The current RPG market seems to be inundated with complex role-playing systems, and some of the latest games almost require a Ph.D in worldbuilding to grasp how to play. But for those who long for the more simplistic days of role-playing games, there’s a movement building: OSR (Old School Renaissance) gaming.
The OSR gaming movement represents more than just nostalgia for early games – it’s also a philosophy of gaming that emphasizes creativity, player agency, and the thrill of genuine danger.
At DriveThruRPG, we’re all about helping players new and old connect with the best in the RPG community, so let’s take a closer look at Old School Renaissance games – how they work, why they’re seeing a resurgence, and how you can start playing now!
What Is Old School Renaissance (OSR)?
The Old School Renaissance (sometimes referred to as “Old School Revival” or “Old School Role-Playing”) is a movement within tabletop gaming that looks to recapture the style, spirit, and gameplay principles found in the early gaming scene.
We’re talking about the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the original Dungeons & Dragons first emerged – and you had to rely a bit more on imagination over made-for-you campaigns.
You can think of it as a more stripped-down style of gameplay and world development. OSR focuses more on putting the control and flexibility back in the gamemaster’s hands and offers players a more unexpected game experience than the more standardized games of today.
The Core Principles of OSR Gaming
Rules-Light Systems
OSR games usually feature a minimalist rule system that makes it far easier for players to jump in and learn the ropes.
Instead of having a rule for each unique situation that a player may encounter, the games typically leave it up to GMs and players to determine what happens next – letting judgment and creativity lead the way.
Rulings over Rules
If you scan the OSR community, you’ll quickly see a lean toward “rulings over rules” – a movement that emphasizes GM decisions rather than extensive compendiums or rulebooks. When something unexpected happens, GMs have to put their logic and consistency to the test to create outcomes.
Player Agency & High Lethality
Naturally, when you take out the reliance on complex rulebooks and standards, you create more space for player creativity. OSR players have more agency to explore the game world and approach challenges with creativity.
That agency, however, means that characters are often far more vulnerable in OSR games – so get ready for more dangerous combat that requires a bit more creative strategy over rule-hackable brute force.
Easier Character Creation
Some modern games give you tons to work with when creating your characters, which can often lead to analysis paralysis if you aren’t familiar with the game or the world. OSR games focus less on the tiny details, allowing you to create characters much faster and jump right into the gameplay.
Challenging Resource Managment
Naturally, when the game becomes more freewheeling, expect more strategy to be involved. OSR games usually require you to get serious about resource management.
Your supplies, equipment, and other items become more necessary for survival, and you won’t always have a set of rules to keep you safe!
Why The Resurgence in OSR Gaming?
While there are a variety of reasons why OSR games are becoming more popular, there are some aspects of the game experience then vs. now that is driving engagement in older titles and styles:
Modern games are complex
Mainstream RPGs have become increasingly complicated, with massive rulebooks and character options often overwhelming players. OSR offers a simplified and refreshing alternative to more complex setups.
OSR offers more creative freedom
Have you ever been in the middle playing out a really fun campaign idea… only to realize your rulebook doesn’t really allow you to flesh it out properly? OSR games give more space to GMs and players to build their adventures to their liking with customized rules and settings – and it is helping build a strong community of gamers in its own way.
OSR brings nostalgia to modern gaming
Sometimes, you just love to play those older games for the charm of it all. Plus, modern tabletop gaming design allows you to engage with vintage content in new ways.
Digital platforms make it easier to access OSR games
The ability to buy OSR games through platforms like DriveThruRPG is putting more OSR content into more hands – helping drive the adoption of these early titles.
Popular OSR Games You Can Play Right Now with DriveThruRPG
If you’re looking to try out some popular OSR games yourself, we make it easy to buy titles in the growing OSR marketplace. Some of the top options you can buy now include:
Old-School Essentials
Get back to your OG D&D gameplay roots with this recreation of the classic Basic/Expert D&D rules. Old-School Essentials gives you the authentic OSR experience with a modernized presentation and new clarity on how to get the most out of the gameplay.
Stars Without Number
Kevin Crawford’s sci-fi RPG brings some of the best OSR principles to a game all about space exploration. Stars Without Number comes with simple mechanics and plenty of tools for generating sectors, planets, and adventures. You can pick up the free version on DriveThruRPG, which gives you everything you need to run a complete campaign.
Dungeon Crawl Classics
Get right into the danger and play the OSR-favorite “funnel” character creation process with DCC. This OSR game brings unpredictable magic, deadly dungeons, and a character creation style where each player starts with multiple level-zero characters… and sees who survives.
Dwarrowdeep
Dwarrowdeep is another classic OSR title – bringing you a dwarven-themed megadungeon from OSR Publishing. It’s actually one of the largest dungeon adventures ever created and is full of original artwork from legendary TSR artists.
The Warrens of Wraithspire
The Warrens of Wraithspire uses a flexible sandbox system for creating cave-based adventures. Best of all, the OSR gameplay style means minimal preparation – and you get maps, encounter tables, and adventure hooks that make DIY OSR easy.
Explore the OSR Games Library with DriveThruRPG
If you’re interested in the OSR gaming philosophy, you can dive right into some fun games with DriveThruRPG.
Our selection of games and resources makes it easy to find the perfect core rulebook or pre-made adventure, and you’ll be experiencing the thrill of old-school RPG gaming before you know it!
Explore our collection of games – both modern and classic – and join our growing community of RPG enthusiasts. Shop now!
