GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE - Tabletop Roleplaying Game

Click here to see this campaign in French!

The GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE TTRPG is a role-playing game focusing on action, espionage and corporative corruption, based on the exciting and hyper-technological future described in the anime series originally inspired by The Ghost in the Shell, manga imagined by the creative mind of Shirow Masamune, then adapted into a world-famous anime series by the renowned studio Production I.G.

You have always dreamed of the amazing version of reality and cyberspaces highlighted in GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE and other anime series? In this game, you will take the saga from its very beginning, and live through the formation of a Security Section (in parallel to the birth of legendary Section 9), as well as sort through the many ghosts that are inevitably a part of it.

Click here to see this campaign in French!

Quickstart Download

In this game, you will play your own stories by impersonating operatives specialized in counterterrorism, in a future world that survived a global collapse, where cybernetics poses new moral questions about mankind.

In so doing, you will face intrigue and betrayal, corrupt officials and criminals, new dangers, cyber-enhanced opponents, and you will report directly to the top brass of the Japanese government and your Section Director. 

Welcome to Newport City!

Following the wildly successful collaboration that brought you the official Cowboy Bebop Role-Playing Game, we are thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership between Don't Panic Games and Mana Project Studio: let us introduce you to this new universe, full of adventure and challenges.

Everyone involved in making this page and product are all long-time fans of Ghost in the Shell, a saga that spans over manga, movies, TV series and OAV. Its universe is rich, multiple, and unique, redefining the classic vision of the Cyberpunk genre into something amazing. All of these make for an ideal tabletop role-playing setting!

After taking a long time to ponder things, we decided to approach the I.P. from the perspective of the anime TV series, which provides a greater quantity of directly usable material to create a game. And we want this game to be epic indeed: we have no intent to limiting its scope. On the contrary, it is our firm intent to keep providing new material coming from the various eras of the Ghost in the Shell Saga (ARISE, S.A.C.) in the future. Our ability to do so and the speed at which we can push it will depend on the many outcomes of this crowdfunding campaign, which is a true kickstart to this new range (no pun intended). We are hoping to share the same passion we have with many of you, so we can make this game into a range that will span into the years and feature many expansions and add-ons.

In any case, we are approaching the saga chronologically, as we believe it is the easiest way to see a character evolve with time. Thus, the first books will be set at the dawn of Section 9's birth.

Get ready for the dive...

Enter Japan’s Newport City. The year is 2027, a time when people in First World countries have become cyborgs with prosthetic bodies. You will play elite operatives during the formation of a Public Security Section—a team of specialized agents employing advanced infiltration tactics and espionage to attack and neutralize enemy threats and uphold national security. Unlike typical law enforcement or military personnel, your special operations unit is an independent anti-terrorism offensive force that answers only to the Chief Director of Public Security and the Prime Minister.

Most information about the Public Security Section remains highly classified; the Ministry of Home Affairs does not comment on the details of its activities. The public at large is unaware that the Public Security Section even exists. However, the National Diet or other security forces sections are generally aware of them as a black operations unit. This means that the Public Security Section can operate independently from governmental oversight, cutting through red tape and bureaucracy.

The Public Security Section was established to meet the demands of an uncertain and constantly changing world characterized by invisible enemies who can destabilize entire countries from a simple reach of their keyboard and by a blurring of the lines—between war and politics, combatants and civilians, crime and terrorism.

You will find in here all the rules for playing the game, complete with the game system and all mechanics, adventure tips, mission cues, instructions for creating multifaceted characters, complete with Playbooks for each type of operative, Cyber Enhancements and Natural Traits.

A chapter covering the management of the Public Security Section and its special HQ characters.

A chapter focusing on the world of 2027 as it appears in the series, chronologically the first in this pivotal Cyberpunk universe, with its pivotal themes, pillars and narrative tropes.

It is based on a hacked and modded version of the Forged in the Dark game system, designed by John Harper and first published in Blades in the Dark TTRPG.

Our version of Forged in the Dark focuses on the mechanical management of the entire Public Security Section, the recruitment of individual members, fast-paced missions, confrontations with extraordinary Nemesis, and Ghost Memories—lost memories that still reside in the characters' Ghosts.

The dichotomy and intersection between the characters' Shell (the body) and Ghost (the soul and mind) are central to the narrative and game mechanics. You have to decide whether to invest everything in your cyber body or keep at least some Ghost in your Shell, with Actions divided into two macro-categories.

By rolling a pool of six-sided dice based on the Wired Actions to your cyberbrain, you can act in the thick of the action, attempting to achieve successes obtaining a 6, partial successes with 4 and 5 (but with consequences), and trying to avoid failures with 1, 2, and 3 that will lead to terrifying, often cyber-horrific and splatter, backlashes.

The Game Master's role is to define the consequences of failure and partial success and manage successes narratively, using a system that defines Situations and Effects—a mechanic that allows for fast-paced cinematic play. 

It will be up to the Game Master to manage the constantly emerging narrative, ticking clocks representing subsequent and multiple events triggered by specific actions using the Mission Sheet like a story-map.

The many Cyber Enhancements available will allow your character to become increasingly wired, a true full-borg, while the Natural Traits will open up a wide range of human abilities.

The different Playbooks, on the other hand, will allow further specialization for each team member, from the Elite Ranger to the Wizard Hacker, via the Special Investigator and the Ace Sniper. Each will have a moment under the spotlight thanks to Special Abilities that will make each soldier an actual war machine or a criminal-hunting bloodhound.

Full stats will be provided on all characters of the series, allowing you to acquire detailed knowledge of their skills and abilities, and to interact with them in cinematic adventures.

Mission after Mission, you will discover more and more about your character's past, erased, modified, buried by bureaucracy and the securitarian state, until you have to ask the questions: Who am I really? Who is the real enemy?

This is reflected in the mechanics of the Memory Clocks, special tracks that will be ticked by the characters' actions and questions. When completed, they will lead to recollecting pieces of the great puzzle that is the character's own life.

But you want the thrill. You wouldn't have joined Public Section Security otherwise. Through clock and parallel track management, the game sets the stage for brutal and terrifying confrontations with the many possible cybernetic enemies, the Nemesis of our Public Security Section operatives. May some of them be right? You will only find out as you play and take advantage of the unique Plot Twist mechanics—special clocks designed for emergent storytelling that can reveal how even the most infamous villains hide an uncomfortable truth to accept and how that ally is a dirty traitor.

The Public Security Section is not only a collection of rogues and soldiers but also a large bureaucratic and political apparatus that requires careful management to function.

Players will be called upon to manage it, making vital decisions through the Director Chief, structuring crime scene analysis through the Forensic Specialist, collecting data streams through the Cyberwarfare Operative, and providing high-level equipment and funding through the Technology Specialist. Characters such as these, called HQ Characters, are shared by the entire playgroup to give maximum flexibility to the narrative and a cinematic framework to each action, developing flashback and parallel scenes, and even foreshadowing some events.

This book contains a complete campaign designed to tell an emergent narrative from the birth of your Public Security Section to member recruitment and full-scale operations.

With each chapter, events will take shape, leading you through a narrative of political intrigue and corruption, organized terrorism, and angry old veterans.

This supplement is designed to integrate seamlessly with the game's rules and to guide even novice gaming groups into tabletop role-playing.

The limited edition game box is a sturdy casing designed to hold all the game materials, ensuring nothing gets misplaced. The hardcover box, fully adorned with astonishing foil laminations, is not only highly functional but also a valuable collector's item for enthusiasts. Representing the characters of this much-loved anime, this stupendous item will surely be the envy of all those who lay eyes on it.

Inside this exclusive and superlative box, you’ll find everything you need to play your Public Security Section and its brave operatives, everything a full cyborg needs!

Inside the box, you’ll find: 

• Deluxe Edition Corebook
• Adventure Book
• Hardcover Game Master Screen
• Set of Nine Six-Sided Dice
• Dice Tray
• Operative Cards Deck 
• Playing Cards Deck
• Printed Quickstart ruleset
• Card Sleeves
• Playmat 

Included with this pledge are the PDF editions of the Corebook and the Adventure Book!

Experience a truly unique and complete gaming experience with the original dice for the role-playing game, defined by an attractive and distinctive design. You’ll find nine D6, six-sided dice, in each set.

Roll your dice, but don't let them out of your sight by throwing them in the exclusive GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE Dice Tray, a unique accessory for those in the Public Security Section. This dice tray measures 22x22 cm, making it perfect for travel.

Get your hands on this astonishing set of cards! It's the perfect, easy-to-use tool for understanding all the key game mechanics. These cards contain Cyber Enhancements and Natural Traits, which are fully detailed in the Corebook. Card size: 63x88 mm.

Step into the cyberpunk world of GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE with this exclusive deck of standard playing cards. Each card features stunning artwork from the series and its iconic characters. Card size: 63x88 mm.

Protect your most precious TCG cards or the Operative Cards Deck with these exclusive card sleeves designed in standard size of 66x91 mm.

This Playmat is made of high-quality neoprene—36x61 cm.

The PDF Digital Edition of the Tabletop Role-Playing Game Corebook. The corebook in PDF format with complete rules for playing, Mission cues, Playbooks, Cyber Enhancements and Natural Traits, Public Security Section management rules, and its special HQ, as well as the world lore and narrative tropes.

The Standard Edition of the Tabletop Role-Playing Game Corebook is a practical, letter-format hardcover book, including all the information required to play your sessions in the world of this much-loved anime series. You will obtain the corebook with complete rules for playing, Mission cues, Playbooks, Cyber Enhancements and Natural Traits, Public Security Section management rules, and its special HQ, as well as the world lore and narrative tropes. With this Pledge you will also receive the Digital Edition.

The Deluxe Edition of the Tabletop Role-Playing Game Corebook is a special and unique hardcover letter format book embellished with a rich fabric debossed cover, enriched by a shiny metal foil design. The content is the same as the Standard Edition. With this Pledge you will also receive the Digital Edition.

For all those hackers out there who want to dive into their first run armed and armored, this is the collection you are looking for. All you need to play the upgraded version of the game.

A unique pledge for all those operatives who want to embark on their missions with a collection similar to Wizard Hacker, but armed with the Deluxe Edition Corebook.

Inside this exclusive and superlative box you’ll find everything you need to play your Public Security Section and its brave operatives. Everything a full cyborg needs is here!

If you run a game store, or work for one, or have any authority to buy stock for one, we'll give you access to the Retailer Pledge Manager, where you will be able to buy the game at retailer-only prices.

The Funding Goal of the Campaign is intended to cover production costs. We decided to use any other funds to enhance the project, upgrade the contents, and improve your gaming experience!

We need your support to make this happen!

Inside the Adventure Book, you will find the Masterless Mode! 

Using this supplement, each game group can decide to play Master-less, without a Game Master, managing events collectively, guiding the narrative through informed choices. The perfect mode for those groups where everyone wants to impersonate their Motoko Kusanagi.

Inside the Adventure Book, you will find the Solo Mode! 

This supplement will also include Solo Mode: complete rules to play a solo game. Useful both for learning how to play, practicing the game system, and for completing an entire campaign completely solo or with only two players, without a Game Master.

In the Operative Cards Deck, you will also find special cards dedicated to Playbooks, with quick references to have at hand for smoother play.

New rules for Nemesis themed on a narrative archetype! With this stretch goal, the Nemesis Archetype “The Full-Borg” is unlocked, a highly upgraded nemesis, more shell than ghost, a machine of destruction that is no longer capable of feeling emotions. With this stretch goal, you have unlocked an upgrade of the Corebook containing the complete rules of The Full-Borg Archetype, as well as 3 additional cards in the Operative Cards Deck containing quick reference for playing The Hacker Nemesis Archetype.

A package of digital tokens to make your online sessions easier! Using them on the maps of your locations will always keep you clear on where all the operatives are, what is happening at HQ, and where potential enemies are.  

New rules for Nemesis themed on a narrative archetype! With this stretch goal, the Nemesis Archetype “The Hacker” is unlocked—an enemy capable of infiltrating everywhere, always one step ahead of the team, thanks to their advanced ability to move within the network and their knowledge of every detail about the Public Security Section. With this stretch goal, you have unlocked an upgrade of the Corebook containing the complete rules of The Hacker Archetype, as well as 3 additional cards in the Operative Cards Deck containing quick reference for playing The Hacker Nemesis Archetype.

In the GM Screen, you will find printed Blank Character Sheets ready to use for your operatives. 

New rules for Nemesis themed on a narrative archetype! With this stretch goal, the Nemesis Archetype “The Traitor” is unlocked, someone who has suddenly betrayed the Public Security Section, a friend who turns their back on the team, or maybe a spy who has been passing information to some other faction for a long time. With this stretch goal, you have unlocked an upgrade of the Corebook containing the complete rules of The Traitor Archetype, as well as 3 additional cards in the Operative Cards Deck containing quick reference for playing The Traitor Nemesis Archetype.

New rules for Nemesis themed on a narrative archetype! With this stretch goal, the Nemesis Archetype “The Bot” is unlocked. Whether it's a giant hacked construction machine or an automated military mech with high destructive potential, you have to fight an enemy AI that isn't even able to communicate. With this stretch goal, you have unlocked an upgrade of the Corebook containing the complete rules of The Bot Archetype, as well as 3 additional cards in the Operative Cards Deck containing quick reference for playing The Bot Nemesis Archetype.

In the GM Screen, you will find printed Pregenerated Character Sheets ready to use for your operatives. 

New rules for Nemesis themed on a narrative archetype! With this stretch goal, the Nemesis Archetype “The Loa” is unlocked, a tangle of data that has taken shape autonomously on the web, generating a thinking entity capable not only of free will but also of feeling emotions. A Nemesis that will make any operative question the very concept of humanity. With this stretch goal, you have unlocked an upgrade of the Corebook containing the complete rules of The Loa Archetype, as well as 3 additional cards in the Operative Cards Deck containing quick reference for playing The Loa Archetype.

New rules for Nemesis themed on a narrative archetype! With this stretch goal, the Nemesis Archetype “The Terrorist” is unlocked, a Nemesis that you never know where they will strike, when they will strike, and above all, why they are doing all this. Could they be right? Only by finding them will you find out! With this stretch goal, you have unlocked an upgrade of the Corebook containing the complete rules of The Terrorist Archetype, as well as 3 additional cards in the Operative Cards Deck containing quick reference for playing The Terrorist Archetype.

Book ribbon in silver cloth, in the Standard and Deluxe Corebook, and in the Adventure Book. An aesthetically appealing upgrade to all three books, in true cyberpunk style.

New rules for Nemesis themed on a narrative archetype! With this stretch goal, the Nemesis Archetype “The Shadow” is unlocked, an enemy that emerges from the most hidden recesses of one of the operatives' past, an old acquaintance, or someone with unfinished business? It will certainly force the operative in question to delve into their Ghost Memories! With this stretch goal, you have unlocked an upgrade of the Corebook containing the complete rules of The Shadow Archetype, as well as 3 additional cards in the Operative Cards Deck containing quick reference for playing The Shadow Archetype.

In the GM Screen, you will find Printed Blank Mission Sheets ready to use for your Scenarios. 

• Data Producer: Cedric Littardi
• Neural Architect (Game Director): Michele Paroli
• Ops Handler (Production Assistant): Ghislain Bonnotte
• Systems Engineer (Game Design): Pete Petrusha, Jon Smejkal, Marta Palvarini 
• Code Weavers (Game Development): Marta Palvarini, Laura Fontanella
• Narrative Uplink (Additional Writing): Laura Fontanella, Marta Palvarini
• Story Engineer (Quickstart Adventure Design): Jon Smejkal 
• Visual Gridsmiths (Layout and Graphic Design): Silvia De Stefanis, Michele Paroli, Arianna Vertuani
• Syntax Surgeons (Editing): To be defined
• Glitch Sweepers (Proofreading): To be defined 
• French Signal Translator: Jérôme Vivas (Cowboy Bebop RPG French Translator)
• Italian Signal Translator: Laura Fontanella, Marta Palvarini (Cowboy Bebop RPG Italian Translators)
• Marketing Team: Chiara Vertuani, Francesca Giberti
• Special Shout-out: all the fantastic Kodansha crews who let us jack into this project.

We wish to thank the GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE anime committee for their support and help in getting us to this point.

Working with Japan is very challenging from a communication perspective due to many language and cultural barriers. Also, Japanese creators have a very high level of quality expectation, which we intend to meet. Though this project is already well underway, it may encounter many hurdles that will delay the production planning. If that is the case, we apologize in advance. Please be reassured: everyone is committed to creating the best possible game.

The copyright of the content of this page and all products produced is the following: 
© Shirow Masamune • Production I.G/KODANSHA • GHOST IN THE SHELL: THE MOVIE COMMITTEE. All Rights Reserved.
© Shirow Masamune • Production I.G/KODANSHA • GHOST IN THE SHELL ARISE COMMITTEE. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t Panic Games (DPG) is the visionary behind this project—a French gaming company founded by passionate veterans of the anime industry. Our mission is to bring beloved Japanese anime into the world of gaming, creating immersive and exciting experiences for fans worldwide.

We are proud publishers of several acclaimed board games, including:

• Cowboy Bebop: Space Serenade – A thrilling deck-building game by Johan Benvenuto (Cortex, Harmonies) and Florian Siriex (Imaginarium).

• Attack on Titan: The Last Stand – A 1-vs-many game where players unite to take down a towering Titan, designed by Antoine Bauza (7 Wonders) and Ludovic Maublanc (Cash & Guns).

• Naruto Ninja Arena – The first game to introduce the Roll & Clash system, delivering high-speed battles between iconic characters. Created by Antoine Bauza, Ludovic Maublanc, Théo Rivière, and Corentin Lebrat.

Our passion for tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) runs deep. For our founder, a lifelong RPG enthusiast, bringing Japanese worlds to the tabletop has been a personal quest.

Cowboy Bebop Roleplaying Game, an original adaptation in which you play Bounty hunters in the famous anime universe, published with our partner Mana Project Studio, was only our first step in this quest. 

We then launched the French and English edition of Nobi Nobi TTRPG, a line of Japanese tiny,  fast-paced, and fluid tabletop roleplaying games for beginners and experienced roleplayers, in which your quest will grow card by card, as the many clues and plot twists unfold.

This campaign marks our second major TTRPG adaptation—and we hope there will be more to come.

Mana Project Studio is an Italian publisher, game creator, and crowdfunding consultant specializing in award-winning tabletop RPGs. We previously partnered with Don’t Panic Games on the Cowboy Bebop Roleplaying Game, an original system that lets players step into the boots of bounty hunters in the legendary anime’s universe.

Our latest creation, Elder Mythos TTRPG, is a Year Zero-based horror RPG where players embody Lovecraftian entities, each vying to dominate or obliterate the world.

Among the settings for 5E, you may want to take a look at: 

• Journey to Ragnarok, a Norse and mythological setting for 5E, as well as a Mithral Best Seller on DriveThruRPG. 
• Historia, a dark fantasy Renaissance setting populated by anthropomorphic animals, nominated for Best Setting and Best Interior Art at the ENnie Awards 2022.
• Nightfell, a grim dark fantasy setting, whose inspiration is rooted in Italian folklore, which won a Golden ENnie Award in 2022 for Best Adversary / Monster.
• Seven Sinners, a collection of Cultists, Demons, and Relics compatible with both 1st Edition (OSRIC) and 5th Edition, which won a Silver Ennie award in 2023 for Best Interior Art. Seven Sinners also got nominated for Best Adversary / Monster at ENnie Awards 2023 and for Best 2D Art & Illustration at Origin Awards.

You can find our smiling faces at different conventions! 
Mainly, you can find us at GenCon Indianapolis, Essen Spiel, Play Bologna, and during the days dedicated to the Lucca Comics & Games. If you are attending these events too, stop by and say hello! On the other hand, if you think there are any events we should attend, we will be glad to receive your kind suggestions!

We are developing this project in three languages: English, French & Italian. If funded, you will be asked to choose your language after the conclusion of the campaign, on the pledge manager.

Click here to see this campaign in French!

Beyond the base books, we cannot, however, guarantee that all future material will be in 3 languages. It will depend on the number of people interested in each. So if you are an Italian or French enthusiast of GITS, you should definitely push it with local communities... (thank you in advance).

Please note that there may be a delay between the release of the English version and the other languages. That is because it takes time to properly translate everything. That delay should normally not exceed 3 months.

We'll ship anywhere in the World except Japan, Russia, and Brazil, and if we succeed, shipping costs will be collected after the Kickstarter Campaign. Shipping costs and applicable VAT (or additional tariffs) will be calculated automatically for you and charged to the pledge manager. You will not pay any shipping during the Kickstarter.

Below is a rough estimate of the shipping costs, which will also depend on your pledge level:

• Europe. ~ 15/25€
• United States. ~ 18/25€
• United Kingdom. ~ 20/30€
• Remote Europe. ~ 30/35€
• Canada. ~ 35/40€
• Rest of the world. ~ 40+€

As soon as possible, we'll set a more accurate shipping cost list, as some changes will be based on achieving some stretch goals, and the cost of logistics worldwide is currently notoriously volatile. Fees will be collected only at the time of pledge management.

Our games in English are currently available through the following distributors.  :

• Studio 2 Publishing - North America - https://studio2publishing.com/
• Cosmic Group - UK and Europe - https://www.cosmicgroup.eu/

You can also order them directly from us (Mana Project Studio & Don't Panic Games) if you need to, don't hesitate to contact us.