GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE - Tabletop Roleplaying Game
- Nov 6, 2025
- 2 min read
Welcome to the officially licensed Cyberpunk world of the anime GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE to play your own Public Security Section.
For decades, the cyberpunk world of Ghost in the Shell has captivated audiences with its deep dive into cybernetics, political intrigue, and the very nature of human consciousness. Now, fans can finally dive into that world themselves. Mana Project Studio, the acclaimed team behind the Cowboy Bebop TTRPG, is bringing the official GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE - Tabletop Roleplaying Game to life.
Project Overview
Name and Creator: GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE - Tabletop Roleplaying Game by Mana Project Studio (in partnership with Don't Panic Games and Kodansha).
What It Is: This is the officially licensed roleplaying game set in the Ghost in the Shell: Arise timeline, just before the formation of the legendary Section 9. Players take on the roles of elite, cybernetically enhanced operatives in Newport City, tackling missions of counter-terrorism, corporate espionage, and high-stakes crime in a hyper-technological world.
Key Features
Forged in the Dark System: The game runs on a customized version of the popular "Forged in the Dark" engine (first seen in Blades in the Dark). This system is built to handle action, intrigue, and emergent storytelling.
Ghost & Shell Mechanics: The rules are adapted to balance a character's "Ghost" (their mind, soul, and social/mental abilities) against their "Shell" (their cybernetic body and physical prowess). Pushing your Shell's limits might mean taxing your Ghost.
Create Your Operative: Players can build their agent from one of six unique playbooks, including the Elite Ranger, Wizard Hacker, Special Investigator, Heavy Weapons Expert, Ace Sniper, and even the car-sized spider tank, the Logikoma.
Newport City Setting: The game is set in the hyper-technological metropolis of Newport City in 2027, a world rife with rogue AIs, cyber-enhanced criminals, and shadowy corporate conspiracies.
Reward:
Operative (Corebook Hardcover + PDF)
Price: ~€50 (approx. $58)
Wizard Hacker (Corebook + Adventure BOok + GM Screen + Dice Set)
Price: ~€120 (approx. $140)
Concept
The core concept is to create an authentic TTRPG experience that faithfully adapts the themes of the Ghost in the Shell: Arise saga. The game is not just about action; it's about the blurred lines between human and machine, the nature of identity in a cyberized world, and the moral gray areas of espionage. Players will live through the formation of their own Public Security Section, sorting through the "ghosts" that haunt their new world.
Inspiration
Mana Project Studio has a proven passion for adapting iconic anime into high-quality tabletop experiences, as seen with their successful Cowboy Bebop RPG. The inspiration for this project was to give Ghost in the Shell, one of the most beloved and influential sci-fi sagas of all time, the dedicated, officially licensed roleplaying game it has long deserved. They aimed to create a system that was not only fun to play but also mechanically reflected the series' core philosophical conflicts.
