The Cosmere — Brandon Sanderson’s shared fantasy universe spanning the Stormlight Archive, Mistborn, Warbreaker, and a dozen other series — has finally arrived at the tabletop. The Cosmere RPG, developed by Brotherwise Games, is one of the most anticipated tabletop roleplaying game releases of 2025-2026, and it is built first around the world of the Stormlight Archive.
Whether you are a longtime Sanderson fan who wants to run campaigns on Roshar, or a tabletop player who has heard about the Cosmere and wants to know where to start, this guide covers everything you need to know about the Cosmere RPG: what it is, what products are available now, how to start playing, and what is coming.
What Is the Cosmere RPG?
The Cosmere RPG is a full tabletop roleplaying game system built specifically for Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere universe. It is published by Brotherwise Games — the company behind the Call to Adventure board game series — in collaboration with Dragonsteel Entertainment, Sanderson’s own company.
The game raised over $14.7 million on Kickstarter, making it one of the highest-funded tabletop RPG campaigns of all time. That level of funding reflects both the size of the Sanderson fanbase and the depth of demand for an official Cosmere gaming experience.
The system is designed from the ground up to handle Sanderson’s distinctive magic systems — Stormlight and Surgebinding, Allomancy from Mistborn, BioChromatic Breath from Warbreaker — rather than adapting a generic system to fit the Cosmere. The mechanics reflect how magic actually works in the books.
Cosmere RPG Products Available Now
Stormlight Archive Starter Set
The best entry point for new players and Game Masters. The Cosmere RPG: Stormlight Archive Starter Set contains everything you need to run your first campaign on Roshar: a streamlined rulebook, pre-generated characters (including a Windrunner with Stormlight powers), dice, maps of key Shattered Plains locations, and an introductory adventure.
The Starter Set was nominated for the Origins Award in 2026 — a significant recognition from the tabletop gaming industry. If you want to try the Cosmere RPG before committing to the full rulebook, this is where to start.
Find the Stormlight Starter Set on Amazon →
Call to Adventure: The Stormlight Archive
A standalone deck-building and character creation game set in the Stormlight Archive universe. Call to Adventure: The Stormlight Archive lets you build your own hero’s journey using cards, tokens, and rune-casting mechanics. It plays in 60-90 minutes and works as both a standalone experience and as a character creation tool for the full RPG.
This is the more accessible entry point for players who want a Stormlight gaming experience without committing to a full campaign. It also works exceptionally well as a gift for fans of the books who may not be experienced tabletop players.
Find Call to Adventure: Stormlight Archive on Amazon →
Stormlight: War for Roshar
A dedicated war game for the Stormlight universe, released in May 2026. Stormlight: War for Roshar puts players in command of Alethi armies and Fused forces on the Shattered Plains. This is the largest-scale Stormlight game product released to date — focused on the military conflicts that define so much of the first three books.
Find Stormlight: War for Roshar on Amazon →
Full Cosmere RPG Rulebook
The complete game system for experienced players and Game Masters who want the full rules, all magic systems, and the ability to run campaigns across multiple Cosmere worlds. The full rulebook covers Roshar (Stormlight), Scadrial (Mistborn), Nalthis (Warbreaker), and Sel (Elantris) with their distinct magic systems and setting guides.
Find the Cosmere RPG Rulebook on Amazon →
How the Magic Systems Work in the RPG
Surgebinding (Stormlight Archive)
In the Cosmere RPG, playing a Knight Radiant means managing Stormlight — the magical energy that powers your abilities. You inhale Stormlight from gemstones to fuel your Surges (magical powers), heal wounds in real time, and enhance physical attributes. Running out of Stormlight during a battle is a genuine tactical risk.
Each Radiant order has distinct Surge combinations. A Windrunner (like Kaladin) manipulates gravity and pressure. A Lightweaver (like Shallan) creates illusions and transforms matter. A Bondsmith (like Dalinar) manipulates Connection between people and things. The system requires players to choose their order and then develop their bond with their spren over the course of a campaign.
Allomancy (Mistborn)
If your campaign is set on Scadrial, Allomancy — the magic of swallowing and burning metals — is available to players with the right lineage. Each metal grants a different power: Iron lets you Pull on metal objects, Steel lets you Push, Tin enhances senses, Pewter enhances physical strength. Full Mistborn characters who can burn all sixteen metals are extraordinarily powerful but also extraordinarily rare.
Do I Need to Know the Books to Play?
No. The Starter Set is designed for players who are new to the Cosmere. Pre-generated characters come with background information, and the adventure provides context for the setting without requiring prior book knowledge.
That said, readers who know the books will get significantly more out of the experience — recognizing locations, understanding the history behind the Shattered Plains, knowing who the Heralds are and why they matter. If you want the richest possible experience, reading The Way of Kings first is strongly recommended.
The Cosmere RPG as a Gift
For Stormlight Archive fans who are also tabletop players, the Cosmere RPG products are among the best gifts available. The Starter Set ($40-50) is accessible enough that even players without RPG experience can engage with it. Call to Adventure ($30-40) works even better as a standalone gift — it requires no Game Master and plays in under two hours.
- Cosmere RPG Starter Set — best for new players
- Call to Adventure: Stormlight — best as a standalone gift
- War for Roshar — best for strategy game fans
What’s Coming Next for the Cosmere RPG
Brotherwise Games has announced a full roadmap of Cosmere RPG expansions, including dedicated campaign books for each major world in the Cosmere. Given the Kickstarter’s success and the timing of the Stormlight Archive TV adaptation, the Cosmere RPG product line is expected to expand significantly over the next two to three years.
If you are getting into the Cosmere through the RPG, the Stormlight Starter Set is the ideal entry point. From there, the full rulebook gives you everything you need to run years of campaigns across the entire Cosmere.
Frequently Asked Questions
What system does the Cosmere RPG use?
The Cosmere RPG uses a proprietary system designed by Brotherwise Games specifically for the Cosmere universe. It is not D&D 5e or Pathfinder — it is a standalone game system built around how Sanderson’s magic works.
How many players do you need for the Cosmere RPG?
The standard RPG requires one Game Master and two to five players. The Starter Set includes guidance for running the introductory adventure with that group size. Call to Adventure can be played solo or with two to four players without a GM.
Is the Cosmere RPG beginner-friendly?
The Starter Set is explicitly designed for players new to both the Cosmere and to tabletop RPGs. The full rulebook assumes more familiarity with RPG concepts. If you are a complete newcomer, start with the Starter Set.
Where can I buy the Cosmere RPG?
The Cosmere RPG products are available on Amazon and through game stores. The fastest route is Amazon:
The Way of Kings is the perfect entry point. Available in print, Kindle, and audiobook.
The Stormlight Archive audiobooks — narrated by Michael Kramer & Kate Reading — are 40–57 hours each. The best use of a commute in fantasy history.
