It is difficult to predict where Mana Project Studio will go next. This is the Italian design house that brought us the high-profile anime adaptations of the Cowboy Bebop Roleplaying Game and Ghost in the Shell: Arise, yet they are just as capable of producing intimate, original curiosities like Runeway.
While the studio has been sharing Runeway in its native Italian on social media since 2024, this English Quickstart is a fresh arrival on DriveThruRPG. It is a game about weird folks taking road trips through a strange world, and it is absolutely delightful.
The World of Weyrd
The setting of Runeway is the “cosmopolitan world” of Weyrd. It is a place that feels simultaneously ancient and retrotech, where “technology as the one we used during the 90s” sits alongside magic. You might find Walkmans and cassette tapes used by creatures who also wield Natural or Artificial Magic.
The atmosphere is dominated by the concept of the road trip. Characters are “Runedrifters”, travellers who have left their old lives behind to form an “elective family” and journey into the unknown. The Quickstart places you in the region of Garramore, a land of fertile soil and “surprising architectures” that intertwine with nature. It is a setting that invites you to “put on your favourite playlist and enjoy the trip” quite literally, as music selection is a codified part of the game session.
Runic Resolutions
The system in Runeway eschews dice entirely in favour of a bag of 24 Futhark Runes. This is not merely a gimmick but a core part of the “Runic Roll” mechanic used to resolve obstacles known as Seals. When the group faces a challenge, the Compass (the Game Master) creates a Seal composed of several Fragments.
To overcome these fragments, players reach into the bag. The twist is that actions are categorised by Essence: Body, Mind, or Spirit. If you want to solve a puzzle with logic, you declare a Mind approach and hope to pull a rune associated with that Essence. It is a tactile system that encourages interpretation, as players must read the meaning of the specific rune they draw, such as “Berkana” for love or desire, to describe their success. Failure draws from the same well of symbolism, feeding into a menacing “Seal of Fate” that tracks the looming trouble for the party.
Drifters and Dreamers
Character creation in Runeway is colourful and broad. You play as Runedrifters who might belong to various species, from the invisible Concealed to the aquatic Merfolk. The Quickstart provides pre-generated characters fitting the “Dungeoneers” archetype, a group obsessed with history and delving into dark caves.
What stands out is how the mechanics reinforce the group dynamic. You have Roles, such as the social “Spitfire”, but you also have Bonds that provide mechanical benefits when you interact with your fellow travellers. You even have a “Stellar Wealth” rating to determine if you are sleeping in luxury or snacking on frugal food. The inclusion of a “Travelogue” to track your journey, complete with a photo album section to draw your memories, perfectly encapsulates the game’s focus on the journey rather than just the destination.
Aesthetics and Atmosphere
The visual direction by Francesco Musiani is striking and clearly influenced by the “big name” energy the studio is known for, but channelled into something softer and more whimsical. The text cites influences ranging from Adventure Time and Steven Universe to Studio Ghibli films like Kiki’s Delivery Service, and you can feel that DNA in the “warm and fuzzy” yet mysterious vibe.
The layout is clean, though Laura Fontanella’s translation retains a charmingly specific voice that suits the “weird” nature of the setting. It is worth noting the game’s dedication to safety and comfort, integrating tools like Lines, Veils, and the X Card directly into the introduction to ensure the journey remains fun for everyone.
This is a polished, evocative introduction to a world I desperately want to see more of. Chiara Vertuani, Francesco Musiani, and Fiore Fiorini have crafted a system that feels as magical and tactile as the artefacts their Runedrifters hunt for.
Quick Links
- Free to Download: Runeaway Quickstart
