Rene Plays Games
@reneplaysgames.bsky.social
Hi, I'm Rene ("Rainy," he/him)! My podcast is all about highlighting smaller publisher RPGs, interviewing folks from the hobby, and talking all things TTRPGs. Come hang!
New Colostle episode day! Sybil & the Rookling join the bastion monk Zorn on an expedition to find a Rookling Forge in hopes of tracking down all the lost rooklings from Zorn's monastery. When they fail to find their way, Sybil's whisperstone guides the way to an interesting discovery...
November 18, 2025 at 11:21 PM
New Colostle episode day! Sybil & the Rookling join the bastion monk Zorn on an expedition to find a Rookling Forge in hopes of tracking down all the lost rooklings from Zorn's monastery. When they fail to find their way, Sybil's whisperstone guides the way to an interesting discovery...
New Perspective Checks about Learning & Teaching RPGs with @tezrak.bsky.social, designer of Shadowlight & Personae, a genre hopping universal TTRPG that you can tweak to play any kind of story. We talk about accessibility, revising your rules language, providing player aids, and more!
November 11, 2025 at 9:26 PM
New Perspective Checks about Learning & Teaching RPGs with @tezrak.bsky.social, designer of Shadowlight & Personae, a genre hopping universal TTRPG that you can tweak to play any kind of story. We talk about accessibility, revising your rules language, providing player aids, and more!
Colostle episode 5 day! Sybil ventures out into the Dungeons once more and is almost immediately forced to save another stranger from a Spectral Rook from within its own Fostle husk!
November 4, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Colostle episode 5 day! Sybil ventures out into the Dungeons once more and is almost immediately forced to save another stranger from a Spectral Rook from within its own Fostle husk!
Bonus Halloween episode! As joked about in our Valentine's Day one-shot, my wife Lynn and I played a "spooky season" Star Crossed game of a house and the ghost who wants to haunt it. It is 0% spooky, and a whole lot more cutesy (and a tiny bit sad). Hope you enjoy!
October 31, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Bonus Halloween episode! As joked about in our Valentine's Day one-shot, my wife Lynn and I played a "spooky season" Star Crossed game of a house and the ghost who wants to haunt it. It is 0% spooky, and a whole lot more cutesy (and a tiny bit sad). Hope you enjoy!
Fourth Tuesday (but not final) episode of October is a one-player one-shot of Spellbook by DValeris a.k.a. Edaureen Muhamad Nor! Based on the Lost & Found SRD, enjoy the tale of a sentient spellbook as it makes its way through the hands of witches!
October 29, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Fourth Tuesday (but not final) episode of October is a one-player one-shot of Spellbook by DValeris a.k.a. Edaureen Muhamad Nor! Based on the Lost & Found SRD, enjoy the tale of a sentient spellbook as it makes its way through the hands of witches!
We're back in the Dungeons of Colostle! In this episode, Sybil and her two new rookling companions exit the Cistern and enter the Dungeons proper. But before Sybil can investigate and appreciate the architecture, one of the rooklings wanders into a new labyrinth guarded by a serpentine Rook!
October 7, 2025 at 12:55 PM
We're back in the Dungeons of Colostle! In this episode, Sybil and her two new rookling companions exit the Cistern and enter the Dungeons proper. But before Sybil can investigate and appreciate the architecture, one of the rooklings wanders into a new labyrinth guarded by a serpentine Rook!
This game has been on my "To Be Played" list for too long! The Librarian's Apprentice by @almostbedtime.bsky.social is so good! An infinite library? Easy to learn mechanics? Weird combinations of words for prompts and details? GIVE ME ALL OF IT! Get this game and start exploring these endless halls!
September 30, 2025 at 6:03 PM
This game has been on my "To Be Played" list for too long! The Librarian's Apprentice by @almostbedtime.bsky.social is so good! An infinite library? Easy to learn mechanics? Weird combinations of words for prompts and details? GIVE ME ALL OF IT! Get this game and start exploring these endless halls!
This was a tough one for a Mining Media, but I couldn't NOT talk about the amazing Expedition 33. It is an emotional, powerful game. And somehow I make it through the whole episode without mentioning Esquie once which is, admittedly, unforgivable, and I apologize.
September 23, 2025 at 3:44 PM
This was a tough one for a Mining Media, but I couldn't NOT talk about the amazing Expedition 33. It is an emotional, powerful game. And somehow I make it through the whole episode without mentioning Esquie once which is, admittedly, unforgivable, and I apologize.
Colostle Dungeons episode 2 out now! Sybil (and a rescued rookling) navigate the major labyrinth The Cistern! A very cool puzzle dungeon, hope you enjoy!
September 16, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Colostle Dungeons episode 2 out now! Sybil (and a rescued rookling) navigate the major labyrinth The Cistern! A very cool puzzle dungeon, hope you enjoy!
This month's Perspective Checks episode is with Willow, @therpggoblin.bsky.social, all about what to consider when looking for a new game when you're branching out from the & game. Vibes? Mechanics? Setting? What gets you excited will go a long way toward knowing what games might be for you!
September 9, 2025 at 12:40 PM
This month's Perspective Checks episode is with Willow, @therpggoblin.bsky.social, all about what to consider when looking for a new game when you're branching out from the & game. Vibes? Mechanics? Setting? What gets you excited will go a long way toward knowing what games might be for you!
Here's what to expect for the rest of September! Any recommendations for the one-player one-shot game? Or any other bonus episode ideas you'd like to hear?
September 4, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Here's what to expect for the rest of September! Any recommendations for the one-player one-shot game? Or any other bonus episode ideas you'd like to hear?
100th episode of the Rene Plays Games podcast, fitting to go back to #Colostle ! I played this in 2022 over on the @dmsafterdark.bsky.social feed, and with the recent release of The Dungeons, I decided now is the time to go back for more!
September 3, 2025 at 12:31 AM
100th episode of the Rene Plays Games podcast, fitting to go back to #Colostle ! I played this in 2022 over on the @dmsafterdark.bsky.social feed, and with the recent release of The Dungeons, I decided now is the time to go back for more!
Lets talk the massively popular LitRPG series Dungeon Crawler Carl and what you can use from it at your game tables! If you haven't read it (or listened to the incredible audiobooks), I highly recommend them.
August 26, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Lets talk the massively popular LitRPG series Dungeon Crawler Carl and what you can use from it at your game tables! If you haven't read it (or listened to the incredible audiobooks), I highly recommend them.
Fulfillment day from @loottheroom.bsky.social ! Blood in the Margins (mmm solo dark academia) with The Wonderfvll Discoverie of Witches & The Interview (a really cool piece of fiction accompanying the games)! I already next week's episode recorded but maybe I can find time to play another?!
August 19, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Fulfillment day from @loottheroom.bsky.social ! Blood in the Margins (mmm solo dark academia) with The Wonderfvll Discoverie of Witches & The Interview (a really cool piece of fiction accompanying the games)! I already next week's episode recorded but maybe I can find time to play another?!
Lets play another one-player one-shot! BOW by @hatchlingdm.itch.io is a game where you play a diver in an annual competition to sail out on the Gasillica Sea in search of old world relics & race to reach your marker first. Pairs well with their other Carta game Dragon Dowser, go check it out!
August 19, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Lets play another one-player one-shot! BOW by @hatchlingdm.itch.io is a game where you play a diver in an annual competition to sail out on the Gasillica Sea in search of old world relics & race to reach your marker first. Pairs well with their other Carta game Dragon Dowser, go check it out!
8?! If you insist, fellow nerds! I've never played an OSR game, but reading Into the Odd by Chris McDowall made me want to. Still haven't played it but truly no excuse, gotta get this to the table.
August 13, 2025 at 5:51 PM
8?! If you insist, fellow nerds! I've never played an OSR game, but reading Into the Odd by Chris McDowall made me want to. Still haven't played it but truly no excuse, gotta get this to the table.
Lucky number 7! We've gotten to a success with a complication on PbtA-land, so let's do a Powered by the Apocalypse game! Masks: A New Generation (which is getting a 2nd edition soon I've heard?)
August 13, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Lucky number 7! We've gotten to a success with a complication on PbtA-land, so let's do a Powered by the Apocalypse game! Masks: A New Generation (which is getting a 2nd edition soon I've heard?)
6! I've neglected my zine rack, so how about some Miru 1 & 2 by @hinokodo.com ! Can't wait for Miru 3 to come soon!
August 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
6! I've neglected my zine rack, so how about some Miru 1 & 2 by @hinokodo.com ! Can't wait for Miru 3 to come soon!
5! Now I'm just forcing myself to pick a different shelf every time. Not prioritizing favorites or anything, but this game is one I'd LOVE to do a campaign of sometime - Band of Blades by Stras Acimovic & John LeBoeuf-Little!
August 13, 2025 at 4:44 PM
5! Now I'm just forcing myself to pick a different shelf every time. Not prioritizing favorites or anything, but this game is one I'd LOVE to do a campaign of sometime - Band of Blades by Stras Acimovic & John LeBoeuf-Little!
4: a game I want to get to the table so bad! @storybrewersroleplaying.com 's sports drama RPG Fight With Spirit
(which is on @bundleofholding.com right now for a steal if you want it!)
(which is on @bundleofholding.com right now for a steal if you want it!)
August 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
4: a game I want to get to the table so bad! @storybrewersroleplaying.com 's sports drama RPG Fight With Spirit
(which is on @bundleofholding.com right now for a steal if you want it!)
(which is on @bundleofholding.com right now for a steal if you want it!)
3rd like = 3" tall heroes and a vibe I F with SO hard: little woodland critters meets sociopolitical plot drama. Mouse Guard (1e & 2e). Plus its the most approachable version of the Burning Wheel mechanics family.
August 13, 2025 at 3:36 PM
3rd like = 3" tall heroes and a vibe I F with SO hard: little woodland critters meets sociopolitical plot drama. Mouse Guard (1e & 2e). Plus its the most approachable version of the Burning Wheel mechanics family.
2nd like = 2nd RPG I played (so first after D&D) @wilwheaton.net 's Titansgrave: Ashes of Valkana, which had such an awesome AP I ran my own game for my college's game club and we played on a different continent during the events of the AP. Underrated gem of the AGE family.
August 13, 2025 at 3:30 PM
2nd like = 2nd RPG I played (so first after D&D) @wilwheaton.net 's Titansgrave: Ashes of Valkana, which had such an awesome AP I ran my own game for my college's game club and we played on a different continent during the events of the AP. Underrated gem of the AGE family.
For the first like lets go with maybe the oldest RPG I own?
Fun fact - I got this box set at a yard sale for $1. I feel a little bad about that now...
Fun fact - I got this box set at a yard sale for $1. I feel a little bad about that now...
August 13, 2025 at 3:27 PM
For the first like lets go with maybe the oldest RPG I own?
Fun fact - I got this box set at a yard sale for $1. I feel a little bad about that now...
Fun fact - I got this box set at a yard sale for $1. I feel a little bad about that now...
One-Player One-Shot of Two-Hand Path by Mikey Hamm! In this solo roll & write, you play a mage in a post-apocalyptic city torn apart by supernatural forces. It uses Yahtzee-like mechanics with a full set of polyhedral dice and is SO fun. I love the design of the modern dungeons to delve!
August 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
One-Player One-Shot of Two-Hand Path by Mikey Hamm! In this solo roll & write, you play a mage in a post-apocalyptic city torn apart by supernatural forces. It uses Yahtzee-like mechanics with a full set of polyhedral dice and is SO fun. I love the design of the modern dungeons to delve!