Gemopedia
Tabletop Role-Playing🇺🇸United States20th century

Shadowrun

Cyberpunk-fantasy hybrid tabletop RPG. First published 1989 by FASA. Setting: 2050s dystopian world where MAGIC returned + CYBERPUNK MEGA-CORPS dominate + ELVES/DWARVES/ORKS/TROLLS live alongside humans. Players are 'runners' doing corporate espionage. 6th Edition (2019) current. Complex D6 dice pool system; influential cyberpunk RPG.

📐theater of mind + battle maps⏱~240 min🌤indoor

What is Shadowrun?

Shadowrun is CYBERPUNK-FANTASY HYBRID TABLETOP RPG. First published 1989 by FASA CORPORATION; currently published by CATALYST GAME LABS. Setting: NEAR-FUTURE 2050s-2080s DYSTOPIA where MAGIC RETURNED to world in 2011 (Sixth Age) + MEGA-CORPORATIONS wield more power than governments + AWAKENED HUMANS include ELVES, DWARVES, ORKS, TROLLS + cybernetic implants blur human/machine. Players are 'SHADOWRUNNERS' — freelance criminals doing CORPORATE ESPIONAGE, KIDNAPPING, DATA THEFT for MR. JOHNSON employers. Highly detailed setting mixing WILLIAM GIBSON-esque cyberpunk + tolkien fantasy + political conspiracy. CHARACTER ARCHETYPES: STREET SAMURAI (cyber-augmented combat), DECKER (hacker), MAGE/SHAMAN (magic user), RIGGER (drone operator), ADEPT (magic-enhanced martial arts), FACE (social manipulator). 6TH EDITION (2019) current — streamlined d6 dice pool system. NOTORIOUSLY COMPLEX RULES across editions (especially 3E-5E). SUPPLEMENTS extensive: SPRAWLS (city settings), MAGIC (Awakening details), MATRIX (hacking), RIGGERS (vehicles). VIDEO GAME ADAPTATIONS: SNES/Genesis Shadowrun (1993/94), Shadowrun Returns (2013 Harebrained Schemes Kickstarter), Shadowrun Dragonfall + Hong Kong sequels. Cult classic; MOST INFLUENTIAL CYBERPUNK RPG.

Quick facts

Category

Tabletop Role-Playing

Type

Team sport

Players

2–8

Duration

~240 min

Where played

indoor

Field / court

theater of mind + battle maps

Country of origin

🇺🇸 United States

Estimated origin

1st Edition 1989 FASA; 2E 1992; 3E 1998; 4E 2005 (WizKids); 5E 2013 (Catalyst); 6E 2019 (current)

Olympic

No

Popularity

major

How it works

Objective

Complete shadowruns (missions) for pay; grow character while surviving corporate + magical + Matrix threats.

Rules

Basic rules

  • Dice pool: attribute + skill in d6

    Roll pool; count 5s + 6s = hits. Difficulty determines hits needed.

  • Character types: Street Samurai, Decker, Mage, Rigger, Adept, Face

    Party benefits from diverse archetypes.

  • Combat lethal — cybernetics + guns + magic

    Body armor + reaction critical for survival.

  • Matrix (hacking) + astral (magic) as parallel worlds

    Deckers/mages can operate in Matrix/astral concurrent with physical.

  • Karma (XP) advances character

    Skills, attributes, initiations.

  • Reputation matters — 'runners' operate underground

    Street cred + notoriety + public awareness track social standing.

Scoring

Not scored. Karma (XP) advances character; nuyen (money) buys gear/upgrades.

ActionPoints
Complete shadowrun successfully5-15 karma + nuyen payout
Character advancementKarma spent on skills/attributes
Reputation/notoriety tracksAffects future job opportunities

Win condition · Cooperative narrative; individual character advancement + campaign completion.

Playing area

Called

theater of mind + battle maps

Dimensions

combat scenes gridded

Narrative + tactical combat maps when needed.

Equipment

  • Shadowrun 6E Core Rulebook

    €50; rules + setting

  • Sixth World Companion + supplements

    Runners, magic, matrix, riggers €30-40 each

  • Standard d6 dice (large pool: 5-20+)

    Dice pools 5-20+ = many d6 required

  • Character sheets + gear catalogs

    Gear-heavy system

Strategies

  • Party diversity essential

    Face for social, Decker for hacking, Mage for magic, Street Samurai for combat.

  • Plan runs (missions) carefully

    Legwork + intel before infiltration reduces combat needs.

  • 6E dice pool cap (Edge mechanic)

    Edge = luck currency; know when to spend.

Terminology

Runner
Shadowrunner — freelance criminal PC.
Mr. Johnson
Anonymous employer hiring runners.
Nuyen (¥)
Currency (Japanese yen-based).
Karma
XP for character advancement.
Matrix
Cyberspace/internet accessed by Deckers.
Astral
Spirit plane accessed by mages/shamans.
Awakened
Post-2011 magic-capable being.
Metahumans
Awakened variants: elves, dwarves, orks, trolls.
Cyberware / Bioware
Cybernetic + biological augmentations.
Essence
Humanity stat; augmentations reduce it.

Major competitions

  • Not competitive — cooperative

    n/a · worldwide

  • Shadowrun Missions (organized play)

    ongoing · worldwide · since 2004

  • Gen Con Shadowrun events

    annual · USA · since 1990

Where it is played

Governing bodies

  • Catalyst Game Labs (current publisher)

    Founded 2007 · USA

  • FASA Corporation (original 1989)

    Founded 1980 · USA — defunct 2001

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

  • Jordan Weisman (USA, b. 1961) — Original Shadowrun designer at FASA
  • Bob Charrette (USA) — Original 1E designer
  • Tom Dowd (USA) — Original 1E designer
  • Jason Hardy (USA) — Recent line developer at Catalyst

Learn this sport

beginner

  1. 1

    SHADOWRUN 6E Starter Set ($30) — pre-made runners + starter run

    Best entry point.

  2. 2

    SHADOWRUN RETURNS video game ($15 Steam)

    Learn setting + basic mechanics.

  3. 3

    SHADOWRUN ANARCHY (2016, $30) — simplified narrative version

    Great for RPG newcomers.

intermediate

  1. 1

    Full 6E Core Rulebook + Sixth World Companion

    Full rules + additional archetypes.

  2. 2

    Run first mission as GM

    Pre-published Shadowrun Missions available.

advanced

  1. 1

    Full campaign spanning years (setting supports it)

    Runners rise from street level to global threats.

Frequently asked

What is Shadowrun?+

CYBERPUNK-FANTASY HYBRID TABLETOP RPG (1989 FASA). Setting: 2050s-2080s DYSTOPIA where MAGIC RETURNED (2011 Sixth Age) + MEGA-CORPS dominate + ELVES/DWARVES/ORKS/TROLLS live alongside humans + cybernetics blur human/machine. Players are SHADOWRUNNERS doing corporate espionage. Iconic mix of William Gibson cyberpunk + Tolkien fantasy + political conspiracy. 6E (2019) current. Cult classic; MOST INFLUENTIAL CYBERPUNK RPG. Video game adaptations by Harebrained Schemes (2013-2015) also acclaimed.

How complex is Shadowrun compared to D&D?+

SHADOWRUN CONSIDERABLY MORE COMPLEX historically. 5E (2013) notoriously RULES-HEAVY — combat + hacking + magic + rigging each have separate subsystems. 6E (2019) STREAMLINED but still moderately complex. D&D 5E MUCH SIMPLER — clearer rules, faster gameplay. Shadowrun rewards SYSTEM MASTERY; D&D rewards CREATIVITY. New players START WITH ANARCHY (2016 simplified version) or SHADOWRUN RETURNS video game. Character build especially complex due to gear + augmentation options.

Is Shadowrun still played?+

YES — active community + regular Catalyst Game Labs publications. Not as large as D&D 5E or Pathfinder 2E, but LOYAL FANBASE. Cyberpunk 2077 (2020 video game) + Cyberpunk RED RPG (2020) drew renewed interest in cyberpunk genre — some Shadowrun crossover. Regular ORGANIZED PLAY (Shadowrun Missions) at conventions + game stores. Video games (Shadowrun Returns trilogy 2013-15, Shadowrun Chronicles 2015) introduced generations to setting.

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-25.verified