Skip Prime Day – Enjoy These Free Tabletop Resources Instead - TGN

It’s Prime Day, and as a struggling news site for the tabletop hobby, Tabletop Gaming News could have used this day to rake in some much-needed cash. But I didn’t want to. Prime Day is a concept created by a mega-corporation to shovel even more money into their own pockets, often at the expense of workers, small businesses, and the environment. Amazon is known for its questionable labor practices, such as reports of warehouse employees being overworked and underpaid, as well as accusations of stifling competition from smaller businesses. They have been criticized for using their dominance to pressure suppliers and for contributing to wasteful consumerism by promoting disposable, short-lived purchases.

Tabletop gaming has always been about coming together, sharing creativity, and enjoying time with friends. While commercial products are a huge part of the hobby, they aren’t the only way to enjoy your favorite games. With the right resources, you can explore entire worlds, build miniatures, or create your own games—without spending a dime. The most popular game out there, Dungeons & Dragons, can be played for free for a lifetime with all the free resources available, despite what Wizards of the Coast wants you to think.

I’m not trying to make anyone feel bad for buying things. But maybe give an extra thought to what you buy and from where. If you’re making a big or expensive purchase, make sure it’s something you’ll truly enjoy and use for a long time. And whenever possible, consider supporting your friendly local game store (FLGS) or independent publishers before turning to Amazon.

Free TTRPG Resources

Many talented creators offer free modules, rulebooks, and character sheets for a variety of tabletop RPGs. Whether you’re looking to try a new system or find fresh ideas for your current campaign, there are tons of free options available online.

DriveThruRPG Free Section: DriveThruRPG offers a vast selection of free TTRPG content, from full rulebooks to adventures and supplementary materials. It’s a great starting point for expanding your library without cost.
Itch.io Free TTRPGs: A treasure trove for indie games, Itch.io has a wide selection of free and “pay-what-you-want” TTRPGs. It’s a great place to find innovative, community-driven projects.
D&D Basic Rules: Wizards of the Coast offers the basic rules for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition for free on their website. Combine these rules with free fan-made resources and you won’t ever have to spend money on D&D.
Pathfinder and Starfinder System Reference Documents: The SRD (System reference documents) for Pathfinder are Starfinder are available for free. These are the rules for the game and contain everything needed to play. Many other TTRPGs also offer SRDs.
The Dungeon Master’s Guild (Free Section): Another excellent resource for D&D players, the Dungeon Master’s Guild has a wide selection of free adventures, supplements, and maps.
Tabletop Audio: Perfect for enhancing the atmosphere of your game, Tabletop Audio provides free background music and soundscapes for a wide variety of settings, from fantasy taverns to sci-fi space stations.
Dungeon Map Doodler: A free, easy-to-use tool for creating dungeon maps that you can use in your own campaigns. Great for GMs who want to create unique encounters without spending money on professional map-making software.

Free Miniature Game Resources

You don’t even have to buy miniatures to play miniature games. While the hobby is often associated with expensive armies and detailed models, there are countless free resources that allow you to play with homemade standees, print-your-own miniatures, or even repurpose everyday items. From free rule sets to customizable tools, here’s a collection of resources to get you started in the world of miniature gaming.

One Page Rules: Offering streamlined rules for many different miniatures games, One Page Rules gives you everything you need to play, with rulebooks and army lists available for free.
Terrain Tutorials: Many creators post free tutorials on how to build your own terrain pieces for wargaming using inexpensive materials. Channels like Black Magic Craft on YouTube can guide you through creating impressive terrain.
Infinity (Corvus Belli): Infinity is a sci-fi skirmish game by Corvus Belli, and they provide free rules and army-building tools on their website.
Mantic Games Free Rules: Mantic Games provides free downloadable rules for several of their games, including Kings of War, Deadzone, and Warpath. They also offer free army lists and scenarios to help players get started.
Print Your Own Miniatures (Thingiverse): For those with access to 3D printers, Thingiverse has a huge collection of free, downloadable miniature files, from fantasy characters to sci-fi vehicles. This is a great way to expand your collection without spending on official models.
Fan-Made Army Builders (BattleScribe): BattleScribe is a free, community-driven app that provides army-building tools for many miniatures games. While it doesn’t provide the rules themselves, it makes managing and building your armies a breeze.

Free Board Game Resources

The world of board games can be as expansive as you want, and there are many free options out there, especially in the realm of print-and-play games.

PnPArcade: With a regularly rotating selection of free print-and-play board games, PnPArcade is a great place to find unique, fun games you can print out and play at home.
Board Game Geek Print-and-Play: In addition to user-made content, Board Game Geek has a thriving community of designers offering free print-and-play versions of their games. You can find a wide range of games, from simple card games to complex strategy titles.
Print-and-Play Games on Itch.io: Just like with TTRPGs, Itch.io has a growing library of free or “pay what you want” board games. Many indie designers offer their games as print-and-play, allowing you to explore unique designs at no cost.
Print-and-Play Dice Games: There are plenty of free, printable dice games out there that you can enjoy with just a few dice and some paper. Roll and write games have become especially popular, and many designers offer free versions online.