Kids on Bikes, published by Renegade Game Studios, is a rules-light collaborative RPG inspired by 80s adventure stories like Stranger Things, The Goonies, E.T., and Stand by Me. Players take on the roles of everyday people — kids, teens, and adults — in a small town where something extraordinary is happening. Maybe there's a mysterious lab on the outskirts of town, strange lights in the woods, or a new kid with impossible abilities.
The system is built for collaborative worldbuilding and storytelling. Before play begins, the group creates the town together — naming streets, establishing landmarks, and defining the community's character. The Powered Character mechanic is unique: the group collectively controls a single character with supernatural abilities (think Eleven from Stranger Things), with narrative control passing between players based on the fiction.
Character stats are tied to different die sizes (d4 through d20) rather than numerical modifiers, creating a tactile and intuitive system. The game emphasizes the emotional and social stakes of its stories — fitting in at school, navigating family dynamics, and finding the courage to face the unknown. Kids on Bikes is perfect for groups who want to tell coming-of-age stories with a supernatural twist, and its low barrier to entry makes it an excellent choice for introducing new players to tabletop RPGs.