Capsule Games Part I - What are capsule games?

I am obsessed with capsule games. 

What are capsule games? In short: Capsule games are a genre of RPG where the game is sold as an "encapsulated" experience.

• The GM is equipped with a bounded scenario
• There's probably a small rule set
• The rules are made to fit the theme of the game
• Players probably play from a stock roster of characters
• The characters are probably named

Taxonomies are difficult things. Signs wiggle out from under signifiers. That's okay. Working definitions are important to move the conversation forward. I hope this blog post helps explain what I mean when I say the word "capsule game."

This blog post was written in consultation with my colleagues, Dwiz of Knight at the Opera and Ava of Permanent Cranial Damage. We all sort of spontaneously became interested in this thing, like Spider-man pointing at Spider-man. It was Ava who coined the term "Capsule Game."* 

Capsule Games vs RPGs vs Board Games vs CYOA Books

> Me: Does this have any legs? Capsule games are like a choose-your-own-adventure book with a GM attached.

> Ava: I say invert it. It's a choose-your-own-adventure book given as a resource to a GM.

Capsule games are a type of RPG game because they are conversation games with free input from players. In RPGs, a player is not bound to a discrete set of options: "If you climb the tree, turn to page 120. If you go under the bridge, turn to page 85." Instead, a GM interprets what the player says they're doing and uses the game's mechanics to resolve situations. 

That said, capsule games probably share some overlap with other types of games. 

VS Trad RPGs

Capsule games are kind of like "Intro to RPGs!" supplements. You know the ones: the introductory RPG boxed sets that have stripped the "confusing" options away and provided pre-made characters and a pre-made scenario. These have a lot of capsule energy.

GURPs is the opposite of a capsule game. Capsule games are not universal. They're very specific experiences. 

Capsule games don't say, "You can be anything." They say "You can be a kinda guy."

Capsule games don't say, "You can make your own adventures!" They say, "Here, run this adventure."

Capsule games are RPGs because they share an RPG's defining trait: In RPGs, players have the ability of infinite input. A player can try to do anything, with a GM judging how to interpret that action using the game's mechanics.

VS Board Games

Capsule games are kind of like Barbarian Prince or Hero's Quest. 

Like board games, capsule games might have a map with pre-defined monsters on it. 

Like board games, capsule games might give you a specific character to play. 

Capsule games aren't like board games because players can come up with their own ideas that are interpreted and adjudicated by a GM. It's not just "Move, Attack." In fact, that's the point: RPGs are special because they employ a referee's brain as the tech. 

VS CYOA Books

Capsule games are kind of like those choose-your-own-adventure books with embedded RPG mechanics like Lone Wolf or Fighting Fantasy. 

Like CYOA books, they have a defined play area. They're bounded experiences.

Like CYOA books, they have a sense of finality. You can win.

Unlike CYOA books, capsule games aren't solo games. They're group experiences. And, as noted with board games, capsule games have a referee. They allow for infinite input.

Example capsule games

What games meet these sketchy criteria? Like pornography, I know a capsule game when I see one.

Here are some games that I think are capsule games:

• The Lord of the Rings Adventure Game
• Lady Blackbird
• Silent Titans
• Labyrinth Adventure Game
• Wolves on the Coast
• Yazeba's Bed and Breakfast
• Eat the Reich!

More to come in part 2 of my capsule game series.

* I was originally pushing for the term "Adventure Game," based on The Labyrinth Adventure Game. I think "Capsule" has more staying power, and yield to Mrs. Islam.