How version 1 was made
This release is derived from the core catalogue snapshot of 18 October 2026. It contains one row for each distinct system name in that snapshot, combining its book and edition records. It is a classification release, not a popularity measurement or an eligibility decision.
We used the catalogue’s existing rules-family labels as evidence. Some related labels were combined using explicit grouping rules. This is an initial editorial classification based on that catalogue, without a new verification of every underlying source.
The catalogue does not yet have a fully normalised system registry. Names such as Traveller and Traveller (Mongoose) remain separate source entries here. Identifiers in this release give those entries stable references for future versions; counts should not be read as a definitive total of unique RPGs.
What the statuses mean
- Classified: the system’s catalogue records resolve to one shared family under the version 1 rules.
- Standalone: the catalogue explicitly describes the system as standalone. It has no family assignment.
- Unclassified: the evidence does not support one shared-family assignment in this version. This can reflect different families across editions, a mixed label, or no other supported member of that family in the snapshot. It is not a claim that the game is standalone.
Family fields are empty for standalone and unclassified rows. Neither status is itself a game family, and neither should be included as a combined entry in a family ranking.
Grouping choices
Version 1 uses a broad D&D / d20 grouping, including the catalogue’s D&D, d20, Pathfinder, and related labels. Specific Mörk Borg, Into the Odd, and Mutants & Masterminds groupings remain separate. An OSR label alone does not establish membership in the D&D / d20 family.
Other explicit combinations include the named Basic Role-Playing derivatives, Fate / Fudge, D6 / OpenD6, Cortex variants, Unisystem variants, and Torg / MasterBook. Forged in the Dark remains separate from Powered by the Apocalypse. Storyteller and Storytelling retain separate catalogue groupings.
A shared family needs at least two distinct system names associated with its normalised source labels in the core snapshot. Some of those systems may remain unclassified overall because their other editions use different families. This means a family can have only one assigned system in version 1—for example, Roll and Keep.
7th Sea, A Game of Thrones, Conspiracy X, Cyberpunk, and Legend of the Five Rings remain unclassified because their records contain differing or mixed family labels. We do not choose one edition to stand for the whole system.
The downloadable grouping rules and original labels in each CSV row make these choices inspectable. A shared rules family does not automatically imply a single shared audience: community-to-family mappings will be reviewed separately.
Versioning and historical indexes
This page and its downloads identify v1 permanently. Classification releases have no fixed schedule. A changed assignment, addition, correction, or boundary rule will produce a new version with its own CSV and change notes; it will not overwrite this release.
Each monthly index must record the exact classification version it used. The September 2026 layout preview references v1 to demonstrate that connection; it contains no observations and is not a historical claim that v1 existed in September.
CSV fields
| Field | Meaning |
|---|---|
classification_version | The fixed release identifier, v1. |
system_id | Stable identifier for a source system entry. Preserve it across later versions and name changes. |
system_name | Exact system name from the core snapshot. |
family_id | Stable family identifier; empty for standalone and unclassified rows. |
family_name | Display name of the assigned family; empty when no assignment is made. |
status | classified, standalone, or unclassified. |
reason | Machine-readable reason for the assignment or gap. |
source_family_labels | JSON array of the original catalogue labels across the system’s records. |
source_record_count | Number of source book/edition records represented by the row. |
notes | Explanation of the grouping or missing assignment. |
The release metadata identifies the source snapshot and checksums of the CSV and rules. All downloadable classification material is available under CC0 1.0 Universal.
Changes in this release
This is the initial classification release. To suggest a change, contact rpg-data-project@pm.me with the system, the proposed family, and supporting evidence.