# Powered by the Apocalypse %% date:: [[2023-06-05]], [[2023-09-09]] %% [site](http://apocalypse-world.com/pbta/policy) The term "Powered by the Apocalypse" (PbtA) is a voluntary descriptor that game designers can use to give a small nod to the fact that their creations were partly inspired by the game system of [[Apocalypse World]]. Apocalypse World's creators explicitly state that the term is not meant to imply "licensing" or copyright; it is entirely optional and doesn't restrict game systems using it in any way. Since there are no requirements as to what a game must be like before it can call itself "Powered by the Apocalypse", the games under this umbrella are only very loosely held together by the general principles of Apocalypse world. ## Defining characteristics ### Playbooks PbtA systems have "playbooks" that are kind of like character classes. Each playbook defines the options and abilities that differentiate a certain type of character from others. ## PbtA game systems - [[Apocalypse World]] - [site](http://www.apocalypse-world.com/): the original PbtA game - [[Avatar RPG]] - [[Blades in the Dark]] - [site](https://bladesinthedark.com/) - [[Dungeon World]] - [site](https://dungeon-world.com/) - [[Balikbayan]] - [site](https://temporalhiccup.itch.io/balikbayan): Cyberpunk dystopian world based on Philippine folklore - [[Ironsworn]] - [[Masks]] - [[Monsterhearts]] - [[Monster of the Week]] - [site](https://evilhat.com/product/monster-of-the-week/) - [[Root RPG]] - [[Thirsty Sword Lesbians]] - [[Uncharted Worlds]] - [[City of Mist]] - [site](https://cityofmist.co/): Urban fairy tale retellings