Drug dealers smuggle contraband into prisons with drones. You can pay back alley body-modders to install microchips in your hands with cryptographic currency. Powerful corporations track your every move, while vast government surveillance systems scan your emails. Militaries wage cyberwarfare across the globe. Cult leaders have the ear of world leaders. A washed up game show host is now the President of the United States.

This isn’t some dystopian cyberpunk future. It’s Today’s World.

Today’s World is a rule-lite role playing game about the strangeness of modern life. It’s suitable for telling many stories in contemporary settings, from exploring complex social issues to wallowing in the absurdity of the human condition. Inspirations range from literary sources like William Gibson’s “Blue Ant” trilogy to pulpy entertainment like the Gotham TV series to more gonzo sources like Nathan Barley and Crank. Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of any of these things: the fact that you’re alive and breathing means you’re already living in Today’s World.

You can down the playtest version here for free. If you play it, please drop me a line at me@klintfinley.com and let me know how it goes!

The playtest rules assume the GM has some knowledge of Apocalypse World or other games based on its rules, such as Urban Shadows, The Sprawl, or any other “Powered by the Apocalypse Game.” The final version will be a standalone, but for now it’s best if you’ve at least read one of these other games.