RPG: Announcing The 2018 Ennie Award-Winners

This year’s Gen Con was full of some stellar RPGs–and more than a few horrifically good ones, if the genres of the winners are anything to go by. Come see who took away the gold and silver from this year’s Ennies.

A lot of amazing RPGs out there this year. We had a chance to see a few of these on the convention floor–and can take you a little deeper with some of the winners in the coming week, but for now, here’s a list of the winners. Special shout outs should go to Harlem Unbound, which is this gorgeous (and gorgeously written) sourcebook that takes players into the world of the Harlem Renaissance in order to fight the terrors of the Mythos.

Launched originally on Kickstarter, Harlem Unbound is a unique RPG sourcebook that takes players into the exciting world of the Harlem Renaissance at its height, to face terrifying horrors from the Lovecraftian Mythos. This groundbreaking tome gives Keepers and players everything they need to bring this unique place and time to life, and engage with the people who gave it its soul. Your order includes the approximately 300-page deluxe hardcover book featuring premium color printing as well as a digital edition of the book.

Harlem Unbound is compatible with multiple systems, with options for investigating the Mythos on New York’s jazz-soaked streets using either Chaosium’s Call of Cthulhu RPG or any of the several GUMSHOE-powered investigative RPGs by Pelgrane Press.

But you can find Cthulhu at the heart of most of this year’s offerings. Whether in Delta Green (who put in a fantastic showing) or Miskatonic University’s Podcast, if you’re Cthulhu or Chaosium related, this was your year. So get ready to explore cosmic horror, friends.

via The Ennie Awards

Best Adventure

GOLD: The Dark of Hot Springs Island(Swordfish Islands)
SILVER: Delta Green: A Night at the Opera (Arc Dream Publishing)

Best Aid/Accessory

GOLD: Hex Kit (Cone of Negative Energy)
SILVER: Conan GM Screen(Modiphius Entertainment)

Best Art, Cover

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GOLD: Harlem Unbound (Darker Hue Studios)
SILVER: Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting (Green Ronin)

Best Art, Interior

GOLD: City of Mist (Son of Oak Game Studio)
SILVER: Frostbitten & Mutilated (Lamentations of the Flame Princess)

Best Blog

GOLD: Gnome Stew
SILVER: Sly Flourish

Best Cartography

GOLD: The Midderlands – An OSR Setting & Bestiary (MonkeyBlood Design & Publishing)
SILVER: Starfinder Pact Worlds (Paizo Inc.)

Best Electronic Book

GOLD: Delta Green: A Night at the Opera (Arc Dream Publishing)
SILVER: Scenario from Ontario (Kiel Chenier & Zzarchov Kowolski)

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Best Family Product

GOLD: Khan of Khans (Chaosium Inc.)
SILVER: Heavy Metal Thunder Mouse (Shoreless Skies Publishing)

Best Free Product

GOLD: Runequest: Quickstart Rules and Adventure (Chaosium Inc.)
SILVER: Tabletop Audio

Best Free Game

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GOLD: High Plains Samurai: Legends (Broken Ruler Games)
SILVER: Saga of the Goblin Horde (Zadmar Games)

Best Game

GOLD: Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG (Grim & Perilous Studios)
SILVER: Delta Green: The RPG (Arc Dream Publishing)

Best Miniatures Product

GOLD: Star Trek Adventures Miniatures: The Next Generation (Modiphius Entertainment)
SILVER: Double-Sided Dry-Erase Tiles (Gaming Paper)

Best Monster/Adversary

GOLD: Frostbitten and Mutilated (Lamentations of the Flame Princess)
SILVER: Down Darker Trails (Chaosium Inc.)

Best Organized Play

GOLD: Lost Tales of Myth Drannor (D&D Adventurers League)
SILVER: End of the Line (Michael Maenza)

Best Podcast

GOLD: Miskatonic University Podcast
SILVER: Fear of a Black Dragon

Best Production Values

GOLD: Delta Green: The RPG (Arc Dream Publishing)
SILVER: Star Trek Adventures: Collectors Edition Core Rulebook (Modiphius Entertainment)

Best RPG Related Product

GOLD: Khan of Khans (Chaosium Inc.)
SILVER: Dresden Files Cooperative Card Game (Evil Hat Productions)

Best Rules

GOLD: Delta Green: The RPG (Arc Dream Publishing)
SILVER: Star Trek Adventures: Core Rulebook (Modiphius Entertainment)

Best Setting

GOLD: Harlem Unbound (Darker Hue Studios)
SILVER: Frostbitten and Mutilated (Lamentations of the Flame Princess)

Best Supplement

GOLD: Reign of Terror (Chaosium)
SILVER: Shadowrun Dark Terrors(Catalyst Game Labs)

Best Website

GOLD: Blades in the Dark SRD
SILVER: Elven Tower

Best Writing

GOLD: Harlem Unbound (Darker Hue Studios)
SILVER: Frostbitten and Mutilated (Lamentations of the Flame Princess)

Product of the Year

GOLD: Zweihänder Grim & Perilous RPG (Grim & Perilous Studios)
SILVER: Delta Green: The RPG (Arc Dream Publishing)

Fan’s Choice, Best Publisher

GOLD: Wizards of the Coast
SILVER: Chaosium Inc.

Judges’ Spotlight Award

Fever Swamp (Melsonian Arts Council)
Operation Unfathomable (Hydra Cooperative)
FAITH – The Sci-Fi RPG 2.0 (Burning Games)
Winterhorn (Bully Pulpit Games)
Pip System Corebook (Third Eye Games)

Happy Adventuring!

Author: J.R. Zambrano

Bell of Lost Souls Staff Writer and DM, J.R. covers RPGs of all stripes and on occasion eats sandwiches. You can ask him about either at [email protected]