The TTRPG space is wider than you think: Hard data from the looking-for-group trenches
If you look at the mainstream coverage of the tabletop gaming space, you may get the feeling that the hobby starts and ends with the one big name. But lets look at some data and see what systems the players are actually looking to play.
At Groupfinder players are connected with groups in the early stages of their creation. And thanks to this, we have a front-row seat to some statistics to see how the interest in the hobby-space is actually divided. Recently we dug deep into the underdark of numbers and came back with an overview of the current LFG/LFM landscape.
Lets get the big reveal over with
Unsurprisingly Dungeons & Dragons is still the behemoth that we expect it to be. Over half of the groups and most of the players are looking to play D&D (any edition):
Groups: ~60% of all the groups currently looking for players are for Dungeons and Dragons, either 5.5E, 5E or some previous edition.
Players: If groups are over half, then the player side is even steeper. As 90% of all player posts on Groupfinder are looking for a D&D game.
It is clear that D&D is still the mainstream brand name of the hobby. If one is to get their foot in the hobby-space - you should find a dungeons and dragons group first.
The alt systems
But when we remove D&D from the data, we are left with a very different and varied picture. While none of these are currently overthrowing the big name, they are still alive and kicking. Systems like Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, Cyberpunk RED, Mutants & Masterminds (and others) aren't just surviving - they are on the map.
Why it matters?
While sales numbers tell one story, actual "vox populi" shows whether the books are collected for nostalgia or support. Or they get some actual use.
Players are willing to learn and try out different systems. Fortunately for the hobby, the current landscape isn't just stagnating - but it is thriving. We expect the numbers on the graph above to change around, some might drop out of the top 10, some different contenders might get added.
Read the complete data breakdown and full system rankings over at the Groupfinder Library
