Five RPGs Great For Running a Heist
Because heists are fun and seem to be in the air for some reason, here are five more heist RPGs ready to go, no work required.
Here at BoLS, we understand that not only does crime pay, but it’s also often the only way the rich get richer while keeping the poor poorer. But in real life, it’s hard to get away with things unless you’re already rich. So for those of us whose parents aren’t blue on Wikipedia, heists in games are the only way to taste what that life might be like.
This is why there are so many RPGs made to order for running heists. And here are five that you can play with little to no prep. Heck, you might not even need a GM. Just bring one of these to your next tabletop game night, and give it a whirl!
Squeakeasy
In the roaring twenties, times were tough. Especially in New York City. Especially for a gang of rodents. Which is what Squeakeasy casts you and your friends as. You’ll take on the role of a gang of mice and other rodents trying to make life a little bit easier for your fellows. And of course, there’s only one way to do it:
“By running an EXTREMELY ILLEGAL UNDERGROUND BAR FOR RODENTS.”
This is a Forged in the Dark Hack that you can snag for just $5. It’s easy to jump in and play. Though if you’re looking to get started with anything “in-the-dark” you might want to check out our guide on how to get started with Blades in the Dark.
Time to Drop
In this game, you play as members of a heist crew who have been trapped in a time loop. You’ve been living and reliving the same 24-hour span countless times. It’s basically all the fun of Groundhog’s Day and Heat packed together.
Time to Drop is a GM-less game at that. So all you need are the dice and a deck of cards (and your friends, of course) to get into the game. It’s fast, it’s furious, and you’ll absolutely fall in love with the perfect heist you are finally able to pull off by the end of it all.
Stealing the Throne
This game knows how to pull quote:
“It’s like Macross meets Ocean’s 8.”
And it’s true. Stealing the Throne is a game about stealing a giant mecha. It takes place after a great, cataclysmic war that was decided by the giant, nigh-indestructible machines known as Thrones. The mechs have given rise to dynasties and empires. As the game says, “possession of a Throne bestows wealth, power, authority over whole star systems, and a seat on the galactic council.”
And you’re going to steal one. This is another GM-less game. And in fact, this one is zero-prep. Meaning if you snag it tonight, you can start playing. Just call up your friends and get right to the crimes.
Dream World Mercenaries
Remember Inception? Want to do that in an RPG? Then you’ll want to check out Dream World Mercenaries. This game is all about pulling off the heist of your dreams, literally. You enter a subject’s dreams and manipulate their subconsciousness. Whether you incept them with an idea that will make it easier for Ken Watanabe’s company to do a buyout? I think.
I don’t remember Inception. Just that it featured a Ski Patrol level that looked like it should be in Goldeneye 007. At any rate, Dream World Mercenaries is a short TTRPG that is perfect for when your usual group is looking to either figure out what they’re playing next or just when you want a good one or two-shot.
Eat Trash. Be Free.
This is a “downloadable setting” for Blades in the Dark. If you couldn’t figure it out from the cover, Eat Trash. Be Free. is a setting/expansion for BitD that will have you running your own Faction of Critters. You and your friends play as a community of animals who discover that humans have started moving in on their turf. So now, the Critters are coming together to try and steal Grub and more as you carve out a Fantastic Mr. Fox-style life for yourself.
