The Simpsons and Earthbound inspired this creepy suburban tabletop RPG setting

A new tabletop roleplaying game setting takes inspiration from the likes of The Simpsons, Earthbound and the works of David Lynch.

Called Suburbia: The Envy of a Million Spheres, the tabletop RPG setting puts players into a fictional world dominated by suburban bliss. Intended to be played with the Troika! gameplay system, Suburbia has players exploring a surreal and psychedelic world populated by all sorts of creepy organisations, all of which are hellbent on upholding the peace of the neighbourhood.

Taking inspiration from the bizarre, hyper-Americanised look and feel of the classic Super Nintendo video game Earthbound – which has become a cult-classic thanks to its unique presentation and musings on modern American life – Suburbia has players encountering the likes of the Viridian Maids and Friendly Neighbourhood Watch, as well as stirrings of the occult and emergence of nightmares.

Suburbia also takes cues from the beloved animated sitcom series, The Simpsons, with its setting including all the recognisable imagery of American suburbia – from the drone of lawnmowers to the chimes of the local shopping centre – and the satirical politics to go with it. The sci-fi RPG even takes elements from the works of iconic auteur David Lynch – best known for directing the TV show Twin Peaks and films like Mulholland Drive – with its uncomfortable examination of American culture.

Suburbia: The Envy of a Million Spheres was written by Adriel Jimenez during the 2021 Troikafest, an event held by The Melsonian Arts Council – the publisher responsible for releasing Troika! - with Envy of a Million Spheres being an updated version of the original setting.

Troika! is a strange fantasy tabletop roleplaying game in which players travel across a strange multiverse containing a series of planets to explore. As a group of bizarre characters, each with their own unusual origins and roles, players will adventure by rolling a six-sided dice and attempting to navigate the weird landscape and people they encounter.

A crowdfunding campaign for Suburbia: The Envy of a Million Spheres is set to be launched on Kickstarter on July 5th, for around 30 days.