If you’re not able to visit your local game store this holiday season, don’t worry—your favorite virtual independent tabletop RPG (TTRPG) sellers are ready and eager to assist, and they might even have some extra goodies in store. While itch.io and Drivethru RPG are the popular hubs for tabletop designers and enthusiasts seeking their next favorite game, independent distributors are stepping up this Black Friday with enticing discounts on physical copies. We’ve gathered some of the top indie tabletop deals and bundles available from these online stores for you to check out.
Tabletop Bookshelf, a one-person store that burst onto the scene in December 2023, has quickly become a trusted source for exceptional indie and small press TTRPGs. Right now, they’re offering deals on standout titles like Evil Hat’s Deathmatch Island, which blends Squid Games with Survivor vibes, and SoulMuppet’s Orbital Blues, a poignant game about melancholic space cowboys—though you can also snag the original Cowboy Bebop RPG, which is on sale too. Additionally, they feature classic titles such as the satirical Paranoia and innovative offerings from emerging designers like Elliot Davis’ Project Ecco. This solo RPG invites players into the shoes of a rogue time traveler dodging a mysterious Agency and an evil Entity, and it’s played intriguingly on a yearly planner.
Then there’s Knave of Cups, an online establishment run by a dynamic duo. This store stocks a range of games from acclaimed indie designers like Sam Leigh, Ken Lowery, and Cassi Mothwin. Beyond games, Knave of Cups also offers everything from dice to tarot cards, journals, and puzzles. Until November 27, they’re hosting a sale on their curated collection of indie board games, including delightful pocket-sized creations from the Japanese design studio, Oink Games—ideal for lively holiday get-togethers.
Exalted Funeral is another must-visit for fans of Old School Renaissance games. Their vast catalog overflows with original games and settings, from the Redwall-like charm of Mausritter to the trippy landscapes of Ultraviolet Grasslands. They also offer experimental supplements compatible with over 30 systems, including favorites like Dungeons and Dragons, Mork Bork, Mothership, and Old School Essentials. Between November 29 and December 2, they’re slashing prices by 30% across the site, with some books and zines receiving discounts of up to 50%.
A well-loved figure in the indie tabletop community, Indie Press Revolution (IPR) boasts perhaps the widest selection of tabletop games and related material on our list. Active since 2004, IPR frequently appears at gaming conventions nationwide. Their offerings range from industry staples like John Harper’s Blades in the Dark and Tim Hutching’s Thousand Year Old Vampire to fresh faces such as Quinn Murphy’s Welcome To Nightvale-inspired Community Radio and watt’s Cloud Empress. Though their sale section currently hosts just a few titles like Signal to Noise and Onyx Path’s Chronicles of Darkness, their selection is always worth a look.
Finally, there’s Plus One Exp, a tabletop publisher and distributor proudly championing “Weird Indie Games,” a sentiment that resonates with many a tabletop enthusiast. Plus One Exp showcases intriguing offerings like Alexi Sargeant’s The Great Soul Train Robbery, a quick-to-play game about a heist on a train to hell, Navaar Jackson’s The Corrupted, a deeply personal zombie apocalypse narrative reminiscent of The Last of Us, and Longsword, a d100-based spin on Arthurian legends crafted by Viditya Voleti and Sam Tung. Several games in the Plus One catalog are fruits of their RPG Zine Club, a monthly subscription service where members receive games from diverse designers at a fixed rate. Though not a Black Friday special per se, Zine Club subscribers enjoy receiving these games at a cut rate.
So whether you’re looking for a solo adventure or an engaging experience for your next game night, these virtual stores have something special in store for every tabletop aficionado.
