Best Shadowrun Game Books of 2026

Wilson Cook Avatar
Wilson Cook
Last Updated: May 12, 2023

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Shadowrun Game Books are a series of role-playing game books that offer players an immersive and exciting experience in a unique futuristic world. These books are filled with rich characters, engaging storylines, and a complex magic system that adds a whole new dimension to gameplay. With a variety of supplements and sourcebooks available, players can explore the vast and intricate world of Shadowrun in depth, creating their own unique characters and stories along the way. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or a newcomer to the genre, Shadowrun Game Books are sure to provide endless hours of entertainment and adventure.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

The Game Master's Book of Non-Player Characters: 500+ unique bartenders, brawlers, mages, merchants, royals, rogues, sages, sailors, warriors, weirdos ... RPG adventures (The Game Master Series) Cover #TOP 1
The Game Master's Book of Non-Player Characters: 500+ unique bartenders, brawlers, mages, merchants, royals, rogues, sages, sailors, warriors, weirdos ... RPG adventures (The Game Master Series)
ftb score rating icon 9.9
The Game Master’s Book of Villains, Minions and Their Tactics: Epic new antagonists for your PCs, plus new minions, fighting tactics, and guidelines ... RPG adventures (The Game Master Series) Cover #TOP 2
The Game Master’s Book of Villains, Minions and Their Tactics: Epic new antagonists for your PCs, plus new minions, fighting tactics, and guidelines ... RPG adventures (The Game Master Series)
ftb score rating icon 9.8
The Game Master’s Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying: Guidelines and strategies for running PC-driven narratives in 5E adventures (The Game Master Series) Cover #TOP 3
The Game Master’s Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying: Guidelines and strategies for running PC-driven narratives in 5E adventures (The Game Master Series)
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Shadowrun Game Books

The Game Master's Book of Non-Player Characters: 500+ unique bartenders, brawlers, mages, merchants, royals, rogues, sages, sailors, warriors, weirdos ... RPG adventures (The Game Master Series)

Ashworth, Jeff
Stanko, John
Kalle, Jasmine
Bhullar, Jasmine
Egloff, Ben
Oct 5, 2021
The Game Master's Book of Non-Player Characters: 500+ unique bartenders, brawlers, mages, merchants, royals, rogues, sages, sailors, warriors, weirdos ... RPG adventures (The Game Master Series) Cover
The Game Master's Book of Non-Player Characters: 500+ unique bartenders, brawlers, mages, merchants, royals, rogues, sages, sailors, warriors, weirdos ... RPG adventures (The Game Master Series)

The Game Master's Book of Non-Player Characters is a must-have addition to any dungeon master's library. With over 500 unique NPCs, this book is perfect for filling in the gaps in your campaign when your players take an unexpected turn or when a location needs more fleshed-out characters. Jeff Ashworth's book is well-organized, easy to navigate, and includes hand-drawn illustrations of select characters. The three bonus adventures and foreword by online influencer Jasmine Bhullar make this book an even more valuable resource. Overall, The Game Master's Book of Non-Player Characters is an excellent tool for any dungeon master looking to enhance their storytelling and provide a memorable experience for their players.

The Game Master’s Book of Villains, Minions and Their Tactics: Epic new antagonists for your PCs, plus new minions, fighting tactics, and guidelines ... RPG adventures (The Game Master Series)

Hübrich, Aaron
Dillon, Dan
Pinto, Jim
Syrene, Vall
Lafort, Alexander
Henrickson, Hunter
Colville, Matt
Sikora, Ted
Oct 31, 2023
The Game Master’s Book of Villains, Minions and Their Tactics: Epic new antagonists for your PCs, plus new minions, fighting tactics, and guidelines ... RPG adventures (The Game Master Series) Cover
The Game Master’s Book of Villains, Minions and Their Tactics: Epic new antagonists for your PCs, plus new minions, fighting tactics, and guidelines ... RPG adventures (The Game Master Series)

The Game Master’s Book of Villains, Minions and Their Tactics is a must-have for any Dungeons & Dragons game master. This deluxe edition from Jetpack7 includes over two dozen deadly BBEGs, including five new villains exclusive to this edition, and tactics for over 75 different minions and Big Bads. The book is reedited and redesigned, with exclusive guidelines for creating original villains and minions, as well as three exciting one-shot adventures. The book provides tips and strategies that readers can use to “drag and drop” a BBEG into a new or existing game, with full-color illustrations, lore, stats, combat tactics, and special abilities for each exciting entry. This book is an essential addition to any game master’s library.

The Game Master’s Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying: Guidelines and strategies for running PC-driven narratives in 5E adventures (The Game Master Series)

Fishel, Jonah
Fishel, Tristan
Di, Ginny
Ashworth, Jeff
Oct 17, 2023
The Game Master’s Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying: Guidelines and strategies for running PC-driven narratives in 5E adventures (The Game Master Series) Cover
The Game Master’s Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying: Guidelines and strategies for running PC-driven narratives in 5E adventures (The Game Master Series)

The Game Master's Handbook of Proactive Roleplaying is a must-read for any Dungeons & Dragons game master looking to break out of the predictable action/reaction cycle. This book provides guidelines and strategies for running player-driven narratives that put all the choices in the hands of the players. The proactive approach ensures every session is high-stakes and an absolute blast, putting the players and their characters in the driver's seat. The book also includes writer's block-breaking charts, case studies, and templates. Overall, this book is unique in its approach to TTRPG gameplay and is highly recommended for any game master looking to re-energize their players and their game.

The Düngeonmeister Cookbook: 75 RPG-Inspired Recipes to Level Up Your Game Night (Ultimate Role Playing Game Series)

Aldrich, Jef
Taylor, Jon
Apr 19, 2022
The Düngeonmeister Cookbook: 75 RPG-Inspired Recipes to Level Up Your Game Night (Ultimate Role Playing Game Series) Cover
The Düngeonmeister Cookbook: 75 RPG-Inspired Recipes to Level Up Your Game Night (Ultimate Role Playing Game Series)

The Düngeonmeister Cookbook is a must-have for every gamer group. With 75 game-friendly recipes, this cookbook is perfect for those looking for easy-to-follow recipes for snacks and meals to enjoy during game night. From the Goodberries Baked Cheese-wrapped dates to the Inspiration Points Peanut Butter White Chocolate Pretzels, this cookbook has it all. The wit and humor of the authors make this cookbook even more enjoyable. Jef Aldrich and Jon Taylor have done an excellent job of creating a unique cookbook that will level up your game night.

The Ultimate RPG Guide Boxed Set: Featuring The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide, The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide, and The Ultimate RPG Game ... Guide (Ultimate Role Playing Game Series)

D’Amato, James
Dec 28, 2021
The Ultimate RPG Guide Boxed Set: Featuring The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide, The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide, and The Ultimate RPG Game ... Guide (Ultimate Role Playing Game Series) Cover
The Ultimate RPG Guide Boxed Set: Featuring The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide, The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide, and The Ultimate RPG Game ... Guide (Ultimate Role Playing Game Series)

The Ultimate RPG Guide Boxed Set is a perfect collection for any Dungeons & Dragons lover who wants to level up their campaign. This set includes The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide, The Ultimate RPG Gameplay Guide, and The Ultimate RPG Game Master’s Worldbuilding Guide. Each guide is filled with interactive activities, advice, and tips to help you create immersive gameplay. James D’Amato, an expert game master, provides insightful advice and prompts to assist in building worlds for games in the fantasy, horror, and x-punk genres. Overall, this boxed set is a valuable resource for any beginner or experienced player and a must-have for any game master.

Dungeon Maps for Game Master: 50 Unique and Customizable Dungeon Maps for DnD Tabletop Role-Playing Games (RPG Maps for Game Master)

Silent Wave Press
Jun 25, 2021
Dungeon Maps for Game Master: 50 Unique and Customizable Dungeon Maps for DnD Tabletop Role-Playing Games (RPG Maps for Game Master) Cover
Dungeon Maps for Game Master: 50 Unique and Customizable Dungeon Maps for DnD Tabletop Role-Playing Games (RPG Maps for Game Master)

Dungeon Maps for Game Master is a fantastic asset for tabletop role-playing game players and Game Masters. This book contains 50 unique and customizable dungeon maps for Dungeons & Dragons tabletop RPG campaigns. Each map has an additional dot grid page for story description, encounter details or extra space for mapping. The index page helps with navigating to the desired map quickly. The book's convenient size of 8.5 in x 11 in (A4), premium matte-finish cover design, and high-quality white paper make it a must-have for any serious RPG player. Overall, this book is a great addition to any dungeon master's collection.

The Book of Random Tables: Quests: Adventure Ideas for Fantasy Tabletop Role-Playing Games (The Books of Random Tables)

Davids, Matt
dicegeeks
Aug 19, 2019
The Book of Random Tables: Quests: Adventure Ideas for Fantasy Tabletop Role-Playing Games (The Books of Random Tables) Cover
The Book of Random Tables: Quests: Adventure Ideas for Fantasy Tabletop Role-Playing Games (The Books of Random Tables)

The Book of Random Tables: Quests is a valuable resource for game masters of Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder. The book offers 1000 adventure ideas organized in random tables, allowing the GM to easily find inspiration for their next game session. The tables cover a range of topics, from story hooks to globe-spanning adventures, and even include meta-quests that can be used as micro-quests. The book is a time-saver for GMs looking to cut down on their prep time. Overall, the book is a must-have for any fantasy tabletop RPG GM.

The Book of Random Tables: Fantasy Shops: Generate Shops for Fantasy Role-Playing Games (The Books of Random Tables)

Davids, Matt
Apr 29, 2022
The Book of Random Tables: Fantasy Shops: Generate Shops for Fantasy Role-Playing Games (The Books of Random Tables) Cover
The Book of Random Tables: Fantasy Shops: Generate Shops for Fantasy Role-Playing Games (The Books of Random Tables)

The Book of Random Tables: Fantasy Shops is a must-have resource for any Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder RPG player. The book offers twenty different shop types with endless combinations, making it easy for players to explore cities and find the items they need. The random tables make generating shops quick and easy, and the additional tables for years in business, shop appearance, and rumors add depth to the world-building. Overall, this book is a valuable resource for any RPG player looking to add more depth and variety to their game.

Fantasy World Maps for Game Master: 50 Unique and Customizable Regional Maps for Tabletop Role-Playing Games (RPG Maps for Game Master)

Silent Wave Press
Sep 3, 2021
Fantasy World Maps for Game Master: 50 Unique and Customizable Regional Maps for Tabletop Role-Playing Games (RPG Maps for Game Master) Cover
Fantasy World Maps for Game Master: 50 Unique and Customizable Regional Maps for Tabletop Role-Playing Games (RPG Maps for Game Master)

The Fantasy World Maps for Game Master book is a must-have for any tabletop role-playing game player or Game Master looking for inspiration for their next campaign. With 50 unique and customizable regional maps, players can fill them with additional objects, buildings, and location features to create their own unique adventure. Each map also includes a dot grid notebook-style page for story description, encounter details, or extra space for mapping. The convenient size and high-quality white paper make this book a great asset for any gaming session. Overall, this book is a great addition to any Dungeons & Dragons game book collection.

#TOP 10

The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide: Prompts and Activities to Create the Most Interesting Story for Your Character (Ultimate Role Playing Game Series)

D’Amato, James
Adams Media
Oct 2, 2018
The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide: Prompts and Activities to Create the Most Interesting Story for Your Character (Ultimate Role Playing Game Series) Cover
The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide: Prompts and Activities to Create the Most Interesting Story for Your Character (Ultimate Role Playing Game Series)

The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide is an interactive workbook that allows RPG players to fully customize their characters before starting the game. With fill-in-the-blank narratives, prompts, and fun activities, this book helps players to build out their backstory and bring their characters to life. It's a great addition to any player's gaming kit, even for those who don't play with others. The book is pure fun and easy to use, making it suitable for newcomers to the genre and returning heroes. Overall, this book is a must-have for any RPG player who wants to fully immerse themselves in their character's story.

Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What books do I need for Shadowrun?

You need only the rule book and some dice Everything you need to play Shadowrun is contained in the rule book. It contains the basic rules and everything you need to create characters (including equipment, vehicles, drones, magic and other stuff) as well as tips for the gm. In addition, you need some six sided dice.

2. How many Shadowrun books are there?

46 English language novels have been published by ROC in conjunction with either FASA or FanPro. Catalyst Game Labs has also released a collected volume of short stories as an e-book and trade paperback.

Editor's Notes

During our shadowrun game book research, we found 384 shadowrun game book products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 15,986 customer reviews through our big data system to write the shadowrun game books list. We found that most customers choose shadowrun game books with an average price of $9.20.

Written by
Wilson Cook Avatar

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.