This game is inspired by the 2000 Japanese cult classic of the same name (バトル ロワイヤル). In that story, high school students became rebellious, and the government enacted a law to select a class and force them to fight to the death until only one winner rema
A group of strangers wakes up disoriented, a metal collar locked around each of their necks. A voice crackles to life and explains the rules: fight until only one remains -- or everyone dies.
You are the Overseer. You don't play a character. You watch.
Battle Royale is a solo tabletop RPG inspired by the cult classic 2000 Japanese film *Battle Royale* (バトル・ロワイアル). Using just a deck of playing cards, a handful of dice, and a grid map, you generate a cast of dozens of unique participants and watch as alliances form, betrayals unfold, and the arena shrinks around them.
This isn't a journaling game. This is a gameplay-first solo RPG where the mechanics drive the narrative. Characters live, fight, hide, love, and die -- often before you even learn their names. And that's the point.
We're raising funds to bring this game to life with original professional illustrations by artist Lisa Jiang Every dollar goes directly to art -- the rules are written, playtested, and ready.
No AI-generated content. Every word written by hand. Every illustration drawn by a human artist.
Choose your roster size -- anywhere from 12 participants (10 minutes setup) to a full 52-card deck (1 hour setup, maximum carnage).
For each participant, a few quick dice rolls generate:
Personality -- 20 types from Humanitarian to Deceitful, each with unique action priorities
Background -- Region, gender, age, and a culturally appropriate name from 18+ name tables
Starting gear -- One of 100 randomized backpack items, from kitchen knives to assault rifles
Then the Game Begins
Pick or roll one of 6 dramatic starting scenarios:
Each round, you draw cards from the deck and resolve each participant's action based on their personality. They Move, Hide, Search, Attack, Comfort the wounded, Convince others to form teams, or Abandon their allies. The Overseer -- you -- can intervene when the story calls for it.
Teams form. Lovers find each other. Mimics copy their neighbors. And the map shrinks every round, forcing survivors into increasingly desperate encounters.
Every game is different. The combination of random rosters, starting scenarios, personality-driven actions, environmental hazards, and a shrinking arena means no two games play alike.
The endgame is brutal: when only a final team remains, a d6 roll determines a Final Scenario -- Paranoia, Last Stand-off, The Race, Sudden Brutality, or even a Swarm of creatures descending on the survivors. There are no winners. Only a survivor.
Gameplay over journaling -- You won't spend hours writing prose. Most participants won't survive long enough to warrant it. The mechanics *are* the story.
No special components -- A standard deck of playing cards, common dice (2d6, 2d10, 1d20), and the provided printable map are all you need.
Theme-agnostic -- The participants don't have to be students. They can be anyone: office workers, prisoners, reality show contestants, gladiators, or strangers with no context at all. Set it in any era, any world.
Scales to your time -- A 12-player game finishes quickly. A full 52-card deck is an epic, sprawling bloodbath.
Diversity by design -- 18+ cultural name tables spanning Japanese, Korean, Chinese, English, French, German, African American, West African, Southern African, Mexican, Dominican, Spanish, Native Hawaiian, North American Indigenous, Samoan, Indian, Arab, and Pakistani names. A built-in diversity mechanic ensures your roster reflects the real world.
Note: This video features the alpha version. The final funded edition will include professional artwork by Lisa Jiang and refined rules based on playtesting feedback.
Craig Smith is a published author, professional security researcher, and indie game designer.
His technical book The Car Hacker's Handbook (No Starch Press) has become a standard reference in automotive security and is used by researchers and manufacturers worldwide. With over 30 years in cybersecurity, Craig has presented at DEF CON, RSA, and other major security conferences.
In the tabletop RPG space, Craig designed and successfully funded [Fe-Runners] -- a solo hacking RPG compatible with the Ironsworn system -- through BackerKit, where it raised $2,390 from 115 backers and delivered on time. Fe-Runners brought his real-world hacking expertise into a tabletop RPG format.
Battle Royale is his second tabletop RPG, combining his love of the cult classic film with a gameplay-first design philosophy. The game has been in development since 2025 and has undergone extensive solo playtesting.
Craig runs Hacktop Studios, an indie studio focused on game development, motion capture services, and creative tools.
The core rulebook is already written and playtested. Art is partially complete. Funding accelerates art completion and enables stretch goal content. We have a track record of on-time delivery with Fe-Runners.
