Today, Mana Project Studio, the team behind the acclaimed Journey to Ragnarok, Nightfell and Cowboy Bebop, announced they have secured the official license for a Ghost in the Shell tabletop roleplaying game.
Even better, a free 49-page quickstart for the TTRPG is already available to download from DriveThruRPG.
The game, which is set during the Ghost in the Shell: ARISE timeline, will be powered by the popular Forged in the Dark system, first seen in Blades in the Dark. This mechanical choice adapts the core engine to balance a character’s Ghost (their mind and soul) against their Shell (their cybernetic body). Players will take on the roles of elite operatives in Public Security Section 9, tackling missions involving counter-terrorism, espionage, and corporate corruption in the hyper-technological metropolis of Newport City.
The quickstart rules reveal a system where player characters are defined by two core attributes: Ghost, for social and mental actions, and Shell, for physical actions. Character creation involves selecting from one of six playbooks, including the Elite Ranger, Wizard Hacker, Special Investigator, Heavy Weapons Expert, Ace Sniper, and even the car-sized spider tank, the Logikoma.
The game uses a dice pool of six-sided dice for action rolls, with the highest single die determining the outcome. In a twist on the Forged in the Dark engine, players can push their characters beyond their limits by “spending” points from their Ghost or Shell attributes for extra dice after a roll is made.
The full version of the Ghost in the Shell Roleplaying Game is slated for a Kickstarter campaign launching on November 4th, 2025, with an expected retail release the following year. It will launch in English, French, and Italian.
Quick Links
- Sign up to be notified of the Kickstarter launch.
- Download the free quickstart from DriveThruRPG now.
