Genesys

Genesys RPG · FFG Genesys

Genesys

Genesys is a flexible roleplaying game that allows your group to tell cinematic stories across nearly any genre. A professional Game Master transforms your ideas into vivid scenes, memorable NPCs, and challenging choices. Every moment is designed for drama and momentum, ensuring that setbacks lead to new opportunities rather than dead ends. Sessions feel like a fast-paced, collaborative writer’s room where your heroes take bold risks and consequences are significant. It is welcoming for beginners seeking guidance, while also satisfying for veterans who appreciate narrative depth with just the right amount of complexity.

Planning a birthday, office team night, or a fresh one-shot with friends? Genesys excels in high fantasy quests, neon-noir capers, and star-hopping adventures. Your Game Master adjusts the tone and content to suit your group, from family-friendly to gritty intrigue. You bring your curiosity and character ideas, and the rest is prepared for you. Not sure which world suits your group? Browse genres for inspiration and choose the flavour you want to explore.

How to play Genesys

On your turn, you inform the Game Master of your intended action. The GM determines a difficulty based on the circumstances, and you create a pool of special Genesys dice from your skills, adding any situational dice. Roll the pool and interpret the symbols. Success or failure is paired with advantage or threat, and occasionally a triumph or despair. You then weave these results into the narrative, generating side benefits, complications, and story twists that feel organic.

Players only need a character concept. Your Game Master will provide pre-generated characters or assist you in creating one, explain the rules, and supply the custom dice or a compatible dice roller. One-shots concentrate on a specific goal and a dramatic conclusion within a single session. Campaigns introduce downtime, recurring adversaries, and progression as you spend experience to enhance talents and skills. Playing online is seamless, with tools that manage Genesys symbols; see online play platforms.

Two players immersed in moving 3d printed d&d miniatures on a game board.
Two players immersed in moving 3d printed d&d miniatures on a game board.

Common questions

Do I need to know the Genesys rules?

No homework required. A professional Game Master will explain the core flow in minutes and then guide you as you play. You describe what your character tries to do, create a dice pool from your stats, and interpret the symbols together. The dice indicate both the outcome and side effects, which the group transforms into story beats. If you prefer, the GM can provide pre-generated characters or assist you in creating one quickly. Physical symbol dice or a compatible dice roller will be supplied.

What settings can we explore with Genesys?

Genesys supports a variety of genres. Your GM can run classic fantasy, neon cyberpunk, street-level heists, space opera, modern mystery, or even your own concept. The rules toolkit allows the GM to adjust magic, technology, gear, and tone to suit the world perfectly. If you're unsure what to try first, check out some inspirations here: genre ideas. Choose the style you prefer, and the GM will craft the adventure accordingly.

How does Genesys differ from D&D?

Genesys emphasises cinematic outcomes rather than rigid pass or fail mechanics. Its custom dice can indicate success with complications or failure with benefits, ensuring that scenes continue to progress. Characters develop through careers and talents instead of fixed classes. Combat typically employs range bands rather than five-foot squares and does not necessitate a tactical grid. While it remains detailed enough to feel substantial, the rules prioritise narrative consequences and player creativity over strict optimisation challenges.

Do we need maps or miniatures, or is it all in our imagination?

Minis are optional. Genesys uses range bands for distance, allowing for play in the theatre of the mind. The GM may include quick sketches or simple zones to enhance clarity. Nothing should slow down the scene unless it contributes to the drama. Online play is seamless too, with virtual tabletops and rollers that manage Genesys symbols. See options here: online play platforms.

How many players are there and how long does a session last?

Genesys works best with 2 to 6 players. The ideal number is often 3 to 5, as this keeps turns quick and ensures everyone gets a chance to shine. One-shots typically conclude in 3 to 4 hours with a complete story arc. Campaign sessions follow a similar pace, incorporating downtime and character progression as necessary. Larger groups can be accommodated, but be prepared for slightly longer scenes and a more structured turn order to ensure everyone participates without hurrying through important moments.

Is Genesys suitable for children and groups with varying experience levels?

Yes. The symbol-based results allow everyone to contribute, even on a miss, which keeps newer or younger players engaged. A professional Game Master will set expectations from the outset, simplify complex subsystems, and provide clear choices while still rewarding creativity. The tone can easily be adjusted from lighthearted to serious, ensuring it matches your group’s comfort level. Frequent narrative beats share the spotlight, helping both veterans and newcomers feel involved at the same table.

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Genres you can play in Genesys

  • Cyberpunk

    Neon nights, buzzing servers, and tough decisions. You take on the roles of hackers, street samurai, and fixers executing jobs for and…

    View genre: Cyberpunk
  • Space Opera

    Epic sci-fi drama set among the stars, featuring brave pilots, heroic rebels, tyrants wielding planet-destroying weapons, and a crew that…

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  • Crime

    Pull off a clever heist, track down a killer, or navigate the mob's code. Crime games balance strategy, pressure, and morally ambiguous…

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  • Pulp

    Two-fisted thrills, cliffhanger chases, masked villains, and deathtraps. Imagine an Indiana Jones-style adventure or hardboiled capers…

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  • Pirate

    Salt spray, creaking decks, and cutlass duels as you pursue treasure and rivals across treacherous seas. Swashbuckling adventure…

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What players have to say

  • Tom was brilliant! He was really great with the kids and very patient with his explanations. It was a wonderful evening and definitely worth doing again! The children asked the next day when we would be doing this again.

    Danny

  • First of all, I want to say that Sebastian was really great as a DM. For his first run as a booked DM, he did an excellent job. The 3 stars refer to the following: 1. We were disappointed that the adventure was labelled a One Shot yet wasn't a complete story. Discovering that there are two more parts wasn't very positive for us, as it meant there was no satisfying conclusion to the story. 2. As new players, it was difficult for us to understand the English character sheets in such a short time. In German, it would have been much easier. Even receiving the character sheets a few days in advance would have been helpful for preparation. 3. More guidance would be beneficial. Especially for beginners, a more linear one shot would have been preferable. We wasted a significant portion of the adventure time doing unnecessary things because we didn't fully understand how the game worked. Overall, I think the StoryForgers concept is really good and I see a lot of potential in it, especially for introducing new players to D&D. I hope you don't take my feedback the wrong way but see it as honest criticism. Best regards, Mario

    Mario

  • Bryan was exceptional. We had a group with varying levels of experience, and he managed to keep everyone engaged and involved. His positive attitude made the game enjoyable for all. I really appreciated how he could clearly explain what was needed from our less experienced players while keeping our more seasoned players on their toes with his deep knowledge of the game. Everyone in our party had a fantastic time thanks to Bryan.

    Jeremy

  • Dayron was fantastic. Well-prepared, punctual, and had a brilliant sense of humour.

    Corey

  • Dayron was fantastic; he provided a brilliant experience. Thanks!

    Casey

    The Merry Meeple

  • The game was really engaging. I got a game as a present for my boyfriend, who is very keen on it, and he was very pleased and appreciated Leonardo's professionalism. I don't have much experience with DnD, but I found the game to be quite straightforward and enjoyable.

    Marina

  • Baptiste was an excellent GM who adapted well to our group and helped us progress in this one-shot. However, there was one issue with the character sheets provided, as they were not complete or clear. Some of the French translations were rather approximate. For instance, our cleric was missing spells, including a healing spell, even though they were meant to have some.

    Pierre

  • Rachel was fantastic; my daughter and her friends left the game saying it was the most fun they’d ever had, and my daughter wanted to sign up for another session with her straight away. She was friendly, and her approach let the players fully immerse themselves in the game by giving them control over how they wanted their actions to unfold. I would definitely work with her again.

    John

  • A nice and clear first experience with D&D. Amber was able to explain and guide the game effectively, allowing us as players to quickly get into the flow and focus on the story. Collaborating with my colleagues to devise attack routes was an enjoyable activity and provided great insights into each other's characters, thought processes, and differences. Overall, I found it to be a very enjoyable session.

    Jens

    Triodos Bank N.V.

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