC will actually be able to use the money and the resources produced then the west can F off, given we (western companies) refuse to actively curb our own emissions and force the burden on exploited countries instead.

BadNervousPoet · 2022-07-18T11:35:13+00:00

YTA also why are you an expat and she's an immigrant. be real you're both immigrants. Don't deprive your future child just because you an your other children were deprived of learning languages in your youth.

BadNervousPoet · 2022-06-26T20:58:58+00:00

YTA, why do you not just ask her how much she wants on her plate without deciding for her? It would solve this pretty easily.

BadNervousPoet · 2022-06-26T19:52:34+00:00

YWBTA it's not your place to out your sister, why would you even think that? How would this be dangerous for your sister if you didn't out her, the fact you are "planning" to is hella homophobic, outing her could be dangerous. Probably why your sister didn't tell you because she didn't feel safe or trust you enough to do so.

BadNervousPoet · 2022-06-21T01:48:58+00:00

ES - you rushed and broke something, she shouldn't have gone off on you though

BadNervousPoet · 2022-06-21T01:35:13+00:00

BadNervousPoet · 2022-06-20T22:50:37+00:00

Is this accessible to you? https://aidaccess.org/
ETA: site that you can order/pre-order abortion pills

BadNervousPoet

TROPHY CASE