Everyday Heroes by Evil Genius Games is best described as a love letter to modern action cinema, filtered through the familiar mechanics of 5E. If you’ve ever wanted to run a tabletop campaign that feels like Die Hard, John Wick, The Crow, or Escape from New York, without abandoning the accessibility of D&D-style rules, this game is squarely in your wheelhouse.
The system feels instantly familiar to anyone who has played 5E, but smart tweaks make it feel distinct. Firearms, vehicles, chases, hacking, and modern combat all receive meaningful mechanical support, avoiding the clunky improvisation that modern settings often suffer from in fantasy-first systems. Combat is punchy and lethal enough to reinforce stakes, while still allowing for those big, slow-motion movie moments that action fans crave.
One of the game’s biggest strengths is its modular design. Groups can easily tailor complexity up or down depending on whether they want a tactical, crunchy experience or something more narrative-driven. This flexibility makes Everyday Heroes approachable for newcomers while still rewarding experienced GMs who enjoy mechanical depth.
The core rulebook is dense with options and ideas, though it can occasionally feel less GM-friendly than it could be, particularly in layout and adventure presentation. Art direction is serviceable rather than standout, but the sheer scope of content and clarity of rules do most of the heavy lifting. The emphasis is clearly on playability and customization rather than glossy spectacle.
Everyday Heroes succeeds because it understands exactly what it wants to be: a modern action RPG that captures the feel of blockbuster films without forcing groups to learn an entirely new system. It rewards cinematic thinking, fast-paced storytelling, and grounded heroism, all while standing on the solid foundation of 5E design.
If your table is ready to trade fireballs for firearms and dragon lairs for neon-lit city streets, Everyday Heroes delivers a flexible, adrenaline-fueled experience that proves you don’t need magic to be legendary.
A strong modern-action RPG with excellent modular design and standout licensed settings, ideal for groups craving cinematic intensity without abandoning familiar mechanics.
