Diving into TTRPG creation or D&D homebrewing can feel daunting. This is especially true when it comes time to pick your software as there are loads of options floating around, from expensive professional software suites to free and open-source options. So, after talking with several other Indie TTRPG creators, I’ve compiled a list of free game creation software you can use to create the TTRPG or D&D homebrew of your dreams.
Rather than trying to cover every piece of software available, I’ve kept it simple and have only included software that I or those I have talked to have used in the last few months. Hopefully, this makes it easier for you to quickly and efficiently find the software you need to bring your TTRPG creations to life.
Writing/Word Processing Software
The first thing most creators do is write out their TTRPG’s rules or lore. There are loads of fantastic word processors available, from well-known paid software to incredible no-cost open-source options.
Microsoft Word, which is part of the Microsoft Office suite, is likely the most famous word processor on the market, and it is often considered the benchmark that all others are measured by. While you can still get it as a one-time purchase, Microsoft is slowly moving to a subscription model, dubbed Microsoft 365, which means this may not be an option for long.
However, Microsoft also offers a web-based version of Word that you can use for free once you set up a Microsoft account. While this version has all the features of the installed one, do note that it will save files to Microsoft’s OneDrive service by default, and this only gives you a limited amount of space before you have to pay to get more.
If you’re looking for a free and open-source office option, LibreOffice Writer, part of the LibreOffice suite, is a good go-to. While it has a dated UI, all the features you need are there, and it’s pretty easy to get the hang of. Plus, it can open documents made in Microsoft Word, making it straightforward to collaborate with others.
Another free option is Google Docs. Made by Google this word processor has lots of features and a very easy-to-grasp UI. Plus, it allows you to collaborate on documents easily, making it great if you’re working with other TTRPG creators and want to share notes with one another.
While Docs is free with a Google Account, Google stores the files on your Google Drive by default, and this Drive has a limited amount of free space. You can pay to get more space, but it is something to be aware of.
- Microsoft Word – Word [Web Version]: Free, Word [Single Install]: $149.99, Word [With rest of Microsoft 365]: $69.99/year
- LibreOffice Writer – Free and Open-source
- Google Docs – Free
Layout Software For TTRPG Creation
The layout is a crucial part of the TTRPG creation process. Microsoft Publisher and Adobe InDesign are the most famous examples of this type of software. However, both firms use a subscription model, making the software pricy.
But, there are many good options for those on a tighter budget.
Affinity Publisher and its sequel Affinity Publisher 2, have become popular within the TTRPG community, and it’s easy to see why. They’re both solid bits of software that do pretty much everything their more well-known counterparts can. The Affinity suite is a one-time purchase and frequently goes on sale, making it accessible for indie creatives. It also has a sizable user base making it easy to find tutorials walking you through its features. Which is good if you’re new to publishing software.
If you want something free and open-source, then Scribus is perfect for you. The software is surprisingly feature-rich and can do pretty much everything you need. However, the UI isn’t great, so it has a bit of a learning curve. But this can be overcome with a few hours of fiddling and experimenting.
Microsoft Word is also included on this list, as while it’s not designed as layout software, you can use it to layout a game, especially if you keep the appearance relatively simple.
This is also true of the other word processors on the list, so it’s worth keeping them in mind if you already have one to hand and want to quickly get something into a releasable state.
- Adobe InDesign – InDesign: $239.88 a year, InDesign [With rest of Creative Cloud]: $791.88 a year
- Microsoft Publisher – Publisher [Single Install]: $149.99 Publisher [With rest of Microsoft 365]: $69.99/year
- Affinity Publisher 2 – Affinity Publisher 2 [Single Install]: $69.99, Affinity Publisher 2 [Full Affinity 2 Suite]: $169.99
- Scribus – Free and Open-Source
- Microsoft Word/LibraOfficeWriter/Google Docs – See Writing section.
Image Editing Software
There are so many different image editors available. So, while Adobe Photoshop is still the biggest name in the space, there are plenty of other options.
Gimp is one of the most famous and most-used bits of open-source software around. While it lacks some of Photoshop’s fancier features and has a very old UI, it does most things you need. However, you might have to spend a little time figuring out where everything is located in the software.
Affinity Photo 2 is, like Affinity Publisher, a fantastic alternative to Adobe’s offerings, doubly so because it’s sold as a one-time purchase. However, the UI has a few quirks, so expect to spend time getting to grips with it. But once you’ve got over the initial hump, you’ll be able to do basically everything you need to do with little difficulty.
Many users have moved to Canva, an online photo editor and graphic design program. While it lacks many advanced features, it works well for basic photo editing, and its built-in templates can be handy for quickly making social media-friendly images.
If you’re using a free account, the site limits how many images you can make in a month and blocks off some of the more advanced features. But it’s great if you’re looking for a quick, lightweight way to edit a few pictures. Its browser-based nature is also fantastic for people that work on a shared or low-spec PC.
Photopea is another online service. However, it doesn’t have the restrictions Canva does. It has fewer templates than Canva, but it does have a very Photoshop-like UI, meaning it is pretty easy to pick up and use. So it is perfect if you want to quickly edit images on a lower-powered machine or don’t want to install software on your hard drive.
You can also pay for a premium account that removes the ads and gives you access to cloud storage, which is very reasonable and worth the investment if you plan to use it a lot.
Clip Studio Paint isn’t designed to be a photo editor, but that doesn’t stop people from using it as one. So, if you already have this software and need to clean up some pictures, you can make do. But do note that Clip Studio Paint lacks some of the tools dedicated photo editors have.
- Adobe Photoshop – Adobe Photoshop: $239.88 a year, Photoshop [With rest of Creative Cloud]: $791.88 a year
- Affinity Photo 2 – Affinity Photo 2 [Single Install]: $69.99, Affinity Photo 2 [Full Affinity 2 Suite]: $169.99
- Gimp – Free and Open-source
- Clip Studio Paint – $49.99
- Photopea – Photopea [With Ads]: Free, Photopea [Premium]: $50 a year
- Canva – Canva [Basic]: Free, Canva [Premium]: $119.99 a year.
Note: Glimpse Image Editor is an alternative open-source image editor for those uncomfortable with Gimp’s name and its ableist connotations. While I would wholeheartedly embrace this change, the project has been on hiatus for over a year, and thus it won’t have any update support should a future Windows update break it.
Video Editing Software
Promoting your game often involves making a video for Youtube, TikTok, or Twitch. So, having some good video editing software to hand is never a bad thing. The key players in this space are Adobe Premiere and Sony Vegas.
Sony Vegas is one of the most popular Adobe alternatives, and it’s easy to see why. However, in recent years Sony has split Vegas into several packs with different elements. Plus, these packs are available as a one-time purchase or reoccurring subscription. So it’s best to experiment with the free trials Sony offers to deduce what features you need before handing over your cash.
Davinci Resolve is a fantastic piece of software. This professional-level video editor has many powerful editing tools and can be used to do everything from basic trimming to complex visual effects. The free version locks off certain features like 4K exporting and specialized VFX tools, but this is far from a dealbreaker. In fact, most general users likely won’t notice that stuff is locked off.
The only downside is its professional nature. The software doesn’t hold your hand and has loads of features, making it hard to find what you’re looking for. So you’ll likely spend a while reading the help documents and watching video tutorials before you get the hang of it.
- Adobe Premiere – Adobe Premier: $239.88 a year, Premier [With rest of Creative Cloud]: $791.88 a year
- Sony Vegas [Subscription] – VEGAS Edit: $155.88 per year, VEGAS Pro 365: $239.88 per year, VEGAS Post 365: $179.88
- Sony Vegas [One Time License] – VEGAS Edit: $249.00, VEGAS Pro 365: $399.00, VEGAS Post 365: $599.00
- Davinci Resolve – Davinci Resolve: Free, Davinci Resolve Studio: $295.00
If you’re looking for other TTRPG creation resources, like game systems, free stock art, and other stuff, check out my TTRPG Creator Resources Masterpost!
Jonathon Greenall is a freelance writer, artist, and tabletop roleplaying game designer who has written for CBR, Polygon, Nintendo Life, Gayley Dreadful, Enbylife, and many other publications. They have also published several popular and highly-praised tabletop roleplaying games including “You Have One Ability….The Ability To Fuck This Up,” “Macarons, Milkshakes, And Magic,” and “Wander Wizards.”
Jonathon has always been fascinated by media, from the big hitters to the small, obscure, and often overlooked titles that linger on the sidelines, capturing both the on and off-camera stories that make these shows so fascinating.
Jonathon is also a major anime fan, having been exposed to the medium through shows like Sailor Moon and Revolutionary Girl Utena. Since then, Jonathon has maintained a passion for anime, watching most new shows each season and hunting down overlooked gems from previous ones.