There are games that have a “big fish in a big pond” feel - e.g. sandbox D&D games, or a “big fish in a small pond” feel, e.g. games with contained campaigns/missions.

There are also games that do a “small fish in a small pond” feel really well, e.g. Fiasco.

Are there any games that do a “small fish in a big pond” feel well? e.g. games where the players are not outstanding heros, and where the world feels big - not only spatially, but also socially and politically?

Edit: lots of good suggestions so far, but maybe I could have added:

  • it’s fine and good if the small fish somehow end up having a big effect
  • it would be amazing if the big-world had well fleshed out other goings-on. Ideally some mechanics that let all players contribute to this feeling, so it doesn’t depend entirely on the quality of the DMing

Edit 2: title, to avoid all the computer game suggestions. I guess the community name isn’t hint enough, huh?

  • Berttheduck@lemmy.ml
    8·
    6 hours ago

    Check out Blades in the Dark and Spire the City must fall.

    I’m blades you pay an upcoming gang of criminals in a haunted Victorian steampunk city where every inch is owned/claimed by another gang so everything you do either pleases or upsets somebody. Definitely has the struggle to survive in a hostile world feel. Blades is one of my favourite game systems to run. It’s soo easy for the GM I basically never needed to prep.

    In Spire you play a group of rebel or terrorist dark elves fighting against the oppressive high elf regimen. The world building is really detailed maybe a bit too much in some places. I really enjoyed running it though.

    • naught101@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      4 hours ago

      One of my friends is a big fan of Blades… Will give it a go at some point.

      Is the ease of prep to do with preexisting material, or mechanics that make it easy for players to contribute to the world-feel, or something else?