Kids on Bikes

Kids on Bikes
Cover of Kids on Bikes
DesignersJonathan Gilmour and Doug Levandowski
Publishers
  • Hunters Entertainment
  • Renegade Studios
Genrestabletop role-playing game, adventure

Kids on Bikes is a tabletop role-playing game system, and a series of games that use that system. It has won multiple ENNIE Awards.

Publication history

The first game in the series, Kids on Bikes, was inspired by 1980s coming-of-age movies like The Goonies. In 2022, the second edition of Kids on Bikes raised $182,049 on Kickstarter from 2,793 backers.[1]

There are three other games in the series: the space-themed Teens in Space, a game about a school for wizards and witches called Kids on Brooms,[2][3] and a forthcoming superhero game called Kids in Capes.[4] On February 10, 2023, the designers held a charity sale of Kids on Brooms with all profits donated to transgender rights organization Sylvia Rivera Law Project. This was part of a larger boycott movement against Hogwarts Legacy due to the anti-transgender activities of author J. K. Rowling.[5]

Reception

Kids on Bikes won the 2019 Gold ENNIE Awards for Best Family Game / Product, and Kids on Bikes: Strange Adventures! Volume Two won the same award in 2020.[6][7] Cass Marshall for Polygon recommended it for fans of Stranger Things.[8]

Gameplay

Kids on Bikes character creation involves assigning standard roleplaying dice to each of six stats. Players and gamemaster construct the setting together.[2]

The game features a mechanic to allow for a "powered" character like those from E.T. and Stranger Things. While Powered characters are similar to non-player characters, players are able to exhibit some narrative control over the actions these characters take.[2]

The Kids on Bikes system has been featured on multiple seasons of the actual play series Dimension 20, including Misfits and Magic using Kids on Brooms,[9] Mentopolis using "a 'noir-ified' version of Kids on Bikes",[10] and Never Stop Blowing Up using a system "heavily inspired by" Kids on Bikes.[11]

Dropout, publisher of Dimension 20, later released a four-page version of the Never Stop Blowing Up rules system.[12] Christian Hoffer of EN World notes the system is intended to create "action movie-style" stories with "outlandish" action.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Track Kids on Bikes: Second Edition's Kickstarter campaign on BackerTracker". BackerKit. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  2. ^ a b c Colleran, Meaghan (Jun 23, 2023). "Indie RPG Spotlight: 'Kids on Bikes'". Bell of Lost Souls. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  3. ^ Wieland, Rob. "Build A Better Magic School With The Kids On Brooms RPG". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  4. ^ Carter, Chase (2024-05-08). "After Kids on Bikes and Kids on Brooms, the beginner-friendly RPG series puts Kids in Capes". Dicebreaker. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  5. ^ Glassman, Julia (2023-02-10). "Boycotting 'Hogwarts Legacy'? This Fantastic 'Harry Potter'-like TTRPG Is Raising Money for Trans Charity Instead". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  6. ^ "2019 Nominees and Winners – ENNIE Awards". Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  7. ^ "2020 Nominees and Winners – ENNIE Awards". Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  8. ^ Marshall, Cass (2022-10-12). "Kids on Bikes' new edition adds more '80s adventure action". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  9. ^ Crider, Michael (Feb 3, 2023). "Skip Hogwarts Legacy and watch some Harry Potter-style D&D instead". PC World. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  10. ^ Zambrano, J.R. (Aug 22, 2023). "You Should Absolutely Watch the 1st Episode Of Dimension 20's 'Mentopolis'". Bell of Lost Souls. Retrieved 2023-09-02.
  11. ^ "DIMENSION 20: NEVER STOP BLOWING UP FAQ". docs.google.com. Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  12. ^ a b Hoffer, Christian (Nov 16, 2024). "Dropout Releases Never Stop Blowing Up Ruleset". EN World. Retrieved 2024-11-27.


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