Ever get that itch to play something that feels like Stranger Things, The Goonies, or maybe even a weirdly dark 80s Amblin movie? You aren't alone. For a long time, the tabletop RPG world was dominated by heavy math and high fantasy, but then the kids on bikes system showed up and basically changed how we think about "rules-lite" storytelling. Published by Hunters Entertainment and designed by Jon Gilmour and Doug Levandowski, it isn't just a set of mechanics; it’s a specific vibe. It’s about being a kid in a small town where the adults are oblivious and something very weird is happening in the woods.
What is the Kids on Bikes System anyway?
Honestly, it’s a Narrative-First engine. If you’re coming from Dungeons & Dragons, you might find the lack of tactical grids or massive spell lists a bit jarring at first. But that’s the point. The kids on bikes system uses a tiered dice mechanic where your stats are assigned different dice shapes. Your best attribute gets a d20. Your worst gets a d4. It’s elegant. If you try to do something, you roll that die against a Difficulty Class.
What’s wild is how failure works. In this game, failing isn’t just "nothing happens." You get Adversity Tokens. These are basically "pity points" that you can spend later to boost a roll. It’s a mechanical way of showing that these kids learn from their mistakes or get more determined when things go south. It keeps the story moving. No one gets stuck just because they failed to pick a lock for forty minutes.
The system also emphasizes collaborative world-building. You don't just show up to a pre-written module. You sit down with your friends and literally draw the map of the town together. You decide what the "scary house" on the hill is and why the local diner smells like sulfur. By the time the first session actually starts, everyone is already emotionally invested because they helped build the playground they're about to burn down.
The Powered Character: A Unique Twist
One of the most defining features of the kids on bikes system is the Powered Character. Think Eleven from Stranger Things. Usually, this isn't a character played by one person. Instead, the whole table shares control. You have a deck of traits, and different players manage different aspects of this mysterious being’s personality or powers.
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It’s messy. It’s supposed to be.
Using powers isn't free, either. It drains the character. It creates tension. Do you use the telekinesis to save your friend from the government agents, knowing it might knock the Powered Character unconscious? That’s the kind of high-stakes drama the system thrives on. It forces players to talk to each other out-of-character to manage a shared resource, which naturally leads to better roleplaying.
Why Small Towns and Nostalgia Matter
The setting is usually a "technologically stagnant" era. Usually the 80s or 90s. Why? Because cell phones kill horror and mystery. If you can just Google what a monster is or call the cops from the middle of the woods, the tension evaporates. The kids on bikes system leans into that isolation. You're on a Schwinn Sting-Ray with a walkie-talkie that barely works. You are vulnerable.
That vulnerability is the secret sauce.
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In a world of superheroes and level 20 wizards, playing a 12-year-old with a flashlight and a library card feels genuinely dangerous. You can't just fight your way out of every problem. Sometimes—actually, most of the time—you have to run. Or hide. Or outsmart the "Grown-Ups" who refuse to believe anything supernatural is happening.
The Nuance of Character Creation
Character creation is fast. Like, fifteen minutes fast. You choose a "Trope" (the Jock, the Nerd, the Popular Kid), which sets your dice. But the real meat is in the Flaws and Strengths. You might be "Clumsy" but "Protective." These aren't just fluff; they have mechanical weight.
You also define your relationships right out of the gate. You decide who you trust, who you're scared of, and who you'd do anything for. This prevents the "group of strangers meet in a tavern" cliché that plagues so many other games. You start the game as a group of friends, which makes the stakes feel personal from the very first roll of the dice.
Is it actually "Rules-Lite"?
People argue about this. Some hardcore simulationists think it’s too thin. But depth doesn't always come from tables and charts. In the kids on bikes system, depth comes from the consequences of the narrative. The GM (Game Master) has a lot of leeway, which can be intimidating for beginners. You have to be comfortable winging it.
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If you want a game where you measure line-of-sight and count every copper piece in your inventory, this isn't it. But if you want a game where a failed roll leads to a tense chase scene through a cornfield, you're in the right place.
Practical Steps for Running Your First Session
If you’re looking to dive in, don't over-prepare. That's the biggest mistake GMs make with this system.
- Print the Town Building Sheet. Do not skip the collaborative map-making. It is the most important part of the first session. Ask leading questions like, "Who disappeared at the old quarry last summer?" or "Why does everyone avoid the librarian?"
- Lean into the tropes. Don't worry about being "original" at first. Tropes are tools. Use the "Creepy Old Man" or the "Corrupt Sheriff." These archetypes give the players a shorthand to understand the world quickly.
- Manage the Adversity Tokens. Remind your players they exist. New players often forget they can spend these tokens to succeed. Encourage them to fail spectacularly so they can win later when it really counts.
- Keep the Powered Character mysterious. Don't reveal everything about their origin in the first hour. Let the players discover the powers through trial and error.
- Focus on the "Bikes." Movement is key. The sense of freedom and the ability to travel across town away from parental supervision is core to the experience. Make sure the bikes feel like an extension of the characters.
The kids on bikes system isn't just a nostalgic trip. It’s a robust framework for telling stories about growing up, facing fears, and realizing that the world is much bigger—and scarier—than you ever imagined. It’s about that specific moment in life where you’re old enough to see the monsters but young enough to still believe you can stop them.
Grab some dice. Call your friends. Build a town. Just make sure you're home before the streetlights come on.
Actionable Next Steps
- Download the "Kids on Bikes" character sheets from the Hunters Entertainment website to see how the tropes are structured.
- Watch a "Let's Play" session on YouTube (the Dimension 20: Fantasy High series uses a modified version of this engine, though the "Kids on Brooms" variant is slightly different).
- Schedule a "Session 0" specifically for world-building. Do not try to play the actual adventure on the same night you build the town; let the town breathe first.
- Pick a decade. Decide if you want the synth-heavy 80s or the grunge-filled 90s, as this will change the "Flavor" of your items and NPCs.